Page 34 of Claiming Liberty

I shrug.

“Does your master know?”

I quickly dart my eyes to the floor and don’t answer. I don’t know for sure, but if I’m pegging Chaffer correctly as a man who gets off on power, I think he’d rather Peter not know. I’m guessing it’s more fun for him to fuck someone’s girl behind a man’s back. The bigger the asshat move, the better.

He chuckles and steps up to me, close enough that his shoe connects with my stiletto, and his chest is inches from my face. He cups my chin and lifts so I’ll look at him. “Don’t worry,” he murmurs like he’s telling me a secret. “I won’t tell.”

“Thank you,” I whisper, bringing my heel back and standing up straight. My neck cranes to look at Chaffer, but I exaggerate the position to put my neck and pouty lips into view.

His nicotine-stained teeth show through his parting lips when he lowers his eyes to my tits again. His hands run up my sides and cup my breasts, and already I can feel him getting worked up.

It’s repulsive but expected. I’ve spent a lot of time around men like him, and I’ve even fucked a few at Robert’s demand. They’re arrogant enough that they don’t question a woman’s overly enthusiastic response to their touch. They think someone like me is lucky to be had by someone like them, and as much as that makes me want to stab his eyes with an ice pick, it makes men like him so fucking easy to fool.

I close my eyes and part my lips on a sigh when Chaffer wedges his knee between my thighs. His touch roughens, and he shoves the top of my dress over my shoulders only to halt a moment later.

I open my eyes and search his confused face before looking down at my stitches.

“Did he stab you?” Chaffer asks, his jaw dropped.

I shift uncomfortably and go to pull my dress sleeves over my shoulders, but he stops me.

“It’s okay,” he assures me.

I meet his eyes and wince at the darkness in them. There isn’t a trace of sympathy in his expression, it’s all excitement.

He takes a lock of my hair and gently fingers it. “I like a girl who can take it rough.”

When the doors to the den open, Chaffer stands up straight and jerks my wrist. “Come on,” he urges, yanking me down the hall.

I hurry to follow him up a flight of stairs and down another hall to a door. He throws it open and shoves me inside a giant bedroom that must be his because there’s no way he put this much thought into a fuck pad.

My eyes widen and jaw drops at my command when I take it all the ostentatious, look-at-me gold, mostly just the color but some of the metal too. The shiny walls, the bed frame, the curtains, comforter. Even the expansive white rug has flecks in it. He walks to a gold drink cart at the edge of the bed, his gait far more relaxed than it was when we were on our way up.

When he gets to the cart, he looks back at me and smirks. “Impressive, isn’t it?”

“Wow,” I say in fake wonderment. It’s gaudy as fuck without an ounce of charm, but it’s meant to impress, so that’s exactly what I’m going to put off. “This is incredible.”

I step farther into the room, swiveling my head as I take in everything to feed his ego. “I mean, I thought Sawyer’s bedroom was impressive, butthis…”

I look at Chaffer and suppress a laugh when I see rigid lines carve into his forehead.

He turns his attention back to the cart, setting up two glasses and grabbing a bottle of brown liquor without asking what I’d like… Typical.

“Sawyer’s bedroom, huh?” he grunts, pouring us each a glass.

I walk up to him, chewing on one side of my bottom lip as if I just realized I’ve said the wrong thing. “Well, I mean, I was a manor whore before I was Peter’s slave.”

“Right.” He faces me and extends my drink.

I take the glass with a gracious smile. “Can I be honest with you about something?” I ask, letting my smile fall and averting my eyes.

“Of course.”

“I kind of miss being with someone so powerful.” I chance a look at him. He’s annoyed, but curiosity starts to bloom in his eyes. “Peter isn’t…” I let out a small laugh. “Well, you know.”

“Is that why you sought me out?” Life comes back into his expression. “You wanna get fucked by a real man?”

By arealman. I’ve heard that before.