“I found our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Arsen,” Allen said as he took Gwen’s hand in his and looked at her. “But you know that, darling.”
“But I didn’t know you killed someone. And tortured and kidnapped.” She pulled her hand from his and stared at him in shock. “That’s a big thing to leave out, Allen.”
Steele appeared with a tray of drinks. “Whiskey Sours, anyone?” She handed Arsen one first and made a little courtesy as she did, something which had Gwen’s frown go even further across her face.
Arsen looked at Steele and made a little head shake. She found herself nervous. After placing the other drinks in front of Gwen and Allen, she took hers and sat next to Arsen. His arm ran around her and she leaned into him.
Allen looked at Gwen and smiled. “I’ve come to terms with what I did and firmly believe the Devil made me do that. With Jesus as my leader I have changed my ways and will no longer be following that terrible path of evil any longer. I’ve made it right with God and the Parole Board, Gwen. You have nothing to fear from me, baby.”
Arsen took a drink and glanced sideways at Steele.
“Well, that’s wonderful to hear, Allen,” he said.
Gwen still looked to be in shock and took a drink.
“So, you’re all better then?”
Allen nodded.
“Better, yes, I’m better. Completely not that guy anymore. I was a kid when I did that anyway. A crazy kid who listened to too much hard rock. The Devil got into me with his Devil music and turned me into his pawn. I’m looking into suing those rock bands I listened to back then.” He looked at Arsen. “Say, you couldn’t help me out with that could you?”
“Suing old rock bands?” Arsen asked in surprise.
“Yeah, you know those guys who let the Devil into my soul and robed me of years of my life. Those guys. Could you help me sue them all?” Allen smiled.
Arsen shook his head.
“Um, I’m not that kind of lawyer, sorry Allen.”
“Perhaps you could refer one for me. I’d really appreciate it if you could help me. You have to recall that I told you the Devil was in my head back then.” Allen took a little sip and looked at Arsen intently.
“I do, I recall you telling me that would be a great defense. I don’t remember you saying anything about suing the people who made the music you listened to though,” Arsen said.
“I came up with that later.” Allen looked at Gwen. “Honey, our kids can’t ever listen to that stuff, promise me.”
Steele had the glass to her lips as he said that and she spit the drink out and choked on the liquid.
“God! Sorry! What did you say? Kids? When you have kids? How the fuck close are you two? Shit, sorry!”
Her hand flew over her mouth and she looked at Arsen with wide eyes. He tapped the top of her thigh.
“I’ll let that slide, Steele.”
Steele nodded and looked down for a brief second then she looked at Gwen who was glaring at her. “We are very close, Steele. And why are you apologizing yet again?”
“I’m trying to stop cursing that’s all,” Steele said and took another drink.
Gwen’s glare moved to Arsen then back to Steele. “You see, Allen is a Christian man, and he doesn’t want to sin so he has asked me to marry him because he doesn’t believe in having sex without being married. He also doesn’t believe in birth control. He believes we should have every child God gives us. We’ve talked extensively on the subject.”
“You left that out when we were talking a while ago, Gwen.” Steele said. “So where’s the engagement ring and when’s the wedding?” She glared at her roommate.
“There’s no ring,” Allen said as he smiled at Gwen. “Those are for people who need to show the world they’re married. We only need God to know that. And as soon as I find us a place to live, I’m going to marry us myself as I am an ordained minister.”
Steele rolled her eyes and looked at Arsen. He tapped her leg and said, “Well, seems like you’re really doing great, Allen. Um, it’s been a long day and I have some things to talk to Steele about in private. We’ll be staying the night here in her bedroom.” He got up and Steele quickly followed.
Gwen watched them leave the room as they all exchanged good nights. Steele smiled at her as she walked by.
“Happy for you, Gwen.”
“You too,” Gwen said as she looked up at her friend. “You two have a good night now.”
Steele’s stomach was in knots as she led Arsen to her bedroom. She closed the door behind them and whispered.
“That guy’s crazy. I can’t see how Gwen doesn’t see it.”
Arsen nodded and pulled her to the bed. He sat down and pulled her to sit next to him. He kept his voice quiet as he said, “He isn’t all there. I’m sure you can tell that. We have to get her away from him. I’m positive he’s the killer. I mean why else would he be here with her? How’d they meet?”
“I don’t know. She didn’t tell me.”
“Go and get a glass of water and ask them, but make it simple, you know not obvious that you’re looking for information,” he said.
She nodded and left the room. Gwen and Allen had moved to opposite sofas. Steele smiled.
“Just getting Arsen some water. Hey, how did you two meet anyway?”
Gwen smiled.
“He almost hit me with his car as I was walking to get into mine in the parking lot.”
“Oh, glad he stopped in time.” Steele said with a little laugh. “What parking lot?”
“Ours, right out there. He was visiting an old friend at one of the apartments down from ours.” Gwen said.
Steele smiled.
“What a crazy coincidence, huh?”
Allen looked at her.
“God always finds a way.”
Gwen nodded and Steele just kept on smiling.
