‘What’s going on?’

She whipped around to see Dax enter the kitchen, a suspicious scowl spread on his face. ‘Nothing,’ she said, returning to her canapé job only to be reminded too late that the tray was full because she’d actually completed the task.

‘I was just getting to know Ivy. She’s some woman.’ Ivy realised for the first time that this stranger was using her name.

‘Ivy,’ Dax said, locking his eyes on hers and obviously thinking of earlier, upstairs, when she’d smiled at his tattoo.

‘Geez, Dax, you’ve been fucking the woman for how long and you never asked her name?’ The stranger laughed and rounded the isle to pat Dax’s shoulder. ‘That’s what I love about you, man, you could never be confused for a guy who cares. Dax takes not giving a shit about anything except himself to a new level, Ivy, wouldn’t you agree?’

‘Thanks for the input,’ Dax said. Before she could question him on the statement, the stranger began to head for the exit.

‘You’ve got that thing to do,’ the stranger said to Dax, taking on a sterner air.

‘I’m on it,’ Dax nodded then the stranger was gone. ‘You just can’t behave yourself, can you?’

‘What?’ she asked, set off-kilter by Dax’s new anger.

Storming toward her, he swept an arm across the counter sending all her neatly trayed snacks cascading over the floor.

‘I just—‘His grip on her arm jolted her in front of him and he crouched to slide his palms up the backs of her thighs under her dress. ‘What are you doing?’

Bringing his lips to the shell of her ear, he whispered, ‘What do you get when you’re a naughty girl?’

‘You’re not going to—‘The buzz of his hand slapping her ass cheek shut her up.

‘You know that I like to hear the answer. What do you get, Minx?’

‘A spanking.’

‘That’s right,’ he said. ‘Bend over the counter like a good girl.’

‘No, Dax, not here. Please don’t—‘

Shoving her down over the counter to gather up her skirt, he exposed her ass. From here she could see the door to the back deck where the party was going on and anyone could walk in at any minute.

‘Still looks tender,’ he said, smoothing his hand on her butt with increasing pressure.

His hushed, throaty timbre didn’t give her confidence in them not being discovered. ‘That’s because you already gave me a hiding earlier. Haven’t you noticed that I haven’t sat down all night?’

His hand left her and came back with a harsh thwack sending a spear of pleasure into her guts. ‘Oh, Dax, not here,’ she whispered but he hit her again.

‘Worried that you might get overexcited?’ he asked. ‘Spread your legs. Get them further apart.’

‘Dax—‘

‘Do it.’

Hearing his increased volume, then getting another smack, she didn’t take the risk of refusing him again. His hand skimmed down until his finger dipped between her folds.

‘Fuck, you’re wet…’ The strangled groan that accompanied the words confused and stimulated her. As opposed to angry, he sounded juiced up and agonized all at once.

‘Do you want me to apologise for that too?’

‘Just tell me that Brad wasn’t the one who—‘

‘Who? Your creepy friend? He didn’t turn me on, he freaked me out… and I don’t think he likes you very much.’

‘No, but he trusts me and that’s all I need from him.’

‘I thought he wasn’t coming tonight.’

‘Change of plans, and you need to stop listening in to conversations that don’t concern you.’

‘There’s not much else to do around here,’ she said and he spanked her. Their casual conversation had made her forget she was half-naked, presenting for him.

‘Watch your mouth, Minx.’

‘We could slip away. Go upstairs, you could let me apologise—‘

‘I have something to do,’ he said, taking up position behind her. ‘And I don’t know why this matters to me but… I need to hear you say that you trust me.’

‘You need my trust before you fuck me? Since when?’

‘That’s the thing, babygirl… you’re not the one I’ll be fucking.’

‘Ready?’

A blonde wearing a green satin dress came in and Dax tugged down Ivy’s skirt to conceal her body again. ‘Didn’t I tell you to wait out there?’ Dax said to the blonde.

‘I’m impatient,’ the green dress girl pouted. ‘You promised me an intimate tour. Not many girls get that offer from the great Dax Harrow.’

‘Wait here, for real this time,’ he said. ‘I have to get this out of our way first.’

Ivy could see the attraction and awe glittering from the size two woman in the green dress and heard the unspoken promise in Dax’s tone. He was going to have sex with this woman and the “this” that he had to get out of the way was her.

Being so preoccupied with the virtue of her own chastity meant that Ivy hadn’t considered Dax’s fidelity… or his lack of it. He pulled her out of the kitchen and through the living room. She staggered along in a daze, knowing that she had no right or ability to ask for his loyalty. Maybe Brad had been right in what he’d said and maybe the truth was that Dax didn’t care about her at all, that he only cared for himself.

Reality jarred back into focus when Dax opened the door to the basement and yanked her down the stairs.

‘No,’ she said, trying to drop all of her weight to the floor in an attempt to hold him back, but Dax swung her up into his arms then over his shoulder like she weighed no more than a bag of sugar. ‘No, Dax, please! I’m sorry!’

She didn’t know what she had done to be relegated down here again, especially after such a long reprieve, all she knew was the burn of acid firing up her oesophagus.

‘It’s just for tonight,’ he said.

‘Please! I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have spoken to him!’ Talking to Brad must have been the catalyst for Dax’s foul mood and inexcusable actions. She had no idea that Dax could be jealous, not after all he’d seen Bruno do with her.

‘It’s not about him,’ he said, carrying her through the gym then opening the outer door to her previous prison. ‘I need the bedroom and while I’m busy in there I can’t keep an eye on you.’

‘You think I’ll run? I won’t!’

He opened the door to the cage and tossed her inside, slamming the door before she could get to her feet.

‘Or that one of them will take what isn’t theirs,’ he said, locking the door. Remaining on his side of the bars, he reached through for her but she leapt away from him.

‘You’re going to have sex with her, in the bed you shared with me? Our bed?’

Curling his scarred fists around the cold metal bars he scowled at her with the intensity she’d met in Vegas.

‘Nothing is ours, it’s you and me. I told you I’d get bored of you eventually,’ he spat.

‘You fucking bastard.’

‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘But have you seen the sweet buns on that slut? She’ll let me ride that tight ass all night long… I’ll let you suck me off in the shower in the morning if you’re still hungry for it.’

‘Not a chance,’ she said, wishing she had the ability to lash out in an effective way, but this was just another example of how her freewill was being strangled.

He grumbled under his breath and turned to depart. Her anxiety made her dash forward, hurtling herself at the bars.

‘Wait,’ she inhaled and he paused. ‘I’m sorry, ok, baby? Take me upstairs with you.’

Slowly he turned back, his frown remained static. ‘What?’

‘It might be fun,’ she said, trying to calm her breathing so her panic would be disguised by the smile she hoped was saucy. ‘You could have both of us.’ Reaching through the bars, she beckoned for him.

‘You would do that?’ He came back to her and she got hold of the edges of his shirt, hoping to keep him close.

‘You could have both of us,’ she said again, pulling her body to the bars. ‘A fit, strong, healthy guy like you could handle that, and if we tire you out… she and I could always entertain each other.’

‘You want to have a threesome with a woman you have never been introduced to?’ Covering her hands with his, he watched their fingers mingle.