Dark (Beautiful Ashes #1) (10 page)

Chapter
Sixteen

Keeley entered the underground club taking in everything that she could. This was nothing like the legit ones she’d been to, and definitely not like her brother-in-law’s upscale club. No this was a hall of horrors. Actually bringing to the forefront of her mind the senator’s “play area.” She called that The Chamber of Doom. This was almost an exact replica, sending shivers up and down her spine. She was terrified, but, at the same time, fully aroused. What the hell? The setting had all the makings of a medieval dungeon. Racks and manacles, chains and whips, devices used on a body to inflict extreme pain. The screams were proof that shit harmed and maimed. Keeley knew she needed to leave until a voice stopped her. “Well, we meet again, my lovely.”

Braxton. Why the hell was
he
here? “Sir,” she whispered looking toward the floor.

He lifted her chin. “You are a sweet little thing.” He shot a glance at Leith. “May I play with her?”

Leith paused, horrified. He was in over his head. Ms. Jones nudged him in the ribs. “Yes,” he assuaged, wondering if he’d just signed Keeley’s death certificate.

Braxton grabbed Keeley’s arm and called, over his shoulder, “Ms. Jones will direct you to the viewing area.”

What the ever-loving fuck did he just agree to? “I’ll be there,” he forced out for Keeley’s benefit.

Ms. Jones looped her arm through his. “Right this way, Leith. I, for one, can’t wait to see what the girl has to offer.”

Leith studied her. Something about what she just said sounded off, fake. As if she were fully aware of Keeley’s abilities and was deliberately hiding it. How was that possible? “Lead the way,” he said, hiding his suspicion.

The stadium seating, like in a movie theater, truly was designed for viewing. Leith couldn’t wrap his brain around how many of those seats were filled. Ms. Jones led him to the front row where there was only one seat. He took it just as the music from the more public area played, “Welcome To The Jungle.” Damn if that wasn’t accurate. Ms. Jones tapped him on the shoulder and sat slightly to the left behind him. “Everything is in the pockets of your chair. Wipes for cleanup amongst a few aids for your pleasure.”

Leith swallowed back the bile rising. No. He couldn’t do this. His hands went to the armrests to help him stand when Keeley was led into the room in chains. “Holy fuck.”

An attendant locked her in place to the wall. She was wearing barely more than a bikini and was sexy as sin. Her breasts were perfect size for a tiny girl. Leith licked his lips, those tits were exactly a mouthful. He sat in rapt fascination as Braxton entered the room. Keeley’s arousal and fear were obvious by her heaving chest. Her eyes were downcast. Braxton approached her with a wide leather band in his hand. “Bend your head forward.”

Keeley complied as he tied a blindfold around her. Out of nowhere he produced a flogger and began to strike soft locations all over her body. The pink coloring was enticing. Leith couldn’t deny that. Braxton used a cat-o-nine tails next, but it wasn’t one meant for playing. No, this motherfucker was rigged to cause a lot of pain. Leith shot up from the chair. “Sit the fuck down, big boy,” Ms. Jones hissed.

“Tell that motherfucker to stop before I go in there and use that horrid thing on his ass.”

“She has a safeword.”

“I don’t give a rat’s ass. I’m the one who calls the shots, not her.”

“Enough said.” She pushed a button on the inside of his armrest and Braxton turned with heat in his gaze. He nodded and placed the wicked whip on the table.

Leith’s eyes widened when he grabbed a cane. Before a word could escape his lips, Braxton struck Keeley hard enough to cause her body to try and ball up for protection. In her state, though, she wasn’t able to and took that blow full-on in her upper abs. Leith saw her tears as the son of a bitch struck her again. Fuck protocol. He was up and at the door, forcing it open. Security was on him in an instant. “KEELEY,” he screamed.

*****

My God that hurt.
Breathe through it, Kee. Just breathe
, she told herself. She couldn’t see what was coming next but heard Braxton’s heavy breathing. He yanked her head back by her hair hard enough that she thought for sure he pulled a clump out. His erection was throbbing against her stomach as he groaned, “You’re fucking amazing.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

“God…I want to fuck that mouth of yours until you’re choking and fighting to live.”

