Dark as Cole [The McAlisters of McKenna Downs 4] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever)

by Zoey Marcel

“You will answer me, Brighton. A simple nod of the head will do.”

  Brighton nodded.

  “Good boy. I would have filled you up by now, but you understand I’m deeply conflicted about whether to shag you or whip you first.” Siegfried pulled a note from his pocket and started reading off a list of things. “Whipping, knife play, caning, fire play, gun play, golden showers, branding … shall I go on?”

  Cold horror washed over him. Siegfried was reading off a list of his hard limits.

  The man approached him. “Yes, little one, I know all your hard limits. I copied them down when I saw you filling out that checklist Kale gave you. It’s my preference that things go smoothly between us so we can spend our time shagging.”

  Brighton cringed when the man crouched down near him.

  “But I know how stubborn you are. I’m going to have to break you. It wouldn’t surprise me if I’ll have to restrain you at first while taking my pleasure and utilize every punishment on that list until you’re finally broken. But when you are I won’t have to hurt you as much.”

  He flinched when Siegfried reached for him. Terror blitzed through him when Siegfried fisted his hair to keep him still.

  “At first you’ll resent me and be ashamed of the orgasms I give you, but over time your weak mind will succumb to me. You’re too much of a little whore not to revel in the pleasure I give you.”

  Brighton whimpered in fear when Siegfried brushed a hand over his cheek.

  “You asked me who my favorite bedmate was. It was you, little one. It’s always been you.” Siegfried kissed his forehead, making him squeal in fright. “You are without question the most irritating little cunt I’ve ever encountered, so bossy and rebellious. But you more than make up for it in bed. I’ve never seen such a beautiful combination of innocence and wantonness.”

  Brighton spoke into the gag that was kept in his mouth with duct tape sealed over his lips.

  “Shh. Tonight I want you to wallow in the darkness of your imagination, wondering what I’m going to do to you first. It doesn’t have to be painful, Brighton. You submit to me and I’ll make it good for you.” Siegfried kissed his cheek and then stood. “I have something to show you.”

  He got out a box and then emptied its contents onto the floor.

  “Do you recognize those keychains?”

  Brighton studied them.

  “Those are the keychains you bought all those sluts you fucked in the past.”

  His eyes widened and he shot an appalled look over at Siegfried.

  “Yes, little one, I killed them. I’ve killed every person you’ve ever slept with … except for Danielle and Kale.” A slow smile curved Siegfried’s lips.

  Brighton begged him through the gag.

  Siegfried pulled the duct tape off. Pain ripped across his skin. His tongue moved in its newfound freedom once Siegfried took the cloth out of his mouth.

  “You killed my exes?” Brighton asked in disbelief. He had the keychains right there as proof, but shock had taken hold of him.

  “Yes, Brighton, I killed them. I fucked them as well.”

  “You’re sick.”

  “I had to know what you saw in them, but it was only their beauty you were after. You’re a shallow whore. I killed them slowly and made them swear to me that you didn’t mean a thing to them. I made them apologize to me for ever having touched you. They were sobbing and pleading and cursing your name, but how could I be sure they meant it? I had to kill them. It was the only way the rage would settle.”

  Brighton shuddered, eyes stinging. “How could you?”

  “It’s your fault more than mine. If you had been a good boy and kept your pants on, I wouldn’t have had to hurt them. Look at all those keychains, Brighton. Do you see what a whore you are? You used so many women and now they’re all dead because of you.” Siegfried pulled something out of his pocket. “That maid Anna didn’t get a keychain from you since the two of you only had a one-off together. I couldn’t let her be the only one who died without leaving me a souvenir to show you.”

  Tears spilled from Brighton’s eyes when he saw the lock of hair in Siegfried’s hand.

  “Killing her was easy. She opened the door for me in Miami because she knew me. It was because of you that she trusted me enough to take a walk with me in the dark. And it’s because of you that she’s dead.”

  “Just kill me if you’re going to,” Brighton croaked through his remorse.

