Buttons and Shame Read online

  “I’ve got to ask, Crewe,” Bones said. “Where does the price tag come from?”

  “Glad you asked.” Crewe drank his scotch before he continued. “You know Joseph Ingram?”

  “Vaguely,” Bones said. “Name sounds familiar.”

  “Well, this idiot paid me with counterfeit bills. He was stupid enough to think he could get away with it.”

  Bones groaned quietly, his form of a smile. “That’s insulting.”

  “If he had succeeded with an intricate plan, I might actually have some respect for him,” Crewe said with a shrug. “But he did something so amateur. Within five minutes, we knew we’d been taken for a ride.”

  “Maybe he thought you wouldn’t be able to track him down,” Bones suggested.

  “Well, it only took us two days. We brought him and his men to my headquarters in Glasgow. After a good beating, he doubled the amount he owed me. But, obviously, he never paid up. I couldn’t get the money from him. Instead, I took his sister.” Crewe wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “He knows all the horrible things that will be done to her, and that’s enough revenge. But I’m selling her for the price he owes me—two birds with one stone.”

  Bones nodded slowly then lifted his glass to Crewe. “I commend you, Crewe.”

  Crewe clinked his glass against his. “Thank you.” He threw back his glass and poured the scotch down his throat.

  Bones did the same. “Perfect punishment. But I need to think about it. In the back of my mind, I can’t stop thinking about the number of whores I could get for the same price. Now that I know her backstory, I’m much more enticed. I’ll give her greater beatings just because I know someone is hurting for her.” He stared at me, his cruel gaze piercing my skin. I could feel arousal leaking from his skin with all the unsaid things he wanted to do to me. “I’d love to break both of her knees and watch her try to crawl away. I’d love to break her arm and command her to serve me. But she won’t last as long as the others. She’ll be buried in the yard within a year.”

  I forced myself not to shake, not giving in to my fear while Bones was present. But I’d never been so scared in my goddamn life. The sobs pounded in my chest, and I was on the verge of fainting. This man was a monster, far worse than Crewe could ever be. All he ever did was slap me—and that was because I slapped him first. When I asked him not to fuck me, he listened. Crewe wasn’t evil at all—not in comparison to Bones.

  When Bones finally left the house, I dashed into my bedroom and covered myself with clothes, my body finally shaking with terror. I couldn’t catch my breath because I was gasping too hard. If I had to submit to that psychopath, I’d kill myself.

  That was the much better alternative.

  Crewe walked into my bedroom without knocking. “That went well.”

  I’d normally respond with a smartass comment, but I didn’t have it in me.

  “He’ll be here with the cash in three days.”

  “He said that?” My one hope was the price might be too high. I thought I would be too expensive to buy, especially if I wasn’t going to last long.

  “Yeah.” Crewe stood with his hands in his pockets, still looking handsome despite the evil sale he’d just made. “He just needs to get the funds and travel back. When you’re always on the move, it’s hard to get your finances together.”

  I didn’t care about the explanation. “Crewe…don’t do this.” I begged once before, and he listened. Maybe he would listen again. “Please.”

  He looked down at me, nearly bored.

  “I’ll get you the money, okay? Your debt will be paid.”

  “You’ve got four million dollars lying around?” he asked with a cruel smile.

  “No, but I’ll find it.” I’d sell drugs if I had to. “You’re selling me to get your revenge. Let me buy myself.”

  He shook his head. “Even if you had the money, I wouldn’t take it. Giving you to a madman like Bones is part of the plan.”

  “No…” I felt tears bubble in my eyes, but they didn’t escape. “I’m begging you.” I moved to my knees on the floor. “Please don’t let him take me. I know you have compassion. I know you have sympathy.”

  His eyes darkened the moment I got to my knees. “I don’t.”

  “Yes, you do. I’ve seen it.”

  “The only reason why I didn’t fuck you is because I didn’t want to tamper with the goods. Your pleas have no effect on me.”

