She pushes him away in an instant, as far away as she can. He seems hurt and surprised by her reaction and he shakes his head before getting up from the sofa and approaching the rest of us.
"Any luck?" Dex asks in a deep, dark voice.
Brazen gives him a blank stare. "She says it's nothing. That it was always nothing. We're... nothing."
I get up and squeeze his hand to reassure him. Tianna gets up too, pocketing her phone and clapping our brother on the back.
"Plenty of other fish in the sea, right?" she asks sweetly, but Brazen just shakes his head. He looks... broken. Like the maid's daughter just handed him his heart on a plate.
We all turned around to see Minnie walking out of the room. Brazen calls out after her, but she ignores him and races up the stairs.
"Can I go speak to her?" Tianna asks, and we all look at her with surprise. "What? I can be nice."
"Sure," I say after an uncomfortable pause. "Dex, show her where Minnie's bedroom is."
They walk out of the room together, leaving me alone with Brazen who's nervously pacing the room. One look at my brother reveals just how frayed his nerves are.
"Brazen," I call out to him. "Talk to me. What happened back there?"
"She said it's over," he says, then laughs, repeating it. "Over. How can it be over, if it never even began?"
"You and Minnie... never...?"
"No," he shakes his head. "I kept away from her as much as I could, while trying to protect her."
"But you don't want to?"
"What do you think?" he laughs bitterly.
"Okay, stupid question. But you can get out of the wedding you're being forced into, Brazen."
"What do you mean?" He narrows his eyes at me.
"Well... you know that Eden Falls rulebook?" I ask, and he nods. "Let's just say I have a feeling it's about to be rewritten."
He stares at me for a moment, and I'm pleasantly surprised by the fact he hasn't just written me off and laughed in my face. Brazen laughs out loud, saying, "If anyone can rewrite history, it's going to be you, Pandora Oakes."
I fight the proud beam off my face, deciding instead to shift the topic back to Minnie.
"Once that happens, you'll be able to be with her," I reassure him. "There will be no one to stop you."
"Not even you?" His smile sparkles with mischief and I'm grateful to see the less serious side of him, if only for a moment.
"I don't have a vendetta out against you, Brazen," I tell him.
"Who then?"
"It's not who," I shake my head. "It's what. This town, Brazen. Eden fucking Falls. It's rotten to the fucking bone. And I can't go around hoping to change people one by one. I need to change the society we live in. I need to show these people the way they treat others isn't right."
"But by doing that, don't you risk losing power yourself?" Brazen's eyes sparkle with interest, and I'm surprised he's proven to be a worthy conversationalist. I didn't peg him for much of a revolutionary, but maybe it's his relationship with Minnie that's pushing him to believe I can change the system.
"One person doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things," I reassure him. "What's one sacrifice to change the lives of so many others?"
"Those are dangerous words." His tone holds a warning, and his gaze holds cool interest. "Who are you to decide?"
"Who are they to decide?" I demand.
"The founding families? The Firstborns?" Brazen laughs. "Either or, Pandora. They rule Eden Falls, and that's never going to change."
"We'll see." I smirk just as Dex and Tianna walk back down the stairs. I smile wide when I see Minnie walking down behind them. "Minnie! Please, come here."
We all step aside so Minnie and Brazen are facing each other. An uncomfortable silence lays on the room, and I clear my throat.
"Don't you want to say goodbye, Minnie? You might not see Tianna and Brazen for a while," Dex suggests calmly, and I look at him, silently mouthing a thank you.
"Sure," Minnie whispers, glancing between my siblings before stepping in front of Tianna. "Miss Oakes, I'll see you at the Estate soon."
Tianna nods, then surprises us all by embracing Minnie. The maid returns her hug after a moment's pause, and when my sister pulls back, Minnie takes a step back as if she's done with the goodbyes. I'm about to cut in, but Brazen shocks us all by stepping forward, all six feet six of him emanating with barely held back anger.
"What about me, Minnie?"
"What about you?" the maid asks, her voice dripping with ice.