Somewhere deep inside she knew how wrong that was. How demented. Yet she couldn’t deny, she was wet from the visual.

With his body blocking all eyes, Braxton crossed a line he’d never thought to cross before and jammed his finger past the barely-there panties, finger fucking the hell out of her cunt. He heard her cry out, but not in pleasure. “RED!”

“What? I beat the shit out of you and you never used a safeword. But I want to make you come as a reward, and you do?” he hissed in her ear.

Keeley turned her head away from him. “Nothing sexual was our agreement,” she murmured.

“Fine. But I will fuck this,” he grabbed her mound hard, “one way or another.”

She swallowed back her fear as his words triggered another night from her past. Her screams were so loud the club became silent. Keeley was inconsolable as they took the manacles off her. Leith was allowed in, but he couldn’t seem to calm her either. Ms. Jones asked him, “May I try?” He nodded consent.

She leaned into Keeley and began to whisper soothing words like you would a child. “You’re okay. No one is going to hurt you. Shhh…he’s gone now.”

Why would those words work for her and not him, Leith wondered until it registered. A woman’s voice and touch were needed, not a man’s. They left the room and walked into a lounge area where Ms. Jones carefully dressed Keeley, while Leith stood guard. Holy hell. What would they tell Tar? Keeley had some nasty bruises and welts, and how would they explain her state of mind?

Keeley came back from the place she thought she’d never revisit again. Braxton’s threat brought back how her virginity was stolen by that motherfucker, David, when she was seventeen. Date rape. Though she’d never told a soul, Lacey pieced it together. She needed the fuck out of there and a shower. “I want to leave,” she told Ms. Jones.

“Of course. My driver is waiting.”

Leith put his arm around her shoulders, but she pushed it off. “Don’t touch me.”

“Okay.” Dammit. This was fucked up six ways to Sunday, and he couldn’t figure out what excuse he was going to give Tar.

*****

In Leith’s car, on the way back to E and Lacey’s penthouse, Keeley finally spoke, “Not a fucking word to Tar or anyone else about what happened tonight,” she hissed.

“How the hell are you explaining those injuries?”

“We were training with bow staffs.”

He had to hand it to her, she was amazing with lies. Leith was also concerned about her meltdown. “And the other thing that happened back there, you alright?”

“Couldn’t be better,” she lied once more. Her life was one deception after another. Eventually she would hang herself in the web she spun, but not that night. Survival kicked into high gear, and she told untruths best when it was in control.

They arrived and she climbed out acting as if nothing happened. Well, except she was having a hard time moving, but their story was believable. She walked into the penthouse and straight for the home gym with Leith on her heels. “Throw some sweats on so this is realistic.”

“Roger that.”

They met up in the training room. “Grab the staff and strike in the exact same spots.”

“What the fuck?! Keeley, no, I could end up breaking something.”

“The welts have to match.”

“This is crazy. Let’s just tell Tar the truth.”

She spun on him instantly, her jaw clenched tight. “Do that and I’ll make sure he knows you did this to fuck me.”

His eyes blinked several times fast. “I never…”

“It’s written all over your face. And this,” she grabbed his cock, “gives you away every time I’m around.”

He swallowed the lump in his throat. Sure he knew how to break her hold on his dick. Problem was, he didn’t want to. If he would ever have a chance with her, he had to change tactics. Be her friend. “I’ll take your secret to the grave.”

She nodded. “Let’s get this over with.”

*****

Tar stood there in shock. How could Leith do such a thing to Keeley? He’d sparred with her like she was a man, not a petite woman. Keeley was the only reason he didn’t take him out and discuss this man-to-man. She kept whimpering for him, and he was at a loss on what to do for her. Instinct told him to just sit there and hold her hand. He marveled at their size difference. She was so tiny and he was solid muscle, taller than most men. They were both in shape, although, Keeley needed to gain a few pounds. Still, to Tar she was absolutely perfect. “So beautiful,” he whispered.