  “I’m not going to kill you. I want you alive. We’re going to spend our lives together. Unlike you, who can’t stay with one person for long, I’m perfectly capable of being satisfied with one partner. When I’m old and my death is near, we’ll drink poison together and die in each other’s arms.”

  “You’re gonna keep me for life?” Brighton whispered.

  “Yes, love.”

  “You don’t know what love is.”

  “Said the fickle brat with two partners.” Siegfried leaned forward and kissed his neck. “It makes no difference to me if I have to force you or if you surrender to me. Either way you’re mine. Eventually you will want it emotionally as much as you will physically. It won’t matter if it’s love or Stockholm syndrome. Either way you’ll bond with me against your will. You’re too much of a weak-minded slut not to.”

  Brighton tried to move, clamping his eyes shut when Siegfried held him still and started sucking his neck.

  “This is just a temporary home. Hessian and I killed off the staff and guests so we could have this place to ourselves. We’ll have to leave tomorrow. I left one survivor. If you submit to me I won’t have to kill her in front of you.”

  Brighton shivered.

  “There is always Kale and Danielle.”

  “Please don’t kill them.”

  Siegfried caressed his cheek. “I don’t have to if you do what I say, do I?”

  That hush chilled him.

  “Now, I’m going to fuck you.”

  His body went cold and the tears came faster.

  “If you’re a good boy I’ll let you come and I won’t beat you afterward. Will you be a good boy for me?”

  He nodded with closed eyes.

  Siegfried set a tube down. “Then I think you’ve earned lubricant. Take off your pants and lie down on your belly on the blanket.”

  Brighton choked on a sob as he obeyed.

  He felt Siegfried’s fingers dip into the waistband of his briefs just as the doorbell rang. His eyes widened and his holler was snuffed out by the hand Siegfried threw over his mouth.

  “I don’t have to use lube, little one. And Danielle and Kale don’t have to live.” Siegfried kissed his neck and then stuffed the cloth back into his mouth. He put duct tape over his lips again.

  The chains kept him from being able to lift his arms.

  Siegfried rose. “I have to send the person away and then we’ll fuck. I’ll be right back.”

  Brighton quivered, wishing he could somehow get the duct tape off and the gag out of his mouth. A wet spot was left on the blanket from his tears.

  * * * *

  Siegfried untied the cunt from a kitchen chair and ungagged her. “You’re to send whoever is at the door away. Remind them about the sign by the road that says we’re closed for remodeling. If you try to warn them or beg for help, I will kill you and then the person at the door. Understand?”

  She nodded in fear.

  “Good. Now answer the door.”

  Siegfried followed behind her with a gun. He kept it pointed at her while she answered the front door. He recognized Cole’s voice on the other end.

  “I hope I didn’t wake you,” he said.

  “No. You didn’t,” she said.

  She sounded far too nervous and it was irking him.

  “I wondered if anyone named Siegfried had ever stayed here before.”

  “No.”

  “How do you know without checking the records?”

  “I don’t. It’s just a unique name that doesn’t sound familiar,” she said
quickly. “We’re not supposed to just give out the names of our guests anyway.”

  “I understand,” Cole said, “but this man I’m looking for is an escaped convict. My little brother is missing. There’s a good chance Siegfried knows where he is.”

  “We’re actually closed for remodeling right now.”

  “What are you doing here in the middle of the night then?”

  Damn that prying bastard Cole.

  The cow stammered like a fool. “I live on the premises. The workers come here during the day.”

  “Are you all right?” Cole asked.

  “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “You’re shaking. Is something wrong?”

  “No. Sorry. You just made me nervous. I don’t like answering the door for strange men at night.”

  “I understand. The number for this bed and breakfast was in his phone. I thought I’d investigate.” It sounded like Cole stepped off the porch to leave.

  At last.

  “I hope you find Brighton soon,” the bitch told him.

  There was a pause and Siegfried wanted to shoot her right there.

  “Thank you,” Cole said.

  The cunt shut the door.

