Knots (Club Imperial Book 4) (24 page)

Killian’s hands were around her waist again, and he brought her over to the chair. He sat down and cradled her again him, never slipping out of her. “I want to feel you as long as I can.” His words were a mere whisper. “How long?”

Cece looked up at him, her eyes tired. “How long what?”

“How long do we have to keep this a secret? How long do we have to steal little desperate fucks with each other?”

Cece blinked, the post-coital haze threatening her with a drop into sleep. “A year. Paul and I discussed it. One year.”

“One year,” he nodded. “One year and then I can tell the world that I love you.”

Cece’s was overwhelmed by sleep in the next instant. She a simply too drained to keep her eyes open another instant.

When woke, barely fifteen minutes later, she was alone, fully dressed on the couch. She let herself lay there a long, long few minutes staring up at the ceiling.

Killian had said he loved her.

She didn’t want to go through with any of this. She wanted to find Kay and spend weeks naked in his arms, fucking, having sex, making love and then falling asleep together so they could wake and start all over again.

Instead, she was stuck marrying Paul, hiding Killian, and abandoning both Everett and John.

The only word she could come up with for the way she felt at that moment was loathing.

The door cracked open and Paul’s face appeared there. “Hey, jitterbug. How are you?”

Cece burst into tears.

Killian swirled the scotch in the tumbler. He knew Darien was watching him with keen interest, but he wasn’t sure if he cared enough to call him out on it. This was twice now he’d let what he felt for Cece dictate what he was doing. He let it take over his senses.

Everything that was wrong about what happened yesterday felt so right. Holding her up against the wall, slamming home inside her. Damn it all, he’d even admitted he was in love with her. He was. So desperately. Was there any way the two of them were going to make it through the next sixteen months without someone figuring out what was going on?

All of the friends he talked to, who knew Cece, knew this whole thing was a sham. It was obvious Paul and Cece weren’t a real couple—even the kiss that had pissed him off was perceived as fake. Unconvincing.

Except to the people who felt this was a triumph. To the people who thought this was a victory for old money, and they would see their traditions of misery continue. And in some ways, they were right. Neither Paul or Cece had any intention of consummating the marriage and were already planning their escape in a year—meanwhile “cheating” on each other.

“Killian.” Darien interrupted his thoughts.

“I don’t want to hear it.”

“I was going to suggest that you and Paul, Cece and whoever Paul is seeing sit down and discuss this. I don’t think what’s going on here is good for anyone. You’re being a miserable prick.”

“I can’t get off my mind.”

“Then talk to them.”

“I can’t do that either.”

“Oh, for—why the hell not?”

“Because I know why she’s doing this. And there’s nothing I can do about it. This has to happen.”

Darien swirled his drink again. “Then maybe you should apply to be the pool boy.”

“Christ, I would if I could.”

“You’re so smitten.”

“I’m consumed.”

“You can’t touch her again.” Darien’s words were a warning. “You know you can’t. You won’t be able to stop if you keep letting this happen.”

“I wish it was just me letting this happed, Darien. It’s not. It’s both of us. We’re both letting this happen. We both want this to happen. God, she was so hot and so fuckable last night. She fell asleep in my arms in that room.”

Darien sighed. “I can’t help you anymore, Killian. I’ll listen, but if neither of you can curb your appetites for each other, then I can’t help. This is just going to get more and more complicated. End of story.” He leaned forward and turned to Killian. “You are just going to have to deal with the fall out when you’re found out.”

“Who says we’re going to be found out?”

Darien snorted. “You fucked her against the wall at her engagement part, Kay. Do you really think that you can hide this?”

“What the hell would the fallout be? She’s not in love with Paul.”

Darien tapped his ring on the glass. “Let’s walk through this, step by step. Follow me here. She and Paul get married. No attraction, no consummation. Separate bedrooms. Fine, if you can believe that. She’s off screwing you every chance, and he’s off screwing someone else. Even with a mutual cheating agreement like that, someone outside of all this is bound to catch wind. Bound to. Even the best keep secrets have a way of getting out. And you aren’t trying to keep it secret from each other.”

“Fine, whatever.”

“No, not fine. Not whatever. These are the elite, the snobs, the old monied families. You know what this is like. You know what your mother is like. Do you know what will happen if either of them get caught? Think about it. Let’s say you and Cece get caught and it’s made public. Paul’s family is going to go after her, hard. Relentlessly. They will strip whatever her family has from her. And I’m quite sure that whatever the reason she has for going along with this idiotic charade will be completely destroyed by the fact that you couldn’t keep your dick out of her.”

Darien leaned forward. “So. I would suggest that the two of you back the hell off of each other until you can really gauge what is going on here.”