“That’s so true, Allen. So true. Well, good night again.”
She started to go back down the hallway when Gwen stopped her.
“You’re forgetting Arsen’s water, Steele. You don’t want him to get angry with you and punish you for not bringing him his water do you?”
Steele spun around and gave Gwen a dirty look. Then Allen said, “Oh, I know all about Arsen and his dom/sub stuff. It’s all over the news with the murders he’s accused of. Don’t worry, I’m not judging you guys. That’s between you and God after all. Better hurry though, he’s probably adding up the spankings your about to get. You did curse, and that has to be a big one for him.”
Steele was embarrassed and somewhat pissed.
“He said he was letting that one slide,” she said as her cheeks burned and she went to get the glass of water.
She overheard Allen say to Gwen in a quiet voice, “I don’t know how your roommate can do that to herself, she sounds smart. She seems so confident and didn’t you say she was in school to become a criminal lawyer?”
Steele took the water and went to her bedroom, feeling like a fool. She couldn’t explain even to herself why she was so ready to be submissive to Arsen.
She went into the bedroom and right away when Arsen saw her expression he knew something was wrong. He got up and pulled her into his arms.
“What has you so sad, baby?”
There was no way she was telling him she was feeling ashamed of herself for being his sub and yet she knew it was part of their contract for her always to be honest with him about all things and that above all else.
Tears filled her eyes as she looked up at him.
“With it all over the news about you and your lifestyle, I told Gwen about us and our contract.”
“You did?” He frowned. “How did that go?”
She shook her head.
“Not well. As you can imagine.”
“Hmmm. I might like this Gwen. She seems to have your best interests at heart. It’s what makes a good friend. So why the long face now? I mean you told her earlier, and you didn’t wear this sad face.” He pulled her to the bed and s
at her on his lap.
“When I was pouring the water I suppose Allen didn’t think I could hear him and he said I seemed too confident and smart to do this to myself.” She looked down and sniffled.
“You are. The nut-job is right about that.” He pushed a piece of her dark hair back and touched her chin, pulling it gently up so she had to look at him. “Tell me how you liked the way we spent today?”
“It was different, but that’s okay. I mean, I’ll get used to it and I don’t really feel demeaned in any way. Not really.” She searched his eyes to see if there was anything in them that told her he was really okay with her talking like this.
His dark eyes were soft, and he smiled at her.
“How’d you enjoy calling me Master during dinner?”
She’d hated it, and she knew he could read her like a book. “You tell me.”
He smiled. “It wasn’t a thing you wanted to do. You see, that lifestyle is for people who want that in their lives. Need it for one reason or another. It’s not about making someone do what they don’t want to. I’m just realizing that now, myself.”
“But it’s how you want things. How you want to live and I want to be with you.” She nearly ran her arms around his neck then stopped herself. “Can I…”
Arsen put his finger against her lips. “Don’t ask. For tonight let’s do what I asked you to do with me. Let’s leave the dom/sub stuff off the table for tonight. Do whatever you want. Tonight, I want us to make love. Show me how much you love me and I’ll show you. No rules, just you and me showing how much we love each other.”
“Really? Are you sure?” she asked as her eyes shined with the knowledge he was allowing her in so much further than she dreamt possible.
“I’m sure.” His hand grazed her cheek. “I love you, Steele.” His lips touched hers and the kiss was so gentle it felt as if silk was drifting over them.
His hands moved over her arms, lightly and left electricity in their wake. Steele found herself more nervous than she’d ever been with him. The fact this was only the second time the man had ever made love was weighing heavily on her. The first time had ended so badly, she was afraid he might have a flashback to that terrible day.
When she looked into his eyes though, any fear she had disappeared as she saw more love in them than she’d ever seen before.
ARSEN
Arsen laid Steele back and began to pull her clothes away. Piece by piece, he took them off and ran his hands over her smooth and satiny skin. He wanted to take every last bit of her in. Relish her beauty and see her for who she truly was.
Steele had been bending for him so hard he was afraid she was about to break.
“You are perfect, Steele.” He kissed her neck and trailed kisses to her mouth.
Her arms ran around his neck and she held him to her. He so seldom allowed her to touch him when they had sex. The urge to take her hands and hold them over her head was one that he had to fight.
Arsen focused on the way he was kissing her. Slow strokes his tongue was making against hers. He ran his hands through her long hair and again found himself fighting the urge to pull it.
He pulled away from her and stood up, looking at her as he undressed. She ran her hand over one breast and smiled at him. Slowly he undressed, trying to gain control over his dominating instincts.
Finally, naked he stood there and when she held her hand out to him, he took it and climbed onto the small bed with her. It had been so long since he allowed himself to have real feelings.
Slowly he trailed his fingers over her breast, he leaned down and took it in his mouth. Making lazy circles with his tongue, he sucked it gently. Her hands ran over his head and she moaned softly.
He almost smacked her on the side of her ass, but stopped himself and ran his hand over her hip instead. Softly, she ran her hands over his back and he tensed as it triggered a memory.
