Page 46 of The Invite (The Massacre Ball #1)

Nessa

I’ve never met a more mercurial man than Augustus Grayson.

Just as I become used to one side of his, he goes and unveils another. He can be soft and almost sweet sometimes and cold like the Arctic Circle in the next.

I reach downstairs after changing into a loosely fitted crewneck and matching shorts, loving how the cottony material feels against my skin.

I try not to think Augustus bought them thinking of me in mind.

Or that he didn’t miss any essentials in my wardrobe.

I’m just surprised it all fits into my tiny closet.

Perhaps I should work on being more organized.

The first thing I notice as I enter the living room is the delicious aroma of the food, causing my stomach to growl. A reminder that I haven’t eaten anything besides a bowl of cereal since morning.

Augustus is just setting our plates on the low table and flicks his electric gaze on my face. I twirl the ends of my hair, which is still damp. With the way he stormed out after barking the order to dress, I didn’t want to test his patience by spending extra time to blow-dry it.

My skin is still tingling in all the places he caressed me.

It felt nice when he massaged my hair. No one’s ever touched or taken care of me so intimately. I blame it on my lackluster dating history.

Approaching the couch, I take a seat and glance at the plates. My mouth waters. He cooked macaroni and cheese for me. My nose wrinkles at the sight of broccoli beside it.

“You’ll eat it too,” sternly says Augustus, not missing my displeased expression. “It’s not optional.”

We’re caught in a staring contest.

“Fine,” I sigh.

“Good girl.”

I shiver and avert my gaze. Suddenly starving like crazy, I pick up my plate and dig in without waiting for him. I bite back the moan at the scrumptious taste.

God! It’s perfect.

While continuing to eat, I search the cushion and the table.

“What are you looking for?”

Augustus’s curious voice startles me and I lock my eyes with his. Shit. I forget for a second he’s here. He raises an eyebrow, waiting for my answer.

“The remote.” My voice comes out scratchy. “I like to watch TV while eating.”

Nodding, he abandons his plate and rises. Walking across the room, he picks up the remote from the mantle and switches on the television.

Huh. I didn’t know I put it there.

“What channel?”

“Any movie is fine.” Usually, I’d fuss with different channels until something caught my eye, which usually takes several minutes because I’m very picky. I don’t tell Augustus that, though.

He fiddles through the channels and I make him pause at one of my favorite movies playing on the screen.

“Seriously?” he asks, looking over his shoulder with a shocked expression. “ The Godfather ?”

“Al Pacino is a legend.”

A tiny smile curves his mouth as he returns to the couch. But instead of sitting at the opposite end, he settles right next to me. Our thighs brush, making my toes curl.

He taps my knee. “Eat, Nessa.”

It takes me a beat to relax and enjoy the dish. But my mind is elsewhere. Not even my favorite movie is distracting me from Augustus’s presence. Turbulent thoughts chant in my brain on a loop.

He’s my student.

My stalker who breaks into my house every night. Who uploads our intimate videos for his fans, which I’m yet to confront him about.

And here I am having a casual lunch with him, which he cooked.

Have I gone certifiably insane? Is his crazy rubbing off on me?

A clanking of utensils against a plate jars me and I look to my right at Augustus, finding his gaze riveted to me.

My heart thumps faster.

Taking my plate from my hand, which no surprise is also finished, he places it on the table. His large hands span my waist, picking me up like a doll and straddling his lap with my knees resting on either side.

“Best we talk before your pretty little brain explodes from overthinking.”

Damn. Was I thinking that loud? Ignoring how comfortable his hard muscles feel beneath my ass and the urge to grind, I blurt out the first question plaguing me the most. “Why did you come in the morning before I… you know?”

“I told you,” he murmurs, tightening his grip around my waist. “I didn’t like how I left last night.”

His admission doesn’t ease my anxiety now that I have my bearings without sadness and depression mudding my mind. It’s still alarming that he’s only expressing guilt about his behavior yesterday and not for the thousand other unhinged deeds he’s done before it.

In his case, the bad outweighs the good.

And I’m not the kind of woman who’ll put up with it, even though I can’t put a name to what’s happening between us.

Steepling my hands in my lap, I admit, “You scare me, Augustus.”

“I know.” His fingers flex against my sides. “But I can’t take back the things I’ve done to you, Nessa.”

“I’m as much to blame for giving in and not putting up a lot of fight.

Actually no, you’re more guilty.” His lips twitch at that before he goes serious again as I heave a frustrated sigh.

“My problem is more with the fact that you aren’t sorry for doing all those things to me.

