Page 50 of Vicious Games

AURORA

My mascara wand clattered to the marble counter of the vanity table after first hitting the mirror.

“Dammit.” I wadded a handful of tissues and wiped at the mirror, making the black greasy streaks worse. Sighing, I tossed the tissues aside and picked up the wand. Wrapping my left hand around my right wrist, I tried to steady my hand as I applied the mascara.

This past week was catching up with me. My nerves were shot.

Roman had been the absolute perfect boyfriend. No matter how I behaved, no matter how much of a brat I was being, I couldn’t break his calm, conciliatory facade. Gone was the chilling dominance that so enthralled me. He was warm and caring and, worst of all, friendly. He had actually mentioned several times that he wanted me to invite Eleanor over for dinner to apologize for his boorish behavior in sending her away. I had run out of excuses as to why she couldn’t come.

Every day was a fresh hell. Flowers, stuffed animals, chocolates, jewelry. Trips to museums, the theater, concerts. He had even taken to returning in the middle of the day just to have lunch with me. Lunch! Not dirty hot sex against the wall, but actually eating a meal with me and then returning to work.

It was fucking terrifying.

I wanted the old Roman back. The one who kept me guessing as he played his twisted games. The one who would whip off his belt and spank me when I sassed him right before he’d fuck me until I couldn’t walk. The one who was jealous and over-the-top possessive in the way that made a girl feel wanted and treasured in a macabre, bloodthirsty way. Last night as we were strolling through St. James’s Park after dinner, a drunk guy called out that I had a nice ass… and Roman smiled and agreed with him! What. The. Hell.

He was up to something. I was certain of it. Somehow, someway, he had found out about my plans. A leopard didn’t change his spots overnight. This was all just a game, his most toxic and twisted one yet. It was vicious and cruel to be torturing me like this. How dare he act the gentleman now, just as I was planning on leaving him? It had been the hardest decision of my life, but I knew it was for the best. Perhaps after some time apart, I would change my mind. The only way I could leave him now was if I kept the door open to return. I just knew I couldn’t stay. There was no air around Roman, and I desperately needed to take a deep breath.

“Hello, kitten.”

I jumped and dropped the mascara wand again. “Dammit.”

I stared at Roman’s reflection in the mirror just over my shoulder. “Sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t mean to startle you.” He crossed to my vanity and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before he returned to loosening his cufflinks.

I continued to stare at him. There was ice behind his eyes. It wasn’t in my imagination. I could feel it in my bones. This was all an act. He was a cobra swaying to the music, lulling me into a false sense of calm right before he struck.

He shrugged out of his jacket and tossed it onto a nearby chair before pulling out the formal morning suit he had selected to wear today. “Did you see the dress I purchased for you?”

A servant had brought the massive black box with the purple silk ribbon to me after breakfast. When I lifted the lid, nestled among purple tissue paper was a gorgeous cream silk gown with delicate lace embellishment over the bodice. “I did. It seems a bit fancy for an afternoon event,” I hedged. He had mentioned several days ago not to make plans today, but he had stubbornly refused to tell me where we were going or what we were doing.

Roman met my gaze in the mirror and smiled. “Nice try. It’s a surprise. Now hurry. We don’t want to be late.”

My hand shook so badly I balled it into a fist and buried it in the folds of my robe on my lap.

Whatever he had planned, it was happening today.

I needed to get the fuck out of here.

Keeping a side-eye on Roman, I opened the center drawer of my vanity, where I had my phone. I opened the screen, hoping the drawer would shield the glow. Careful to turn off the ringer so Roman wouldn’t hear a notification, I texted ’diamonds’ to Eleanor and held my breath. Several minutes later she sent me a thumbs-up emoji and a text saying two hours.

An arm appeared over my shoulder.

I cried out.

Roman grabbed the phone. “I’ll just take this. Don’t want you tempted to use it where we are going.” His voice was unnaturally light and informal, in complete contrast to the words spoken.

A chill spread through my limbs.

I cleared my throat. Trying to match his tone, I picked up my blush brush and said, “I need my phone, Roman.”

Again, he met my gaze in the mirror. “And you’ll get it back—after today. Now get dressed.”

Not knowing what else to do, I obeyed.

The silk of the dress was cold as it slid over my hips and down my legs. I smoothed it over my abdomen as I stared at my reflection.

Roman walked up behind me and grasped my shoulders. “Beautiful.”

To any outsider, we would have looked like a loving couple sharing a quiet moment. I knew better.

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