The Games We Play

43. Forty-Two - X

Forty-Two - X

The day my brother told me he was getting married, I tried to talk him out of it. Bringing anyone into our world, trying to start a family, the idea of love , it was suicide.

I’ve learned that the hard way.

But hearing Puppet say those three words, even after everything I’ve put her through—I’m the furthest thing from a saint, and I’ll damn her soul to hell with me if that’s what she truly wants.

“Say it,” I rasp, needing to hear it one more time like I’m Beetlejuice, and the third time she says my name will set me free.

“I. Want. You. Xane.”

I close my eyes and revel in the feel of those words as they settle on my skin, and the weight of them hits me in my chest. She said my name, not X. She’s staring at me and knows my name, something I’ve wanted for so long and didn’t think I’d ever have.

Who am I to deny the woman who carved her initials into my chest? The idea of watching her live her life with another man’s hands on her nearly sends me over the edge, and I growl as I grab her ass and lift her onto my hips.

This woman is my creation. Mine.

I press my lips to hers and moan as hers part, and I slip my tongue in. Something cold bites against my throat, and I pause, breaking the kiss, and lean back to stare at the fiery blue eyes staring directly at me.

“Puppet?” I question a hint of humor in my tone. I’ve had enough knives pulled on me. I know what one feels like.

“If you ever try to leave me behind, I’ll kill you, Xane Collins.” Her skin is flushed pink. I lean into the knife, kissing each cheek, then her nose.

“Are you threatening me, or is this foreplay? It’s hard to tell.” I nuzzle into her neck, and as the knife slips away, it slices into my skin.

“It’s a promise,” she hisses, her hands tangling in my hair.

My lips find hers once more, and she bites down, nearly drawing blood before sucking, and my cock tents in my shorts. I carry her to the bedroom and close the door with my foot, not daring to take my hands off her. How is this real? If it is a dream, I never want to wake up.

I lay her down on the bed, and her needy hands claw at my back. “Patience,” I purr, and she scoffs and reaches for my shorts. I stand up and slowly slide them down my thighs. “Remember what you wanted earlier tonight? I’m a starving man, Puppet.” I grin and slide her ass to the edge of the bed before dropping to my knees. I spread her legs and gaze at her perfect pink pussy, it taunting me as it glistens.

“Xane,” she begs, and it’s my name coming off her sweet lips as her cunt greedily waits for me.

My name.

Because she knows who I am now, and she still chose me .

I groan the moment her sweet desire coats my tongue. It’s been months since I’ve had her, and I nearly lose all restraint to take this slowly and savor every second with her. My fingers dig into her thighs, and I flick my gaze up to the beauty lying on her back, writhing as I work her clit with my tongue.

“Xane,” she moans, and my cock hardens, demanding it take the place of my tongue to have her scream my name instead. I pull back and push to my feet.

Puppet props up on her elbows and scowls at me. “No! You can’t do this to me again,” she whines, and I chuckle.

“I’m going to take excellent care of you, Puppet.”

I fist my cock, and she licks her lips. Her eyes dart from my cock to my face, and a fire burns in their blue depths.

“I have an idea,” she says with a maniacal smile. Before I can protest, she’s up from the bed and out my bedroom door.

Naked. What the fuck?

I poke my head out the door into the hallway, looking for any sign of my pet. She comes running down the hall, giggling with a bag over her shoulder.

“What are you doing?” I ask, unable to contain the amusement in my voice.

She drops the bag and bends over, digging through the contents. Her ass is on full display, and I run my hand up and down my cock as I watch her.

She squeals with delight, and I arch a brow. “What are you—?”

She stands and turns to face me, her smile wide with excitement, and in her hands is rope. My body jolts with anticipation, and a feeling I’ve never experienced with another woman washes over me .

“From the moment I saw you tie up that piece of shit, I’ve fantasized about being at your mercy,” I whisper.

Her gaze turns molten. I lift my hands and hold them in front of me with my fists softly closed and wrists facing up.

“It was…empowering,” she admits and wraps the rope around my forearms, down to my hands. She makes expert work, and I pull on the restraint to test their strength. My cock jumps when they don’t give.

