Page 173 of Piggy

“I want one,” he repeats. “With you. Do you want to be the mother of my children?”

I hesitate, breath quick. Then, “Yes. God, yes!”

A flash of happiness lights his face. “Good. Because I swapped your birth control with placebos.”

My mouth drops. “What!”

He smirks. “Kidding.”

“You’re insane.”

“You like me this way.”

I swallow, then tap my chin. “Well... I do, but I also want to tieyouup again.”

His brows pinch. “No.”

“I want to do it, though! Like before.”

He stares. Long. Quiet. Then shakes his head.

“Come on,” I whisper.

I won’t give in. So louder, I shout, “It’s be fun! One second!”

I slide off the counter and head for the closet, opening the box I stashed there days ago.

Inside: a mask, a coil of rope, a knife.

I pull them out and dress the part. Mask on. Shirt off. Bra unclasped. Pants kicked away until I’m bare and ready... there, perfect.

When I return to the kitchen, rope in one hand, knife in the other, I stand tall and command, “Hands behind your back, prisoner.”

Grayson smirks for just a second, his gaze smoldering with that quiet fire he keeps just behind his eyes.

I point the blade. “I saidnow.”

He tilts his head, slow and predatory. “You have blood on your knee.”

“What?” I glance down, studying it. “Hey... There’s no blood—”

I look up.

Grayson’s gone.

Chapter 51

Charlotte

“Wha—” I say.

I peek over my shoulder. Turn around. “Babe? Where are you?”

I creep forward, surveying all around, flipping on more lights as I advance. “This isn’t funny,” I whine. “I’msupposed to be the bad guy.”

The light behind me clicks off.

I spin.