What He Guards (What He Wants, Book Twelve) Page 3

  I tilted my head back and breathed out. It was one of the most erotic things I’d ever felt in my life.

  “Look at me, Charlotte,” he scolded. His tone was laced with authority, no longer the soft and lustful tone he’d used with me just a moment ago when he’d told me how sexy I was.

  I looked at him.

  He kneeled before me, and he took my hands and placed them behind my back. “Lock your hands together.”

  I did as he said, interlacing my fingers together behind me.

  He pushed the crotch of my bodysuit over to the side, exposing my newly bare pussy.

  “Very nice,” he murmured in approval. He slid his finger up my slit and I instantly got wet.

  I closed my eyes, but he growled, “Look at me.”

  I looked at him, and he looked at me, and the want in the room pulsed so intense and electric I could feel it, I could see it. It was a force so beyond my control that I couldn’t help but surrender to it.

  He moved his mouth close to my pussy, and blew on my exposed skin, his breath moving from hot to cold and sending tiny ripples of ecstasy reverberating through my core.

  “Noah – ”

  “Shh,” he said and stood up. He put a finger to my lips. “You will stay here for now. You will keep completely still. You will keep your hands behind your back and you will not say a word.”

  And with that, he turned around and moved back to his desk, leaving me standing there in panting want.

  ***

  It was an hour before he let me move, an hour before he let me unclasp my hands, an hour before he let me readjust my bodysuit so that my pussy wasn’t exposed. An hour of my desire building inside of me like a boulder gaining momentum as it rushed down a mountain.

  He’d spent the whole time working at his desk, making phone calls, barking orders, typing on his computer, signing papers. Every so often he would glance over at me and give an approving nod as he saw I was following his instructions.

  Finally, he hung up the phone and came to me, reached down and moved my bodysuit back over so that I was covered.

  He reached down and picked up the jacket I’d been wearing.

  “Arms out,” he commanded.

  I put my arms out and he slid the jacket onto me and buttoned it.

  His hand tightened around mine as he led me out of his office and through the halls of Cutler and Associates. We passed a couple of people in the halls, but for the most part, the office felt quiet. But not from a lack of work. There were people in the building, but the franticness of meetings and appointments had slowed down, replaced by the humming drone of writing briefs and researching cases.

  When we got to the elevator, Noah pushed the button for the garage, not the lobby.

  “Where are we going?” I asked as the elevator began its descent.

  “Force, Charlotte.”

  “No, I mean, why are we going to the garage?”

  “I’ll be driving tonight.”

  “You drive?”

  He glanced at me, amused. “Yes, Charlotte, I drive. I am a man of many talents.”

  The doors opened into a small parking garage, with just enough spaces for ten or so cars. Most of them were taken up with sedans and SUVs, but at the very end was a sleek black sports car.

  Noah came around and opened the passenger side door for me, and I slid into the bucket seat, inhaling the scent of leather and extravagance.

  “Fancy,” I said as he settled into the driver’s seat.

  “Put your seatbelt on.”

  I slid my belt over my chest and buckled it.

  Noah pulled out of the space and guided the car out onto the streets of Manhattan. Driving in the city was insane at any time of day, but Noah drove exactly like he lived – controlled and unflappable. He seemed oblivious to the honk of horns and the swerve of taxis.

  “Are you comfortable?” he asked.

  “What?”

  “Are you cold?” He indicated the temperature control on the dashboard.

  I shook my head. “No. I’m fine.”

  The truth was, I wasn’t fine. I was trying to keep my body from shivering and my teeth from chattering. I wasn’t physically cold – the reactions were physical manifestations of stress. My stomach rolled on itself, twisting into a figure eight and a jumpy feeling coursed through me, causing my leg to jitter.

  Noah glanced at me and frowned, so I forced myself to stay still.

  My phone vibrated in my bag, and Noah’s hands tightened on the wheel as I pulled it out and checked the screen.

  “Who is it?” he demanded.

  “It’s Julia,” I said, sending the call to voicemail. “She’s probably wondering where I am.”

  “Have you told her you’re moving out?”

  “No. Actually, the last time I talked to her I told her I was going to be around more.”

  His hands tightened again, his knuckles turning white. “Please tell her you’re moving out, Charlotte. Let me know what kind of financial implications there will be, and I’ll take care of it.”

  My phone buzzed with a text before I could answer him.

  Julia.

  Charlotte, r u okay?? There was a reporter outside our apartment just now looking for you! Because of Noah?? Cll me.

  I breathed out. “There was a reporter outside of my building,” I said.

  Noah nodded, unruffled. “That’s to be expected.” He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. “It’s only going to get worse.”

  I typed a text back to Julia, my hands shaking.

  Is he still there? U ok?

  I’m fine. He left when he realized you weren’t here. But I’m worried about u.

  I’m okay. I’m with Noah. I’ll cll you in the morning and explain.

  I started to shut my phone off before putting it back in my bag, but Noah shook his head.

  “No. Phone on at all times.”

  I nodded, setting Julia’s texts to Do Not Disturb. I would deal with her in the morning.