"Aren't you going to say goodbye to me?"
Minnie's eyes meet Brazen's. We all hold our breaths.
"Goodbye, Master Oakes."
"Fuck, Minnie!" Brazen takes several steps, closing the distance between him and Minnie, but Dex intercepts him, blocking his path. "Are you really going to act like we're fucking nothing?"
"I'm not sure what you mean, Master Oakes." She takes a small bow, curtsying like all the staff has to at the Estate. My blood chills in my veins. "I'm just a maid, that's all."
"You're just a maid," he repeats incredulously. We take a collective gasp when he forces Minnie's chin up. Dex tries to push him back, but Brazen stands still, too proud to move back. "Tell me, Minnie. You just want to be a maid? You don't want any of my help, or my attention? You want me to forget about all of this?"
I watch Minnie's bottom lip tremble as her eyes connect with Brazen's. "There's nothing to forget, Master, because nothing ever happened."
Brazen lets go of her chin as if he's been burned. "Okay, Minnie. I'll remember that."
The tension in the room is palpable before he storms out, with Tianna following close behind. Minnie races back up the stairs, and Dex and I wave my siblings off distractedly.
"Think their little lover's spat is going to be a problem?" Dex asks.
"I think she fucked up," I whisper.
"What? He loves her."
"So?" I hiss, shaking my head and rubbing my temples. "It doesn't mean anything. Not here. Not in Eden Falls."
"Well, maybe it should." I look up into Dex's resolute face. "And maybe it's time things finally fucking changed."
Chapter Sixteen
Dexter
"You can open your eyes."
I hold the silk blindfold in my hands, waiting for Pandora's reaction. I'm expecting happy tears, a big hug, a kiss. I get anything but.
"What the hell is this?" she turns to face me with a scornful expression. "I didn't know anything about this."
"It was meant to be a surprise." I grin at her as she inspects the nursery I've been preparing ever since I got out of jail. "Do you like it?"
"Like it?" She faces me with an expression of pure rage. I instantly know she hates it, but I don't understand why. "How could you do this, Dexter?"
"It's for Reign," I grind out. "Our son. For when he gets back."
"But he's not back, is he?" Her voice wobbles as she speaks the words and she wipes her teary eyes in frustration. "And we don't know if we'll ever get him back."
"You have to stay positive." I make a move to touch her shoulder, but Pandora steps out of my reach. "Please, toy. I'm doing my best here, I want to get him back as much as you do."
"How am I supposed to stay positive when he's out there with her?" She rubs her eyes, smearing mascara all over her face. Instead of making me angry at myself, it only serves to make my cock jump in my pants in anticipation.
It's been months since I fucked her, almost a year. Apart from the time when I made her come, Pandora has kept her distance, and I let her have it. But my patience is waning, my need to own her taking over again and threatening to make me do something to her. I want her back. I want her body back. It was made for me. She was born to be mine.
"You're on thin ice, Pandora," I warn her coolly. "You're being a fucking brat again. You remember what happens to brats, don't you?"
She stares at me with contempt before marching toward the door of the baby-blue nursery. I catch her before she c
an leave, fingers wrapping around her forearm.
"You're hurting me," she hisses, but I pay it no mind, pulling her body close against mine.
"I did this to cheer us both up," I tell her firmly. "We both need it."
"What the hell am I supposed to do with a nursery," she spits out. "When I have no baby to put in it?"
She pulls my arm free of her reach with such force, I accidentally scratch her. She inspects the claw marks on her arm and glares at me.
"Now look what you did! You hurt me..."
"You hurt yourself," I reply firmly. "And you keep doing it, Pandora, because you aren't fucking listening to me."
"I don't want to listen to anyone!" Her voice is getting louder and louder. I can tell she's scared, upset and angry, and I'm just waiting for her to break down now so I can pick up the pieces. "I want my son back! I want Reign here with me!"
"We're doing everything we can," I growl.
