Page 55 of The Invite (The Massacre Ball #1)

Nessa

A short and bulky man in a leather cut waits for us behind a long wooden counter. He flicks his goatee at Augustus in greeting. “Grayson.”

I’m stunned they know each other.

His impassive gaze cuts to mine and he sizes me up.

“Dan,” acknowledges Augustus, slinging his arm around my shoulders protectively. Or in a show of ownership. Who knows? Either way, it makes my chest burst with warmth. Without wasting time with small talk, he demands, “Is it ready?”

The man nods and bends to present whatever it is Augustus preordered. I’m buzzing from head to toe with curiosity. When Dan straightens and sets down the object, my lips part on a rough inhale.

The prettiest and sexiest helmet in a mix of black and burgundy steals my breath away as I stare at it wide-eyed. Sleek, shiny, and luxurious. The style matches the one Augustus has but this one is clearly feminine and smaller than his.

I want to touch it so badly.

Did Augustus buy it for his sister?

Like a wave, his earlier words swim to the forefront and my spine snaps straight. He better not have purchased this for me.

“Take a closer look. The design and size are exactly as you requested.”

Holy smokes! Is that custom-made? If so, then it must be expensive. A more pressing question is, when did he place the order?

I’m so busy having an inner conversation with myself that I don’t notice my feet are moving, propelled by Augustus’s hand on my lower back, until we’re standing at the counter.

From up close, I notice the tiny details on the helmet. Along the edge at the bottom, a beautiful butterfly mask is painted, with the outer edges outlined in silver chrome. A two-letter initial is carved beside it.

LP.

It takes me less than a nanosecond to register what it stands for.

Little Prey .

The air gets stuck in my throat and I’m short of words.

“Face me,” commands Augustus as he picks it up and steps closer.

I obey him, tilting my head back. His chest pressing against mine, he carefully places the helmet over my head until darkness swallows my vision.

It fits perfectly.

I even love the soft feel inside.

Our eyes connect when he slides the visor up. “Comfortable?”

Still locked in a trance, I simply nod. I know I should say something. Tell him not to purchase this. What am I going to do with it when we eventually separate? His sketches will be enough of a reminder, I don’t need this.

As if he can read my thoughts, he removes the helmet, and declares, “We’re buying this.”

“But—”

“Do you like it?” he asks instead. He already knows the answer and my expression says it too. Caressing my jaw, he states. “It’s for your safety too, Ness. If you’re sitting on my bike, you’re damn well wearing a helmet. Got it?”

His thoughtfulness makes my heart race. “Okay.”

Turning to Dan, who had busied himself checking receipts, Augustus tells him, “Gonna check out a couple more things.”

“Take your time,” he grunts without glancing up. “Got nowhere to be.”

“What else do we need?” I whisper to Augustus.

“A jacket for you.”

I rear back and press my heels into the floor as he tries tugging me in the direction of the clothing section. I don’t dare peer toward it, betting something will catch my eye. He halts and grumbles in exasperation, “I swear, you’re the first woman who has a problem with receiving gifts.”

“Because it’s nonstop,” I retort. Because it’s stirring confusing feelings inside me. “And you should do it for your actual future girlfriend. Not someone you’re obsessed with for the time being.”

“Then may I advise you to rein in your sassy tongue because it’s making me downright feral for you.” With that scary warning, he plucks me off the ground and carries me to the other side of the pristine shop. “As for arguing with me, I’m going to buy you two.”

“You wouldn’t,” I gasp.

Setting me in front of the hoodies and jackets section, he swipes through them and pulls out a small-sized brown leather biker jacket. It’s simple and formfitting. “Put it on,” commands Augustus, leaving no room for debate.

I discreetly try reading the price tag as I take it from him.

“Ness,” he growls low.

Heat rises to my cheeks, I focus on removing his jacket with trembling fingers before sliding the new one on. His hand lifts my ponytail so it doesn’t get caught. I smooth my palms down the front and catch my reflection in the floor-length mirror in the corner.

Confidence floods my bloodstream as I feel sexy for the first time. The jeans complement the jacket. It fits me like a glove and ends right above my waist.

“Fuck… you’re gorgeous.”

I flick my gaze to Augustus’s angular face, dark with lust, in the mirror. Drawing me closer with his grip on my hair, he rasps a filthy promise, “I can’t wait to have you ride my cock in nothing but this.”

I shiver under the wave of desire that pools between my legs.

