Page 22 of Secrets & Desires
PartTwo
ChapterEight
“The lavender one…no,not that one…does that look lavender to you?Thatone,yes.”
Moriko was barking orders at Livia as she dressed for the Thanksgiving meal at Nox’s home. The dinner with all his closest friends. All of them. And their girlfriends and boyfriends andoh god… Livia felt sick with nerves. She stepped into the dress Moriko had directed her to, then shook her head. “No. I don’t feel rightinit.”
“What about thewhiteone?”
“I don’t want to come off as a vestal virgin. And anyways, gravy stains. Thanksgiving dinner,remember?”
Moriko sighed. “Fair enough. So, we’re looking for something that says ‘Hey, don’t mind me, I’m the good-to-go-but-not-slutty-girlfriend from the wrong side of the tracks…’ I’ve got it. Let’s go find some knocked-up-from-the-thrift-store pink dress and Duckie can take you to thedance.”
“What thehellare you talking about?” Livia was feeling irritated now. She’d tried on several of her dresses and was getting down to the last few she owned. Moriko rolledhereyes.
“Pretty in Pink,Doofus.”
“Moriko, this is serious. Nox is picking me up in fifteen minutes and I have nothing.Nothing.”
“Jeez, don’t have a cow.Hangon.”
She disappeared and Livia heard her ruffling through her wardrobe, and frowned. “Dude, there isn’t a chance in hell I’ll fit into anything of yours.” While Livia was curvy, Moriko was a size-zero, so stealing each other’s clothes had never been an option.Which probably saved many roommate arguments,Liviathoughtnow.
“Quiet, woman.” Moriko came back bearing a large box. “I was saving this for your Christmas present, but I think you need it now.Openit.”
Livia’s eyes widened when she saw the label on the box. “Oh no, Morry, you can’taffordthis.”
“Shut up andopenit.”
Livia lifted the box lid and shifted the tissue paper. She gave a little gasp. She pulled out the mauve dress and held it upagainsther.
“Put it on,moron.”
Livia slid into it and turned to look at herself in the mirror. The neck came down in a vee-shape—not too low, but low enough to show off her long neck and décolletage. The color picked out all the gold highlights in her golden-brown hair and complimented her large eyes and creamy skin. It hugged her curves and fell to just above her knee. Classy and elegant. “Oh, Morry, I can’t believe this. Thank yousomuch.”
Moriko’s eyes were soft. “I knew as soon as I saw it, it was made for you. Wear your gold locket with it. Here, let me.” She hooked the necklace over her friend’s head. “Lovely. And wear your hair up. Here…” Once again, she took charge a moment later, and Livia’s thick, dark golden hair was swept up into a chignon, with a few strands falling down to soften it. Some subtle gold eyeshadow and a slick rose pink lipstick and Livia couldn’t believe the reflection in the mirror. Was thatreallyher?
“You look incredible,” said Moriko with a self-satisfied grin. “Who’s yourMomma?”
“You are.” Livia laughed and hugged her. “Thankyou,boo.”
“Now, I hear a car door which means Nox is early as always. Probably wants to get in a pre-dinner fuck. Have a lovely time and don’t let anyone look down at you, you know. Do this for theSisterhood.”
Livia grinned. “Looking like this? They wouldn’t dare.” She high-fived her friend as thedoorbellrang.
Livia was flattered by the expression on Nox’s face. “Wow,” he said, his voice cracking. “Wow,Liv.”
She flushed and kissed him, but seconds later Morry came out and stuck a Post-it note just above his groin. Nox laughed as hereadit.
“Livia Chatelaine, do not touch/squeeze/suck/bounce on this untilafterthe dinner party and you no longer need to look perfect. Do not ruin mymasterpiece.”
Livia choked out a shocked snort as Nox howled with laughter. Moriko grinned and closed the door behind her. Nox offered Livhisarm.
“Ready,beautiful?”
He watchedthe couples as they walked into Nox’s huge, welcoming home, already dressed for the meal. The silver service staff moved silently around them with trays of champagne cocktails and amuse-bouche. There were going to be twenty guests in all, mostly couples, but a few were flying solo. But all he was really interested in was his host and his beautiful, wrong-side-of-the-tracks girlfriend. He shot an amused glance at some of the other women and wondered just how bitchy they were, how much they would look down their nose at her. That would be fun, at least. All the while he would be watching the girl, seeing just how smitten Nox was with her. Gauging how devastated he would be by her inevitabledemise.
It would all come down to timing. Murder her too soon, and maybe Nox wouldn’t be as crucified as he needed him to be. He gave another laugh. No, that sap Nox would always take these things hard, no matter how long he’d been fucking her. But he didn’t want to rush this. He’d waited over twenty years to do this to his old friend again. Ariel had been easy—no one’s guard had been up. He still remembered the look of shock, of horror on her lovey face as he plunged the knife into her. The look of confusion, of abject horror. He itched to see thatagain.