  “Lock it,” Siegfried ordered.

  She obeyed, hands shaking beautifully.

  “Back to the kitchen.”

  He kept the gun pointed at her while they went back into the other room. Hessian had been the one to tie her up earlier, but his good mate had left to hunt down someone who had ripped him off.

  “Put the handcuffs on,” Siegfried demanded.

  She did as she was told.

  “Put the gag in your mouth.”

  She obeyed.

  “Sit down.”

  She did.

  He set the gun down out of her reach and tied her to the chair again.

  “You did very well at the door,” he said, “but there’s just one problem. Cole never mentioned Brighton’s name.”

  * * * *

  Cole went back. He peeked in the windows, trying to find a good way in. One of the windows downstairs was unlocked, he discovered after cutting through the screen with his new pocket knife. He climbed in through the window and had a look around. This must be one of the guest bedrooms. No one was staying here at the moment.

  Creeping into the hall, he didn’t hear anything. When he went into the kitchen he saw the woman he’d just been speaking with tied to a chair and gagged. Her neck was broken.

  The sound of a door closing came from somewhere below him. He crept into a hall and saw a door leading into the cellar. Stealthily, he stalked down the steps, pulling his gun out. When he tried the door it wasn’t locked. He listened and heard sobbing. It had to be Brighton.

  He’d never told the woman his brother’s name, but somehow she knew it anyway. That’s when he knew Brighton had to be here with Siegfried.

  Taking a deep breath, Cole flung the door open. He saw Brighton lying on his belly and Siegfried undoing his own fly. The son of a bitch looked right at him and went for his gun. Cole shot him. He did so a few times to be sure. He couldn’t stop shaking. Siegfried didn’t move from where he’d fallen over. Cole kicked the gun away from him.

  Brighton squealed into his gag when he saw him. He had tears pouring down his face as Cole knelt to free him. Cole ripped the duct tape off his mouth before pulling the gag out.

  “Are you all right?”

  Brighton nodded fervently, unable to stop crying. “I think he killed that woman upstairs. I heard her struggling. It didn’t even faze him. He killed all my exes. God, why’d I have to sleep with so many women? I killed them.”

  “You did not. Siegfried killed them.”

  “But if I wasn’t such a slut it would have only been a few,” he bawled in between coughing.

  “Enough.”

  “He was gonna fuck me. He said he’d hurt Danielle and Kale if I didn’t submit to him.”

  “Shh.”

  Cole was all about practicality. In his mind getting Brighton unchained and away from here was more important that stopping to hug. But Brighton kept pawing at him and trying to cry on him, so Cole gave him what he needed and just held him for a minute. Logic was important, but sometimes feelings were even more so.

  Chapter Eleven

  Aiden Friel stood in the adult store, browsing the hardcore floggers. He noticed a young man nearby pretending to look at the softer floggers. The dark-haired fella kept stealing glances at him. His nervousness and the way his throat moved when he swallowed got Aiden's attention.

  This is a small town. Don't go there.

  After a bit the lad came over to him. He was about Justin's height with the same slender litheness, but his eyes were gray and his thick, stylishly messy hair was black.

  “Hey, I didn't mean to keep staring at you like that,” he said.

  “I'm used to it.” Aiden glanced at a price tag and wanted to give the owner a slap.

  “I'm Kayden,” the boy said. “Kayden Roberts.”

  “Ever been flogged?”

  Kayden blinked at this. “Um, no. Why?”

  “Well, since we're spouting shite...”

  “Wow. PMS much?”

  Aiden glared at him. “Come to the point or feck off.”

  The brat rolled his eyes. “Fine. I just wanted to know if you were one of the owners of the BDSM club.”

  “What business is it of yours?”

  “I asked you first.”

  “Well, age comes before fairness, doesn't it?”

  Kayden sighed. “I only ask because I had a question about one of the members.”

  “Which one?”

  “Silas King. Do you know him?”

  “Not personally, but I know the name. Why?”

