Dark Desires: Bought

“Do you seek to protect this man?”

“No.”

“Then who do you protect?”

“You.” Madeline sniffled. “I didn’t want you to kill him.”

“Dear, you overstate your value. If I kill him, how ever will I get his money?” Arthur knew his words were cruel. He chose them precisely for their viciousness. Rage boiled his blood at the thought of another knowing the silken warmth of Madeline’s mouth. Fury spilled over at the thought of her keeping this secret from him.

“You begged me to bring you here. You knew we were coming to a place where decent wives do not go. You swore not to interfere in my business. You promised not to leave my side tonight if I allowed it.”

Madeline nodded miserably.

“You knew you were going to be surrounded by whores. All masked, all beautiful, and all ready to be bent over. You knew if you wandered off you could be mistaken for one.”

“I know.”

“So if you knew, why did you do it?” Arthur squeezed the hand on her throat just the slightest bit. “Did you want to play at being a whore, Madeline? Did you hope someone like Bennett would take you into one of the many convenient rooms and fuck you like a dirty, disgusting whore?”

“No!”

“Then why?” Arthur rested his mouth against her temple. He let the words drip out of him softly like beguiling poison. “You can tell me, Madeline. The damage is already done. Nothing you say can make it any worse.”