"Not enough!" She starts slamming her little fists against my chest, over and over again. "It's not enough, Dexter, it's not enough..."
"It will have to be." I grab her by the wrists, preventing her from hitting me again. "Look at yourself, Pandora. You're a goddamn mess."
"How do you expect anything else?" She's blubbering now, not even fighting back the tears anymore. "You can't imagine the pain of this, of losing a child."
"How can you say that?" I pull her against me, her body crashing into mine fiercely. "How can you say I don't understand? I lost something too."
"You don't know if he's your son."
"He is," I insist. "Do you want to stay with me?"
She stares into my eyes stubbornly before giving a barely perceptible nod.
"Then he's my son. And this hurts me, too, Pandora. But what hurts more is losing you. Watching you drift away. I need you back here with me so we can fight this together, do you understand? Your calling isn't over yet. You're the only one that can change Eden Falls. Don't you want Reign growing up in a better place?"
By her bottom lip wobbling I can tell she's about to fight me again, so I press a finger against her lips before she can speak up.
"Think about it, Pandora. You can change this place. You can change everything."
"But the pain is t-too much," she finally stutters. "It hurts too much, Dex, I can't focus on anything else. It's like there's a hole and I can never fill it. It hurts so bad..."
"Then we'll give you something else to occupy your mind," I insist firmly. "A new hobby? A new job?"
She shakes her head and I pull her closer again.
"You want to forget the pain?" I ask. Her eyes meet mine and she nods. "You want it gone? Replaced? You want to forget about Reign, just for a moment?"
She nods again.
"You understand what you're signing up for?"
"Anything," she breathes.
"Anything?"
"Anything to take the pain away," Pandora whispers. "Even if it's just for a little while."
"Good." I turn her over in my arms so she's got her back pressed up against my front, and she gasps. "My office. Go."
I push her forward and she stumbles, glaring at me. But her gaze soon fills with interest, and without saying another word, she walks down the hallway into my office. I pull out my chair and order her to strip naked.
"Now?"
"Now," I demand. "And do it slowly, put on a show for me. I want to enjoy this."
I'd thought she'd be more against doing sexual stuff, but from the way her eyes burn with silent fire, I know she needs this just as much as I do. Pandora looks right into my eyes as she pulls her dress off. Her body is frail and tiny. She has barely been eating since we got back, and her ribcage is showing through the skin. It's worrying.
I force myself to ignore it, deal with it later. Instead, I tap my knee, telling her to come closer.
Next, she takes her underwear off. I notice she's shaved her pussy, but I don't comment on it. I keep my eyes focused on her as she moves toward me.
She approaches me slowly, but from the breath she's holding I know she's excited. She wants this. For once, I don't have an unwilling toy on my hands.
"Crawl," I demand.
She flushes furiously but doesn't object. Pandora drops to her knees and crawls to me.
"Lay down," I order. She positions herself over my lap, just like I wanted. Her ass is in front of me, smaller than it used to be but just as juicy. The urge to hurt her spikes my heartbeat and I smirk to myself. I'm going to make her forget. I'm going to make her mine again. "That's right. Let me see that pretty little body."
I inspect her, knowing she's blushing as my fingertips gently glide over every inch of her sensitive skin. She's beautiful. Painfully thin but beautiful nonetheless.
"I'm going to hit you now," I tell her calmly. "And you're going to thank me after every slap. Do you understand?"
"Yes," she whispers helplessly.
"Yes what, toy?"
"Yes Master." Her voice is tiny, breaking over the simple words. It won't be for long enough. I'm going to show her just how pleasurable pain can be. I'm going to show her a hurt so sweet she'll be begging for me to give her more, day in and day out.
"Good girl." I hit her for the first time, the sound of the slap echoing through my office.
"Master!"
"Say thank you," I growl, waiting for her to stop shaking on my lap.
"T-Thank you," she stutters, flinching when I hit her again. "Ow!"
"Don't forget."
"Thank you, Master."