  The rabbiting fella became timid. “What type does he usually go for when he's there?”

  Aiden shifted on his feet, fighting boredom. “Type?”

  “You know...are they always women?”

  “Why is that?”

  Kayden squirmed. “I only ask because he's my guardian. Well, one of them. I have three, all brothers.”

  “Ninety percent of that sentence was unnecessary. If you want Silas to ream your arse, ask him y'rself.”

  The boy scoffed, blushing. “I'm not gay. Silas has just been pissing me off lately, so I thought I'd give him crap for liking cock, if he does. It's all in good fun, though. I'm very pro-gay.”

  “I noticed.”

  “I'm not gay, though.”

  “Of course not.”

  “Only for Justin.”

  Aiden stilled. “Justin Huntington?”

  “Yep.” Kayden smiled. “We've been fake husbands since high school. Isn't that right, Justin?”

  Aiden saw Justin coming toward them.

  “What?” Justin asked.

  “We've been fake husbands since high school.”

  “Oh, yeah.” He seemed uncomfortable admitting that.

  “Fake husbands?” Aiden asked with an impatient sigh.

  “That's right,” Kayden replied. “You know how girls sometimes pretend they're married to their female friends? Well, Justin and I did that just for fun and to freak people out.”

  “We just called each other husbands,” Justin said quickly. “It was just a joke between us in high school.”

  Kayden gave him a quizzical look before grinning. “Don't deny what we had, baby. I want us to share these last few days together before I leave you for a woman.”

  The closeted twink called Justin baby. It was all Aiden could do to keep from ramming him up against the shelf and locking Justin in a chastity belt.

  “You still plan on flying to New York to spring a surprise proposal on Nakota?” Justin asked.

  “That's right, baby.”

  Call him baby one more time.

  “I'm gonna make her fall for me and then bring her back here and share her with the three King brothers,” Kayden said.

  Justin shrugged. “What if she doesn't want a poly re
lationship?”

  “Why wouldn't she? She used to be Diego's and Greyson's slave years ago. They're married now and it's time I was, too. Nakota said she would wait for me to grow up.”

  “Dude, not to blow out your birthday candles, but she only said that to you because you were a kid infatuated with his babysitter,” Justin explained.

  “Justin, if he wants to go to New York to pursue this woman, let him go,” Aiden said.

  Get the hell out of here.

  Kayden smiled. “Exactly. You know I'll always love you, baby, but we both knew that someday a woman would come between us and we'd have to divorce.”

  Justin blushed, eyes shifting to Aiden before slipping away. “That's my boss.”

  “Oops.” Kayden smirked. “Sorry, buddy. I didn't mean to embarrass you. My bad.”

  Aiden's fingers flexed by his side when Kayden briefly touched Justin's arm.

  “I forgot why I came in here. I should head to work.” Kayden brushed Justin's arm as he turned to leave. “Have fun with whatever you buy.”

  Justin smiled lightly, seeming embarrassed. “Thanks.”

  “Kayden,” Aiden said, surprised he remembered the lad's name. When Kayden gave him his attention, Aiden took a few steps toward him, softening his voice. “About Silas, he's bisexual. I've seen him in the club with loads of women, but he goes through just as many men. Sometimes he'll take them into a private room to do God knows what to them. Other times he can't even make it. They start fucking in the public area for everyone to see. He doesn't care who sees him naked. So many men know what it's like to have him inside them. They'll always remember the way his face looks when he comes. But he can't do relationships. He just keeps fucking and fucking everything he can get his hands on. They're like meat to him.”

  That got to him. Aiden could see it in his eyes. Kayden's cheeky attitude vanished and a despondent cloud replaced it.

  “He doesn't much seem to have a type, but more often than not he chooses masculine men over twinks. If he wants something soft he goes for a woman. When he's after cock he wants a real man, not a boy.”

  Kayden seemed shaken, depressed. His facade of indifference didn't stand. The weak smile crumbled and his eyes got glassy.

  Jaysus, there are other men in the world.