“I know what’s going on here.” Killian stared at the floor. “She’s marrying someone she doesn’t love.”

“
For a reason
!” Darien slammed his hand on the table. “There is a reason why that girl is marrying Paul. There is a reason why she got over the fear every other woman in Pittsburgh has of that man. Whatever her reason is, it’s stunningly compelling and you’d better realize women don’t do shit like that for the hell of it. Women have motivation for action. Frances Robbe is no fucking exception to that rule.” He stared at the scotch again. “Stop fucking her against the wall, Kay. Stop pushing limits and boundaries. If her reason for this marriage is compelling enough to say no to the man she clearly loves, you’re just playing with fire.”

“She wanted it.”

“Tell. Her. No.” Darien shook his head violently. “Damn it, man. Tell her no. Say no. It’s a powerful word that works both ways. It’s a year, Killian. One year. It’s not going to destroy you.” He pointed a finger at Kay. “And if you say you love her one more time, I’m going to punch you in the throat. If you love her, say no.
Help
her with whatever reason she has to not marry you first.”

Killian was quiet. Cece’s reasons were compelling. Hannah, and their safety. He would never want to get between the woman and her sister. He didn’t know how to say no to her though. He’d fantasized all day about taking her against the wall. The woman had him enspelled and he just didn’t know what to do about it.

“I know you’re thinking about this.”

“I hate that you’re right.”

“I hate that I am too. She makes you happy.”

“I don’t want to stay away from her.”

“This is not about what you want, but what’s right for both of you.” Darien raised his eyebrows. “You need to look beyond your libido and realized that long term is important. If something goes awry and there’s something about this plan that’s messed up, there’s a very real chance you will never be able to be together. And then you lose everything forever. Not just a year.”

“How are you so good with relationships when you refuse to have one.”

“It’s human nature. Study it. Be amazed by it. You’re a doctor, don’t you see patterns and reasons in people all the time?”

“I see people screwing up because they…” Killian stopped, and sighed. “Because they don’t see the long term repercussions in their actions.”

Darien leaned back in the chair. Killian swore.

# # #

“He lurked the whole time.”

The hunk shook his head. “Surely, it couldn’t have been the whole time.”

“Nearly so. Only left the area when dinner and the toast happened.” The Watcher sat on the couch and motioned the Hunk over. “I don’t like this. There is something going on and that man is behind it. Or a part of is.”

“I thought that you were supposed to be impartial.”

“I can’t be impartial to this. I just can’t. I’m going to have to warn them all off. Maybe even send people away from the ‘Burgh while we investigate this.”

“You know that’s not going to work,” the Hunk answered. “If you send people away, the exact people who are being targeted, the hand will be tipped. Everyone has to stay where they are.”

“Do you think there’s any hope for us to get this solved before that bastard strike again?”

“I can only hope.”

The Watcher shook his head. “Not good.”

“Not good at all.”

Cece dumped herself into the chair. It was Tuesday, two full days since the engagement party and she still felt hung over. It wasn’t a fun feeling. She wasn’t sure what was really bothering her: did she have that much to drink or was it the fact that she’d fucked Killian at her own engagement party.

It had to be the alcohol. She didn’t feel an ounce of remorse for their sex against the wall.

The office was quiet, and she was grateful for that. Everything that was going on was too much. With Paul, with Killian, with Everett. Even John.

Cece groaned, dropping her head into her hands. She hoped John wasn’t going to take her refusal of arrangement as an insult to his prowess. She found herself day dreaming about tying him up more than once. She had wanted to take him on in a private contract. Now… everything had to hide. She would have to break it to him gently tomorrow night.

Thankfully, yesterday had been orientation and she hadn’t had much time to think about all of this. Today, however, it was all front and center. Not only was she worried about whether she and Paul could pull this off, she had Everett on her mind today.

She was going to miss this arrangement, too. No more Tuesday research. It made her sad. She’d helped Everett discover his submissive side and learn to really enjoy it. She liked the bit of sadomasochism they had going, too. He enjoyed the bits of pain she gave him, and she enjoyed his reactions to it.

Cece let out a breath. There was no way she was giving up the club. Not a chance in hell. She was going to have to tell Killian about this side of her. Their wild sex was wonderful, but she wasn’t going to always be happy with just tossing each other against the wall and going at it. She was going to want to wind the ropes around him, paddle him, tease him. And she’d have to confess that before it could happen—if he was even willing.

“Good morning, Ms. Robbe.”

Cece turned and found Everett standing there, purple tie again. What was going to happen if he actually had to come in for research after this? Was she going to be able to stay away from him? “Good morning, Mister Millhouse. I’ll be with you in a few minutes.”

