Page 261 of The Invite
Augustus whips me around while the girls bicker behind us. Tugging me into a corner, he tips my visor up and does the same to his. Those beautiful eyes of his narrow playfully. “Is that payback?”
“Hey! You told me to try getting along with them. I’m just being a friend since he seemed upset about you breaking these girls’ hearts.” Shrugging, I say, “Now, he can help mend them.”
Augustus’s chest rumbles with a low chuckle as he shakes his head. His eyes dance with mischief as he peers at me. “You damn well know he’s going to hate them chasing after him. Those two girls look determined with the false green light you gave them.”
“He should count himself lucky I didn’t tell them his name.”
“You’re hot when you’re vindictive, little prey.”
“Then I should probably tell you how I plotted the demise of the girls who tried to touch you.”
“Fuck!” He groans, yanking me flush. “Don’t dirty talk to me like that when I can’t do anything about it.”
I laugh even as my body sizzles with lust. “You’re crazy.”
“About you.”
Augustus’s face disappears as the tent plunges into darkness. Screams and manly laughter ring out, sending my pulse racing. I reach for Augustus in the dark and gulp in relief when I touch his shoulders, curling my fingers around them.
“What’s happening?” I audibly swallow.
Grabbing my elbow, he guides me toward the table, standing with my back to his front. I blink when bright lights filter in from the head of the room on a stage that wasn’t there before. My gaze widens when I see Ace’s submissive girl crawl to the center with him holding the chain as a leash.
There’s nothing remotely humiliating about the pair. Their synchroneity is strangely erotic.
As they stop, the stage light falls on a wooden cross. Ace pulls the girl up and binds her to the cross with her arms high above her head and the chain around her wrists with precision.
The audience becomes hooked on the scene but I’m on edge, thinking about what’s to happen later tonight.
Rough hands stroking along my thighs, lighting my skin on fire. “Relax, Ness.”
Of course he noticed.
“We should find the others,” I murmur.
“Keep watching,” commands Augustus.
I glance ahead and gulp as I see those two half-naked men climb onto the stage. Their faces are hidden behind creepy ghost masks as they advance on the bound girl. Ace is nowhere to be seen. As she gazes at them closing in on her, tension seizes her body. She’s too far away for me to read her expression.
People around us keep screaming and chanting at the men to tease her.
Take care.
Stab her.
That’s when I see the knives in their hands, and I gasp, “Oh god!”
My entire body trembles wildly. It’s not from excitement. I blink and the girl’s face is replaced by a bruised Johnny’s. As if it’s him and me on the stage, seconds before I’m about to stab him.
Augustus senses my budding panic and I’m turned away from the act.
My palm is sweaty in his as he tugs me out through a secret entrance at the back of our booth. He whips off his helmet and gently removes mine once we’re alone.
“August.” Lingering panic drips from my voice.
Soft lips graze my forehead. “It’s okay, honey.”
I press my face against his pec and inhale his scent as his protective arms wrap around me. I stay glued to him until the memory slips away from my mind.
