Page 28 of Magic of Sins

More, more, more.

Amy giggles like I’m a funny animal playing with its food.

“Do you like it?” she asks. “Then wait ’til you taste the chocolate sauce.”

She dips her finger into the small jug, but instead of offering it to me, she runs it lasciviously over her lips.

“Come get it.”

Never.

I willneverdo that.

But Amy leans forward a bit, and the beguiling scent of chocolate hits my nose.

“Come on, princess,” Jared murmurs. “I know you want it.”

No, Idon’twant it. He’smakingme want it. My whole body trembles with the effort of trying to resist my desire. Why doesn’t anyone help me? They must see I’m not here by choice. But the truth is, no one cares.

A sob rises in my throat as my lips draw closer to Amy’s. I’ve never kissed anyone before. It’s a sin. All of this is. If anyone catches me doing this, I’ll be punished. That is, only if I survive Amy and Jared’s cruel game.

Jared’s hand moves to my neck and finds the zipper of my dress, slowly pulling it down. I try to stop him, but my body no longer obeys me. He manages to peel me out of the top of my dress, leaving me sitting there in just my bra. I hear him chucklemaliciously. His hand creeps under my bra strap, making it snap against my skin.

“Holy fucking Jesus, what is this hideous thing?”

I’m not paying him any mind. All I want is to taste the chocolate on Amy’s lips. I can’t think about anything else. It’s like a rush, and I succumb to it. Let it carry me off like a wave.

“Jared!”

An icy voice reaches me as if from afar. It sounds familiar, but my mind is so sluggish that it can’t place it. I vaguely notice Jared stiffen beside me. My lips are millimeters away from Amy’s. I feel like I can already taste the chocolate, and I want to—so badly.

“What a surprise,” Jared says, but the voice cuts him off.

“Indeed it is. And now I must ask you to release her mind.”

“Why would I do that?”

Jared pretends to be at ease, but his hand comes away from my bare back. There’s a brief pause and Amy holds her breath as if she’s expecting trouble.

I lick my lips. I’m about to taste the chocolate. Any second now…

Someone clears their throat.

“You will release her because her mind is mine.Sheis mine. And if you don’t comply, I will kill you.”

Chapter Eight

I can feel my mind breaking free of Jared’s grasp. It’s like a thick fog is lifted. I blink in confusion and shrink back from Amy, who hurriedly licks the chocolate sauce from her lips.

First comes the horror of what I almost did.

Then shame.

I jerk my hands up and cover my bra. Jared’s moved away from me, Amy as well. I see fear in her eyes. When I look up, I’m peering into Caden’s face. It’s set in a rigid mask, except for an angry fire glowing in his thundercloud eyes.

“Get up!” he orders me harshly.

I wince. Amy slides off the bench to make room for me in such haste that she almost falls over. Caden grabs me by the wrist and yanks me to my feet. He snatches my mother’s photo off the table and stuffs it carelessly into the pocket of his dress coat, bending the corners. The only memento I have of my mother, crumpled. Tears fill my eyes.

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