He pulled his mouth away from her breast and looked at her. It was Steele he was with, not Beth. No one was about to break the door down and start beating the hell out of him.
The way she looked at him made his heart pound. She ran her hand over his cheek and he took it and kissed it. He smiled, weakly.
“You have no idea how hard this is for me, Steele.”
“Lie down, Arsen,” she said as she sat up.
He sighed and did what she said. She kissed his lips then let her mouth graze his body as she moved it over him. All the way down she went until her mouth was moving over his cock.
Arsen closed his eyes and moaned. Slow strokes she made up and down his length. Her hand covering where her mouth left. The other hand massaged his balls and his body relaxed.
“That feels so good, Steele.” He moaned again and found himself feeling different.
Her mouth was hot, her tongue ran along his cock and he was about to climax. He pulled her head up and smiled at her. She kissed her way up his body and straddled him, sliding down on his erection.
Her body shuddered as she took him all in and her eyes closed. He took her by the hips and lifted her up and down, keeping the rhythm slow and watching her body as it moved over him.
She was beautiful with her dark waves falling across her shoulders. Her breasts bounced a little with each stroke and all of a sudden it felt as if his heart was breaking. Arsen was falling in love with her so hard it hurt.
Arsen stopped lifting her up and down and turned her over to lie on her back, moving his body over hers. She looked up at him as he pushed back into her. Making harder strokes, he moved faster and looked into her eyes as he did.
Steele looked back into his and he saw the love she had for him and knew without a doubt she would do anything he asked her to. His power over her was absolute. He didn’t deserve her, and he knew it.
She gripped his arms and arched up to him.
“Arsen, can I ….”
“You don’t have to ask, baby.” He moved harder and quicker and she moaned as she came.
Her body took his along, and he groaned with his release. It was a bittersweet moment for him. He’d managed to put his need for total control away for her, but with the realization that she’d do anything for him it meant he had to be much more careful how he treated her.
Kissing her just behind her ear, he whispered, “I love you, baby.”
“I love you,” she echoed as she tried to catch her breath.
Arsen rolled over and pulled her to lie on his chest. Her heartbeat he could feel and her breath left the skin beneath it warm. She was becoming more to him than he could’ve ever imagined. Steele was like oxygen to him, he had to have her to live.
That knowledge filled him with joy and dread at the same time as she held his heart in her hands and he was no longer in control.
If he was sent to prison, he’d have to let her go. It wouldn’t be fair to keep her if he couldn’t be there for her and keep her safe and protected. He had to figure out a way to prove Allen had killed those women.
Arsen was getting no closer, and that fact had him beyond frustrated. The man was right there in the same damn apartment with him and still he was no closer than if he hadn’t found the man at all.
GWEN
“If you’re really her friend, you have to do something about it, Gwen,” Allen said as he held her hand and they sat on her bed. “I know the man, he’s hard as a rock. I’m serious, he’ll only destroy her.”
“You do realize what you’re talking about is kidnapping, Allen,” Gwen stood up and began pacing and running her hands over her hair.
“It’s not really that, Gwen. It’s just getting her away from him for a while so she can see what he’s done to her. She’s blind to it right now. She thinks she actually wants what he’s doing to her. No one wants that. No one wants to be so controlled.” He got up and put his arm around Gwen to stop her pacing. “Don’t you care about her?”
“Yes! Of course I do! Shit!” She looked at him and found herself near tears. “Allen, we can’t do what you’re suggesting. I’ll t
alk to her more and get her to see things aren’t right with Arsen. She’ll leave him on her own. Taking her and hiding her out against her will is wrong.”
“You’d rather he kill her like he did those other women?”
“He might not have done that. He hasn’t been convicted yet.” She pulled out of his grip and sat on the bed.
“It’s just a matter of time. I can assure you he will be convicted and then he’ll go to prison. Just like I had to. You have no idea of the hell the poor girl is going through with him. Constant criticism, the threat of beatings hanging over her head all the time, you saw how jumpy and skittish she is around him. You can’t tell me that’s how she’s always been.”
“No, she never was like that before him. But taking her isn’t the answer here. I’ll deal with this. You don’t have to worry about her.”
Allen sat next to her and ran his hand over her hair.
“God has told me what has to be done, Gwen. She has to be saved from him.”
Gwen stood up and looked down at him.
“Allen, you’re going to have to leave now. I’m afraid you’re making me very uncomfortable with all this talk about kidnapping my roommate. I think you should probably go talk to someone. God isn’t talking to you. You really need to get help.”
Allen stood up, his eyes drooping slightly at the corners.
“Gwen, I thought you could help me save your friend from that monster. I’m very sorry I have to do this.” He reached into the front pocket of his tan slacks.
Gwen’s eyes went wide. Her mouth opened to scream, but no sound made it out as he ran his hand over her mouth and stabbed the syringe full of morphine into the vein in her neck. Her body fell to the floor with a loud thump.
Hacked For Love & The Dom's Songbird: A Billionaire Romance Collection Page 62