Master A-0011 (Garden of the Gods #11)

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I t was the way he said my name. The care in each kiss. The attention Ethan gave when he focused on parts of my body that told me he wasn’t lying about wanting to be with me. He catered to my scars instead of trying to pretend they didn’t exist. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I didn’t care as I lost myself in the way he kept eye contact as he rose to meet my mouth, burying his fingers back inside of me. His nude body was shocking to see, but something in knowing it was mine only made me more impatient.

Impatient.

I had to hurry. We…had to hurry? Something was changing. Mallory. Pearl Mallory. My name. Who I was…

“I should ask if you really want this one more time, but I’m not letting you go even if you don’t. Slave, wife. Wife ,” he breathed out against my lips, stealing me from the screaming in my mind. “No more Pearl Mallory. Pearl O’Brien.”

Screaming.

Screaming.

There was something back there. Something trying to warn me? Something?

My lids fluttered as his mouth moved to my neck. I was so wet. So ready to try to appease the ‘more’ sensation that was driving me crazy. Was that what those screams were? The ‘more’? Or maybe I knew this could be bad in the long run. Was I really so excited to marry this man? This Master? This…murdering cannibal?

I buried my nails in his back, urging him to continue. Trying to get him to go faster. Faster. More. I was so close to that sensation he’d brought out in me before. I’d experienced orgasms on rare occasion in my past, but it wasn’t something I got to enjoy. Not when there was constantly a camera on me or guards not far outside. Privacy didn’t really exist, and I hadn’t been able to ignore that. But here, now, I had nothing holding me back.

“Ethan, please.”

He lifted from the hollow of my shoulder, his eyes a vibrant green as they met mine. A deep breath left him, and he nodded. Pressure leveled at my entrance, and I closed my eyes, trying to prepare for the unknown. For…more pain.

“Look at me, baby. Right here.”

Weight shifted as Ethan lowered more against my body. He was rubbing the head of his cock along the outside wetness, barely sinking into my pussy, only to pull out and tease me again.

More.

More.

I drew my legs up higher, crying out in pleasure as he stretched me wide with the tip. A deep vibrating rumble left Ethan and he held in place, lowering to meet my mouth. And I was ready for his kiss. I could disappear in the happiness it suddenly made me feel. A promise to a new beginning. A life maybe worth living. And I wanted that. I wanted to be happy and normal more than anything in the world.

“Don’t stop kissing me. This is gonna hurt.”

But hadn’t that been the story of my life to this point?

“All I know is pain. I can take it.”

“I believe you can. Soon, you won’t have to worry about it anymore. Hold on to me.” He swept down, thrusting and breaking through my barrier as he drank in my cry. I gasped and tensed my body through the stinging fire that had me wanting to move. And I tried, shifting my hips as he grabbed hold, keeping me still as he paused to let me adjust.

“That’s it, baby. Breathe. The worst is over. Now it’s time for me to make you feel good.”

Ethan kissed the wetness from the tears, but I hadn’t even known any had fallen. I didn’t have time to think on it as he inched out, lifting and sitting back to watch himself go deeper. The change in sensation had my mouth shooting open. The pain was still there, but so was something else as I took in his powerful body. The muscles flexed at his movements. People worshipped this man. Millions upon millions of people. They loved him. They adored him. But…

Something. Something.

My knees pulled back, and a loud moan left me as he took his time burying his cock. I could feel his length throbbing as he paused, holding securely to the side of my throat. He was still staring down at me but with more awe than I’d ever seen from him. Sweat was beginning to coat his chest and he bit his bottom lip, inching out and sliding back in. Slow. Steady. Slow.

My fingers went to my clit, adding pressure. The sight had him making sounds just as loud as me. I was already so close as he teased and built up the ecstasy I suddenly couldn’t imagine being without. My mind was screaming again, and it was back to the ‘more’, ‘more’, ‘more’.

Thrust.

Thrust.

Thrust.

More thrusts until I couldn’t help but plead to him.

“Yes. Ethan, more. Faster. Please. I need…faster. Ethan .”

Did it still hurt? Yes. Did I care? No.

My head was lifting, and my mouth was opened. Minutes stretched out. The thrusts increased, bouncing me back as he began to pound his cock into me. The slapping of our skin had me right on edge, and he kept me there until I wasn’t sure I could go another second. I rotated my fingers over my clit and screamed as the spasms sent my legs shaking.

I could barely hear. Barely see as I managed to bring Ethan’s dreamy face into focus.

“ Fuck. Fuck that was hot. Keep touching yourself. You’re so fucking gorgeous.”

And for the first time in as long as I could remember… I believed him . His eyes never left me. His wonder never ceased.

“Jesus. Fuck, Pearl. God, yes.”

