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He chuckled. “Yeah, Saskia is a fan girl, too. And for the record, that girl in the painting you saw... she's not the only one I've painted multiple times. She's the only one I've painted multiple times that ever went up for sale. Saskia is part of my private collection.”
The way he said it made it clear he meant more than all the paintings he must have done of her. He meant she, literally, the woman, was somehow a creation of his, and a piece of art he would never part with.
“You can't tell anyone what you know,” he said. “It could cause a lot of problems for me.”
“I assumed as much. And I would never... I swear your secret's safe with me.”
He stared at her for a long time, then finally nodded. “I believe you. Come. Let's go back out. It's about to get a lot more interesting out there.”
Ari was waiting for her when she stepped into the hallway. His eyes met hers, a question in his gaze. She nodded and he held out a hand to her. She took it and allowed him to pull her into his arms. That was when Saskia rushed up, flushed with excitement.
“Guess what, Master?”
“You sold them all?” Kane asked.
“Yes! A man named Logan bought the last six!”
“You know what that means, that he bought six?”
Saskia blushed. It was the first time Claire had seen the woman anything other than poised and composed. She looked at the ground. “Yes, Master.”
He put his hand under her chin and raised it so her eyes met his. “I can show mercy. You've been such a good girl, I can change the rules for you. You haven't met Logan after all.”
She shook her head. “N-no. It's okay.”
“Oh. I see. You're attracted to him,” Kane said. But there was no anger in his tone. Just indulgent amusement.
“Yes,” she said, in a sort of breathless way, a flush rising in her cheeks.
He nodded. “Good girl. You know how much I like what a dirty little whore you are.”
Saskia had gone from confident and imposing to shy in a matter of moments under whatever dark power Kane exerted over her.
Claire had no idea what any of this meant. It was as though they were speaking in code. And though Ari could have led her away back to the party, he seemed to want to stay right where he was.
“You know, at this rate, your debt will be paid off within another year,” Kane said.
Saskia's face fell. “And then would you let me go?”
Kane laughed. “I willneverlet you go. But once you pay off your debt, I will let you keep your earnings.”
Relief came over the other woman's face. Claire was busy putting the pieces together even more sure now that Saskia was somehow Kane's real, actual slave—someone who couldn't leave, but who didn't seem to be making any great effort to try. Kind of like Claire.
Kane clearly wasn't worried about saying any of this openly in front of Ari and Claire. But then it was all mutually assured destruction at this point, wasn't it? It was just another layer in Ari and Kane's strange bond.
“And are you going to stop selling me to your friends?” Saskia asked, still seemingly unconcerned with Claire and Ari's proximity to the conversation.
Claire tensed at that.
“Definitely not. You know how I enjoy watching other men fuck you for my amusement.”
Saskia's blush went deeper, accompanied by a small smile this time. Claire released the breath she'd been holding. If Saskia was into it, Claire wouldn't judge her. And the fact that the other woman was engaging in sex acts with multiple men made Claire feel less terrible about the fact that Kane had touched her. Saskia wasn't expected to be faithful while Kane fucked around behind her back. Somehow this was all even. Fair.
Kane pulled Saskia into an embrace and pressed a kiss against her throat above her collar. “Are you ready, pet?”
“Yes, Master.”
Kane turned then, for the first time acknowledging Ari and Claire since they got to the hallway. “Let's go, then. Time to learn why everybody signed NDAs.”