Her eyes fluttered open at the sound of his voice. “You like black and blue together?”

He chuckled softly. “Not particularly. But somehow
you
pull it off.”

She shook her head then winced. Fuck that hurt! “For some reason, I think you’re lying.”

Tar was aware she was hurting, but respected she tried not to show it. Instead, he placed his hand over his heart and mocked, “Lady, you wound me.”

Keeley actually laughed until it shot pain through her stomach, stealing her breath. “Shhhhhhhiiiiitttt,” she hissed.

“Fucker went too far,” Tar growled out low and menacing.

She couldn’t endanger Leith. “It was my fault. I told him to treat me like one of the guys.”

“I don’t give a shit if you offered him a million dollars. What he did is unacceptable.” He pushed back from the bed to stand.

Keeley acted fast. She latched onto his hand and yanked with all her strength, knocking him off balance. He landed hard backwards, partially on top of her. Ah, hell! She breathed through the pain as his weight was on her bruised and tender ribs. There was no denying the euphoria that came from the deep inhale and exhale. She wrapped her arm around his big shoulders, pulling his head down so she could capture his mouth with hers. His attempted protest was smothered by her tongue exploring. She licked along his lips and dove in for more. He met her thrust for thrust as her fingers snaked down his shirt and skated across his delectable pecs. The man was a work of art, but she needed more, tweaking his nipple to convince him she was all right and wanted him.

Her soft groans into his mouth lit his fire in more ways than one. He laced his fingers into her hair, pulling her closer as he began to control the kiss. Tar fucked her thoroughly mouth to mouth before releasing her swollen lips and moving his down her throat, where he nipped and sucked.

Keeley was hungry for more. “Fuck me.”

Tar raised his head and locked his boiling gaze on hers. “Dirtier.”

Her breath hitched. “I want your cum all over me, marking me, claiming what belongs to you.”

In a maneuver so quick she found herself underneath him, his hot gaze still on hers. “Say you’re mine.”

“I so fucking am.”

His hand went down her panties, fingers probing until Keeley cried out, not in desire but fear. Tar withdrew instantly. “What’s wrong, baby?”

Terror danced in her eyes. No! She wouldn’t allow the flashback of Braxton fingering her. Keeley forced the monster back into the box, but not before Tar tuned into her reaction. She grabbed his hand and sucked on his fingertips, before taking his hand and placing it back to her sex. “Make me know
only you
.”

He hesitated. Was her reaction from the distant past or more recent? Tar knew she loved him, but was it enough? All thought left him when she used his finger to pleasure herself. He stared deep into her gaze wanting to watch as she broke apart. “Eyes on mine.”

She licked her lips and held his regard while fucking herself with his fingers. “I’m going to come.”

Tar caressed her tits with his free hand and just as she was about to go over, he pinched her nipple. She came undone, gaze still on his. He kissed her deeply and rode out her orgasm by plucking her clit. “Absolutely gorgeous,” he purred.

Keeley somewhat returned to earth and wanted from Tar exactly what she’d told him. She unfastened his jeans and helped him work them off, before he tugged his shirt one-handed over his head. With no interest in resisting the urge, she leaned forward and traced the beautiful script tattoo which ran across his upper chest below the collar bones. His cock nudged at her entrance. She opened for her visitor, welcoming him as she locked her legs around his hips. He slid his hands under her low back, raising her to him as he swiveled his hips, rubbing on that special spot. He fought hard not to come too soon and pulled out to the tip, then slammed back to the hilt. Her cries of pleasure pushed him harder, faster, before he eased back to enter slow and steady, working them both into a frenzy. On his next downward thrust, he commanded, “Come, Keeley.”

Holy hell
. The orgasm was powerful as she screamed his name into his mouth. Both breathing so heavy kissing wasn’t possible. Tar held her tenderly as their heart rates began to lower, licking at her lips softly. She murmured, “I love you,” but doubted he heard her. Best that way, she thought.