Page 19 of The Invite (The Massacre Ball #1)

Nessa

My alarm goes off, waking me up.

Rubbing my eyes, I sluggishly sit up and throw the covers off. A shiver runs down my body at lightning speed. At the sudden chilliness, I look down in shock at my nakedness. Huh, I never go to sleep in thenude.

So how …

I’m immediately assaulted with the memories of the previous night.

The pleasant evening with Ace.

Being ambushed by Augustus.

Then receiving a pleasurable punishment while staring down a staircase, seconds away from falling badly. Yet I can’t deny the threat of it only added to the thrill and the lust coursing through my limbs.

It shouldn’t have made me come as hard as it did.

Honestly, a normal person wouldn’t have come at all. They would’ve fought or chosen to trip rather than let their stalker-slash-tormentor go down on them. Not once. twice. But three times!

I can’t imagine just how obsessed or smug he’d be if he knew no one’s ever gone down on me. That he’s the first man to taste my pussy. And boy, did he. So thoroughly and wickedly.

It happened so fast that I had no chance to become nervous and worry if I felt good to him. My doubts dissolved from the sounds he made. His words. In the way he only used his tongue as though he didn’t want to miss a single drop of my arousal.

The fourth doesn’t count because he ruthlessly forced it out of me.

It had sent me spiraling into another dimension because of his aggression and the savage scorn in his eyes. I shouldn’t have bad-mouthed him but I couldn’t help myself. For some toxic reason, he brings out my feistiness.

It’s the only tool in my arsenal. Not using it will force me to accept that I’m completely powerless against him. I don’t want to admit that he’s my entire world, as he arrogantly boasted. That there is no end to his madness.

I don’t want to belong to him.

So, how do I stop him?

I still don’t know the mystery of how Augustus got into my home. What secret entrance does he know that I don’t? Or an underground tunnel, maybe? A magical key that opens all the doors and the realms? What the heck is it?

Until I figure it out, I’m unsafe in my own home.

My alarm goes off again and I glance at the time. Shit. I’ll be late if I don’t move. Climbing down from the bed, I rush into my closet and grab a dark gray pencil skirt and my red blouse with the puffy sleeves. Laying them out on the mattress, I dash to the bathroom for a quick shower.

Inside, my feet screech to a halt when I see my reflection over the vanity. I gasp at the dark imprints on my waist, hips, and inner thighs. They taunt me for acting like a hussy. For not having the willpower to say no to my monster.

The marks look dark and angry.

Much like the man himself.

Unable to resist, I trace them and my fingers feel small against his impressions. Augustus may be in high school but you cannot tell from gazing at him. He’s extremely tall and his body is a tempting work of art. Lean but muscular and solid everywhere.

It’s why I was so flabbergasted when I saw him in my class as a student.

He isn’t a minor but what’s happening between us is still wrong and could destroy my reputation. I’m the only one who comes looking out like a predator if it ever got out. A fact thrown in my face by Augustus too.

I don’t want to become the topic of fresh gossip in the town. It’s bad enough that I’m one in the school. Something I’ll have to face today.

Dropping my hand from my thigh, I walk into the glass shower stall and turn on the water until the warm spray drenches me in seconds. The heat on my skin is welcoming and helps soothe my sore muscles.

As I rub and soap up my body, my thoughts drift to Augustus. Is it weird that I haven’t once seen him naked? I haven't even so much as glimpsed his arms since he’s always wearing full-sleeved shirts or hoodies.

Is he hiding something?

Speaking of hiding, has he noticed the stab scar on my lower stomach? I’m overridden with adrenaline and fear when his hands are on me to pay attention to anything else.

Augustus is shrewd and perceptive. No way he would’ve missed my scar.

What does he think? Is he intrigued? Wondering about the sob story behind it? Most importantly, why do I care?

I have enough problems without having him look into my past.

After rinsing off the soap, I snatch the towel from the hook and dry myself off. I hurry to blow-dry my hair and quickly wear my outfit. A touch of makeup and I’m ready on time. Leaving the bed unmade, I leave my room.

Ace must be on his way.

The clothes Augustus tore off my body are nowhere to be found on the first floor. Until I reach downstairs and see them neatly folded and piled on my couch.

Augustus is so… weird.

What kind of stalker tidies up their stalkee’s house after scaring the bejesus out of them?

More like cleaning up the scene of the crime.