“Where did you learn to do this?”

“Youtubiversity,” she says without cracking a smile and guiding me to the edge of the bed. “Crawl to the center,” she orders, and I obey. “Now, lay on your back.”

I flop over and smile up at her, my hands lying on my stomach.

She pulls my feet to the corners of the bed, pulls them taut, and saunters over to my side.

“Lift your hands,” she says with a flick of her fingers over my head. I raise my arms, and she straddles my torso, reaching over my body. She pushes my arms back and loops a rope through the bindings.

She shimmies until her pussy is nearly over my mouth. “Hmmm,” I growl and raise my head and lick my tongue up her seam. My arms stretch, but it’s not uncomfortable. I pull on them, just testing the waters, but I’m suspended without the ability to move my legs or arms.

“Is that too much?” she asks, checking my stitches.

“No.” My voice comes out breathy. This is better than I ever fucking imagined.

Puppet slides back down my body and leans over, grazing my face with her nipples. I strain to reach up and suck one into my mouth, but she sits up, robbing me of the chance. My muscles flex, but the ropes hold .

“Use your words, Pet,” she purrs as she traces her finger down my sternum. “Tell me what you want.”

Her hair falls around her shoulder like a cascading waterfall, and I want to reach out and run my fingers through it, fist it in my hand, and flip the scenario where she is underneath me. I never dreamed it would feel this frustrating and hot as fuck at the same time to have her in control.

“Guess I’ll just have to leave you here until you find your voice.” She swings her legs off and stands, taking one step toward the door.

“Ride my cock,” I blurt, desperate to have her back. I can’t chase her. I can’t force her to come back; she has to choose it. I have to tell her exactly what I want. “Come back, and ride my fucking cock, Puppet,” I say with more desire lacing my tone. Fuck, I want her so goddamn bad.

A smile lifts her lips, and she climbs back on the bed. She drops her lips to mine and keeps them just out of reach. “How do you want me to ride your cock, X?”

“Like the dirty slut you are.” Her hand slips between us, and she grabs my dick, lining it up with her center, and slowly drags her wet pussy down my shaft until she’s fully seated, and she kisses me quickly before retreating.

Rocking her hips, she palms her breasts. I try to dig my heels in, buck my hips, something to get more movement, but she’s made sure that’s not an option. “Puppet,” I groan at the nagging feeling of being on the cusp of something fantastic but not quite reaching it. “Ride me like I know you fucking can. I’m begging here. Quit teasing me.”

Her gorgeous, plump lips part, and I clench my hands. Her fingers leave her nipples and dip down her abdomen and rub across her clit. She rocks her hips faster and throws her head back, her hair tickling the tops of my thighs.

She’s fucking incredible working herself, using my cock—using me—to pull every ounce of pleasure she desires.

I get lost in the way her curves dance with her movements. I never knew I would get so much pleasure watching her take everything she wants. Her pace quickens and her moans grow louder, and all I can do is watch the goddess on top of me come undone. Her pussy clenches around my cock, and she keeps working her clit, grinding down on me as she rides every ounce of her orgasm. She’s panting and glistening with sweat when her blown pupils find mine.

She lifts off my cock and slams back down, picking up a fast rhythm, stroking me to perfection. I press the back of my head into the mattress.

“Yes. Just like that, Puppet,” I moan. “You take my cock so fucking good.”

Her nails dig into my chest, and she arches her back, lifting and dropping her ass perfectly.

“Holy fucking shit,” I breathe out, and my body tenses.

Abruptly, Puppet stops, and my cock springs free, the cool air a shock to my system.

“What the fuck?!” I shout, jerking on the ropes as Puppet bounces on her toes to her discarded bag.

“Just one more thing,” she says in an excited tone.

Has anyone ever died of blue balls? Because I just might.

I sigh and let my head fall back to the bed, muttering about how this woman is driving me wild. Cold metal slides across my skin, and I glance down at Puppet, tracing the tip of her knife across the P on my chest .

She climbs back over my torso and spreads her pussy lips over my cock. The tip of her blade cuts into my chest, and I hiss, but it morphs into a moan as her pussy tightens and my dick fills her cunt.

