Chapter 17

SCARLET

17

Ihid in my room for the entire day, holding my wounded wrist close and trying to drown out the ache with my shows. When dinnertime came, I was ordered to join them as per usual.

I joined them, sinking into my seat across from Cristian, glaring hard at him.

To my surprise, he was slouched back, no smirk on his face as he merely studied me.

"What happened?" Tyrone mused, although his tone didn't seem overly concerned as he eyed my bandaged wrist.

"She got burned," Cristian muttered as he drummed his fingers on the table, his gaze boring into me like he was trying to dig up some wretched secret. I had none that would mean a thing to him.

Tyrone arched a brow at this but didn't say a word more on the subject.

We fell into a silent dinner, and Cristian didn't make a single remark as we ate, although he continued to stare at me, his face oddly perplexed.

When we finished, I asked to be excused, and Tyrone grunted as he waved me off. I took my leave and retreated to my room, grateful to find Kenny waiting there for me.

A knock on the door followed me, not giving me enough time to even sit down on the bed with Kenny.

"Yes?" I called out, my voice deflated. Was I really not going to get any reprieve?

The door swung open, and Julian strode in, glancing at Kenny. A smirk crossed his face before he focused on me, and his face became more devoid.

"Can I see your wrist?" he asked as he paused a few steps before me, and I frowned.

"Why?"

"We should redress it twice a day to save it from getting infected or anything."

My frown deepened at the way he was gazing at me, one hand shoved in his pocket.

"Okay, but why do you care?"

"Because I'll be the one taking you to the hospital if it gets infected or organizing a doctor to come to you. Just more of a headache," he said with exasperation as his gaze moved around my room for a moment before focusing back on me. "So, will you let me check it?"

I chewed my cheek, taking in his lazy gaze before finally nodding.

He bobbed his head and moved for the bathroom, and I followed along. He was quiet as he set about undressing my wrist and cleaning it, and I winced as he wiped it down, the blistering, charred skin making my stomach knot. It probably looked worse than it was, but as soon as he started reapplying the cream, I relaxed, the coolness of it soothing.

He was gentle as he worked, and I watched him quietly, my mind a jumbled mess. How could he be nice to me like this and then use my body like a damn toy and toss me aside? What the hell was the deal with him?

"You can redress it in the morning, or I can, whichever works for you," he finally said once he'd bandaged it up once more.

"You're confusing, you know that?" I remarked, and he smirked as he released my wrist.

"Listen, pyro, I'm merely doing what needs to be done to keep me from having another mess to deal with. Don't think too much into it." With that, he turned and left, and I stared after him stupidly. How could I not think too much on it? Everything was a mess when it came to them, and it was fucking me up in my mind.

I lay in bed, wishing Kenny was with me. He'd wandered out last night after Julian had left my door open, and I'd closed it, wanting to take what false comfort I could in the fake privacy.

I was tired of watching my shows, and I'd done the puzzles Tyrone had bought me a few times now. I missed work, and I missed Noms. The short calls I had with her every second day weren't enough.

The walls felt like they were closing in, and I rolled off the bed, knowing I couldn't spend another damn day locked in this room.

I headed out, steeling myself as I went downstairs, finding only Julian on the couch, wearing a beanie for some reason. It wasn't even cold.

He was reading and stroking a relaxed Kenny spread out beside him, and I glanced at the book in his hands.

Was that Harry Potter?

"So you finally grace us with your presence?" Julian's tone was bored as he turned his page, not bothering to glance up.

"Where's Cristian and Tyrone?" I asked as I headed for the kitchen, the thought of a coffee far too tempting. Maybe it'd bring some life back to me.

"Out on business."

I nodded as I set about making a coffee, and when I took my first sip, I sighed, feeling a hint of life flourishing in my bones.

I turned, pausing when I found Julian watching me quietly.

"What?" I arched a brow.

"Surprised to see you out of your room, thought you'd never leave unless ordered," he remarked.

"I'm getting cramped in there," I stated before taking another sip of the hot life essence before walking over and plopping down on the opposing couch.

He cocked his head at me, scoffing when I stretched my legs out and rested them on the coffee table.

I was tired of hiding away, being a shell of myself.

"You like Harry Potter?" I noted as I nodded at the book spread on his lap.