  I didn’t believe that. Or perhaps I chose not to believe that. “I’ll do anything. Don’t give me to that psychopath. He’s insane.”

  “That’s the point,” Crewe said coldly. “He’s the craziest man I’ve ever done business with—and that’s saying something.”

  I brought my hands together, not caring about how pathetic I’d become. I was on the ground like a rat, but I didn’t care. I’d do anything to save my life, to save myself from eternal suffering. “Crewe, there has to be something you want. I can give you anything you need. Anything.” My meaning was clear. I never thought I would offer something like this, but I was willing to sleep with him just to avoid Bones. I’d take Crewe over Bones any day.

  “There’s nothing I want more than to make an example of my enemies.” He walked around me, his hands still in his pockets. “You leave in three days. You can blame me all you want, but your brother is responsible for this. Blame him.”

  “Crewe, please—”

  He slammed the door.

  Unable to bottle it in any longer, I succumbed to my tears.

  31

  Crewe

  She didn’t come out of her room for meals or anything else. She stayed hidden away. Finley checked on her from time to time to make sure she didn’t hang herself in the closet. I wouldn’t blame her if she tried to take that avenue.

  I would do the same thing.

  While it was an unfortunate circumstance for her, I didn’t feel any sympathy. That was how the world worked. Evil men would exploit you the second you let your guard down. She should have hidden herself better, left her guard up longer. If she took care of herself, I wouldn’t have been able to find her.

  So this was her mistake.

  Bones would take her away, beat her senseless, and then kill her within eight months. When she left my house, it would be the last time I’d ever see her—the last time anyone would see her besides Bones. Her death would be just as painful as her remaining months of life.

  But I still didn’t give a damn.

  The silent treatment wouldn’t change my mind. She could starve herself all she wanted. She would just have less energy to resist Bones if she planned to fight him. Her silent protest had no effect on me. If anything, it was nice not having to listen to her bitch and complain.

  Ariel walked into my office. “I just got off the phone with Bones. He said he’ll be here tomorrow afternoon to collect his new purchase.”

  “Thanks for letting me know.”

  She lingered in the doorway. “That girl has a long road ahead of her.”

  “She does. But I hope you aren’t going soft on me.”

  “I’m not.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I just wonder if she’s strong enough to survive it.”

  I shook my head. “No one is. You know how crazy he is.”

  She nodded. “Well, if I don’t see her before she leaves, wish her good luck for me.”

  I chuckled. “She’s not speaking to me. I don’t think she’ll ever speak to me again.”

  Ariel shrugged. “You aren’t much of a talker anyway.” She winked before she shut the door.

  I finished my work day, went for a run around the island and did my fitness routine, had dinner, and then read before I went to bed. London might come to my room again to kill me in my sleep, but I suspected she wouldn’t. At this point, killing me wouldn’t change anything. Bones would come to collect her regardless.

  I lay in bed and stared at the ceiling, thinking of my next trip to Glasgow. I’d had enough alone time on this island. When I returned
to the city, I would visit some of my regulars. Sex was something I craved, like any other man, but there were times when I didn’t need it. But the urge always came back.

  Three weeks without it had surged my libido.

  The door opened and someone walked inside. I knew exactly who it was without confirmation. If she was here to kill me again, it was pointless. She would need a gun if she planned to overpower me.

  I sat up in bed and stilled at the sight.

  London untied her bathrobe and let it slide off her shoulders and onto the floor. She stood there naked, her tits perky with hard nipples. Her long legs reached up to her neck. She sauntered to the bed, her hips shaking as she walked. Her hair was done in curls and dark eye shadow was around her eyes.

  She reached the bed then climbed on top, her smooth skin warm when it came close to mine.

  I stared at her in infatuation, my cock hard and ready to go. A part of me wondered if this was a dream. She hated me earlier in the day. I doubted she had the urge to fuck me after what I did to her.

  She straddled my hips and lowered her body directly onto my cock. My sensitive skin could feel the folds of her pussy, the soft flesh I would penetrate over and over. She massaged her tits and grinded against me, having the charms of a whore.