He smiled and nodded and Cece had a horrible realization that she wasn’t sure she was in the right frame of mind for the session. She wasn’t focused, she was tired, and she was upset this was coming to an end. It seemed like the longest walk ever to her office to start preparing for the day—both for Everett and for her job.

Taking a long few minutes to clean her auxiliary desk at the main entrance, she made her way up to her office. Pushing the door open, she found Everett sitting on couch. He stood as she walked in, and smiled at her. “Mistress.”

“Everett--”

He held up his hand. “I know. I understand. I could see it in your eyes.”

She smiled at him, the feeling genuine, but the demonstration weak. “You know me so well. I’m sorry. I’m so off my game that it’s downright embarrassing.”

He walked around to lean on the desk. “We have done this so long and so well. I don’t regret an instant of this. I still wish that we were able to work this out. But as I understand it, you’ve found someone anyway. I’m sure I will too. Now that I know what I need, what I want in a woman—a mistress—and a relationship, I know where to look. I have you to thank for that. Eventually, Saundra will calm down and realize she can’t keep me from Imogene, and that having a father who loves her that much is a good thing.”

Cece desperately tried not to react to his casual reveal that he knew about her relationship. “Who do you think I’ve found?”

“Don’t know,” Everett smiled. “But the rumors say you have. Most of the people who have heard the rumor are divided into two camps. Those who don’t know you say it’s Paul, as I think you want people to believe. I think there are other, better options. But your friends have tight lips, and won’t spill to little ol’ me. They don’t trust Saundra and I’m too close to her.”

Cece smiled and shook her head. “Like you said, that will change.”

He laughed. “And even you won’t tell me.”

“Everett… the games we’re all playing here are dangerous. Paul and I are going through with this for reasons, and they are very strong personal reasons,” Cece said. “Someday, I will tell you. I trust you. You wouldn’t be standing here if I didn’t. And it’s not you I’m hiding from this. At least, not you alone. There are a dozen or more people I have to hide from.”

“You’re good at hiding.”

“Do I have a choice?”

Everett shook his head. “No. I know you don’t. I’ve lived the reasons why.” He shrugged. “Funny how the people who I thought would be happy to see me out of their lives are the ones that are pulling me back in.”

“No matter what they say about us, they are the unrepentant sadists,” Cece stated. “We might like pain, but they dole it out and take no joy in it. Our bruises are pride, memories of delight. Theirs are nothing but a brand on the skin, a way to show the world the think they are in charge. The truth is oh, so different.”

Everett nodded. “I’m glad that things with Saundra didn’t work out. I couldn’t have kept up with that front. It wasn’t fair to us. Worse, she never would have agreed to a polyamorous situation, even if I left all the sex for her. But she’d have no trouble cheating on me.”

“That is true.”

“And apparently, with your brother.”

Cece held up a hand. “Yeah. Let’s not.”

Everett laughed. “I won’t. I’m a little grossed out by that one too.”

Cece walked around to the chair at her desk. “I talked to Tessa last night for you. She has a few people in mind who might be a good pair with you. You understand, of course, there’s no off-site agreement implicit in their taking you as a client.”

“Of course, mistress,” Everett answered.

Cece reached into her desk. “Well. I am feeling a bit more calm now. I don’t want you to be disappointed in this day. So perhaps we can find a little happy medium.”

“Are you still available for this evening, mistress?”

“I look forward to it.” Cece pulled a thinner rope out of her drawer. “Do you know what I use this for, Everett?”

“No, mistress,” he answered.

Cece held it up. It was a coarse jute rope, not refined and polished like the silk and nylon she used most of the time. “This is for a little bit more pain. A little tease. You’ve told me you want to explore a little more of the masochism, we’ll start here.” She glanced over his shoulder. “Is the door locked, Everett?”

He quickly walked to check the door. Finding it was unlocked, he turned the tumblers and scooted back to where Cece was waiting. “It is now, mistress.”

His voice had gone quiet and breathy. Cece knew he was waiting to see what she was about to do—and what she was about to do was something she didn’t usually partake in. But their conversation had turned to Everett seeking more pain, pushing more limits. She knew this technique from her training and it was good place to start.

“Pants down, Everett.” She snapped the rope between her hands, and he complied readily. She hadn’t even explained what she was doing and his cock jutted out proud from the dark patch of hair there. She did love that beast between his legs.

Cece slipped her hand over his erection and stroked it a few times, the last time dragging the rope up his length. She wrapped around him once, twice, and then dropped it down threading it down behind his heavy sac on one side and up the other. Two more times around the thick length, then up around his waist to cinch it in place. Then around his cock again, pulling it tight. For every loop around his shaft, there was one under his balls, and slowly, surely the erection he had was pulled down, and down. Slowly, Cece bound his hard dick to his sac.

