Isle of Sin: A Standalone Dark Romance

Adalyn stared at me with those big, beautiful eyes, displaying so much emotion that my heart hurt for her.

But she was finally where I needed her.

At a point of acceptance. The realization that I wasn’t here to hurt her, but to help her.

Either she allowed it, or she rejected it.

I would have to respect her decision either way, as I couldn’t force her to let me try to save her. She had to want to save herself first and foremost.

She searched my face, her dark irises flickering with a myriad of thoughts.

Until finally she said, “Not all Elites like to share. Nate actually had a list of men that I wasn’t allowed to interact with at each Ecstasy location. He said they were too possessive, and as I was already spoken for, he didn’t feel it was the right fit for my training.”

It wasn’t a blunt I accept.

However, I accepted her comments as a permission to move forward.

Because she was analyzing her world and letting me in on that thought process.

My eyebrow arched upward. “Was he worried they might claim you for themselves, thereby hurting the deal your parents had with Taylor?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know, but maybe. There’s a hierarchy to everything within the Elite. My family ranks somewhere in the middle. Taylor’s family is higher, but he’s not the heir; he’s a spare. That technically places him at a lower level.”

“And I’m guessing some of those possessive men on the list rank higher.”

“Yes. Some of them are near the top.” She listed a few examples, each name one I recognized. A few of them were even clients of mine. Something I might be able to use later, if I needed to do some convincing.

“I assume Nate and Taylor were friends, then. And he wanted to protect his friend’s investment by not allowing you to potentially appeal to someone of higher rank.”

She contemplated that for a moment. “It’s possible, yes. But given that some of those men prefer not to share, your idea to feign a possessive front may work.”

“I wouldn’t be feigning anything,” I clarified. “I don’t share, Adalyn. As I said, the only exception is if my sub requests it.”

Her eyes told me she would never request it.

Which just made her that much more perfect.

Because I preferred a female who only wanted me. I took it as a challenge to keep her satisfied. Unfortunately, most of my playmates only lasted a few weeks or months, so I’d never been fully satisfied with my challenge.

Maybe Adalyn would give me a chance to try it long-term.

“Okay, then you wanting me to yourself could be believable. But my parents and Taylor will still be a problem. If…” She trailed off, swallowing. “Since you’re not part of the world, you have no rank.”

I nearly smiled.

That little correction proved so much about how far we’d come in such a small period of time.

I would have kissed her to show my gratitude, but we had more important things to discuss first. Then I would kiss her.

“Do you want your father’s company?” I wondered aloud, thinking about what she’d just said in regard to her parents. “Is that something you desire to own?”

She shook her head. “The only thing I’ve ever desired is my freedom.”

“Then perhaps they’ll agree to you signing it away,” I suggested. It wasn’t the best solution, but it would remove the heiress part of her future, thus removing the draw to marry her off.

She shook her head. “That’s not how it works. I’m their only heir.”

“All right, then why can’t they just hire Taylor and eventually name him as the new owner? That’s essentially what they’re doing anyway, right? Just giving him the job of being your husband, then allowing him to take over?” I asked.

“No. They would still maintain partial ownership through me,” she replied. “Or, well, my father would, anyway.” Her lips twisted. “He wants to keep the company in the Rose family, and the only way to do that is to pass it on through me. But I’m a woman…”

“And what year is it?” I countered, my eyebrows rising. “Why the fuck does it matter if you’re a woman?”

“The Elite is run by men,” she answered simply. “It always has been. It always will be.”

I scoffed at that. “A ridiculous notion.” Women were just as capable as men at running businesses. Oftentimes even more capable.

“It’s the Elite,” she told me as though that explained it. “They have a certain way of doing things. Ways that go back centuries. And that includes arranged marriages and modern-day-style dowries.”

Jesus, I thought, my hand threatening to tighten on her hip. “This is some archaic bullshit.”

She lifted a shoulder. “You asked me to teach you.”

“I know.” That didn’t mean I was going to enjoy the lessons. “Hold on.” If we were going to do this, then I wanted to be more comfortable.

I shuffled her in my arms, stood, and carried her over to the recliner chairs in my den—the ones Bryant and Clive favored whenever they visited.

Rather than set her in one of her own, I sat and settled her on my lap again. I’d done this for show in front of Julian. Now I did this for me.

Because I liked touching her.

And given her reactions to me, she liked me touching her as well.

Perhaps because she’d been trained to accept it.

But there was something between us. Something hot. Something I intended to embrace.

Once we survived the Sin Cave meeting.

“All right, Adalyn. Continue.”

Her lips pinched to the side, her gaze thoughtful. “Well.” She fell silent for a moment. “I’ve always known I would have an arranged marriage. It’s something my mother explained to me as a child. I thought it was normal.” Her brow furrowed. “I thought everything was normal. Until college.”

