Page 53 of The Invite
Augustus’s sinister eyes narrow dangerously at my silence, and he warns in a dark voice, “Mr. Melrose better not have kissed you good night.”
I swallow and blink, trying to get my limbs—which have become asstill as a statue—to function. My first instinct is to run but he will catch me.
The only option left is to face him head-on.
“How the heck did you get in?” I demand, my voice coming shrill once the initial shock of him in my bedroom wears off.
Augustus is drawn to my fear like a shark is attracted to the scent of blood.
Around him, fear wraps around me like asecond skin.
There’s no getting rid of it.
“Now why would I reveal that?” he taunts. “I think I’ll let you figure that out by yourself, teach. Now answer my question.”
“Whom I spend time with and in what capacity is none of your business.”
“You becamemybusiness the moment I caught you in the woods. I told you yesterday that you’remine, Nessa. Tonight is the first and the last time you will go near another man. If I see you with one, I’ll wipe his existence off the face of the earth.”
“What?” I gasp.
He swings his legs to the side and jumps off my bed before standing to his full height. Peering me square in my scared eyes, he says, “I have no qualms about killing another human. I’ve done it before. Don’t be the reason to make me do it again.”
His confession rings in my ears like a grim lullaby. Why would he tell me that without any remorse or regard for the consequences? Does knowing it make me an accomplice? Or is this one of his mind games?
I pray it’s the latter.
However, praying is futile. Augustus doesn’t lie because, to this day, he has made good on every single one of his threats and promises.
That’s why I find myself whispering, “It wasn’t a date.”
Even if there’s a minor chance he’s toying with my head, I still cannot risk Ace’s safety. He’s an amazing man and I can’t bear to witness him hurt because of me. I won’t gamble with his life.
I expect my answer to appease Augustus but nothing in the angles of his face shifts, which sends my pulse skittering.
His head slants to the side as he studies if I’m telling the truth. Licking the corner of his mouth, he softly asks, “Did he kiss you at the door?”
The tender timbre of his deep voice doesn’t fool me.
My throat goes dry as I fight the urge to touch my right cheek where Ace lightly pecked me earlier. It had surprised meand given mea gooey feeling in my belly. The exact opposite feeling replaces the warmth now.
Why the hell am I hesitating to lie to Augustus?
Besides, it will not exactly be a lie. It wasn’t a kiss, just a quick peck. Something friends give each other. Nothing more.
“No,” I whisper after what feels like ages but is merely a few seconds.
“No?” Augustus repeats, then phrases it more specifically, “So his lips didn’t touch a single part of you?”
I shake my head.
“Liar.”
“He didn’t kiss me,” I say more firmly.
“It wasn’t on your mouth then,” he retorts. “Where?”
I cross my arms and glare. “Did you come here to interrogate me?”
