Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11

ROMAIN

" T hank you," I whisper at Olivier, who brushes a lock of hair from my sweating forehead. He smiles sweetly at me, his green eyes radiating with an innocence that doesn't match his actions.

"Anytime." He drops a peck on my lips, then grins when Alexandre pulls him back up and grazes a hand around his neck so he can smash their mouths together, his dark, feline eyes on me.

Hands unwrap the cuffs around my limbs, and then Edouard lifts me out of the swing and guides me back onto my feet. Around us, brothers of the brotherhood are celebrating. It's unlike anything I've ever seen. With bulging eyes I take it all in. Red cloaks are everywhere. On their knees, bend over chairs, draped on the floor as they participate in hot love-making. The thick, earthy incense is so strong that I can't see entirely through the room, although I don't think I need to. It's the same, everywhere. Except for that secluded space, in the corner, where Dominique Devallee is playing the piano, and the flutter of melodrama finds my ears, inviting fluttering memories of my life before Saint-Laurent.

Suddenly my legs feel wobbly. Suddenly, as I gaze around the room, I feel like I'm not here. Like that wasn't me who was here in the first place, running around Monterrey forest at night, hiding from a group of rich, college kids dressed up in cloaks and obscured with Venetian masks.

"Come." Edouard places a cloak over my shoulders. "Let them continue the party. I've got another surprise for you." His digits slide down my chest, closing the black velvet tight in front of me. When I catch sight of his boxer briefs and tank top, I shudder. He's given me his.

"I hope I don't have to run anymore," I joke.

Edouard gives me a funny smile. "No more running for you, mon chat. " The collar feels heavy and cool around my neck, and he has fastened it before I realize what he's done. "Come, my darling, crawl with me."

My heart rattles in my ribcage, and I blink, embarrassment making my mood plummet. But before I can open my mouth to object, he pushes me down and onto my knees, smiling. Then he pulls on the leash, and I can barely catch my balance with the palms of my hands and my knees. "Come, mon chat . I'm taking you to the roof."

Crawling by his side feels overwhelming. I lick my lips, trying to fight the staggering swarm of butterflies that occupy the pit of my stomach. I crave it. So badly that it has always terrified me. But the way my hands and knees carry my weight, the way my neck is chained with gold and ownership, takes my breath away. Edouard may be aloof and distant to the outside world, but he treats me like a prized lover, close to his heart.

He's merciless and lets me crawl up the stairs, using sweet words of encouragement when I start panting from the effort. My chest expands with pride. When we finally reach the deserted third floor of Monterrey Castle, he guides us to a small, wooden door. It opens on a tired creak, and when darkness greets us, I balk, refusing to crawl any further.

"Romain." Edouard pulls on the leash.

I dig my heels in the blood-red velvet and shake my head. "I'm scared."

"Come here, amour ." He guides me on two feet and pulls the leash close. It glimmers in the dim light. "Fuck, how I missed this," he mutters, eyeing the jewel. Tracing the material with his ringed fingers, he pulls me in close, then laps at my exposed neck, letting the tip of his tongue up to the corner of my mouth. "Missed my kitten. So much. Now come, come and see what I've got for you."

I shiver, but can't help but follow him further inside, only a little surprised to find that it's not a room, like the one we were in before. No, this corridor leads to another door, one that clearly leads outside, judging by its firmness and iron locks. And then it swings open and outside we are. It takes me only a second to register that I'm back on all fours, guided forward and onto the roof terrace.

"This is…" My head spins around, impatient to take everything in. Behind us skyrise the two pinnacles of Monterrey Castle, adorned by the countless rows of evergreens and oak trees. It's breathtaking. "I've never been up here," I gasp. "It's so beautiful."

"Come here, pet." Edouard walks us further, passing parts of the castle walls until we reach the turret that indicates the corner of this side. In his hand he carries the golden thong, and the equally golden harness I used to wear. "Let's get you dressed." Sliding off the cloak from my shoulders, he taps my leg and I lift it, allowing him to put the thong on. "Hmm. Perfection." The golden harness closes snugly around my chest, the inside material soft against my overheated skin. It feels so good that I could cry. Edouard places himself behind me, his hot breath on my nape when he dots plentiful kisses on my throat and shoulders. His hands trace the shape of the golden material that curves my waist while he murmurs in my ear.

"Look up."

I do, breath catching in my throat. "There are so many of them," I gasp. Stars. Everywhere, littering the sky with countless golden spots. "Did you know that there are over nine thousand stars visible to the naked eye?"