  My hands moved to her hips, and I dug my fingers into her soft skin. “Lovely…” I sat up and brought one nipple into my mouth, sucking the hard flesh and tasting it. She tasted clean and smelled like a woman, flowery.

  As I cherished her body, I figured out exactly what she was doing. “Fucking you won’t change my mind about tomorrow. I’m going to sell you to Bones no matter how good you are in the sack.”

  Her fingertips moved through my hair as she held me close. She arched her back so I could get more of her other nipple into my mouth. She spent the last two days hating me, and now it seemed like that never happened. “You might change your mind…” She craned her neck so her lips could reach my shoulder. She pressed wet kisses across the skin until she reached my neck. Her tongue moved up to my ear, where her heated breath filled my canal.

  My hands explored her back, feeling the hard definition under her silky soft skin. Her shoulders were petite but possessed strength. I could feel her power under my fingertips. Even though I’d already seen her naked several times, it felt like a new experience. Now I was touching her, exploring her.

  I moved forward and positioned her on her back, my hips moving between her thighs. My arms slid behind her knees, and I leaned over her, my cock rubbing against her folds. I stared down at her, my chest grazing against her perky tits. I eyed her lips with longing, seeing this beautiful woman underneath me.

  When she first arrived here, I was unimpressed. She was just a woman like all the others, with soft hair and a curvy figure. She had emeralds for eyes and the attitude of a prison warden. But now I couldn’t stop looking at her, seeing her as something else entirely. I recalled all the times she defied me, refusing to show fear even though she was terrified. Unwillingly, she made me respect her.

  And that was a hard thing to accomplish.

  She pressed her hands against my chest and slid her palms upward, rubbing both of my hard pectoral muscles. She reached my shoulders and dug her fingers into the skin, feeling the strength my body carried. Her legs tightened around my waist, her ankles hooking together.

  I stared at her lips and anticipated the surge of adrenaline. Her lips probably tasted better than her skin. She had the confidence to be utterly sexy, to be my fantasy. The fact that she had crawled on top of me and outright asked for sex gave her the control.

  But I liked giving it away.

  Now she was pinned underneath me, ready for me to enjoy.

  I pressed my mouth to hers and slowly kissed her, feeling a current surge through me the moment we touched. My arms shook from the ecstasy, the unexpected chemistry. I didn’t want to fuck her right away. Kissing her provided enough satisfaction, enough heat. My tongue moved into her mouth until I found hers. They danced together slowly, our chemistry combustive and powerful. My cock slowly grinded against her folds, taking advantage of the moisture pooling between her legs.

  Fuck.

  I dug my hand into her hair and fisted the strands, feeling the power surge through me as I dominated her. She was mine willingly. I claimed her the second she gave me the opportunity. Now I didn’t want to let her go. I wanted to kiss her forever, to feel the ache in my lips from wanting so much more.

  She slowly dragged her nails down my back, nearly piercing the skin with the pressure. “Fuck me.”

  I growled into her mouth, feeling my cock twitch at the same time. I couldn’t remember the last time I shared a scorching kiss like that, the last time I had a sexier woman than London underneath me. She begged for me, and I knew the plea was sincere because her pussy was soaked.

  “Crewe…”

  Now I really was lost. Nothing was sexier than a woman whispering my name. She had the charms of an experienced courtesan, like she had pleased men for a living. But she possessed the innocence to make her seem untouched, like a white flower in the middle of the forest—rare and beautiful.

  She directed the head of my cock inside her then gripped my hips, her nails digging into me. Then she tugged, impatiently pulling me inside her.

  I slid inside her, moving through her wet tightness with a loud moan. I sank deeper and deeper, getting every inch completely inside her until my balls tapped against her ass. I breathed through the pleasure, feeling like a king when I was inside this gorgeous woman. My mouth was pressed to hers as I breathed through the intoxication.

  She moaned quietly, her nails digging into me harder. Her ankles remained ironclad around me. She breathed into my mouth with sexy sounds, enjoying the feel of my cock as much as I enjoyed the feel of her tight pussy.