He’s also a stone-cold killer. He admitted so himself. In the moment, it rocked me to my core. Especially with the normal tone he confessed it. No remorse. No emotion. Just a cold truth.

One thing I’ve learned in my short experience with him is that his threats aren’t idle.

If he went off the rails over a simple and friendly peck from Ace, what the fuck is he going to do after he finds out I’m taking a ride to school with him for the foreseeable future?

How do I stop him from finding out?

A headache begins to form in my temples at the chaos my life has become lately.

On the top of the clothes pile, something else catches my eye. A familiar sheet of paper. Afraid as if it’ll bite me, I hesitantly pick it up. When I turn it over, I’m gazing down at a drawing of myself.

I’m lying naked from thewaist above on the floor while a dark silhouette is between my thighs right over my center. My head isthrown back with my hair spread out in a halo with my eyes squeezed shut, and my mouth is parted on a pleasured scream.

The shaded hand of the figure molds to one of my breasts. I don’t miss the veiled symbolism of the man being a shadow. That’s who my masked monster—Augustus—is to me. A devil reining me in from the shadows.

The rest of the details are uncanny. Augustus has captured the high ceilings of my house, andthe staircase right behind my head. How I’m slightly hanging off it.

It’s like I’m reliving the scene all over again but through his eyes.

And what he sees isn’t a girl scared for her life.

It’s a girl dancing with the devil and loving it to the fullest.

Putting the paper back in its place, I push the image out of my head. I refuse to believe I remotely desire him. He’s toying with my mind. That’s all.

In the kitchen, I make myself a cup of coffee before going to the living room. My phone sits on the low table and I pick it up.

ACE: I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.

It was sent ten minutes ago.

I scurry to pack my purse, filling it with my notes, books, and some cash. Just as I’m finishing, there’s a knock on my door.

Is he early?

I freeze while wondering if it’s Augustus. No, his highness wouldn’t knock. Chivalry or manners aren’t in his vocabulary.

Hiking my purse on my shoulder, I reach down the hallway and open the door. Ace’s sculpted bulk fills my doorway. His hair iswavy from the wind and the rest of him is covered in formal clothes. Today, he’s wearing a dark blue tie that complements his soulful eyes.

“Morning, Nessa,” he says with a charming smile.

“Good morning, Ace,” I reply, nervously glancing behind him for signs of Augustus. I glance back at Ace before he notices. “Let me lock up my house and then we can leave.”

“Give me your purse, I’ll put it in my car while you finish,” he offers.

With a grateful smile, I pass him my purse. While he struts to his car, I grab my keys and lock my house, which is pointless, really. I delude myself into believing it makes a difference.

I meet Ace near his car and he opens the passenger door like a gentleman. I climb inside and put on my seat belt as he rounds the hood. One hand rests on the wheel and the other on the stick shift.

“Did you have a good night's sleep?” he casually asks, turning on the ignition and pushing the engine into first gear.

My heart blips and I brush my cheek with my palm to hide the flush. “Yeah, I did. And you?”

It’s not a lie. I was too exhausted to stay awake. As soon as the door shut, signaling Augustus's departure, I fell into a slumber.

“Me too,” answers Ace, smoothly turning onto the highway. “Are you nervous about today?”

“A little.”

“Do you wanna know the best way to beat gossip?”

I curiously ask, “What?”

“Give something more interesting to talk about.”

“How do I do that? I don’t have anything new for them to gossip about.” I heave a sigh. “I barely know anyone. And is it even appropriate to do that with my students?”

“No, I didn’t mean togive them new gossip.” Ace chuckles lightly, and says, “Instead of giving a boring class from the syllabus, surprise them with a new assignment or trending topic. Something that will highly appeal to them.”

I think about his suggestions and it’s actually not bad. “Do you have any suggestions?”

Ace mulls over, rubbing his jaw, before replying, “It’s the season of The Massacre Ball, which is a big deal around here. Ask what attracts them to it. Trust me, the last thing they’ll be thinking about is what happened last week.”

Listening to him, I’m convinced I should go ahead with his suggestion. Except, the topic I have in mind is something else, but it’s similar. A topic I’m intrigued by myself. I’d love to hear what others think too.

The rest of the ride passes by in peaceful silence. The town is rustic andquaint with smooth roads and beautiful weather. I sit up straight when I catch something in the distance.

“Is that a castle?” I gasp, staring at the gothic monstrosity.

“Oh yeah,” answers Ace.

“Does someone live there?”

“No.”

“Is it open to the public? Do they allow tours?”