Page 316 of Coal Hearts

I’d chosen to use him like he used me.

I’d stolen back my power.

Denied him the chance to rule me.

Switched suffering into pleasure and despair into desire and...

I hadn’t stopped to think how Henri would react.

How he’d think I wanted him.

How I’d just tangled us together in far worse depravity.

My heart jumped on the self-hatred wagon, reminding me that for all his previous comments about playing along in a farce of marriage and monsters, I’d had similar thoughts. I’d compared our three nights of slumber to a strange, unconsummated honeymoon.

Well, we damn well consummated it this morning, and judging by the way Henri stared at me, it was only a matter of time before he had me on my knees again.

“Sounds as if you have a little nymph on your hands. Lucky you.” Victor winked, moving around the lounger and placing his hands on the back of it. “What’s the book about?”

“What are all books about?” Henri shrugged with a strange kind of wince. “Pain.”

Victor marinated in that answer before asking softly, “Her pain or yours?”

“More like the pain we’ll inflict on each other.”

He nodded as if he liked that answer. “Fine. I’ll get you a laptop. One with writing software but no Wi-Fi chip. Anything else?”

Henri looked at me, his eyes disturbingly direct as if he could see all my secrets. “Maybe a few clothes for her? A robe that isn’t see-through? Some underwear so other guests aren’t tempted by what is mine?”

Victor snickered and shook his head. “Even now you confound me.”

Henri drew back. “I confound you?”

“You look at her as if she’s a pretty doll that you’ll do anything not to break, but I know the moment you hold a knife in your hands, you’ll bleed her.”

“So?”

“So...I haven’t met many Masters who are so willing to be both soft and harsh.”

“Isn’t that where the fun lies? The hurting and the healing?”

“It’s definitely the way to break them into unsalvageable pieces.” He smiled dotingly at me. “If you keep spouting feelings at her, only to whip and fuck her like a beast, she’ll be so confused and lost, she’ll be yours before the month is through.”

Henri paused for a horribly long moment before licking his bottom lip. “In that case, I’ll make her so lost that she’s only found when she’s with me.”

“Said like a true fucking author.” Victor strangled the back of the lounger before pushing off and shoving his hands into his short pockets. “Dinner is at seven. Another show will be provided, and the treasure hunt I had Peter arrange was postponed until you could participate. You’re welcome to join us or...I believe a few of my guests have arranged a friendly competition in the billiard room.”

“Competition? What sort of competition?” Henri asked.

“Come and you’ll find out.” Victor smirked. “It’s fun. Bring Ilyana. She can play too.” Backing up, he dropped his eyes to Henri’s crotch. “A word of advice from a seasoned Master to a new one? If you’re hard, make her work. Never give up a good erection, mon ami. Besides, she’s owed some chastisement for her little outburst. You can’t let infractions like that go.”

Henri shivered and fisted his hard length. “I appreciate the advice.”

“Have fun, you two.” Victor blew me a kiss. “Break her in for both of us, Mercer. I want her well and truly tamed by the time I have a ride.”

A flush of absolute hatred made my mouth twist into a snarl.

Victor didn’t notice.