Maverick glances at the papers in his hand. “If the others sign this, you’ll have no choice but to follow through on all the terms,” he warns me.
“I’m aware,” I say through gritted teeth.
Maverick’s eyes lift back to mine. “Don’t hold back on my account,” he says mildly.
“This entire thing is fucked up,” I say furiously. “The fact that all her demands are there in black and white makes me look like a pussy. How hard is it to get a woman in bed?” I growl, dragging a hand through my hair.
“Truthfully, no one’s going to be surprised by this. She’s intelligent and crafty. It’ll just make them respect her further—which is a good thing. You need a mate that everyone will honor and give their lives for if needed.”
“This is my own damned fault. I used the words business arrangement the other day when we spoke of the mating. I never thought that she’d take the idea and spin it into that,” I say, nodding at the contract.
Maverick studies me. “Is that what you want? An arrangement instead of a real relationship?”
“I don’t do relationships,” I say simply.
“So you think it’s wise to turn it into an arrangement?”
“Yes.”
He falls silent and turns his attention back to the document, and I can see him skimming through it. The corner of his mouth lifts. “I’m surprised she didn’t stipulate what’s acceptable during sex.”
“That I would have never agreed to.”
“I’m sure. The fire training and freedom to move around the warehouse isn’t really much of a surprise. She needs to be trained, and taking her as your mate shifts her ranking in the clan.” He continues reading and pauses. “She made friends in that hellhole where she was sold?”
“Looks that way. She seems very determined that I find them.”
“And then what happens?” he asks as he glances at me.
I shrug. “She didn’t specify, and I don’t think she’s thought that far ahead. I’m not planning on saying shit about it, either. I’m not getting roped into some stupid rescue mission for two women that aren’t even our kind.”
Maverick nods in agreement and glances back at the contract. “She wants to be trained to fight?”
“Unfortunately.”
“That’s interesting.”
“Hope you still feel that way when I task you with teaching her,” I tell him.
He frowns. “Me?”
“I trust you. That, and I want you to drag out her training for as long as you can. I don’t like the idea of her being free to roam the warehouse while being skilled at fighting. It might be too much of a temptation for her.”
“Understandable.” His eyes drop back to the papers in his hand, and I watch as his eyes widen, and they immediately shift back to me. “You can’t be serious about taking her to the club.”
I release an aggravated sigh. “She’s adamant. She wants to be a part of what I do and own.”
“That’s risky.”
“Exactly. I’m hoping that one night at the club will have her never wanting to return.”
Maverick shakes his head. “She’s stronger than you think, so don’t bet on it.” He’s silent as he thinks over the predicament I’ve found myself in. “If you’re taking her there, that training she wants is going to become necessary. Even with the added security, that’s a lot of people crammed nightly into the club. Shit can happen in the blink of any eye.”
“I’m well aware of that—in regards to shit happening,” I clarify. I rub my eyebrow, feeling a headache coming on. “I don’t like the idea of her being trained.”
“It might save her life one day,” Maverick argues.
I fall silent as I brood over our conversation.
“Give her what she wants, but watch her like a hawk,” Maverick suggests.
I rise to my feet, feeling frustrated as I walk away to stretch my legs before turning back to him. “All my instincts are telling me to tear up that contract.”
Maverick looks at me calmly from where he sits. “Then that leaves you back at square one. Unless you drug her,” he adds quietly.
“I can’t,” I bite out. “I savor killing, but I can’t do…that.”
Maverick rises to his feet and walks over, resting a hand on my shoulder. “And that’s what makes you a damn good leader. You draw a bold line that you refuse to cross. A lot of other leaders don’t care. You do.”
“Right now, not crossing that line makes me look weak,” I say darkly.
“Don’t look at it like that. If this is the only way you can get Arista to agree to the mating, you have to take it.”
I release a low growl and flex my fingers, itching to demolish something or someone. “I’ve never had a problem with getting between a woman’s legs. Damn it.”
“Lethe, we know that. If you can’t get her into bed, then we all know that none of us would have been able to, either.”
“I want to throttle her,” I mutter.
Maverick turns amused. “She may be difficult now, but once you get her in bed, you’ll be glad you went about this the way that you have. I bet the sex is going to be explosive.”
“It better be considering all the trouble I’m going through trying to secure an honest bond.”
“When Davina’s home, it’ll put everything into perspective,” Maverick says quietly.
“Agreed. So you think I should go ahead with the contract?”
“I would.”
“I added a few terms of my own.”
Maverick walks back to the sofa and sits down, reaching for the papers. He searches for my terms, which are at the end. “Those are good,” he agrees. “It still means you’re in charge and have the last say in all matters. She can hate it all she wants, but she can’t change centuries of expectations.”
Thirty-two
Arista
I’ve had all night and most of the morning to come to terms with Lethe’s deceit and the fact that Anton had been in on it. I’m angry, and I feel oddly betrayed by Anton. Out of all the men here, I’d slowly begun to trust him.
I know the best thing I could do is just let it go, but I can’t. If I don’t confront Anton, it’ll just piss me off further. So here I am, on my way down to medical.
