She frantically pulled at her collar, attempting to separate herself from it. “If you think that I will stand by and let you strip me of all dignity, you’re crazy. There were… are valid reasons for what happened two years ago.”
Frantically she searched for the neckband’s clasp. “ Fuck it .” She gave up trying to rid herself of the collar and focused on the leash that Seth refused to part with. A scowl skewed her features. She jerked harder on the leather strap. “Let go,” she growled vehemently. If she were a dog, she’d be foaming at the mouth, ready to attack. What a turn-on. He’d give anything to throw her on the floor and bury his cock deep within all that heated fury, a place that had once welcomed him. The backstage area was filled with people, their eyes riveted on the pair. But all Seth could think of was getting between the her legs, feeling the wetness of her excitement as her pussy sucked him in.
23
Mackenzie McKade
“Is there a problem?” Monty asked, approaching. The gleam in his mischievous eyes revealed his enjoyment. “Miss Ambrose?”
Her body shook with rage. She clawed again at the neckband and jerked against the leash. For a moment she couldn’t speak.
Concern flashed across Monty’s usually jovial face. “Miss Ambrose? Are you all right?”
She swallowed hard, forcing words from her mouth. “Release…m-me. I-I c-can’t do this,” she admitted weakly, shame evident in her tone and posture. Blue eyes pooled with emotion. Red welts rose on her neck where her fingernails continued to dig.
“Quit?” Monty looked toward Seth for direction.
No ! Seth mouthed firmly.
For a moment his friend floundered. Then he said, “It’s your decision, Miss Ambrose. Just transfer the funds on your way out.”
Flustered, she stopped struggling. Face flushed, chest rising and falling with each agitated breath. Confused and wild-eyed she glared at the man. “Funds?”
“Surely you read the fine print?”
“Fine print?” Her voice was barely audible. The trembling had subsided some. But her usually bright coloring had been replaced by a pasty-white hue. Leave it up to Monty to ensure there were no escape clauses in the contract, unless of course, they were to his benefit. “Yes, you agreed to fulfill the contract or pay us five hundred thousand dollars. Recompense for the station’s losses, finding a new contestant, rescheduling the reservations at Zygoman, et cetera, et cetera…”
“What?” A strangled cry of disbelief shot from her mouth. She went boneless, swaying, and her knees buckled.
Seth grabbed her arm, steadying her. She was cold to the touch, her skin clammy. Cradling her against his chest, he worried about shock.
Placing a finger beneath her chin, he guided her head up. When their gazes met, defeat was written on her face. Dark, haunted eyes stared back at him. She blinked back unshed tears, but one renegade drop rolled down her cheek. Hands shaking, she released the grasp she had on the leash and dropped her chin back upon her chest. Seth had won.
But instead of his victory laying sweet upon his tongue, it tasted sour. Even Monty seemed affected by her sudden acceptance. The coat of indifference he always wore wavered as he again looked toward Seth for direction.
“Is the transport ready?” Seth had to go through with this. If he let her walk out now he would regret it for the rest of his life.
“Yes.” Monty’s earlier hit-her-below-the-belt attitude had vanished. Chastity had a way of drawing people in. She was easy to like, easy to love. She could be tender and loving.
24
The Game
Then rip your heart out with the next breath , he reminded himself. His friend was just another man taken in by her lies.
Seth released his hold and stepped away from Chastity. He tugged on the leash, half expecting her to resist. Instead, she took an unsteady step behind him. Quietly, she followed him through the studio hallway leading outside. A gust of warm air hit
Frantically she searched for the neckband’s clasp. “ Fuck it .” She gave up trying to rid herself of the collar and focused on the leash that Seth refused to part with. A scowl skewed her features. She jerked harder on the leather strap. “Let go,” she growled vehemently. If she were a dog, she’d be foaming at the mouth, ready to attack. What a turn-on. He’d give anything to throw her on the floor and bury his cock deep within all that heated fury, a place that had once welcomed him. The backstage area was filled with people, their eyes riveted on the pair. But all Seth could think of was getting between the her legs, feeling the wetness of her excitement as her pussy sucked him in.
23
Mackenzie McKade
“Is there a problem?” Monty asked, approaching. The gleam in his mischievous eyes revealed his enjoyment. “Miss Ambrose?”
Her body shook with rage. She clawed again at the neckband and jerked against the leash. For a moment she couldn’t speak.
Concern flashed across Monty’s usually jovial face. “Miss Ambrose? Are you all right?”
She swallowed hard, forcing words from her mouth. “Release…m-me. I-I c-can’t do this,” she admitted weakly, shame evident in her tone and posture. Blue eyes pooled with emotion. Red welts rose on her neck where her fingernails continued to dig.
“Quit?” Monty looked toward Seth for direction.
No ! Seth mouthed firmly.
For a moment his friend floundered. Then he said, “It’s your decision, Miss Ambrose. Just transfer the funds on your way out.”
Flustered, she stopped struggling. Face flushed, chest rising and falling with each agitated breath. Confused and wild-eyed she glared at the man. “Funds?”
“Surely you read the fine print?”
“Fine print?” Her voice was barely audible. The trembling had subsided some. But her usually bright coloring had been replaced by a pasty-white hue. Leave it up to Monty to ensure there were no escape clauses in the contract, unless of course, they were to his benefit. “Yes, you agreed to fulfill the contract or pay us five hundred thousand dollars. Recompense for the station’s losses, finding a new contestant, rescheduling the reservations at Zygoman, et cetera, et cetera…”
“What?” A strangled cry of disbelief shot from her mouth. She went boneless, swaying, and her knees buckled.
Seth grabbed her arm, steadying her. She was cold to the touch, her skin clammy. Cradling her against his chest, he worried about shock.
Placing a finger beneath her chin, he guided her head up. When their gazes met, defeat was written on her face. Dark, haunted eyes stared back at him. She blinked back unshed tears, but one renegade drop rolled down her cheek. Hands shaking, she released the grasp she had on the leash and dropped her chin back upon her chest. Seth had won.
But instead of his victory laying sweet upon his tongue, it tasted sour. Even Monty seemed affected by her sudden acceptance. The coat of indifference he always wore wavered as he again looked toward Seth for direction.
“Is the transport ready?” Seth had to go through with this. If he let her walk out now he would regret it for the rest of his life.
“Yes.” Monty’s earlier hit-her-below-the-belt attitude had vanished. Chastity had a way of drawing people in. She was easy to like, easy to love. She could be tender and loving.
24
The Game
Then rip your heart out with the next breath , he reminded himself. His friend was just another man taken in by her lies.
Seth released his hold and stepped away from Chastity. He tugged on the leash, half expecting her to resist. Instead, she took an unsteady step behind him. Quietly, she followed him through the studio hallway leading outside. A gust of warm air hit
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