Page 36 of The Invite
“Two can play at that game,” he taunts.
Sauntering to where I’m standing, shell-shocked, he flips the screen and points it gloatingly in front of my face. Like watching a morbid train wreck that I don’t want to, my eyes drop to his phone and I see myself writhing on my bed while he straddles me.
He has smartly kept his face away from the camera while there’s no hiding my nude body. The curve of my left breast shaking and my nipple pointed toward the ceiling, down to his wrist thrusting between my thighs, is visible.
The longer it plays, the harder I realize I don’t sound like a woman being assaulted. I’m moaning like a woman in the throes of passion by her lover.
Only I know it’s a manipulative and vindictive lover.
“You tell Mr. Crane I came here tonight.” The cruel lover’s dark voice penetrates past the drumming in my ears. “I’ll show him this. Once he listens to your beautiful cries as you came on your student’s fingers, the one you accused and got suspended, then fell straight into his arms the next night, you’ll be the one getting fired.”
I make a grab for his phone and with a chuckle, he steps back.
All I catch is thin air.
Stopping the video, he pockets his phone and tilts my chin with a finger. “You lost, Miss Nessa.”
“No,” I whimper, refusing to accept my fate.
“You’re mine now, little prey.”
“No!”
“Welcome to the first day of your hell.”
Dropping his hand, he picks up his discarded mask and exits my bedroom. I fall to my knees near the bed and sit numb until I hear the front door of my house slam shut. I can still feel his daunting presence and his deep voice echoing around like a dark cloud on a stormy night.
Augustus will be back.
I believe him when he says he’ll be my shadow.
There’s nothing I can do about it.
I’m trapped with no way out.
Was this his plan all along? Is this why he didn’t fight hard against getting suspended? I think he was more upset that I stood up against him despite his threat rather than trying to get him and his friend expelled.
When I wished that I didn’t want to be alone, this wasn’t how I imagined it would be. A monster for a companion.
Suddenly, the doorbell rings.
I jump at the loud sound.
Is he back so soon? Is he taunting me by ringing the bell? Hasn’t he toyed enough with me for one night?
High anger spikes in my gut and I lurch to my feet. He might be the devil of my hell but that doesn’t mean I won’t fight him every step of the way.
Taking the stairs two at a time, I stomp toward the door and fling it open.
“Why are y…” I trail off when there’s no one on the other side.
The street is dark and deserted.
But I swear I heard the bell.
Annoyed, I step inside and I’m about to close the door when a black-and-red envelope on the mat catches my eye.
Who would leave me that?