Cassius studies my expression as the elevator descends to the first floor. “Do I have to worry that you’re going to try something stupid?”
“I have nowhere to go,” I say sourly.
“Exactly. Keep reminding yourself that.”
His tone is not helping my attitude, and I ignore his comment. When the doors slide open, we step into the hall, and Cassius escorts me to the medical room. The door is wide open, and Anton is standing by a cupboard, rummaging for something.
Cassius wisely stays in the hall, and I calmly close the door behind me so that we have privacy.
Anton turns and looks at me with concern. “Cassius said you needed to see me. Everything okay?”
I fold my arms over my chest and give him a look. “Depends. Would you feel betrayed if someone drugged you to get you to do what they wanted?”
Anton regards me silently, and then he rubs his jaw. “Lethe told you.”
“He had to since we no longer have to go through with the traditional ceremony.”
He sighs and motions to the hospital bed. “Sit down, please.”
“I’m fine right where I am.”
Anton walks over to me, and he pauses a few feet away, his eyes troubled. “I truly am sorry, Ari. I was given orders, and I couldn’t deny Lethe what he wanted.” His eyes search mine. “The ceremony is very ancient and outdated, there’s no way you would have said the vows that needed to be made. At least not with a clear head.”
“So that makes it okay to drug me?” I ask bitterly.
“No,” he says softly. “But this all happened after you stabbed King in the neck and tried to flee. He knew there would be no way you’d ever go along with it, so he made the call to just get that part out of the
way so it wouldn’t cause unnecessary drama.”
“Drama?” I ask sarcastically. “Is that what my life is to you guys?”
Anton visibly winces. “Poor choice of words.”
“I’d say.”
“Let me ask you this. Would you agree to obey Lethe in all things? Would you vow to cater to his every need and to allow him to plant his seed in you so you can fulfill your duty as his mate?”
“Hell no.”
He gives me a look. “Exactly. Now you don’t have to say those words in front of the entire clan while feeling pissed that you have to say them at all. That part is over.”
“That still doesn’t make it okay.”
“No, it doesn’t. But it’s done,” he says gently.
He has a point, and I feel some of my anger fading. “How did you heal the cut on my palm?”
“A long time ago, Lethe came by a salve made from a witch. The salve could heal most anything. We had just a small amount left that we were saving for if something dire happened to one of you women. Lethe made the call to use it on you so that he could get the ceremonial part out of the way,” he explains.
I’m silent as I process this new information. “I’m surprised he didn’t just finish off the mating that night,” I say quietly. “He’s worked hard to get me into bed.”
“Lethe may be a lot of things, but he’s not a rapist.”
I shift on my feet and tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “There’s something that I don’t understand,” I say, deciding to ask in regards to the thought I’d had the other night, the one about the mating bond.
Anton motions towards the bed. “Sit, we can talk as long as you want,” he urges with a kind smile. “Maybe I can help you understand whatever it is that seems to be bothering you.”
I sit on the bed, and Anton brings his stool over and settles on it. “If a man cheating on his mate can break the bond, why can’t his violence towards her break it? Or the lack of love on her part? How can a pair bond without the woman really feeling anything for her mate?” I ask with a frown.
“It all has to do with the physical chemistry, and since the male is the strongest of our species, most of the mating affects him, not the female. Remember, there has to be a mix of blood involved, and then during the physical act of sex, there are other fluids that mix as well,” he says tactfully. “It’s the chemistry that binds a couple together, not emotion.”
“So nothing the female can do will break the bond?” I question.
Anton’s brow creases. “Please tell me you’re not thinking of trying to sabotage your mating with Lethe.”
“I’m not,” I say honestly. “I’m just curious and trying to understand it all. So going back to a man cheating, can’t he wear a condom and still cheat?”
Anton shakes his head. “No. That part is hard to explain, and I’m not even sure that I can.”
“What if the female cheats?”
Anton falls silent.
My eyes widen as his silence takes on a whole new meaning. “So if nothing she can do can break the bond, that means she can be with others, but he can’t.”
Anton gives me a warning look. “Don’t ever go there, Arista.”
“The thought hasn’t crossed my mind. Like I said, I’m just trying to wrap my head around it all. I’m sure you’re aware of the contract I want Lethe to draw up, so I just want as much information as possible before we sign it and consummate the mating.”
He sighs. “Do me a favor, don’t get me in trouble for divulging information to you. I’m trying to be as honest with you as possible, because that’s the way it should be. I want you to understand everything you’re doing from here on out where Lethe is concerned. Try not to use that information to undermine Lethe.”
“I won’t,” I assure. “You’re the only one who’s been honest with me—at least most of the time. I’d like to remain friends.”
He smiles. “Like wise.”
“I need to go on some form of birth control,” I tell him, changing the topic.
Anton looks relieved that our earlier conversation is over. “That I can do. However, it won’t be effective the first several days, so depending on when you and Lethe finish the mating, I’d suggest dropping in here the following morning. I’ll have a morning after pill waiting for you,” he says lightly.
“So you have birth control in there?” I ask, nodding towards the storage room.
