understand that if I don’t protect you here, in Sin
Town, what will happen to you?”
Hannah
nodded and with a shaking breath she stood from the table. “I’m ready. I guess.
Do I look okay?”
Vain
ran her hand along Hannah’s plump breasts. “Darling, you’re going to make his
motor hum. Come now.” Vain took her hand and helped her around the side. Hannah
would get used to the heels and the short skirt. That you could teach.
But
the sweet naïve quality Hannah naturally came with? No, that couldn’t be
taught. And Vain was going to use her to get Kevin Loust to do whatever Vain
asked. The Ruby Heart would be hers, one way or another.
It
was Vain who wanted to be queen of the underworld. Why should the Bloods get
all the fun?
Chapter Five: Duncan
Kneeling
over the stockade whipping bench wasn’t the manliest thing in the world, but
Duncan didn’t have much choice in the matter. His hands were cuffed beneath the
base and his chin dug into the pleather material across the top pad. Duncan’s mind swirled as he listened to Vain’s
high heels click.
She
circled in front of him and placed a fist on her hip. No longer in her silver catsuit , which had always been her trademark,
now she wore a pair of stiletto pumps, fishnet stockings and a dangerously
tight corset. In other words, Vain was dressed in her finest working girl
outfit.
“You
haven’t called out once, Duncan.” Her voice purred with disappointment and
circled from behind.
“Guess
you’re going to have to try harder then, aren’t you?” Maybe it wasn’t smart to
goad her on, but Duncan couldn’t help himself. Being in the same room with her
angered him. Knowing her hands could touch him, caresses him anytime she
wanted, sickened him. Worst of all, he put himself in this situation. He
subjected himself toVain’s mercy because he, what, thought he would be able to
escape so easy?
The
heat of Vain’s legs pressed up against the naked flesh of his thighs. The
softness of her bosom pushed into his back and her fingernails traced up his
arms. Something was sharp, so sharp about her nails and like sandpaper. they
scratched his skin. Duncan bit his lip to keep himself in line; it was about
the only thing that actually worked.
She
grabbed his hair and reeled his head back
sharply. He allowed himself a quick grunt. “It could be a lot more fun if you
took these handcuffs off?”
Vain
licked his jawline all the way down to the nape of his neck. Her saliva had the
stench of betrayal and corruption, and Duncan’s skin rejected the idea of her.
None of it felt good, nothing about it turned him on, even in the least. “And I
can trust you not to run away? To play fair?”
She
tilted his head with a finger. Leaning forward over his shoulder, her lips
grazed his. Duncan closed his eyes to keep the sickness at bay. He parted his
lips and allowed the delicate tip of her tongue, like Satan’s forked tongue in
spirit; lick the corner of his mouth.
“Where’s
the fun in fair, Vain?”
Vain laughed. “No fun at all, but if you try
to escape I’ll be forced to catch you. Forced to punish you. Is that what you
want?”
She
took the key from one of the buckles of her corset and knelt in front of him.
It dangled from her teeth as she ran her hands down her curvy sides, as if
somehow that would entice him. Like watching a cow make love to itself on the
way to slaughter, no Duncan wasn’t turned on.
His
lip wanted to turn up with disgust, but instead he practiced a sly smile. “Go
ahead, baby,” he whispered. “Let’s get the real party started.”
“And
this time you’ll be a willing participant in bed? And not a wet doormat?”
“You’ll
never know until you try,” Duncan purred. It must have been enough, because
Vain slid the key into his handcuffs and let him go.
His
arms were tingling. Duncan’s back straightened and he rubbed his wrists
together. They felt like they were on fire. He stood slow, first on his