  When we pulled up in front of Force, Noah pulled into the space right in front of the club.

  “How do you do that?” I asked in wonder.

  “How do I do what?” He shifted the car into park.

  “Always get a space right in front of wherever you’re going.”

  “Money.”

  “What?”

  “Money can buy you whatever you want, Charlotte. Anything you’ve heard to the contrary is false.”

  He sounded so sure of himself, and I wondered if he was thinking about how he was going to make sure he stayed out of jail. He seemed to think that with enough lawyers and connections and cash he could finagle his way out of anything.

  And maybe he was right.

  But I wasn’t going to take that chance.

  I stayed in the car as Noah got out, taking a moment to myself for a deep breath and an effort at calming my pounding heart. I’d thought the fact that I’d been to Force before would perhaps make being back here a little easier. But the thought of going inside was just as intimidating as ever.

  Noah opened my car door, and I took his hand as he helped me onto the sidewalk.

  “You’re sure you want to do this?” he asked. “It’s not too late to just call the police.”

  “No.” I shook my head. Now that I was here, my resolve was weakening, but not enough for me to call the whole thing off. The street was deserted, and I marveled at the fact that there were so many people in the club and yet you couldn’t see anyone coming or going.

  There was no sign of the things that were happening in there.

  Noah didn’t try to change my mind. Instead, he reached up and began unbuttoning the coat I was wearing.

  I pulled it tighter around my shoulders. “I want to keep this on.”

  He stayed quiet, but I could tell from the look in his eyes, from the look on his face, that he thought we’d have a greater chance of drawing out Katie’s killer if I took the jacket off, if I walked into Force with my body on displa
y.

  I nodded silently, and he removed the coat from my body and set it in the car.

  He took my hands in his and kissed me softly on the forehead.

  Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out what looked like a leash.

  I shook my head. “I don’t want to be collared.”

  “It’s not a collar. And it’s not up for discussion.” He fastened a leather cuff around my wrist. The cuff was attached to a long silver chain. Noah wrapped the end of the chain around his hand, weaving it around his strong forearm. “You will not take this off while we are outside of my private room. No matter what happens. Do you understand, Charlotte?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m not fucking around, Charlotte.” His forceful tone was laced with tenderness and protection, and I felt a surge of love for him. I allowed myself one tiny moment of wishing, one tiny moment of fantasizing that we were just a normal couple, that we were going out on a date in the city before heading back to Noah’s apartment where we’d watch a movie and cuddle in bed.

  Noah pulled on the leash, making sure the cuff was tight on my wrist. “Do not take this off.”

  “Yes, sir.” I’d meant it to come off as sarcastic and flippant, but instead my voice sounded pliant and submissive.

  He nodded in satisfaction. He leaned in close to me. “If you want to leave, you just say ‘red’ and we stop,” he said. “I will get you out of there.”

  I nodded, and he kissed my lips.

  Then he took my hand and led me through the door and into Force.

  ***

  I noticed more details this time.

  The narrowness of the corridors.

  The way our footsteps echoed over the concrete floors.

  The smell was stronger than I remembered – smoke and must and something industrial.

  I tried to pay attention as Noah led me through the winding halls, tried to focus on whether we turned left or right, if there were any doors or distinct markings I could use as landmarks. The last time we’d been here I was so overwhelmed I hadn’t been able to keep track of where I was.

  I knew I needed to try as best I could to learn the layout of this place. But it was impossible. The corridors all looked the same, the winding deep red and black pattern of the walls swirling together, making it seem as if each wall bled into the next.

  Despite my best efforts, soon I had lost all sense of direction.

  Eventually, we got to the end of the main corridor, which opened into the main room. There was a bouncer standing at the front, just as there had been last time.

  He nodded at Noah as we passed by. The bouncer’s eyes met mine, and I recognized him as the one I’d asked about The Dark Room, the one who’d led me to Audi.

  Suddenly, everything from that night came rushing back to me in flashing scenes that burned in my brain.

  Noah ripping up our contract.

  Me running out of the room.

  Anonymous telling me to ask for The Dark Room.

  Being strung up by Noah’s brother, the way Audi had looked when he’d sliced my skin with his knife. The wound was still there, and although it hadn’t been bothering me, as soon as I thought about it, a throbbing pain seemed to radiate from the cut.

  Noah’s hand tightened around mine as if he instinctually knew I was struggling, and his touch gave me strength.

  The room was much the same – the scuffed black tables and chairs scattered around randomly as people moved them to suit their needs, FORCE written across the ceiling in scrawled letters.

  I remembered those girls, the one’s going to the slave auction, how dead their eyes had looked, their expressions withered like husks.

  Now up on the stage was a woman wearing a plaid schoolgirl outfit, her hair in pigtails, knee socks and black Mary Janes on her feet. She was bent over a heavy oak desk. A tall African American man forced her to hold her skirt up as he whipped her ass with his belt. Another woman in a matching plaid uniform sat in a chair watching them, her legs spread for the crowd as she fucked herself with a vibrator.