You can’t use your desires as an excuse to get away with it and expect me to just get along and let you do whatever you want.

What if you push me too far without realizing it?

I’m the one who’s going to suffer the consequences. ”

“I’ll let you have a safe word.”

My voice rises as I snap. “What good will it do if you just drug me?”

“I won’t without discussing the scene first.”

“So, you plan to do it again?” I ask, aghast.

A wicked light flashes in his pupils and he demands in a husky note, “Unless you let me fuck you whenever and wherever I want, including while you’re asleep.”

There isn't a hint of shame, which should be bothersome, but Augustus is too confident. I’m not one to judge anyone for their dark desires because the past weeks have taught me that I’m cut from the same cloth.

Nevertheless, Augustus’s isn’t a filthy fantasy but far too extreme. It’s ten times more depraved and dangerous craving to claim someone in their most vulnerable state.

Despite it, a thrill shoots straight to my core, igniting the need to squeeze my thighs together. I think my reaction is scarier and problematic at the fact that even a small part of me wants to submit to him.

“How do I believe this isn’t a trick?” I counter.

“Because I do not lie.” His gaze darkens as if he loathes having to say it out loud.

Trailing his palm up my spine, he grabs the back of my neck.

“I like control in every aspect of my life, especially when I’m fucking.

I like it rough and taboo with urges that would usually send a girl running.

Sex before you was nothing but a release for me.

Then you came along. You ran but you also let me catch you and didn’t fear me.

You danced with the devil and begged for more.

Tell me I’m wrong that you didn’t love letting me have complete control over you and I’ll walk out of your life. ”

This is my chance.

I should be leaping at it because I know he means it.

My lips can’t form a lie, though, under the intensity of his stare, and I blurt out the truth. “You’re not wrong.”

“Then say yes and tell me your safe word.”

“On one condition.”

“Name it.”

“I get to decide the first time you claim me.”

He freezes, rendered stunned, and I almost smile. I bet he didn’t see that coming. He recovers fast and his features become predatory. His lips part to reply but I press a finger against them.

“I’m not finished.” His eyes narrow as I trail my hand lower to caress his smooth jawline and rest it there.

“If you want me to relinquish all the power over my body to you, then you’ll sacrifice some of your control too, Augustus.

You say you worship me, then prove it. No games, no chase, no cameras, and no drugs. Just you and me.”

“You want to change the stakes between us?” he rasps, roaming his fingers down and slipping under my top to possessively stroke my skin.

“Yes. You’ll stop breaking into my house. Quit stalking me. You’ll delete the recordings you’ve made of us, remove the one you uploaded for your fans, and stop the blackmailing.”

He pinches me punishingly, and taunts, “Sounds like more than one condition, little prey.”

I stifle a moaning gasp, concentrating on negotiating. “It’s my terms or nothing.”

“Nobody has seen the videos of us.”

“What?” My mouth falls open. “But I saw it online.”

“It was a private link only for you.”

“You fooled me?” Relief washes over me and I’m surprised he did that. It’s still diabolical what he did.

A battle ensues in his expression as he admits, “I wanted to push you away by making you hate me, but I was only lying to myself.”

“Are you saying you don’t want me to hate you?” I whisper ever so slowly. It feels unreal.

“You hating me is inevitable. The difference is I’m not going to actively go out of my way to make it happen,” he utters with conviction. Before I can retort, he rasps, “So, will you be mine if I agree to your terms?”

It’s such a loaded question. The answer is not so simple. It’s like I’m replacing one vice with another. Either way, an addiction is predestined.

Perhaps he is a devil.

With every low husky word, I’m becoming hypnotized and willingly falling into his lair. No good comes out of making a deal with the devil. The only saving grace is that this time, the rules will be mine.

Augustus wants me too much to back out now.

It’s in the potent lust swirling in his sinister eyes.

“I’ll be yours,” I whisper, staring at him.

I’m giving him what he’s wanted all along.

My utter surrender.

My devotion.

Serving him as his loyal little demon.

Time stands still as our gazes remain locked on each other. I hold my breath, waiting for his answer. It’s a gamble I’ve taken. Because there’s nothing I can do if he says no. I’m solely at his mercy.

His jaw shifts underneath my palm as he grits out, “Your safe word, Nessa.”

I swallow at the true meaning of those words.

I just sold my soul to the devil.

“Hell,” I utter, seemingly appropriate to choose it as a safe word.

Gripping my waist in both hands, he yanks me forward until I rest my forearms on the back of the couch. My hair makes a curtain around us as we share the same air.

Raw need bleeds into his rough voice as he demands, “When do I claim you?”

“Now.”