“No, I don’t. It’s on my list of things to buy today. Perhaps we should discuss what type of birth control you’d prefer.”
“I just want one that’ll work. I don’t really care what it is.”
He gives me a chiding look. “There’s always a chance of side effects, no matter what you’re putting in your body,” he warns.
“Oh. Well, fill me in on my choices and we’ll go from there.”
* * *
Later that evening, I am in my room reading a book. As much as I enjoy having the freedom to move about the women’s quarters, I still spend a lot of time in my room. I haven’t told Tenley what is going on with Lethe, and I prefer to keep it that way until I’m ready to face the reality of it.
Someone knocks on my door, and I start slightly and set my book down. After I sit up, I scramble off the bed and walk to the door, opening it.
Cassius stands there. “Lethe would like to see you,” he tells me.
Nerves tighten in my stomach. This has to do with the contract, and I wonder if we’re going to have to renegotiate. I switch off my light and follow Cassius through the women’s quarters. Evie is just coming out of her room, and she stares at me and Cassius as we walk to the foyer doors.
In the elevator, we both are silent. Ever since I’d knocked Cassius out down in the sewer tunnels, he’s been cool towards me. I can’t really blame him. As the elevator descends, I note that we’re headed for the second floor. The only thing on the second floor that I’ve been to is Lethe’s room.
My heart quickens in my chest. What if he’s already drawn up the contract? If so, then that just leaves…sex. Am I ready to cross that line tonight?
The elevator doors slide open, and Cassius escorts me to Lethe’s double doors. He knocks briefly and opens them, motioning me inside.
I cross the threshold, and as Cassius closes the door behind me, I see that Lethe stands there.
“Arista,” he greets, his expression unreadable.
“Lethe.”
He walks to the table and pulls out a chair. “Have a seat.”
I note that there’s no dinner tonight, and a file rests on the table’s glossy surface. I walk over and sit down.
“As you can see, I’ve drawn up our contract. I suggest you read through it and verify that the terms are acceptable.”
I open the file and study the official looking document. I pick it up and begin reading it closely. All my terms are there in black and white. I’m pleased that Lethe is agreeing to everything. I pause when I come to his terms at the end. I know all he wants from me is sex, but I stiffen when I read that he has every right to end my fight training if he feels that I’m abusing my skills. My eyes drop to the one beneath it, and I scan it. If there is a situation where my safety is at risk, I am to follow his orders without argument.
My jaw clenches. Damn it.
A pen enters my field of vision, and I look up to see Lethe holding it out to me. “My terms are non-negotiable. Just as you stated yours were,” he says pleasantly. “The next page is where you sign. I’ve already signed, and so has the clan,” he adds.
This is all happening much quicker than I’d expected. My eyes drop back to his terms, and I’m aware that if I don’t agree, then this contract isn’t going to happen. With flattened lips, I accept the pen and turn to the last page. Sure enough, the page is filled with signatures, and my eyes land on where Lethe had signed his name in bold writing.
My heart thunders in my chest. This is it. I wanted this, but now that it’s right here in front of me, I feel nervous signing it. I’
m aware of Lethe silently standing beside my chair, and I draw in a deep breath and exhale. The closest I am going to get to freedom is to sign this contract. The rest will come with time. But this, this is what I need to begin the life that I am determined to have.
I quickly sign my name before I can talk myself out of it, and I set the pen down.
Silence fills the room.
“It’s done. When would you like to consummate the mating?” Lethe asks bluntly, getting right down to business.
I rise from the chair and decide it’s now or never. If I go back to my room tonight, I’ll just be a bundle of nerves until we do this. I meet his gaze. “Now,” I tell him.
His eyebrows lift. “Not that I’m complaining, but I fully expected you to drag this out.”
I don’t want him to see how frayed my nerves are over this. “It’s just sex,” I say with a shrug.
He slowly smiles. “So let’s have it,” he says, closing the distance between us.
The second his lips claim mine, anticipation replaces my nervousness, and heat courses through my veins. I already know how good he can make me feel, so I tell myself that this is going to be a very enjoyable experience. The atmosphere in the room thickens with sexual tension, and Lethe deepens the kiss. His tongue skillfully dances in my mouth as his warm hands wander over my back and down my hips.
I allow my hands to roam his shoulders and down his solid and taut chest, and I feel my lower belly quivering at the thought of his sexy body doing naughty things to mine. I can feel the heat of his skin through his shirt, and all I want to do is strip him down and feel that heat all over me.
The kiss begins to burn out of control, and Lethe abruptly hoists me into his arms, and I naturally wrap my legs around his hips. His tongue strokes mine as he walks us to his bed, and then he lays me down.
I open my eyes and peer up at him.
His eyes are the color of fire, and they travel over the dress I happen to be wearing. It has bunched around my thighs, and he gives me a slow, predatory smile. There’s something a little unnerving in his gaze, and his movements warn me that he fully expects to be in charge tonight. As much as I’d like to turn the tables on him, I’m a little hesitant to test those waters during our first time.
Captive (Igniting the Flame Book 1) Page 20