She went back to her early years, telling me how she had a private tutor for much of that time, then attended private school after that with other girls from the Elite circle. She made a few friends, but no one she still spoke to now.

Not since she was sixteen.

Her age when she’d first met Nathan Spencer.

I already knew that because of the videos and information on his phone, but I let her share her own details, telling me how he’d taken her to begin her training. She was given a private tutor to finish her high school courses while he took over her evening training.

My stomach twisted with each word.

But she spoke as though this was entirely normal, just as she’d said.

“Then Mason University changed everything for me,” she told me.

And continued by telling me about those four years of society training.

Apparently, the whole purpose of her attending college had been to test her ability to be around other people without sharing Elite secrets, such as her arranged marriage and her nightly training—which had eventually turned into weekends.

Except for the summers.

Each summer she’d spent with Nathan.

“I hate summer,” she added, trembling.

My heart broke for her, but she didn’t stop talking. It was almost as though it felt good for her to purge it all. She told me about her friend, Jen, who was also her roommate.

“She doesn’t know anything about my life,” Adalyn whispered. “Not really. Although, she almost found out a few months ago. Because I did something stupid.” Her big eyes met mine. “I took her to Ecstasy for a guest night.”

“I’ve been to a few of those with clients,” I admitted. “But I’ve not seen anything to imply a lack of consent.”

“You wouldn’t,” she agreed. “Because Elite Brides are well trained before they’re allowed to enter the clubs.” She cleared her throat. “But Jen’s older brother saw me with Nate. And he told his best friend, Pierce, about it. Who then told Jen.” Her gaze fell. “She had a lot of questions for me. I… I lied. Because I knew Nate was listening.”

“She won’t blame you for that, sweetheart,” I told her softly. “You know that, right?”

She nodded a little. “I just hate that I had to lie. I hate that I had to leave. I don’t even know if she sorted things out with Pierce or not.”

“Her brother’s best friend?” I asked, making sure I followed.

“Yeah.” Her eyes lifted to mine again, a soft smile lurking in them. “Jen’s been in love with him for years. And they finally hooked up at the club, but then he pushed her away again.” She shook her head, sighing. “If I were them, I wouldn’t let such a mundane thing as a brother get in the way of love. But, of course, I’m not them.”

No, she wasn’t. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t experience love, too.

“You’re not them,” I concurred softly. “You’re Adalyn. You’re a warrior. You’re strong. You’re beautiful. You’re worthy of life and love and feeling and happiness. Don’t let your past dictate your future.” I ran my knuckles down her cheek, my opposite arm resting along her lower back. “You’re free here, Adalyn. You’re free here with me.”

She stared at me.

I stared back, waiting for her to say more.

Although, I wasn’t sure what else she could say.

She’d provided enough details of her past to paint a dark picture of her life. The only light appeared to revolve around her friend, Jen. They were roommates. Which meant she was probably worried about Adalyn right now.

Unless she thought she was just off on another summer vacation—which Adalyn had said was how she typically described her absence.

Holidays and school breaks were given a similar false title—family vacations.

All as some sick and twisted test to ensure she could be the high-society little wife Taylor Huntington desired, while also performing sexual tricks in the bedroom.

I found myself wanting to know more about the possessive men of her world. Were they just as twisted? Or were they possessive to protect their wives?

What category did Julian Jovanni fall into? Bryant’s statement on the infamous Red Prince suggested the latter, but his reputation certainly qualified him for the former.

I’d have to evaluate him myself when I met him.

Adalyn’s gaze fell to my mouth, then lifted to my eyes again. She seemed to be trying to decide something.

I didn’t speak, letting her think, giving her space to make whatever decision she contemplated.

“I ate my food earlier,” she whispered.

“You did. Are you hungry again?” I asked, recalling how she hadn’t touched the soup.

She shook her head. “No. But you said I would get a reward.” Her focus went to my mouth again. “And I don’t want another instance for my safeword.”

“Your safeword has infinite uses,” I promised her, hoping she believed me now. “But tell me what you want as your reward, and I’ll give it to you.”

“Anything?” she asked, a glimmer of optimism in her gaze.

My lips curled, intrigued by this side of her. “Tell me what it is, and I’ll do my best to give it to you.”

“I…” She swallowed, her nostrils flaring as determination settled across her features and she started to move.

I leaned back to give her room, rather pleased by her decision to straddle me. Especially in that short dress. It caused the fabric to ride up her pretty thighs, almost allowing me to discover whatever panties she wore beneath.

“I like where this is going,” I told her, my hands going to her hips as soon as she finished settling on my lap. “What do you want as your reward, sweet Adalyn?”

She grabbed my wrists and moved them down her legs, then she lifted and pulled her dress up.

And over her head.

Leaving her naked on top of me.

Because she wasn’t wearing anything under that dress.

Holy fuck.

“Pleasure, Sir,” she said. “I would like an orgasm, please.”