"Loved it as a kid, like to reread it every once in a while," he said with a shrug, still watching me curiously as he stroked Kenny.

The little tabby was now watching me with lazy eyes, his tail flicking.

"Huh." I hadn't expected that, then again, even I'd read them, and they were nostalgic. "So, can I do stuff around here?" I asked as I glanced around.

"Like what?"

"Maybe bake something." Honestly, I'd been craving something sweet, and I wondered if my monthlies were coming up. They were never on time, even with the Mirena inserted. Something to do with the damned PCOS I'd wound up with. I'd switched to the IUD to relieve the hellish cramps and murderous bleeding whenever they did hit.

"If we've got the stuff there, go nuts," he said with a shrug as he looked back down at his book. "But if you get any ideas with a knife or some shit, you'll regret it, I promise you that." He didn't even look up as he dropped the threat, and I just rolled my eyes.

I was almost halfway through my month, and I wasn't about to screw it up.

It didn't take long before I was in the kitchen, working on a batch of cupcakes. I was applying the decorative icing now, finding some calm in the task, something Noms and I had taken up doing. We'd taught ourselves how to decorate them nicely, nothing too fancy, and I'd even started making them to sell on the side at the diner with the owner's permission. It gave me a few extra bucks each week at least.

I finished off the icing on the last cupcake just as Julian joined me on the opposite side of the counter.

"Cute," he stated as he helped himself to one.

"Hey, thanks again for patching me up," I stated as I glanced at my bandaged wrist. I'd gone ahead and redone it myself today, although it hadn't been as easy with one hand. Pride had stopped me from going to him for assistance.

He arched a brow at me as he took the second and final bite of his cupcake and dropped the paper on the counter.

"Don't think it means anything, pyro."

I stiffened as he rounded the island and pinned me to the counter, his arms on either side of me.

"Got that?"

"Yes, I know that, got it," I hissed, wishing I'd not said a thing. I'd gotten comfortable for just a moment, and he'd moved in to remind me of why that was a mistake.

"Good, because you're just a pet, nothing more until this month is done."

I swallowed, hating how those words oddly stung. They shouldn't have affected me. I shouldn't have thought anything of his odd kindness. Stupid.

I glanced to Kenny, who was waltzing over to join us silently.

"You know, I had an idea of what I wanted to do to you today," Julian breathed as he brought his face up alongside mine, pressing his body against mine.

My heart sank as he ground against me. I shouldn't have left my damn room.

His hand moved up my body, sliding between my breasts and right up to my neck, where those recently gentle fingers wound around it.

He pulled me forward, his lips claiming mine and stealing my breath away. In all our encounters, he'd not once tried to kiss me. He either did me doggy or I gave him head, it was what I'd come to expect.

It shocked me enough that I let my lips part, and his tongue swept in, tasting me as he moaned.

The sound made a shiver course through me, and then those warm, devilish lips left mine just as quickly.

He jerked my shirt over my head, and I didn't fight him, knowing the consequences if I did.

"Take your pants off, pyro," he commanded, and I slid them off.

"Panties too."

I huffed as I obeyed, and then his hand was back at my throat, those damned lips brushing mine again.

His kiss was raw, primal and hungry, and it sparked a fire despite my best efforts as his other hand dipped between my legs. He grazed my clit teasingly, making me quiver, and he drew in a sharp breath.

The air was torn from my lungs as he hoisted me up onto the counter, his hand wrapped around my throat as he forced me back on the counter.

The cool marble made me shiver as it kissed my back, and I stared at him, wide eyed and uncertain.

Those wicked dark eyes rolled over me, and he licked his lips, the movement making a wretched ache flare between my legs.

His other hand swiped across the counter, and I followed the movement, a soft furrowing creasing my brow as he lifted up one of the cupcakes.

I didn't make a sound as he flipped it and smeared the icing over my now pebbled nipples.

What on earth was he?—

A tremble overtook me as he dove down, licking the icing off with purposeful strokes before sucking on the nipple. He moved between them, teasing them as my core tightened involuntarily, his hand still firm on my throat, keeping me down.

A strange buzz started up, and I'd barely registered what it was before I arched, the bullet vibrator dancing over my clit.

"That's right, pyro, you fucking love that, don't you?" He chuckled as he danced the vibrator over my clit, altering the pressure and time so that I was spasming on the counter-top.

