The Cowboy's Prize

Chapter 19

I'd been part of an intervention once, an unsuccessful one.

A friend had succumbed to his demons and managed to take his own life after we'd done our best to help him detox. I recognised the look immediately. It was the same look of desperation I saw in Alastair's companion's eyes and I hoped Scott and I were in time to give him some hope.

He had to know there was someone close by who understood and quickly. I knew I needed to get him that message now or never. It was then, as the ebb and flow of people around Alastair dissipated and a space opened up between us, Alastair's eyes found me. His face turned pale as he took in the complete picture.

Purposefully, I'd dressed to be the epitome of his ideal plaything. The collar, the figure hugging pants, the subtle makeup and the deep lip were all particular turn ons of his. When I turned to the side to speak to Scott, rose to my tip toes and whispered in his ear some whimsical nothing about the photograph we had paused in front of, Alastair caught a glimpse of bare flesh at my back and his eyes practically bugged out of their sockets. Scott pulled me in close, my chest to his so that my back faced completely toward our quarry and Alastair caught a better view of the dimples sitting low on the base of my spine. I knew without even looking, his expression had become even more pinched. Especially when Scott's hand lowered to caress my ass.

"Got him." Scott whispered in my ear as I gave Alastair's laser focus on us my smiling profile and pretended every word Scott was speaking was the answer to the meaning of the universe. "Brace yourself, Princess." Scott managed before the object of our plans made his way over to us, waving with a dismissive gesture at his companion to follow as he stiffly strode over to where we were standing.

"Well, well." Alastair said, even as I turned with my best dispassionate blank expression glued to my face. His incensed reaction to my lack of response was better than any derogatory comment I'd ever thought to hurl at him. As was his sour expression as his name fell from my lips with no emotion whatsoever.

"Alastair, you remember Scott." I said, "We're thinking of purchasing this one." I added as if I was discussing a landscape rather than the male nude modelling a Kinbaku binding. "That splash of red in the background would really complement the colour scheme in our bedroom." I added, pretending to study the image in front of me rather than the corresponding colour slowly rising up Alastair's neck.

"We really must find Ivan and put a sticker on it before anyone else snaps it up!" I exclaimed and then nodded expressionlessly in Alastair's general direction before stalking off in my platforms toward the bar, pulling Scott along behind me by the hand.

It was almost too easy to slip the message into the boy's hand as I passed by, hidden by Scott's broad form. I hoped he was astute enough to wait until Alastair's attention was elsewhere to read it.

I didn't look behind me. Believing any look I threw would give away my concern. But when I felt Scott's arm rise buy the shoulders, I knew the exact Gallic shrug Scott must have given Alastair as I felt our common enemy's eyes bore holes in my back while we walked away.

With any luck, he would be shaking with emotion, distracted and unaware of the Karma heading his way. Jealousy, if I had performed convincingly enough, possessive rage and outright hunger to repossess me, had Scott been credible.

"Tell me if he looks like he wants to kill me or devour me." I whispered to Scott as I tried to find Ivan in the crush of bodies around the bar.

Scott's fleeting glance took in our quarry's direction and his corresponding snort of laughter as he turned back to me to report gave me all the confirmation I needed.