Page 68 of The Invite
Staring at the phone, I speed up my steps.
@thedeviluworship: Hot.
My breath racing, I reach the same doorway and round it with exhilaration.
@thedeviluworship: Hotter.
But I see no one in the hall. My shoulders slump at his toying. Is he trying to run me around in circles? Is he even in my house?
I take a step back and collide with a wall.
Hot breath tickles my ear right before a strong pair of arms winds around my waist. A deep voice whispers, “Caught you, little prey.”
I’m lifted off the tiled floor like I weigh nothing. My trembling gasp is swallowed by the darkness. Without properly aiming from my awkward position, I throw my wrist holding the knife back, and hit nothing.
Damn it.
But my weapon is revealed.
Still, I bring my arm forward with the intent to stab him in the hand around my waist but Augustus’s reflexes are fast. He snatches it from my grasp after twisting my wrist. All the while holding me against his body with one arm.
“That’s how you wanna play tonight, teach?” he taunts. A hint of sordid amusement.
Fear courses through my veins in anticipation of his punishment.
I hope to God he doesn’t stab me back.
My chest heaves with my pants and I freeze at the smooth feel of the knife’s blade that he presses against my neck.
“Is my fiery little prey curious about knife play?” His low tone is full of heat at the prospect. Except, he’s insane if he thinks it’d be something I’m interested in. After my experience with knives the last time, it’d be the last thing I want anywhere near me.
It takes focusing on my infuriation at him to diffuse the bubbling alarm.
“No,” I angrily growl. “It’s to stab and bleed you to death.”
“Well, you failed.”
“Tonight. We’ll see about tomorrow.”
“After I finish tonight—” He digs the pointed edge in the hollow of my throat. “—you won’t be so daring.” The knife trails upward until it pokes under my chin and forces me to tilt my head lest I want to get hurt. “You’ll think twice about stabbing me.”
“One of these days, I will get the upper hand and you’ll be sorry, Augustus.”
“I look forward to it.” A manic undertone is in his voice.
My chest rises and falls with each inhale and exhale while I try my best to remain still against his steadily beating heartbeat. I’m hyperaware of every part of him that’s touching me. His large hand splayed over my lower belly. The tip of his thumb brushing against the waistband of my loose sleep shorts.
Holding me like his possession.
His breakable toy.
My hand resting on his palm shakes as I learn the shape of his long fingers. Etch them into memory. The same fingers that draw and gift me sketches of all the depraved deeds he commits to my body in all their haunting and dark glory.
The difference in our size isstark and scary.
I forget the danger he exudes momentarily and trace my hand toward his wrist, wanting to feel his skin but only touch the fabric of his hoodie. Desperate to feel he’s human andnot a monster as my heart believes, I don’t stop despite being excessively aware of the knife under my chin.
Slipping my exploring fingers underneath the sleeve, I shudder at the contact. At the tiny tease of his flesh. There’s a light smattering of hair that adds to his masculinity. They rub underneath the pads of my fingers.
