Page 33 of The Art of Obsession
I take solace when she softens, sinking deeper onto the bed and against me, her willowy body molding to mine like a dream.
“It wouldn’t have mattered, would it have?” she murmurs, clinging tighter to the pillow.
“Hmm…” I inhale the scent of her hair, reading between the lines. “No. I have a state and federal judge in my pocket as well as a senator. Not to mention several questionable connections who could easily enforce a little heart attack, drug overdose, or car accident for anyone who believes they can meddle in my affairs.”
“So, you’re not just rich. You’reconnected.”
“Does that make a difference to you?”
“Psychologically, yes. Emotionally, no.” Sbe pauses but then shrugs. “A little emotionally, I guess.”
“Good girl.”
She feels too sinful in this thin eclipse of fabric. Too sinful to resist cupping her soft breast and playing with the erect nipple. “Your gesture of lying for me only confirms you know who owns you, and it will not go without reward,” I hint and lower my palm to cup her center while fondling her luscious breast.
“Please, Acheron, I-I need, need to sleep…” she pleads.
I pause. Her little bottom is wiggling, tormenting my cock with her desire, but I also recognize her exhaustion. Infinite days and nights are waiting for me to reward her…and punish her. So,I slide my hand from her pussy to rest on her stomach. Then, I prop my other above her head, occasionally stroking the strands along her temple. She relaxes, her breaths deepening.
“I only lied because I didn’t want to get locked up in the loony bin,” she mutters, yawning again.
Chuckling darkly, I rub my lips along the back of her head and say, “Whatever you say, Little Quill.”
Once she’s beenasleep for some time, I ease my way out of the bed, knowing she’s out for the rest of the night.
I slowly and tenderly shift her hair away from the back of her neck. Because I came prepared. It’s time to implement the next part of my plan. This part will enable me to monitor her before I induct her into the exhibit.
I inject her with the sedative again to ease the process. She will wake with a slight ache at the base of her neck, but the discomfort will fade by the end of the day.
After, I clean her apartment because I’m not about to have my art damaged in any way before her ascension, I throw away any food that does not meet my standards while ordering a healthier selection.
Next, I cut up the few credit cards she possesses. I will provide for her now.
I end the night with a sketch—watercolor this time, all shades of gray and blue of her in the bath. As usual, I leave it on her pillow with black rose petals scattered around it.
Once I’m finished, it’s well into the wee hours of the morning. I expect her to sleep in, but I don’t have that luxury. Before theweekend is out, the exhibit will be finished. And Everleigh will be its heart and soul.
15
He’s following me. No, he’s hunting me
Chapter Playlist:
“Head Above Water” – Avril Lavigne
EVERLEIGH
THREE DAYS LATER
Every morning,I wake up, relieved when I don’t have the damn instrument of torture of a chastity belt on.
I can’t begin to guess what Acheron is doing.
It’s been a peaceful past few days. I won’t deny my shock when I discovered he’d cleaned my apartment. Cherry was swooning and doing the cha-cha. But any shock bled into anger and rage when I found all my credit cards cut up and all the processed food in my fridge replaced by a bunch of organic, all-natural, tasteless whatevers. I half-considered throwing away the tofu, but I remembered what happened the last time I threw away something Acheron gave me.
Hey, babe!Cherry had chirped at me, buzzing her wings.You realize how he stocked you up with a lot of aphrodisiacs?
I flicked her away…but still ate the whole bag of dark chocolate-covered pomegranate seeds. And the dried figs.