Edouard chuckles, the raspy sound causing goosebumps. "I didn't. How I missed this. Turn around." He spins me before I can object, and the knife returns into my hand before I realize what's happening. "Continue. Tell me another one of those facts that live rent-free in your mind." He slides down to his knees and uses his own knife to shred the black material from his tank top.

"Continue?" I croak, gasping when he leans in with open mouth and searches for my already exposed dick. It's half mast despite the earlier orgasm, or perhaps it never really deflated by this mindblowing reunion, even before he sucks it between his firm, wet lips. "Oh, fuck." I shudder, pleasure gripping me, closing off any thoughts. Tilting my head back, I flick my gaze back up at the stars. "Uhm—did you know that astrologists estimate there are a trillion stars in the Milky Way Galaxy?"

With his lips firmly wrapped my cock, Edouard shakes his head. I huff out a chuckle, then moan when he takes me in further, letting my wet tip hit the back of his throat while he wraps a hand around my balls. I shudder. His hum sounds impatient, and so I continue, "Apparently, the oldest accurately dated star chart appeared in ancient Egyptian astronomy in 1534 BC." I guess I want to say more, but Edouard takes that moment to wrap my hand around my own knife, while sucking the dripping precum from my tip with his warm mouth and tongue. My knees buck and I moan, eyes fluttering open to look down and at Edouard's kneeling frame. "You are so handsome."

He slowly releases the pressure, suction disappearing from my cock as it slides out of his mouth, and I can't help the pout on my mouth.

"Mark me, amour ," he muses, jutting his chin toward the knife in my hand. His lips are swollen, glistening from my fluids. He catches me watching and grins when my cock jerks. "Here." He points at his chest. Looking down at my own chest, I look at the star pawn he carved in there.

"Are you sure?"

He smiles, then guides my hand closer to his. I gaze at his rings, then back up at his face. He's serious. "You ran around with that knife the entire night. Come on, amour , make me yours."

Bringing up the knife, I bite my lip, hesitate for two full seconds, before lifting it to his perfect, tanned skin. The moment I scrape his skin, drawing blood for the first time, my heart stutters, and my tongue flicks out in concentration when I keep my trembling hand in check and finish the shape. His flesh is leaking crimson, a lot more than what I managed to draw earlier during the chase, and much more deliberate.

" Mon étoile, " I whisper, gazing at the bloody trace of the star I carved onto his chest.

"Lick it up, mon chat ." Edouard pushes the bloody knife to my mouth, and my lips part, tongue darting out, swiping up his blood, our eyes staring at one another. His hand brushes my cheek, digit sliding down to my mouth, slipping inside and carefully grazing my tongue. A satisfied smirk appears on his chiseled face. "That's good. You're so good, Romain. Turn around now, and look outside, enjoy the view."

I smell the scent of his cigarette before I can see it, dangling in front of my face in an invitation for me to take a drag. I inhale, my eyes on Monterrey Forest, his chest pressed tightly against my back, body shaking when he enters me once more.

"I'll make sure that you'll feel my ownership over you every day from now on," Edouard brushes his lips over my cheek, opening his mouth for me to pass him the cigarette, while his hands massage my ass and back. Rocking slowly inside me, he lets out a puff, then licks my throat.

"The wound might become infected," I whisper.

"I'll let you take care of me in a minute, amour ." He watches me taking another drag, our cheeks practically touching as we both face the forest. His pace picks up, and my toes curl, eyes rolling back as I feel the heat increase, desire escalating until we are set off for the climax. "I'll never let you leave again. You'll always be mine." He bites in my shoulder, then growls, then fucks me so hard I feel our balls slapping wildly. And then his hand is on my cock and I buck, grunting.

"I need you," I wheeze.

"I know. I'll give you anything the fuck you want."

I come, a panting and moaning mess, ropes of cum landing on the ancient stones of the castle. Slowly pulling out, Edouard tugs on the leash and he spins me around and onto my knees.

His throbbing cock is in my mouth before he can order anything else, and I suck it to the back of my throat, eyes stinging with tears as my gag reflex kicks in. Keeping me in place, Edouard tilts his head back and pumps his hips, giving me the perfect view of his impressive build and bloody mark as he stretches out like a cat and comes inside my mouth.

He tastes of salt and arrogance and ownership. He is toxic and cocky and romantic.

He is my everything.

I don't know how we make it back to the castle, but I do know that my knees are aching by the time we finally make it into his bed. I giggle to myself when Edouard finally pulls a soft blanket over my hips and snuggles me into his chest, the kitten cradled in my arms.

"I'm so grateful," I whisper, eyeing my very first pet.

"Not like me," he says against my nape. He reaches a large hand out and brushes a ringed finger under the kitten's muzzle. "I wanted to mark my pet, and ended up with two."

The end.