  “Fuck, you feel good.” I thrusted into her slowly, sliding through her tightness as I patiently waited for her to acclimate to me. “Are you a virgin?” I waited for her answer, hoping it was yes.

  “No. It’s just been a while…”

  That answer was just as good. I thrusted into her with my hand tightly wrapped around her hair. Every time I slid inside her, I was greeted by moisture that continued to pool for me. I pressed my face close to hers as I moved, wanting to do so many things at once. I wanted to suck her nipples into my mouth, finger her ass, and slap her across the face all at the same time.

  But kissing her was just as good as all those other things.

  There was something innately erotic about feeling our lips move together and our tongues graze across one another. Every time she took a breath, I sucked the air into my lungs, invigorated by her arousal. She’d seemed so plain when I first looked at her, but now, I found her to be the most erotic woman on the planet.

  Her hands moved up my back and into my hair, her hips slowly grinding against me. She accepted my cock slowly, taking it in as she loosened up. She took my dick like a pro, as if the size and thickness didn’t cause her much pain.

  But I knew it did.

  My desire took full control, and I pounded into her with more force, my balls slapping against her ass with every thrust. Sweat trickled down my chest as I continued to kiss and fuck her.

  Damn, I already wanted to come.

  I deepened the angle and rubbed my pelvic bone against her clit, enjoying the wetness against my skin. I applied the right pressure, wanting her to come. I shouldn’t have cared about her pleasure, but the gentleman that I was, for the most part, wanted her to get the same experience I got. Besides, watching a woman come was just an extra turn on.

  I continued to kiss her because I didn’t want to stop. Her mouth was just as intoxicating as her cunt. I could do this all night. I loved having this woman underneath me, enjoying every inch of my cock ramming into her.

  Her hands moved to my forearms, where her grip tightened. Her lips stopped moving, and she panted into my mouth, her nipples hardening to the tips of diamonds. “Crewe…” She coul
d have been faking it, pretending to feel the exquisite pleasure just to manipulate me. But when her pussy suddenly constricted, tightening around my shaft with surprising force, I knew it was genuine.

  Then she rolled her head back and moaned. Her sigh of pleasure turned into a scream, one that would echo around the house and even reach the first floor. Shit, the rats in the basement could hear it. She pulled me deeper into her as the moans trailed away.

  “You enjoy that, Lovely?”

  “Yes…” Her lips moved with mine again, her moisture flooding my length. Her tongue darted into my mouth, thanking me for the climax I just gave her.

  I pumped into her harder, wanting to release inside that tight little cunt. My balls slapped against her ass as I worked my hips, getting ready for the finale. I wanted my seed to sit inside her all night long, my presence still within her long after I was gone.

  Her tits bounced as I fucked her. “I’m not on the pill right now…” She knew I was going to come, must have felt how tight my cock became inside her. “I want your come but…”

  Hearing that confession made my spine coil. I wanted to dump everything inside her, mounds and mounds of my seed until she was full to the brim. But coming on her tits wouldn’t be so bad. They were gorgeous. And it would be fucked up to knock her up before I handed her over to Bones. Not very good etiquette.

  I fucked her harder until I felt the orgasmic wave of release. I pulled out of her just in time to come on her stomach and tits, creating white pools. I shot out far and got it everywhere, hitting her right in her cleavage as well as the surrounding skin. The sight gave me a second wave of desire while admiring my handiwork.

  I kissed her again even though the fun was over. I was satisfied by the beautiful woman underneath me, covered in my come. My tongue darted into her mouth again, and my hand returned to her hair. The kiss lasted for minutes just because it felt good. She knew how to work her mouth, how to move her tongue in all the right ways. I’d even go as far as saying she was the greatest kisser I’d ever had been with.

  I got off her then returned to the top of the bed where the pillows were. I lay on the sheets with the comforter kicked back, letting my body cool off because it was still covered in sweat. Exhaustion crept into my bones now that the fun was over.