Leaving me bereft, he straightens and yanks another piece. A cropped one in black with a belted waist and cuffs. I instantly fall in love, even though a trickle of guilt slips through the cracks that I shouldn’t let him spend so much money on me.

Strong fingers grip my chin and tilt it up until I’m staring into the slightly softened gaze of my handsome monster. “Stop worrying. I like expensive shit and my girlfriend will have them too.”

His what?

If he wasn’t cupping my jaw, it would’ve dropped. My heart is beating so hard that I feel dizzy, and I whisper, “Girlfriend?”

“If putting a label lets me buy you things in peace, so be it.”

“I didn’t… That’s not… I…” He shushes me with a thumb against my stammering mouth.

“I get that money is important and can also be gone in the blink of an eye. But ultimately, I can’t take it with me to the grave.

So, I’m going to enjoy it while I can. Fulfilling your needs, physical or otherwise, brings me a sense of satisfaction that I haven’t felt before.

” His brows draw together as if it’s a puzzle to him too.

“All I know is I want more of it. So, give up arguing ’cause you aren’t going to win. Now, try this on.”

His words wash over me and all my protests slip away. This—having someone take care of my needs—is a new experience for me too. I’ve only ever been with one guy, who I liked, but before it could blossom into a relationship, it ended tragically.

As for my parents, they were affectionate, but only on occasions. Most times, it felt like I had to earn their praise, and for the longest time, I did. I would see other families around me and wish for the same attention. Except, it came at a steep cost. The price of which I’m still paying.

Compartmentalizing these thoughts, I stare at Augustus after putting on the cropped jacket. His gaze roams down the length of my body, his tongue peeking out to lick the other side of his mouth. When they trail back up to my face, the lust has taken permanent residence on his sinful features.

“This one was made for you.”

I can’t look away from him even as I furiously blush. I’ve been doing it a lot today. Never in my wildest dreams did I think it’d be because of this brooding and mysterious psychopath.

“Keep it on,” he says, taking my elbow and walking to the front desk. Passing me my brand-new helmet, he orders, “Wait for me outside.”

I exit the store and walk to his bike. He doesn’t take long and returns after a few minutes, pocketing his wallet.

The thin shirt he’s wearing outlines his abs while his biceps flex as he slides his jacket on.

Distracted by his physique, I notice a little too late that he’s not carrying any bag with the first leather jacket I tried on.

Oh good! Maybe he changed his mind about buying two.

“Wipe that look off your face, Ness,” he says, well-versed in reading my mind. “Dan’s going to deliver it tomorrow at your house.”

“Never thought you’d be the type to give a girl so many nicknames.” It hasn’t escaped my notice how he’s stopped calling me Nessa the more we spend time together. Almost like he wants to erase any form of space between us.

If that’s his goal, he’s succeeding.

“Not a girl, you ,” he quips. Invading my personal space, he draws the lapels of my jacket together and zips it up. Inching his hand to the hem, he skims it where my waistband meets it. My pulse kicks up when he swiftly unbuttons my jeans.

I grab his wrist, and whisper, “What are you doing?”

“Making you come.”

I nervously glance at the closed door of the shop over his shoulder, and half-heartedly protest, “Dan will see.”

“Let him.” His fingers delve inside my panties, which are embarrassingly soaked. Soft lips touch my forehead as he feels my arousal, and taunts, “My girlfriend needs to come, doesn’t she? So fucking wet.”

Rotating his thumb around my clit, he gently fills my pussy with a single digit up to the knuckle. My knees buckle when he caresses my inner muscles in a come-hither motion. Keeping the same slow rhythm, he thrusts repeatedly until I’m fully leaning on him.

“Do you love it when I finger you nice and slow, little prey?”

I moan my answer, clutching his big shoulders and riding his hand. I’m so slippery that wet noises pierce the empty silence on the street. My inhibitions are gone with every flick of his wrist.

“Come before I lose my mind and fuck you right here,” he roughly barks in my ear. The urgency in his tone causes the knot in my belly to unfurl and erupt into a powerful climax.

“August,” I cry out, squeezing his fingers inside.

He tucks my head against his chest as I convulse and jerk in his hold until the final wave passes. I slump against him. An aftershock goes through me when he pulls out his finger. Tilting my face, I watch him raise it to his mouth and suck.

My pussy clenches at the filthy action.

Letting it go with a pop, he smirks. “I can concentrate on riding now.” Buttoning my fly, he leans to the side to grab my helmet but doesn’t immediately slide it on. “Wanna go home?”

I should say yes, but I blurt out, “No.”