Ethan grabbed my hips, lifting my ass from the bed and holding to me tightly as he pushed deep. The force of his cum had me crying out all over again as he shot into me over and over.

He was panting. I was trying to catch my breath. And my smile. It was automatic. Even through the background screams, I was already celebrating.

Celebrating my new life.

Celebrating my upcoming future.

Celebrating…contemplating… something.

“How do you feel? How bad do you hurt?”

I glanced around the crowded restaurant on our floor, thanking God that soon I wouldn’t have to force my head to stay high because Ethan wanted me to. I could do it because I wouldn’t have to hide. I wouldn’t have to worry what people thought.

“My body doesn’t hurt nearly as bad as my ego does right now. Everyone is looking at me.”

“No they’re not. They’re looking at me.”

Ethan winked, throwing me a charming smile as he lifted his glass of water, taking a drink.

“They are looking at you too.” I shrugged. “Probably wondering how in the world you lost your mind, and what you’re doing having dinner with someone like me.”

He put the glass down, reaching across the table to grab my hand. When he lifted it and kissed against my fingers, I stiffened, glancing around at the random person looking our way.

“I wish you would stop doing things like that.”

“Doing what? Enjoying our dinner together? Trying to woo my future wife? Wife. Who would have thought I liked that term so much?” His head shook. “Who cares what any of these people think. They’re fakes, all of them. I think I want you on my lap.”

I quickly jerked my hand back as heat burned my cheeks.

“I’d die. Literally. I’d drop dead, which I guess wouldn’t be that bad. At least I wouldn’t have to endure the staring anymore.”

“Who’s staring?” Ethan finally glanced around, his face immediately hardening as he slowly scanned the room and realized I wasn’t exaggerating.

“We don’t have to stay long, right?”

“Pearl.” His forearms flattened on the table as he leaned in. Again, he picked up my hands, kissing against them. “You’re taking it the wrong way. You concealed a lot of the scars with makeup. They’re just curious. It’s aggravating but not what you think. You look breathtaking. Focus on me. We’re here for us, not them.”

“Us.” Even as I said it, I shook my head through the fog that kept coming in waves.

“ Wife .” Ethan smiled.

“This makes zero sense. I don’t even know you. You don’t know me .”

“I know enough. And you know more about me than anyone else. We’re off to a good start.”

I laughed and Ethan’s smile was so big and genuine that I felt my heart leap in my chest. Butterflies were automatic and my body flushed with a new craving that begged for more of him.

“You eat people. Pretty people. I’m so glad I’m safe from that.”

“They’re not pretty, Pearl, they’re fake. Ugly. That’s the point of all of this. It’s why I kill them. They’re not real. They have no empathy. Everything about their life is a lie. It’s superficial. A sham, and they love to be that way. I hate them on a level I can’t even explain to you. They’re like everyone I know. Like most of the elites. Like my own family . Eating them…” He stopped. “It’s hard to explain. I haven’t always been like this. One day, I just snapped. The details about that will come later. Now’s not the time. But eating them…It’s a feeling from deep inside. They can’t hurt me or anyone else ever again. I own them . I’m erasing them. Overpowering them. Taking them in me allows me to have the control. I win. I have the last laugh.”

My eyes dropped to stare at our hold of each other. Ethan’s finger was traveling down mine. In that moment, it was everything. It made me feel safe. Wanted, despite the horror I knew that came with his compulsions.

“I guess I can see that.” I pushed back the screams, barely managing to get the words to come. “Earlier you said my family wasn’t here yet. What did you mean by that?”

A throat clearing had both of us looking over. My eyes flew open wide, and my face shot down.

“Main Master.”

Ethan’s tone remained happy if not slightly surprised.

“My best chef is missing three fingers. He says you did it. Do you want to explain?”

Ethan lifted my bruised hand, but I still didn’t look up to see the Main Master’s expression.

“I brought him in to teach her to cook, not to beat her. Pearl is not a slave. Even if she was, never once did I give my permission for him to discipline her. He’s lucky he only lost fingers. I almost couldn’t stop myself from killing him.”

A pause.

My hand was taken, lifted higher by the Main Master.

“ Hello, Pearl. It’s been a few weeks since we’ve seen each other.”

At the hypnotic tone, my eyes snapped to his like a magnet. The smoothness of my name smothered out the fear. It pushed it so far away that all I could do was look into the bright blue as I responded.

“Hello, Main Master.”

“You look very pretty tonight. I almost didn’t recognize you. You’re radiant in that wine-colored dress.”

“Thank you.”

Embarrassment flooded through and I wanted to shift in my seat, but I couldn’t.

“I saw you as I was walking up. You were positively glowing. Happiness suits you. Has Ethan told you the news yet?”

“About the contract?”

The Main Master smiled. The sight had my lips slightly mirroring them, and I wasn’t sure why. I felt good as I gazed into his stare. Not judged. Not pressured.

