Page 50 of Entombed In Sin

I blink rapidly, surprised at the turn of the conversation. “Isn’t it obvious?”

“Not to me. I think I would’ve been terrified to even leave the house after surviving that,” she admits softly. Her eyes travel over my face. “I would never be comfortable sharing the same room as my potential murderer.”

Recalling how she reacted to me the other day when I walked into the preparation room with my apology breakfast in tow, I’m not surprised to hear this. Then again…

“But fucking your stalker is totally sane, right?” I point out with a laugh. Starr Girl ducks her head with embarrassment. With a sigh, I add, “Those two are like black holes. Dangerous and magnetic. I couldn’tnotgravitate toward them.”

I can remember that night so clearly. I let greed dictate my moves that evening. There was a wad of cash in my car, I had a full tank of gas, and I’d just gotten laid. I didn’t need to slip between the twins and that horsey-looking girl they’d targeted, but there was just something about them that called to me. I wanted their attention. When I got it, it couldn’t have felt more right. They listened to everything I had to say and were careful how they touched me… It was perfect. I didn’t even realize I was in danger until they struck.

With a sigh, I continue, “When I survived their attack, I realized how much power and control they had over their lives and other people’s. I wanted that. I wanted all of the control, just like they had. Now I have it, and it’s a thrill. It’s especially fun when I can drag the macho, alpha assholes in close before I strike.”

Last night, I’d managed to lure four guys into that dark alley after me. I didn't even need to go to that party. They’d been on their way home to their fraternity house when I sauntered up tothem, flirted and taunted until I got the desired reaction. Fuck, that was a heady fucking feeling, getting under their skin. I’d been hard as a rock the entire time.

Then again, I’d been hard all evening as I savored Starr Girl’s attention.

“Are you talking about the type of guys that remind you of Greg?” she asks.

Her innocent question leaves me breathless. This is what I get for being vulnerable: it leaves me open for unsuspecting questions like these. I swallow thickly as I try to push down the need to get defensive.

“Yeah,” I respond, but the word is hard to say. It’s almost slurred, like my mouth doesn’t want to confirm it. “I guess.”

“He’s the reason you don’t like touch, isn’t it?” she presses.

My stomach knots. I open my mouth to confirm her question, but my jaw feels like it’s a million pounds. I frown. I try again, but it won’t open. What’s more, my tongue feels incapable of moving. Alarm is a chill that runs down my spine. What the fuck? I try to reach up, but my hand won’t move either. The only thing that does move is the sudden drop of my head as I lose the ability to keep it up.

“Sorry. I know we were having a moment,” Starr Girl says softly, “but maybe we can pick up where we left off when the drugs wear off.”

Drugs? She fuckingdruggedme? Fuck, fuck! Panic barrels through me. My heart races as the blood drains from my face. Why the fuck is this happening? When did she have the chance to do this?

My heart slams frantically against the inside of my chest. I was beingniceto her, and I’m rewarded likethis? I’m going to murder her when I can move again. How fuckingdareshe! In my head, I scream in rage. I fight against the heavy weight that’s immobilized me. But nothing moves. Not a pinky, not a toe.

“You want my forgiveness, Knox, but here’s the thing; before there can be a ‘clean slate’, I want my pound of flesh. I’mowedit. From now on, I won’t let you, or anyone else, hurt me again. I put it in your coffee before I called you in here,” she explains as she walks around the desk. “The drug will keep you paralyzed for about an hour, maybe a little longer, but it’ll wear off and you’ll be fine afterward.”

I can see her shoes out of the corner of my eye as she stops beside me. Her fingers slip under my chin to turn and tilt my head up to face her. I make sure she can feel my rage as I meet her gaze. She frowns and the skin between her brows puckers.

“Telling you not to be scared is probably stupid,” she says softly. “The point of this is to scare you, after all. I want you to know how I felt when I woke up buried in a coffin. I was trapped down there and now you’re… well, you're trapped in your own body, unable to do anything about it. Just like how I was unable to do anything about my situation.”

She doesn’t smile or gloat. Her words are spoken with a solemnity that speaks of the pain I’d caused her and the determination to see this through. It’s because of this that some of my anger fades. This isn’t her being malicious. Not really, at least. This is about punishing me. SomethingIagreed to. In fact, if I recall, I gave her permission to do whatever she wanted. I may not like this situation, but I kind of put myself in it.

Fuck.

Next time, there are going to be rules.

“Usually, when I used this stuff in the past, I mixed a sedative with it to make sure my mother could sleep through her withdrawal process,” Starr Girl says, disgust momentarily twisting her pretty features. “You’ll be awake, though. I wanted you to be aware of what I’m going to do.”

My stomach twists uncomfortably. Whatisshe going to do to me? Maybe I underestimated her. Maybe Beatrix’s quiet,demure demeanor lulled me into a sense of security, leading me to agree to her punishment. I certainly wouldn’t have given the twins free range. Iknowwhat they’re capable of and despite knowing they won’t kill me, during some of their punishments, I’ve been known to beg for death.

Not that they would ever listen to any stipulations I’d lay down. That’s why I follow their rules in the first place.

Starr Girl’s fingers slide from my chin up to pinch my jaw open. I’d wince if I could. Her other hand comes up, and she throws something in my mouth before she helps me shut my jaw. What’s this? There’s now a chalky pill sitting on my tongue. Orwassitting on my tongue. Beatrix tilts my head back and strokes her hand down my throat, coaxing me to swallow. When it’s gone, she lets go of me.

“And that… Well, I don't knowexactlywhat that is, but the man who gave it to me on the way to the bathroom last night at the club said it would make me feel really good,” she admits with a shrug. “I’m sure it’s ecstasy. My roommate in college said the same thing when she would pop her pills before going out.”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!

I’m going to trip while being unable to move? God, this is going to be a nightmare. This can go so wrong. Fuck, I hope whatever she gave me before doesn’t mix poorly with this. My stomach plummets as the pill works its way down my throat.

She steps away with a tight smile. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to get a cot to roll you into the preparation room. What I want to do can’t be done in here.”

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