Page 16 of Whispers of Obsession

“Just let me leave.” I try again, hoping he’s just toying with me. Praying I walk away from this unharmed.

“You can go…for a kiss.”

I shake my head, not wanting this man touching me at all. I certainly don’t want to kiss him.

“No, please.”

“Oh, but you’ll kiss your pedophile history teacher?” he snaps, making me flinch. He sighs. “Fine, Cora, have it your way. I’ll take these instead.” The man’s hands are up my dress andtugging my underwear down faster than I can react. My knees shake as I feel him slide them down my thighs. “Step out,” he demands.

I try to do as he says, scared that if I resist, he’ll do worse, but my legs are shaking so badly I can’t lift my feet.

If he takes my underwear, will he leave me alone? Fuck, I hope so. But what will I say to Lizzy? It was such an expensive gift and I only just got them. She’s going to be so mad when I can’t explain…

Losing patience with me, he pulls and the material burns the back of my calves before it yields to his strength and tears.

Tears well in my eyes, and I have to swallow hard to keep my sobs at bay.

He stands and brings the tattered material up to his mask, inhaling deeply even though there’s no nose piece.

“Delicious,” he breathes, before pocketing the scraps of lace. “Better get back to the dance now.”

I stand there, shaking, as my heart pounds in my chest. When I finally open my eyes, I realize I’m alone.

10

MM

God, she’s so fucking perfect. She looked so stunning in her dress. Even when she was shaking and crying with a mixture of fear and relief.

It’s amazing how quickly my emotions can change where she’s concerned. One minute, she’s taking my breath away as she arrives at the dance, a vision in black satin.

The next, my whole body is shaking with rage, knowing that she chose that dress for him.

Him. Not me.

I want to kill him.

But slowly.

First, I need to remove every part of him that has touched her. His lips. His tongue.

Lucky for him, he’ll get to keep his cock.

My Cora’s a good girl. She hasn’t gone there with him. Yet.

She’s desperate enough, but she’s cautious too. I want to believe that she can sense it…his wrongness. But I think my girl is still lost in the fog.

She needs a monster like me to lead her to the light, so that I can guide her into the right kind of darkness. My darkness. Where she’ll reign by my side for all eternity.

11

CORA

Itake off running back to the dance, frustrated that I’m not very fast in heels. Time seems to stretch on endlessly as I run for my life, terrified that at any second the man in the mask will change his mind, jump out of the dark, and take me in the dirt.

I get inside finally, panting as I scan the room, and it takes me a while to spot Lizzy. At least it gives me a minute to catch my breath. I feel myself deflate as I make my way over to her. I’m safe.

She throws her hands up when I finally make it over to their table. I drop into the seat next to her as I fight to calm my racing heart.

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