“About your surgery.”

Thump-thump!

Excitement.

“Yes. Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you .”

He laughed. “You’re very welcome. This is a long time coming. It took me almost six months to convince Dr. Wu to join us at the Gardens. I have you to thank for the motivation to acquire him. He’ll be a good addition here.”

“You brought him here just for me?”

“Of course. You’re Pearl Mallory .” At my full name, the fog intensified a million-fold. His eyes went to my Master but didn’t stay long. “You’re a perfect fit for Ethan O’Brien . He may be a movie star, but he has more responsibilities than most know. That’s where you come in. He’s going to take such good care of you, just like I expect you to take care of him. You both deserve the best. It’s time for you to be happy and make sure your new line thrives. That is what is most important to both of you. A big, loving family. Lots of babies. Pearl, your focus is loving Ethan and embracing every part of his life. The good, the bad…the dark. You’re both still allowed to disagree, it’s even healthy, but you always resolve your issues. You’re made for each other. You’re both strong. You’re brave. You’re outgoing in our circle, and you’re loving to those closest to you. Family . Pearl, you’re going to create one with Ethan, and it’ll be so unlike your own. It’ll be everything to both of you. The foundation of your entire life. You’re true legacy. We’re the beginning of a new generation. New goals. A new mission. We’re all going to rise up to do remarkable things.” The Main Master smiled. “Have you met Mistress Zero?”

My lips parted and I tried to blink back the dazed sensation just to speak.

“I don’t believe so.”

“Her name is Kayla Princeton. She’s focused on her family too. Her husband passed not long ago and she’s having twins. She needs you. I’ll set up a meeting. You’re going to love her. I know the two of you will be such great friends. You, Vera Lemmons, and June Vaughn-Rivera. They’re your go-to when you need something or someone to talk to, and they’re so excited to meet you. And you know you can always reach out to me. I will from time-to-time check up on you. In the meantime, I want all your focus to be on that family you can’t wait to create. It’s what’s most important.”

“Of course, Main Master.”

He kissed my hand, releasing it and turning to Ethan.

“Master Eleven, just as you wanted her.”

Ethan blinked rapidly. “Thank you. Truly.”

“It’s for the greater good.” The Main Master snapped between me and Ethan, and I let out a deep breath, looking back to Ethan as the Main Master put his attention on him. “What do you think? Have you chosen a date to get married?”

Ethan’s head shook as he stared up. “Not yet. Soon. Before we leave the country. I already have my people spreading the word that I found someone. I’m on a romantic getaway with her now and supposedly we’ve been secretly dating for close to a year.” He lifted my hand, holding to it. “I’ve been so private and secluded. The spin will be great. You know how that works. They’re pushing it out quickly on how she’s the one. I’m sure the outside world is already in a buzz.”

Elec nodded. “Good work. I’ve already covered the bases needed on Quincy’s side, and you’ll be getting your gift any moment. The bastard loves his boat. Luckily for us, he practically lives on the thing. Did you hear about the storms that rolled through the other night?”

“Storms?”

I tried to get the words to make sense. Just hearing my father’s name made my mind feel…heavy.

Elec winked at me. “This season has been an exceptionally stormy one. You just never know what’ll happen. Boats…they’re such a risk yet people can’t get enough of them. Someday they’ll learn.” He turned back to Ethan, who was rubbing his mouth down the length of my index finger. I could barely sit still in my seat as the Main Master continued. “Focus, Master Eleven . I want you to start planning your wedding. Pearl will be in recovery, and we both want this done quickly. During the time of her recovery, I forbid you to see her. You have other things to focus on.”

“But—”

“ No seeing her . With Quincy’s accident and Pearl’s resurfacing, your ceremony needs to be public. That is what I want you to focus on. Make it perfect for her. Beautiful. Small, but known.”

“ Wait. Will you be there?” All of Ethan’s attention went to Elec. He sat up straighter, his brow drawing in. “You have to be there, Elec. I know you don’t do ceremonies, but who else would be my best man? There’s no one I’m closer with than you. Besides, I can’t get married without the man who brought me and Pearl together.”

For the first time, I saw hesitation on the Main Master’s face.

“If that’s what you want.”

“Of course it’s what I want. Elec, you’ve taken care of me. You’ve helped me in ways no one would understand.” Ethan stood, wrapping his arms around the Main Master for a quick hug. Elec took a deep breath, forcing a smile as Ethan pulled back.

“I’ll be there for you. I’m truly excited about this match. Pearl will be everything you need. You’re both going to be happy.”

The Main Master’s smile was fading as he took a step back.

“I should go. Let’s get the ball rolling. Say your goodbyes tonight. Have Pearl checked in for her surgery at five AM sharp. The sooner we get this done, the sooner it’s over.”