Page 17 of Voodoo Doll
I watched as a shiver ran down her spine. It was time to show her the truth.?
With a flick of my wrist behind my back, the lights flickered and then dimmed. The cold fireplace roared to sudden life, flames flickering a poisonous green in the sudden darkness. I subtly caused my shadow to grow, furthering the illusion.?
She gasped, taking a step back, and I smiled widely. I knew that in the sickly green light, my face was a truly frightening visage.?
“Are you afraid,ma chère?” I took one step towards her, then another. But she held her ground, even as I could see her shaking with terror. Her chin lifted as she shook her head.?
Good fucking girl.
Chapter Nine
Luna
No matterwhat had happened with Bash at le Désir Mystique earlier, I simply could not let myself believe that his prediction of Joshua was correct. I kept trying to convince myself that what he had done with the lights and the fireplace had all been some kind of elaborate illusion. That there was some natural explanation for it. But a small voice inside said that he had shown me genuine power. And the sleeping potionhadactually worked. Perhaps there truly were things I couldn’t rationalize or explain away.?
If I was being truly honest with myself, there was something unsettling about Bash that I just couldn’t put my finger on. Something about him made me shiver with fear, and yet I found myself drawn to him in a way I didn’t understand. It was like… like I was becoming addicted to being close to him. Even though it might be bad for me, I kept going back, time and time again.
I reminded myself that hehadhelped me with my intruder issue and with my insomnia. He was becoming a genuine friend; a friend I desperately needed, since Kayla had been so busy with her new work project. It was unlike her. She’d never been pulled away to work for so long. But I supposed I should be happy to see that she was getting serious about her career.?
But Bash…
There was a memory, just flickering on the edge of my consciousness. Something about the dreams I had been having, the dark and devious things that had flooded my nightmares that made me think of him. The dreams were as disturbing as they were erotic. My core clenched at the mere memory.?
Blades running over my skin, pricking my flesh until my blood ran in crimson rivulets. The feel of a tongue lapping up the droplets before making their way to my aching clit. Ropes and chains and twisted toys, giving me pleasure and pain in equal measure. I truly couldn’t tell if it was revulsion or arousal that made me shiver at the memory.?
And all through it, a voice guided me.?
Ma chère. He calls me that. It’s his voice.
I knew I was reading too much into it. It was simply the fact that he used that particular pet name whenever we spoke. That’s all it was.?
Right?
Shaking my head, I paid no more heed to the swirling dark fantasies that had plagued me these past two weeks. I needed to focus on something more positive, more productive. Like my surprise for Joshua tonight. My heart skipped a beat as I thought about my plans and preparation. I wanted so badly for this to work, for him to prove once and for all that all my fears were wrong. I just needed him to show me he was still in love with me. That he still wanted me. That I was enough.
It had been nearly two weeks since I had seen him, only having exchanged a few text messages and phone calls here and there because of his hectic work schedule. That would all change tonight. I had decided to take a leap of faith and called his office. They assured me he was not scheduled to work this evening and had no meetings on his schedule. It was the perfect opportunity to surprise him with dinner.?
I spent over an hour preparing his favorite meal. After applying the finishing touches to my hair and makeup, and a short car ride later, I stood in front of his house, my heart in my throat. Dressed to the nines — or my version of it — in a flowing dress that made my tits look amazing, and a pair of fuck-me-pumps, with ruby red lips to match, I was ready to remind Joshua of the good thing he had. Even the fact that it had begun to rain could not ruin my good mood.?
I pulled the spare key from my purse. I never used it, but this was the perfect opportunity to do so. I slid the key into the lock and opened the door, excitement fluttering in my belly like butterflies.?
I stepped inside the foyer, my lips parting to call out to the man I had loved for years…
Just in time to see Joshua pushing a woman up against the wall, thrusting and grunting his way to orgasm, buried to the hilt inside none other than… Kayla.?
Words failed.?
Butterflies turned to daggers.?
Pain shot through my body, from the lurching of my stomach to the stabbing pain in my heart.?
I couldn’t think.?
I couldn’t even breathe.
Tears clouded my vision just as rage began to boil within me, turning my stomach sour.?
The casserole dish fell from my hands, shattering on the floor in an explosion of cheese, sauce, and lasagna noodles.?