“Do you know what I’m doing?” Her words were soft, enticing.

“CBT, mistress.” Everett was sweating a bit, shaking. He was as hard as when she had started.

“That’s right. And your taking this so very well. You like this, don’t you? This little cock and ball torture I’m treating you too.”

“Yes, mistress,” he breathed.

Cece pulled the jute a little tighter again. “You’re going to be hard all day, aren’t you?”

Everett swallowed hard. “Yes, mistress.”

“There’s a measure of control in this too, isn’t there?” Cece prompted him.

Clearly having trouble controlling himself. “Yes, mistress.”

“What is it, Everett?” Cece nearly had him bound all the way down, his shaft covered in the wound ropes, pulled tight against his sac.

“I’ll have to piss sitting down.”

“Correct.” She leaned in, running her fingers over this tight rope that cover his cock. “Do you like that idea, Everett. Does it make you hard knowing that I’ve made you sit down to piss? That I can even control you when I’m not near you?”

“Yes, mistress,” he managed.

She ran her finger over the just-uncovered head of his dick, and gathered the pre-cum that had been building there. “You want to come, don’t you?”

“Please, mistress.”

“No.” The word was a whispered teaser. “Be good, Everett. And maybe tonight, we’ll not only do a little CBT, but some anal play too.” His whole body shook at her suggestion. He was so responsive, so sexual.

Cece was going to miss this play time so much. She was determined to make sure that whoever took him on next was someone who appreciated just how deliciously sexual and submissive this man was. Every suggestion elicited reactions from him. He was just plain fun.

*  *  *

Cece watched Everett for the rest of the day out of the corner of her eye. He would have to stop and collect himself once in a while, and shiver of erotic pleasure ran through him a moment after. She was enjoying this. She knew he was too.

She’d slipped him the room key at lunch, patting the pocket, but not really the pocket. He shuddered again, and Cece couldn’t stop herself from winking at him. Everett let out a breath and the want on his face almost made Cece take pity on him.

Almost.

It was more fun to make him wait—for both of them.

Cece stacked the cart with the return books that were going to have to be wheeled out and put back. The student assistant hadn’t bothered to show again, and after staring at the car for too many minutes, she decided to put them away herself.

She rolled the rickety cart rolled to the elevator, and just as the door was about to close, someone’s hand appeared between the doors and it was shoved open.

Chas
.

He stepped in and the car seem too small for him and whatever emotions he brought with him.

“Hello sis.” His words were a drawl, accompanied by a nasty sneer.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Cece really felt trapped in the elevator as the doors slid closed.

“We need to talk.”

Cece shook her head. “You’ve already trapped me in marriage I don’t want, what the hell else could you possible want from me?”

“Why are you still working?”

Cece’s brow wrinkled. “What?”

“You’re here. Working. What the hell is going on?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Chas.”

“You should have quit the moment you got that ring. Don’t you think it’s a little inappropriate for the fiancée of one of Pittsburgh’s wealthiest sons to be working?”

Cece slammed the cart into the door. “That is none of your goddamn business. What Paul and I decided about our careers has nothing to do with you and your input is unwelcome.” She reached around him and hit the button for the fourth floor. “I think you’ve had quite enough to say about marriage. As in creating one that neither of us wanted.”

Chas growled. “Your whole family’s wealth is riding on you--”

“No, I do believe it was all riding on Black Beauty in stall five during the second race.”

Chas slammed his hand on the wall next to her heard. “Don’t you
dare
be flippant about this. This is your family. Blood is thicker than water.”

“Why don’t you just marry Oetler and have done?” Cece asked.

“Saundra and I have nothing to do with this.”

“You are the biggest asshole on the planet, Charles. The biggest. You want me to sacrifice my life and freedom for the bullshit you call this family, but you go off and fuck Saundra and that has nothing to do with the family.”

He clearly wanted to hit her. Cece had never felt so threatened in her life, and being in such a small space didn’t allow her much defensive space. “Do not ever use such crude language about my love interests, Frances. Don’t you ever do that again. Saundra is traumatized from the revelations about her husband.”

“Oh, please, she is not,” Cece snapped. “She’s a nasty cunt rag using Imogene--”

The slap came hard and fast. Cece didn’t have time to block or even back up so that it didn’t hit square on her cheek. Her mouth fell open with a gasp as her hand jumped to her face that now stung from his hand.

“I told you to watch your mouth--”

Cece jabbed him in the side of the neck, in the tender spot below his ear, a special hit that her jujitsu master had shown her. She watched as the shock and pain ran through her brother, and the temporary paralysis surprised him as he slumped again the side of the elevator. It was only his arm that wouldn’t work for about ten minutes, but at least he couldn’t hit her again.