Page 67 of He Will Come for Me

“You look beautiful,” Clara murmurs. My gaze flicks toward Phoenix, but he still doesn’t say anything. He simply stares. I don’t know what I was hoping for, but he could say something. Anything to make up for what he’s doing to me.

“Clara, give us a minute,” Phoenix says. Clara nods her head, walks out of the bedroom, and closes the door. He walks towardme, his steps calculated. I feel like a deer caught in the sights of a predator. I force my feet to stay rooted to the ground, even though every part of my being is screaming at me to run away. I know the moment he touches me I’ll be putty, but I’ll fight it as best as I can.

He stops inches away from me, but I keep my eyes glued on his chest. His thumb and forefinger grips my chin, lifting my face to look at him. I swallow at the lust and desire I see on his face. He rubs his thumb along my jaw before gripping the back of my head, his fingers carding through my hair.

“You’re going to be the most beautiful woman in the room.” My heart beats like a drum and hope flutters in my stomach. I bite the inside of my cheek, the pain grounding me a little. Don’t give into his pretty words, McKenzie. He’s said it before. I remind myself. But the way he’s looking at me. It reminds me of the Phoenix I knew at school. The Phoenix that would sit at the same table as me in the library. The Phoenix who always wound up in the same classes as me. The Phoenix on our wedding night.

I was so infatuated with him for four years. And I always hoped that maybe he liked me too, because he always seemed to be where I was. But he never tried anything with me. I was never one of the girls he took under the bleachers. The one and only time he showed anything remotely close to having feelings for me was the day of graduation. He told me when I realized how awful my father was, he would be there to rescue me.

I’m still unsure about how awful my father is. Was he telling the truth about the arrangement? Phoenix didn’t deny it. “I thought you said you would make this good for me.”

His grip tightens slightly as he pulls me closer. “I’ll make you feel good. You’ll forget anyone is there.” The hope that was fluttering in my stomach dies a quick death and I take a step back. He releases me reluctantly and takes a step back as well.

“Will you hide me like you did the first time?” I ask.

“I will.” He crosses his arms over his chest, making his shirt tighten around his biceps. His shirt is rolled up to his elbows, giving me a glimpse of the tattoos on his arms. I have to find a way to make this clinical.

“So, how often do we have to do this? You said it’s part of the initiation. How long does it last? Are there other parts of the initiation I need to know about?” I’m firing questions so fast, but he doesn’t flinch.

“We already did it once at the auction I purchased you at. Then you’re to do it at an auction you’re hosting. It just so happens the one I purchased you at and the auction I’m hosting were scheduled back to back. You’re also supposed to be attending every auction with me that is hosted by other people in The Society. We’ll have another to attend three months from now.”

“This is my life now, apparently. I am your property, right? And your wife.” I scoff. “So, why spare me?” His smile is deadly and laced with venom.

“Now you’re catching on. Good girl.”

Chapter 31

Three Months After Auction

My hair is pinned back, so it falls in soft curls down my back. I’m finishing up the final touches to my makeup. Anna taught me how to do a smokey eye and she introduced me to red lipstick. I miss her. I wonder what she’s doing. I haven’t talked to her in almost a year. We drifted apart. Well, she stopped calling and texting me, so after a few attempts at trying to reach out to her, I finally gave up.

The last time I spoke to her, she said she met someone. I wonder if they’re still together. Maybe that’s what has kept her so busy. Studying myself one last time, I run my hands down my dress. Walking out of the bathroom, I stop at the sight of Phoenix. Why does he have to look so delectable? He’s wearing an all black suit, but his tie has gold and silver designs on it.

He has two masks in his hands. One is gold, the other silver. He hands me the silver one. “You’ll only have to wear it when we’re around people.” Turning the mask over in my hands, I admire its beauty. It will cover my nose up to my forehead. The way it’s designed it reminds me of a crown. There’s a jewel in the middle, the same color as Phoenix’s eyes. It has a black ribbon to tie it. As large as it is, I’m surprised at how lightweight it is.

Phoenix’s mask is identical to mine, except his is gold. “Why do I have silver and you have gold?” Phoenix pauses as he fixes one of his cufflinks. I’m not going to like this answer.

“Silver masks mean the person wearing it was bought, and the owner doesn’t want to share. Gold masks mean the person wearing it is an owner and isn’t going to buy or share.” I probably shouldn’t feel relief at his explanation, but I am. I don’t want to be shared and I don’t want to share. As toxic as that seems.

Clearing my throat, I turn to look at myself in the mirror so I can put on my mask. Phoenix steps up behind me and takes the mask from me. His fingertips brush my cheek as he puts the mask in place. My skin heats up at his light touches and the thought that tonight I’ll be having sex with him again. My hands tremble slightly as I touch the edge of the mask.

“If you sit down. I can put yours on,” I say as I turn to face him. I pull my bottom lip between my teeth as I gaze up at him. He brings his thumb up and pushes on my chin slightly so I’ll release my lip.

“You’ll mess up your lipstick,” he whispers. He leans down until his lips are grazing mine. I stop breathing. He doesn’t lean in further to turn it into a kiss. He looks into my eyes like he’s trying to look into my soul. “That’s my job.” His lips brush mine as he speaks. My chest hitches as I suck in a shaky breath andlook away. My face and neck heat up. I’m sure he can see the blush considering how low cut this dress is.

He backs up slightly, allowing me to breathe air that’s not filled with his overwhelming scent, and sits down in the chair next to the window. I shake my head slightly and step up behind him. He hands me his mask over his shoulder. My hands are still shaking from that little interaction. I’m going to be a mess by the end of the night. Taking a steady breath, I place the mask on his face and tie the ribbon, making sure it’s tight enough to hold it in place, but not so tight that it’s uncomfortable.

He stands and offers me his hand. “Ready?”

“No.”

He leans down and kisses the side of my forehead. I lean back and gape at him. Where has this side of him been for the past month?

“I’ll be by your side the entire night.”

I haven’t left our room all day. Clara brought me breakfast and lunch, so when we get to the bottom of the stairs and I see all the decorations, I’m surprised. I glance up at the new chandelier. It’s no longer the one that has lights that look like candles. It’s a two-tier crystal chandelier. The top tier is smaller than the bottom tier with gold accents. In the entryway, there are black curtains draped from the ceiling to the floor, with lanterns and candles between each curtain. Phoenix leads me to the ballroom.

A man in a blue mask opens the door and we step in. It’s like stepping into another world. Did the auction last month look anything like this? I remember being in awe when we stepped into the house, but when I was quickly escorted away from my father and the realization of what was going to happen hit me… Well, I don’t remember much after that until Phoenix took me into a different room, gave me a different mask, and told me what was about to happen.

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