Page 61 of Sinister Games

CHAPTER19

RICHARD

Truth is the key to a believable lie.

Her beautiful, expressive face had run through the gamut of emotions since entering my office; from fear, to confusion, to anger, now back to confusion. Being able to tell precisely what she was feeling just by looking into those stunning emerald eyes of hers was one of the things I adored about her… that and her intelligence.

It was a false assumption that only those of low intelligence could be manipulated. Everyone assumed that a person of intelligence would think through the issue and see right through the lie, but that wasn’t the case. An intelligent person was far more likely to overthink, turning it over and over in their head, and second-guess the issue, thereby falling into the hands of the manipulator.

A person of lower intelligence would have gone with their gut and just called me a bastard liar.

Not my Elizabeth.

There was just enough truth to my lies to have her second-guessing her own recollection.

It really was a fascinating thing to behold.

The very moment you’ve convinced a person to doubt their own mind.

The power of it was exhilarating, not unlike sex.

Once your truth became theirs, you had them in your power.

I continued to circle around her still form. Marking my territory as I played inside her mind. Leaning in close, I whispered into her ear, “Yes, games, my love, like that time in the garden. Wasn’t it more exciting, more thrilling, to think you were baring your ass and being forced to come by a stranger as opposed to a man you knew and loved?”

Her eyes widened, showing me I had hit my mark. Her gamine face was like a book. It was no secret the next day she had probably chastised herself over her wanton behavior with a man she barely knew, even as she reluctantly admitted it was one of the best orgasms of her life.

Illicit, forbidden acts with a touch of pain always led to more explosive orgasms.

Her fingers speared through her locks, tousling them. “This doesn’t make any sense.”

I reached for her.

Jerking her shoulders away from me, she backed up, eyes wild. “Don’t touch me.”

“Elizabeth.”

Staggering to the doors, she rattled the knobs. Then searched for the key. “Unlock the door.”

“No.” Reaching up, I loosened the Windsor knot on my tie and pulled it through the collar before releasing the top two buttons.

“I want to get out of here! I can’t breathe in here.”

“No.” Lifting my arm, I removed one cuff link, then the other.

Elizabeth pounded on the doors with both fists. “Someone open this door!”

“There’s no one to hear you.” Flipping the cuffs up, I rolled the sleeves high on my forearms.

Elizabeth rattled the knob again. “Give me the key.”

“No.” I said, staying deceptively calm.

“Stop saying no! I have to get out of here.” Her gaze frantically darted about the room.

“You’re not going anywhere. Your place is with me.”

Curling her arms over her head, she leaned against the door and sank down to the floor. “I’m so confused.”

---