  The club seemed busier tonight, or maybe I was just more aware of the men around me, wondering if any of them were Anonymous. Their eyes raked up my body, over my breasts and my bare ass, making no qualms about the fact that they were enjoying ogling me. They were an eclectic bunch, some of them wearing leather and carrying whips, some of them dressed in suits, some of them casual in jeans and dark t-shirts.

  Noah led me to a table in the corner.

  “Aren’t we going to your room?” I asked, surprised that he wanted to sit out here.

  “Oh, make no mistake, Charlotte, you are going to be taken back to that room. You have been very reckless, and your behavior will have consequences.”

  Before he could elaborate, a girl appeared before us, her dark blonde hair pulled back in a sleek bun, her body tight and toned. She looked airbrushed and spray tanned, her body glittering under the lights.

  “Can I get you a drink, sir?” she asked, her gaze pointed toward the floor.

  “Water,” Noah said.

  She nodded and walked away. Her tiny gold skirt barely covered her ass, and her cheeks flexed under the shiny metallic material.

  “Why did she call you ‘sir’?” I asked, irritated.

  “She’s a slave.”

  “So? She’s not your slave.”

  “The slaves who are not purchased at the auction become property of the club. They are instructed to refer to all patrons as ‘sir.’”

  “And they serve drinks?”

  “Yes, among other things.”

  “I didn’t like the way she was looking at you,” I grumbled.

  “She wasn’t looking at me at all.”

  “Exactly. She wanted to make it clear that she’d allow you to dominate her.”

  “She’d allow anyone to dominate her.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean that she exists to please anyone who wants her.”

  “Anyone?”

  “Yes.”

  “What if she doesn’t want to?”

  “She’s given her consent to be used by the club for any way it sees fit. And that includes by its members.”

  “So basically what you’re telling me is that anyone who wants to can fuck her?”

  “Anyone who wants to can use her for their own pleasure.”

  The girl returned then with our water, setting it down on the table in front of us. Her face was eerily beautiful, her eyes big and blue. She had the thin, angular look of a model or a starlet. She couldn’t have been more than nineteen or twenty.

  “Is there anything else I can do for you, sir?” Her voice was soft and submissive, her intent clear.

  “That will be all,” Noah said, and she scurried off.

  My water had been served in a silver goblet filled with crushed ice. It had a smooth, crisp feel in my hand, and I marveled at the rules of this new world, where men could use young, beautiful women in whatever way they deemed fit. It was just another way I had to compete with for Noah’s attention.

  I sipped my water as we watched the scene on the stage.

  The schoolgirls had been replaced with a woman dressed in a blue-and-white checked hospital gown.

  The stage had been set up with props – a folding table in the corner, medical equipment hanging from a rolling cart.

  A man entered in a white doctor’s coat, and began asking the woman on stage a series of medical questions.

  I shifted on my chair as he began examining her, pushing her gown to the side and roughly handling her breasts.

  I watched as the girl struggled a bit, trying to push the doctor away.

  “Trust me,” he said. “I’m a medical professional.” He grabbed the girl and ripped her gown away, pushing her down roughly on the table.

  My breathing became labored, my cheeks flushed.

  Noah was watching me carefully. “Does that turn you on, Charlotte?”

  I shook my head no.

  The
side of his mouth twitched up into a devious grin. “Really? Because you seem flushed.”

  He stood up and moved so that he was standing in front of me.

  “What are you doing?” I asked as he opened one side of his jacket so that it was blocking us from the view of the club.

  “Finding out if you’re a liar.” His hand pressed between my legs, rubbing over the outside of my bodysuit. His grin became more wicked. “Why, yes, Ms. Holloway, I do believe you’re lying.”

  I crossed my legs, embarrassed.

  “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, Charlotte.”

  “I’m not… I mean, it’s not the medical stuff.”

  “Is it her struggle?”

  I nodded and then looked away, embarrassed. How could something so disgusting, so repulsive excite me?

  “Look at me,” Noah commanded.

  I looked up at him, standing there in front of me, so strong and beautiful.

  He leaned down and kissed me. “Never look away from me in embarrassment. Everything about you is beautiful, every thought, every desire. Do you understand?”

  I nodded.

  He stood back up and took my hand. “Come on,” he said. “It’s time we had some fun of our own.”

  ***

  When we got into his private room, he shut the door softly behind him and removed the cuff from around my wrist.

  “Strip,” he demanded.

  I removed my bodysuit and stood there, naked and blushing under his gaze.

  “Get down on your knees, Charlotte,” he said. “From now on when we come in this room, I would like you to kneel immediately and await my instructions.”

  “Yes, sir.” I kneeled down on the floor and was careful not to make eye contact with him, following the example of the slave waitress.

  “Look at me.”

  I looked at him.

  “Always look at me, Charlotte. I need to see your eyes.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Good girl.”

  He crossed the room and selected a flogger from his crop of toys. I kept my eyes on him, watching as he moved back over until he was standing in front of me. He took off his jacket, then unbuttoned the sleeves of his shirt and began rolling them up, exposing his muscular forearms. It was the same thing he’d done in Clementine’s office when he’d threatened to pick me up and carry me out of there.