Page 182 of Sinning for Santa

I groan, not wanting anything to do with a Marx man, but I suppose we are safest with them right now, so I let my sister tug me along the street and around the next corner.

We can’t look over our shoulder without making it obvious, so we keep our heads forward, and I spot Liam up ahead leaning against his black car.

When he spots us, he smiles, pushing off the car, and I notice his eyes move over our shoulders as we get closer.

“Blondish hair, wearing a cap?” he asks as he closes the distance leaning in to give me a hug, and I nod as he pulls back and then hugs Presley. “Okay, ladies. Your chariot awaits.”

I can’t help but smile at Liam’s typical playfulness, and when I glance at Presley, I can tell she has a thing for him.

Great. The Marx charm is working on her too.

Not that Devon was charming. Not at first anyway, but in the quiet moments, he had a tender side to him that I’ll never forget. I’ll be dreaming about that side of him forever, I dare say.

My heart hurts thinking about him as I slide into the back seat of Liam’s car, and I turn back in time to see Eddie slinking into an alcove.

“I can’t believe he’s stalking you,” Presley says from the front seat as she clips her seatbelt in place.

“I can’t either,” I mutter, feeling safer now that we are in Liam’s car.

“Want me to make him disappear?” Liam asks as he joins us, starting up the car.

Presley giggles at that comment, and I guess she doesn’t realise how true his suggestion is. He’s a Marx. They could make anyone disappear if they want to. Much like Vincent,although I have no idea what was done with his body. I didn’t want to ask.

“No,” I sigh. “He’ll stop eventually.” I hardly believe my words, because quite frankly, him stalking me was never something I considered.

I figured he would wash his hands of me and move on to find some other naive woman.

“Okie dokie,” Liam says, pulling the car away from the curb. “You coming to party with us tonight?”

I shake my head when I meet his eyes in the rear view mirror.

“Oh, come on. It’ll be fun.”

“I’ve already tried so many times to change her mind,” Presley says before the two of them fall into a discussion on their favourite part about New Year’s Eve.

I think my favourite part will be that it’s the end of a shitty year that I’d like to forget.

After Liam drops us off at Presley’s apartment, well, I guess it’s mine now too, my sister flits about the place drinking and dancing and getting ready, while I take a soak in the bath and shave my legs, and all my bits.

Presley gets picked up by Liam at six, and I sit on the end of my bed, my hair done, my makeup on, and a mask lying next to me on the bed.

I glance at it, unsure if I should do this. Unsure if going to Cloud 9 is the right thing to do.

I can go there now without shame. I know that. But it’s not what’s holding me back.

Dev.

Why is he under my skin so much? Why does the thought of watching other people without him there, churn my stomach?

Shit. Maybe I am pregnant.

I should probably test myself, although, I’m gathering it’s probably too soon to know. But I guess I’ll know soon enough if my monthly doesn’t come. Then I’ll know if Devon’s obsessive attempts to keep his cum inside me have worked.

Standing from the end of my bed, I look at my reflection in the mirror.

Golden blonde hair in long waves. Blue eyes that will only be seen peering through the mask. Red lips that everyone will see, making them look plumper than usual. My neck has fading hickeys, my attempt to cover them with makeup futile, but at least it has taken the harshness away.

My breasts fit perfectly into the c-cup black lacy bra, with a tease of my pink nipple showing through. My stomach is flat, probably a little too flat given my inability to eat much since leaving Woodall Ridge. The black lace panties are a bikini cut in the front and g-string in the back, and my legs are silky smooth, all the way down to the red Louboutin pumps.

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