Page 62 of Blades of Obsession

Blade: I’m about to start getting dressed. Send me a picture of what you’re wearing

I step in front of Frankie’s full-length mirror, strike a pose, and snap a picture to send. About three minutes later, he texts back.

Blade: Fuck, you’re beautiful. I just palmed my cock and came to that picture

My mouth drops wide open.

Blade: You’re wearing green?

Me: Yes, it’s Christmas?

Blade: Hmm, put on a pink dress instead. Send me a picture so I can match

My eyebrows knit together. I groan in frustration, hurling my phone onto the bed.

The sudden outburst startles Frankie, making her jump in surprise. She pauses, brush in hand, and glances over at me from her seat at the vanity where she’s been applying makeup. “You scared me, girl. What’s wrong?”

“Mr. Control Freak wants me to wear pink tonight. On any other day, that would be great. But it’s a Christmas party—everyone will be in either green or red, I’m sure. I’ll stick out like a sore thumb. And I hate drawing attention to myself in a crowd. He’s so…”Irritating, but hot while he’s doing it.

“Ew, screw him for trying to tell you what to wear,” she says, wrinkling her nose in distaste.

“Frankie, Asher tells you what to wear all the time.”

“Oh, yeah…” she admits, looking sheepish for a moment. Then she brightens up again and waves her hand dismissively. “But anyway, that’s not the point. How about you just keep that dress on? You look great in that one. It’s that simple.” She picks up her mascara wand.

“But…” I bite the corner of my lip.

Frankie gives me a pointed look. “You don’t have to listen to every single thing he says, you know? He’s not a prison warden or something.”

“That’s hypocritical coming from you. When Asher kissed you goodbye, he told you to let your hair down because he likes it that way, and unless I’ve taken drugs and I’m hallucinating, your hair is down this very second.”

“We’re not talking about me right now. AndIlike my hair down too.”

“I kind of… want to listen to him, though.”

She shakes her head. “How we’re best friends when we’re the exact opposite, I’ll never know.”

“What? You don’t like—”

“No, I like it. But I like being a raging brat and giving him a headache about it first. That’s where all the fun is.”

I laugh and sit on the bed. “That does sound like you. But, you’re not worried about the… repercussions?”

You’d think this stuff would be easier to talk about with your best friend, especially one who lives the same life, but I’m squeamish getting the words out. I didn’t have the courage to outright sayspanking.

She shrugs nonchalantly. “Think of it this way—if you get in trouble, that’ll last, what? Ten minutes? Ten minutes of trouble for a whole night of doing what you want seems like a good trade-off to me.”

I sigh, rubbing my temples. Maybe she has a point. I’ve never thought about it that way.

Okay, I’m going to keep on the dark green dress. Even though my body is desperately trying to tell me to change.

•••

His intense eyes bore into me from across the ballroom, peeking over the cup of tea he’s taking slow sips of. I know it’s tea because he hates alcohol, for some vague reason he gave me about his dad, so he uses tea in social settings to look like he’s drinking whiskey. There are dozens of people here, including Frankie beside me, but he’s all I can focus on. His icy stare is making me want to melt into a puddle on the ground.

Even though my heart races under his disapproving gaze, I can’t help but take in how gorgeous he looks in a suit. Why does he always have to look so damn hot, no matter what he’s wearing, no matter what time of day it is?

I turn my head, trying with all my strength to focus on anything but him. The ballroom is adorned with grand decor—twinkling lights, red flower centerpieces, a decked-out tree that must be at least twelve feet tall. Before I know it, Blade is besideme, his looming presence commanding my attention, and I can’t ignore him anymore.

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