Page 76 of Mine

“Say my fucking name!”

“Do it, Astor! Do it!”

His finger slips into my asshole.

I come instantly, screaming his name as he screams mine.

I am unable to move or speak as I lie sprawled out, facedown, my upper body on the dinner table, my feet on the floor. My body is languid, loose, satiated beyond my wildest expectations. I am completely drained of energy and coherent thought.

The sound in the room slowly begins to register and I push myself up by my palms and turn around, still gripping the table for support.

Astor stands a few feet from me.

I watch as he gathers his designer suit and priceless shoes.

I watch him dress.

I watch him round the table and head for the door, not sparing me a single glance.

“Where are you going?” I ask.

“I never stay with a woman after, to be clear.”

“I didn’t ask it of you.”

“Good. Now go clean yourself and go to bed.”

“Yes, sir.” I salute at his back as he exits the room.

Grinning, I slide onto the table, dip my finger in the chocolate, and suck it off.

Yes, sir, I think. The tables are turning, aren’t they?

Forty-Five

Sabine

Hours later, I awaken and find Astor sitting in the armchair again, watching me sleep—same as the night before, and the night before that.

Moonlight streams through the window, illuminating his beautiful profile.

We stare at each other for a moment, saying nothing, yet speaking a million words between us.

I smile.

His eyes twinkle, and to my surprise, a soft smile spreads across his lips. And with that beautiful image locked in my head, I roll over and go back to sleep.

Forty-Six

Anonymous

From my spot hidden outside the window, I watch him watching her sleep. If he bothered to look outside, if he were self-aware enough to take one second to scan his surroundings, he’d see me.

She weakens him. It’s disgusting. Astor is not the same man since she entered his life.

Anger spreads like heat over my chest.

I reach into my pocket to feel for the photograph, the snippet of hair. Next to it, I begin stroking the black wings of the dead bat.

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