Page 29 of Lust

The bedroom window is near the head of my bed, and I move the mirror just right so that anyone who might happen to look through the window can see between my spread legs. The metal feels cold against my clit, making me gasp again, this time purely out of pleasure. I close my eyes and lose myself in the sensation.

It’s not until I open my eyes again and look directly into the mirror that I notice the package. Wrapped in the same tissue paper and tied with the same red ribbon as usual, it’s wedged on my windowsill, held in place by a small branch from a bush outside.

My heart thunders as I open the window and bring it inside. The package is round, rather heavy, and there’s a sound of sloshing liquid. A jar of something special for the bath? I tear open the paper.

It’s a jar, all right. A jar of pickles.

What the fuck?

I search through the tissue paper for something else, some explanation.

Another handwritten note drifts to the floor.

You were robbed. You were a bigger Dill than anyone else last night, and you always will be.

My heart stops beating.He was there?My mind scans back over every face from last night. Did anyone from another store seem particularly interested in my necklace? Could it be Gary?! But he barely seemed to notice the necklace. Only seemed interested in grabbing my ass.

Setting the jar on my bedside table, I get back into position. Whoever gave me this gift was clearly watching me last night. If they happen to be watching now, they’ve earned a show. And they’re about to get one.

Chapter 13

December 23rd

Aaron

WhenRubygetshomethe day before Christmas Eve, it’s already completely dark out, a sprinkling of lonely stars glittering in the moonless city sky. After going in at eight in the morning to restock shelves stripped bare by frantic holiday shoppers, I imagine she must be exhausted. Thank God Brent’s not home. Ever since he discovered the diamond necklace, he’s been checking the mailbox religiously, so I’ve had to get creative with where I leave her presents.

It’s been hard not to shower her with jewels, but I’ve managed to hold back. Just the pair of diamond earrings that I tucked onto her windowsill to go with her necklace. And a platinum bracelet with a little microphone charm that I tucked into the branches of the bush outside her window. And the ruby ring. That one was a bit trickier: I used a Slim Jim to get into her car one night and tied it to the steering wheel.

Her neighborhood watch group is surprisingly lax. They didn’t notice me going into her car, and they didn’t notice me entering the house to leave remote controlled vibrating panties in her underwear drawer and a pair of very cozy sheepskin slippers at the foot of her bed.

The brand new espresso machine was arguably the most complicated. I had to let myself in and then set it up on the kitchen counter. But I’ll want a cappuccino after I spend the night, so it will be worth it. Ruby explained to her husband that she’s testing a new model from the store, and he didn’t bat an eye. All he seemed to care about was enjoying a double shot. Unfortunately, not the kind I’d like to give him, right between the eyes.

But luckily he isn’t home this evening, because I left today’s gift in the fridge. If that asshole had found it first, I might have had to speed up my extermination plan.

As usual, Ruby goes straight to the kitchen when she gets home to start making dinner. No clear plan today, though. She just stares into the fridge as though searching for inspiration. It takes a full minute before she even notices the little brown package. Once she does, she takes it out, looks around, closes the refrigerator door, and goes to the table. The camera has a side view, so I can’t read her face while she opens it. I just see her shoulder shake, and then she clutches the vanilla pudding cup to her chest.

A strange wave of emotion overcomes me, too. She might as well be sitting right next to me, I feel so connected to her at that moment.

She stands up, goes to the drawer, gets a spoon, then walks back to her room, locks the door and sits down on her bed.

I think she found the camera in her mirror the other day. She used to make sure the window had a view while she appreciated my gifts, but lately she’s focused her attention on the mirror. Today is no exception. She faces the mirror and slowly peels back the cover of the pudding cup, then slides her spoon across the surface until it’s full of gooey goodness.

Plump lips close around the metal of the spoon, and every ounce of blood in my body surges to my cock. I tell myself I’m not going to jerk off to a woman eating pudding, but by the time she scrapes the last morsel from the bottom of the cup, I’m pumping frantically, and when she leans forward after her last bite and licks her lips, I’m done for. A mess of pleasure explodes over the rumpled leg of my jeans. Holy fuck. If I don’t have this woman soon, I will literally expire.

Chapter 14

December 24th

Ruby

Manuelscruncheshisnosewhen I tell him about the pudding cups.

“Santa’s either running out of ideas, or he’s trying to tell you he likes to play with his food.” He winks. “Let’s see if he adds some whipped cream and cherries to the mix.”

What I don’t tell him, though, is that I think the pudding means something else altogether; that I believe this present tells me more about Santa’s identity than his sexual proclivities. Sure, it could have come from anyone who went to Hawk Ridge, or even just someone who knew that’s where I went to school. But it could also be from the boy who used to watch me eat my pudding for dessert every day. The boy who seemed to want to watch a whole lot more. The boy who happens to be a billionaire.

“I guess we’ll see.” I smile and shrug, but my heart leaps in wild anticipation.

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