Whatever hopes I had of keeping my body in check had dived out the window. I'd lost all control of it.

I held onto his wrist, his hand still wrapped around my throat but not too tight that I couldn't breathe.

"You want this cock, don't you?" he grunted as he cupped his dick in one hand, taking away my buzzing little friend for just a moment. "Why don't you beg for it?"

"Never," I hissed, and his fingers flexed against my neck as his lip quirked unhappily.

"I know you want me, pyro, look at you squirming," he teased as he returned the vibrator, making my body arch against my will. "Must be a mind fuck, knowing you want to hate this, but your body saying the opposite."

"Go fuck yourself," I ground out, and he barked out a sharp laugh.

"Oh, darling, that's what you're here for."

I dug my nails into his wrist, drawing a hiss from him before he ground against me.

I hated that he was right, I hated it more than anything.

Because right now, with this wicked teasing, I did just want the bastard to fuck me, to allow me to claim that orgasm that teetered just out of reach.

"You're mine, darling. Mine to use, mine to tease, mine to have," he breathed as he ducked down to suckle on my nipple.

A wretched whimper betrayed me, and he chuckled, the vibration against my nipple only amping everything up more.

"Prove it, fuck me then," I rasped, and he pulled back, a wicked smile dancing on his lips. His eyes twinkled at my refusal to beg, yet I was challenging him. A loophole, of course.

"Devious little minx, aren't you?" Those dark eyes burned into me, and I cursed as he took away the vibrator.

It was quickly returned once he'd undone his pants, freeing his erection.

I couldn't help it as my eyes fell to that length, my core tightening with need. This was wrong, and yet my body didn't seem to think so.

"Fine."

I cried out as he drove into me, the combination with the vibrator pure ecstasy as my pleasure built up.

He fucked me hard, bouncing my on the counter, my back sliding on the marble as he held me down by my throat. My tits bounced from the movements, and his eyes traversed my body before locking onto mine once more.

He knew what he was doing as he took away the vibrator here and there, edging me but not allowing me to reach that desired peak. I arched and cursed him, causing him to only chuckle as he continued to tease me relentlessly.

"Beg me to finish you off," he demanded, but I gritted my teeth, refusing to give in.

I didn't care how much my body wanted to hit that high, I wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

He slowed his movements, easing off with the vibrator again to my dismay and bending down so that his warm breath washed over my cheek.

"C'mon, pyro, don't you want to finish?"I shuddered at the heated tone, his own desire dripping from it.

I jerked as he skimmed the vibrator over my clit, burying himself inside me as deep as he could before easing back out.

This edging was its own form of goddamn torture.

"Look at you, so wanting, so needy." He kissed my left breast, swirling his tongue over the nipple. "Your body betrays you, darling."

I closed my eyes, wishing he'd just let me have my bliss. I almost wanted to give in, to ask him to do it, to give me that much-needed high.

"But fuck, you look so good wanting my dick." He jerked back, driving into me steadily as he continued to graze the vibrator over my clit, making me arch and writhe with every sensation.

I was getting so close, my breath coming in hot pants now, the tingles coursing through my body as he sped up his movements.

Just a little bit more and?—

He yanked out, spurting cum on my stomach and tits as he grunted.

"Fuck," I growled, and he sighed before chuckling.

"What's wrong, pyro? Didn't quite get there?" He leaned over me, that shit-eating smirk mocking me as he kissed my tit.

"Fuck you."

"Oh, you will, darling." He pulled back, cocking his head at me before rolling his eyes over me, taking satisfaction in his handiwork. "You'll be coming to me before you know it, begging for this cock. Wanting to get off. Just say the word, beg me for it, and you'll be rewarded."

He released my throat as he stepped away, pocketing the vibe before he glanced at Kenny. The tabby had pounced onto the end of the counter at some point, and he was gazing at the pair of us curiously.

"Don't you think so, Kenny?" he mused, and Kenny just blinked.

I ground my teeth in frustration, my body still hot and wanting, but now empty.

"I'll be seeing you, pyro." With that, he strode off, snatching up another cupcake on his way before heading up the stairs as I eased off the counter.

I glared at Kenny like he was to blame for my needy, frustrated state.

"In his fucking dreams," I muttered, my stomach roiling.

Fuck him and his nice cock.