Free Club Helix: The Power Games by Brynley Bush Page A

“You do not have permission to speak,” I order her. Her mouth snaps closed. Good. She’s taking our discussion at the restaurant seriously. If we’re going to work as a Dom and sub, she’s got to trust me and rely on me for her every need, and that’s not going to happen as long as she keeps thinking of Emmett as her hero and savior. Plus, Emmett’s apparent belief that he’s the only one who can take care of her is quite frankly starting to piss me off.
    I turn to him. “In case you don’t remember, I bought her at the auction, not you, and she’s mine until we get voted off the show. I will take care of her as I see fit, but I certainly don’t have to answer to you. She has a safe word should she choose to use it. In the meantime, I suggest you focus on training your own sub,” I add, nodding toward the blonde, who is looking at Ava with icy hatred.
    Emmett’s hands ball into fists at his sides, and for a minute I think he’s actually going to throw a punch at me. But then he looks at Ava, and although she doesn’t say a word, something passes between them. He nods almost imperceptibly before taking a deep breath.
    “Hurt her, and I’ll rip your balls off and shove them down your throat,” he says calmly before stalking toward the elevators without a backward glance at his sub, who flashes one more look of hatred at Ava before scampering after him.
    Ava is staring at his retreating back with stricken eyes, and something like jealousy surges through me, which is ridiculous since she’s just a sub, and one I don’t even know very well. But she’s my sub, and I have no intention of letting her think about another man when she’s with me.
    “Upstairs. Now!” I snap at her, grabbing her wrist and half dragging her to the elevators.
    As soon as we’re in the suite, I shrug out of my jacket and surreptitiously flip the switch that turns on the cameras as she eyes me watchfully, not moving.
    “I’m going to ask you again. What is Emmett to you?” I bite out the words, impatient with her lies.
    “I told you. He’s my roommate.”
    “He’s more than your roommate,” I say, taking a menacing step toward her. She stands her ground, looking me straight in the eye as if daring me to touch her, and my cock stirs to life. Her feisty streak turns me on as much as her innocence. “Roommates don’t communicate an entire conversation in a single look and then threaten to emasculate the man you’re with. But you said you’re not romantically involved with him, and he sure as hell isn’t your Dom. So what is he? A fuck buddy? A friend with benefits?”
    Fire flashes in her eyes, and she takes another step forward and slaps me across the face hard enough to leave a mark. I stare at her in shock for minute, and then lust flares through me with a hard, stabbing vengeance. I grab her wrist, pulling her against my chest, so close that her eyes are inches from mine, and I can feel the thump of her heartbeat.
    “Big mistake, Ava,” I say darkly.
    My mouth crushes hers in a savage kiss, brutally forcing her to accept the bold intrusion of my tongue. I ravage her, bruising her lips with mine and plunging my tongue deeply into her mouth over and over again, taking what I want from her as I hold her immobile, letting her feel the hard length of my cock pressing against her. I want to punish her, to brand her with my mouth so she knows she belongs to me and only me, but dammit if she isn’t kissing me back, her tongue stroking mine.
    I close my hand lightly around her throat as I place my lips near her ear.
    “Rule number three. Never hit your Dom.”
    Her breath is coming in fast pants, and her eyes are dark with a mixture of fear, anger, and what I recognize as pure, unvarnished desire. Apparently my innocent sub likes it a little rough, and I couldn’t be more delighted to oblige her.
    “Lie facedown over the desk,” I snap, releasing her as I unbuckle my belt, pulling it from its loops with a soft whoosh