By the third time, she slides up and down my dick, my balls tighten, and I fill her cunt as she finishes carving a fresh P on my chest.

Black spots dance around my vision, and air rushes into my lungs as I breathe deeply. Never in my life did I think I would willingly let someone tie me up and have their way with me. I also never thought I’d find someone like my puppet.

Blood trails down my side and abdomen, and Puppet lays her head on the unscarred side of my chest.

“Your heart is racing,” her soft voice feathers across my chest.

“You have that effect on me.”

She stretches over her head and swipes her arm wide. My hands break free, and I pull them down over my head. Puppet cuts the ropes from my wrist and crawls down the bed, releasing each foot.

Her ass shimmies in the air, and the moment my last rope is loose, I lunge forward and grab her from behind.

“What are you doing?” she giggles and tries to turn around.

“Returning the favor, Puppet. My turn to freshen your mark, and I’m not done with this pussy yet.”

***

Tess’s arms and legs drape over my body as she snuggles into the crook of my shoulder. Roxy sleeps on the foot of the bed, her quiet snores blending with Tess’s. My gunshot wounds are healed. Doc took the stitches out two days ago, but they’re still tender when I lay in the same spot too long.

A knock sounds at my door, and I gently slip from underneath Tess and pull on a pair of shorts. She looks so peaceful, sprawled out in my bed, my T-shirt riding up over her ass as if it’s tempting me to come back and take her again before I start my morning. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough.

I smirk and click the door closed behind me, walking barefoot to the kitchen where Doc waits with more tea.

“Coffee, Doc. I need coffee,” I say, waving off his offering and going to the onyx liquid maker on the counter. I prep the machine and wait for the pot to fill.

“Saunders called,” Doc announces, and my mood sobers. I straighten my back, and my smile fades to a scowl.

“And?”

Doc rakes an aged hand through his gray hair, and I know what he’s about to say isn’t good.

“They’re alive,” I state. “Both of them.”

He nods. “Darius took a private jet with life-threatening injuries. He’s currently holed up in Munich with guards on watch at all times. The place is locked down.”

“And November?”

“Nadia Wallace was last seen fleeing the auction, and she’s been underground ever since.”

Nadia .

“Shit,” I sigh, grabbing the coffee pot and pouring myself a cup.

“What’s wrong?” Tess asks as she and Roxy enter the room. She eyes me warily, like I’ll change my mind any second about us. I pass her the cup of coffee and grab myself another.

“There’s word on your father and aunt,” I tell her, and she waits patiently for me to go on. “He’s in a hospital in Munich, alive, and Nadia, formerly known as November, is smoke in the wind.”

She sips her drink, and I do the same. They’re both impossible situations.

“How did Scott do it?” Tess asks, catching me off guard.

“Do…what?”

She sets her cup down and makes a face like I should know what she’s talking about. She sighs, leans forward to brace her chin on her fist, and blinks at me. “You’re cute when you’re clueless.”

Doc laughs and covers it with a cough, and I look back at Puppet in an impatient stance. “Don’t make me regret keeping you,” I tease.

“Clearly, you’d be lost without me.” She takes another sip, then relents. “Somehow, he got information on you and learned everything about who you worked for. How did he do it?”

“He hacked our tech. Traced the signal back to the source.”

“Exactly,” Tess says, super proud of herself.

Setting my coffee mug down, I mimic her stance and place my chin on her fist. “One problem. We don’t have any tech linked to them anymore. I’m a traitor, remember?”

She shrugs like that is just a minor inconvenience. “So, we’ll get some.”

“How?” I scoff.

“By hiring a hitman to take someone out.” Her eyes sparkle, and I see her for the conniving woman she is .

“They aren’t just listed in the phone book, and you can’t Google them.”

“No,” Doc adds. “But I know who to call.”

I volley my attention between Tess and Doc. Both wearing grins, and I plop down on the barstool and shake my head at Tess. “Well, what are you waiting for, Doc? It’s time to hunt.”

Puppet’s eyes flare, and I recognize the bloodthirsty twinkle in her gaze. It mirrors my own, and I can’t wait to show her who I am when the hunt is on.