“That wasn’t nice. Mia.” He steps closer, dropping to his hunches. His hand gentle as he cups my chin. His thumb swipes over my lips and I bit the tip. He squeezes my chin and I jerk my head back, but Delaney does not free me. “Play nice, Mia.” His gaze turns to the man and the pit of my stomach twists. “And we’ll play nice with you.” Delaney rises, releasing my chin. “Jo-Leigh played nice.” He walks to the back of the chair. His breath warm against my neck as he kneels behind me, lifting my hair away from my neck. “She was a screamer.” Although I am unable to see him or his face, I sense his smile against my flesh. The one which turns me cold. “My friend likes screamers. Are you a screamer, Mia?” Delaney’s fingers brush against my neck and as bile climbs in my throat, I shiver. He is close once more and I try to wiggle away from him. Tilting my head away from his touch. Delaney chuckles and I turn to him, taking my eyes off the other man and spit into his face. “You like it dirty. Do you, Mia.” Delaney’s hand slides to my front. His fingers brush over the bare flesh of my upper chest. He is close enough for me to smell his scent, and my fingers curl as his lips brush against the back of my neck.
I close, then open my eyes as I turn to him. “I’ll not give you the satisfaction of making a sound.”
The other man comes to stand in front of me and as I stare at Delaney, cold steel presses against the flesh of my stomach. It takes everything in me not to flinch when he takes hold of my tee-shirt. The room fills with the roar of ripping material. The tip of the blade runs against my flesh. From my stomach to the top of my breastbone, without splitting the skin. As Delaney watches me, I force my fingers to relax as they clenched into tight fists and with a sneer at Alex’s enemy, I turn to the stranger and lick my lips. “You were supposed to bring me a drink.”
The stranger chuckles as he taps the flat side of the blade from one breast to the other. “You can have a drink when we’re done. I’m sure you’ll need it.” I spit at him and he wipes the phlegm away with his thumb. “Don’t be wasting the spit.” He chuckles as he thrusts his hips into my face. “You’re going to need it for another job.”
“You ever double tagged, Mia. Jono tells me that’s how Alex likes it.” Delaney’s mouth is close to my ear and I knock him with my head. In retaliation he slaps me, making the room spin as ringing in my ear vibrates. “You’ll hurt more than me, girl. Play nice and I’ll be nice to you.”
I swallow another mouthful of saliva. My head hurts and the stranger continues to play with his knife on my flesh. He slides it down and into the waistband of my jeans. There is a loud pop as he breaks the catch. The blade presses against my pubic bone and I turn my gaze to the stranger. “Is this how you get your kicks.”
Cold steel slides from one hip to the other, opening my jeans further and I curse myself for not wearing panties. Then I turn my curses to Alex and his dare that I go naked beneath my jeans. “You’ll find out soon how I get me kicks.” The stranger smiles as he slides the knife further down. “This is a pretty sight.” The blade is cold as he presses the flat end against my pussy lips. “Your man likes you naked.”
I yearn to move. To shuffle my ass further against the back of the chair, but I dare not move. It’s turning claustrophobic as the two men surrounded me. My breath is trapped, but I refuse to look away. When the stranger leans in close. Faint barking from outside faintly filters into the basement and I glance up, noticing the small window. In the dark it was hidden from me. Too small to let much light in.
“We have visitors.” Delaney rises as he speaks. His smile cold, and my stomach twists into knots. “I knew he would come.” He strokes the side of my face. “It was never about you. You were just the carrot I needed.” He glances to the stairs. “You wouldn’t think it to look at him. But he is rather gallant. A true gentleman. He wouldn’t leave a woman in distress. That’s where we messed up last time. Killing the whore too soon.”
The stranger looks at me, runs the tip of his knife over my flesh and the slight sting as the top layer of my flesh is spilt open, has me to flinching.
“Keep quiet.” He glances around the room, finds nothing, then glances at Delaney. “Pass me your handkerchief.” Delaney looks at me and smiles as he watches the stranger stuff the cloth in my mouth. When they reach the top of the stairs, the room is plunged into darkness and the door is locked. The dog’s barking hasn’t eased, and I pray it’s Alex. That he knows what he is doing. Then the dog falls silent and as I strain my ears, I glance in the direction of the small window. Feet run past. I mumble against the cloth. There is
