Page 52 of Vicious

I set the tray down on the table, announcing, “Aperitifs have been served, lady and scum of the earth.”

The woman jerks her head up, and the tiny bell dangling from a collar around her throat makes another quiet ringing sound. One gloved hand curls around the doctor’s leg, and she presses herself more firmly against him.

The doctor scowls at me, but Chase laughs. “Great. But you put them all the way over there! How are Hunter and his bunny meant to reach them?”

“I assume they can use their feet to stand up and hands to pick them up,” I say as deadpan as I can, which is a little difficult considering how dry my throat is. I’m trying so hard to pretend that everything’s fine when it obviously isn’t. My body is on such blatant display, and the plug…

God, I can’t think about the plug for too long, or I’m going to cry again.

Chase looks like he’s going to argue back when the doorbell rings multiple times in a row, then he smirks. “Well, since you’re standing, and not serving, why don’t you go show our next guest in.”

I stare at him, realizing the conundrum I’ve just placed myself in, and scowl. I cross my arms across my barely-covered chest and plant my feet. “No.” The tail is too prominent, and there’s no way I’m going to walk past everybody to the door so Hunter and his girlfriend can see just how it protrudes out of my ass.

“Ah-May,” Chase says, just as the doorbell goes off again. “Don’t keep Drake waiting. We all just want to have a nice, fun evening tonight.”

There’s the unyielding warning I’d been waiting for. This time, he’s serious, and if I don’t get to the front door soon, I’m going to risk that whipping.

I almost refuse anyway, but that woman is looking at me like I’m out of my mind, bewildered and ridiculous with those large rabbit ears on her head.

With a deep breath, I slowly go to the front door, my cheeks heating up as I grab the doorknob and pull it open. “Will you please stop ringing the bell?” I hiss. “You’re going to attract the attention of everyone in the city.”

When the man laughs, I realize my mistake. It’s not an amused sound like Chase makes. No, this is cruel, and there’s anticipation in it. “Oh, I see why Chase likes you. You’re a little brat. Chase, if she’s not careful, I’m going to grab her by the throat and drag her back to you for a nice little spanking.”

Chase wouldn’t let him. Would he?

I gape up at the man who must be Drake, having to crane my neck to look at him properly. “You wouldn’t,” I say, but my voice trembles a little as he forces his way into my personal space to step inside the foyer.

I clench my fists and count to ten, waiting until Drake is well into the living room before turning around to join them again.

“Drake! Almost on time!” Chase stands up to clap Drake on the shoulder. “Come in, come in. Glad you met the new kitten I bought. She’s adorable, isn’t she?”

“Feisty,” Drake says, his eyes raking hungrily over me.

“Undisciplined,” Hunter comments with open disapproval.

“Are you as greedy as Hunter is with your girl?” Drake asks with entirely too much interest as he gestures for me to twirl around.

I ignore it.

“Oh, I don’t know. I could be convinced to share, if my Mao May doesn’t like me as an owner.” Chase gives me a pointed look.

Mao. Cat.

The look I give him in return is downright murderous.

“What do you want from me?” I ask Chase, glaring at him. “I’m not following this dickwad’s insulting little gestures.”

The bunny—Stef—gasps loudly, but I ignore her.

“Well, it’s a shame not to show off the costume, since we put in so much work to get it on you.” Chase repeats Drake’s gesture. “And when you’re done, bend forward so everybody can get a good look at your cute little tail.”

This time, I’m shaking more out of sheer rage than humiliation or fear. I turn around slowly, displaying the entirety of the costume, and Drake whistles in appreciation.

“Man, you two suck. I guess I really do need to get one of my own. I would share, though,” Drake says pointedly.

I pity anyone that pathetic excuse for a man buys.

Before I can mutter those words aloud, I bend over and raise my ass high in the air.

---