I keep hitting her, she keeps thanking me. Her ass is glowing bright red and she can surely feel my cock, straining through the fabric of my chinos as I hit her again and again. There's a delicious, dangerous dichotomy between me being fully clothed and my naked toy. It instantly says who has the power here, and it turns me the fuck on.
I spread her ass then, and Pandora mewls when I inspect her holes. My next slap lands right on her clit and she screams before dissolving into moans.
"You like that, don't you?" I mutter. "You love getting your pussy hurt. That's what those holes are meant for. Say it."
"It's... what... I..."
I slap again and she cries out.
"Fucking say it, Pandora."
"My holes are made for pain," she instantly mutters. "I want more, Master, I want more..."
"You want to get hurt more?" I laugh. "Such a needy painslut, aren't you, Pandora?"
Hearing her needy whimpers makes me hard enough to burst, but I force myself not to think of my engorged cock beneath her. She's the priority. She's the one who needs to remember her purpose. Remember that pleasing me is all that matters. There's no room and no space for her sadness here. She must be a good toy. At all costs.
"I want to get hurt more," she whispers. "I'm your painslut, Master."
"So you can repeat after me," I yawn. "How about you convince me you need more?"
I slap her again and she moans.
"Please, Master."
"Fucking try harder." I hit again. Again. Again. She's moaning endlessly now, tethering on the edge of an orgasm that doesn't come. "Fucking look at you, you little slut. You're going to come from nothing but the pain, aren't you?"
"N-No," she manages weakly.
"No?" I spread her pussy lips open again. "Did you just say no to me, toy?"
"No!" she cries out again. I slap. Hard this time, harder than I dared before. She doesn't make a sound. Her ass and pussy color in a violent shade of red.
"Say it again," I taunt her. "I fucking dare you."
She tries to climb off my lap but I grab onto her, turning her so she's straddling me.
"Where are you trying to go, toy? There's no running, no getting away from this now."
I look into her tear-streaked face. Someone else would be worried about it, but I see beneath the tears from being hurt so much, right to her center which is glowing with pleasure. The need to please me has been appeased. She knows she's being a good girl, and it's given
her a purpose. Meaning.
"Is this what you wanted?" I demand, and she weakly shakes her head. "No? What do you want, toy?"
She hesitates and I grab her hair, pulling hard and making her cry out.
"Tell me."
"I want more," she whispers. "Fuck me."
"You don't deserve that," I mutter even though my cock has jumped up at the thought. "You don't deserve to get fucked until you're better."
"You can make me better," she insists brokenly. "Only you, Dex, please..."
I battle with my own need to protect her and my cock raging beneath the fabric of my pants. Fuck. I can't take this for much longer, and if she says no after I decide it's game on, I won't be able to stop.
"What are you giving to me in exchange?" I demand.
"Anything." The words spill from her lips, she's so damn eager for it. "Everything. I'll give you all you want."
"Swear."
"I swear." She grabs my shirt and kisses me roughly, needily. "I'll do anything. Fuck me."
"Fine." I pick myself up, letting her stand on the floor next to me as I smirk with dark intent. "Remember your promise, Pandora."
"But..." She watches in disbelief as I head out of the room, leaving her naked and dripping. "You were going to fuck me, Master..."
"I will." I laugh at her. "When the time comes. Until then, you wait for me. Needy, wet and dripping."
"Master!" She's pouting, eyes wide, bottom lip jutting out. "I want it now!"
She stomps, but instantly stops when I approach her.
"Anything," I whisper in her ear. "Remember what you promised in exchange for my cock, toy. Any-fucking-thing."
With those words, I leave her in my office, a self-satisfied grin on my face as I walk away from her.
She fucking owes me now, and I'm going to keep her pretty little head preoccupied with the thought of me finally fucking her. No more pain but the one I give her. No more hurting but the sweet ache I let her have. She's back to being a toy now, and I'm going to make her love it.
Chapter Seventeen
Pandora
A Hurt So Sweet: Complete Dark Bully Romance Series Box Set: Elite of Eden Falls Prep Page 57