I'm rendered speechless, left staring at him with a guilty expression.
"Come with me, toy."
"No, I..." I bite my lower lip. "I'm sorry. I'll be good, I promise."
"Of course you'll be good," he smirks. "That wasn't even a question. Now come on. I'll just have to punish you during what I have planned."
"But I... I already got ready for bed."
"So?"
"So..." I touch my hands to my face self-consciously. "I look awful."
"Nonsense. Come on." He opens the door. Shadows line the hallway and my heart skips a beat at the promise of something dark and tantalizing. "I've got another distraction for you, toy. I think you might like it..."
18
Dexter
I take her hand and lead her down the hallway.
Anders is off for the night and the ground floor of the house has been transformed. Minnie is staying with Araminta for the night, and Pandora is clueless to what's going to happen.
For the first time in a year, I feel myself growing genuinely excited. Of course the pain of Reign being gone is still there. But it feels as if I might be able to think of something else, if only for one night.
"What's happening?" Pandora whispers as I lead her down the hallway. Dim lighting follows our path. "I'm scared, Dex."
"Don't worry." I knock on a door and a woman with a wide smile opens. I hand Pandora over to her. "They'll take care of you, get you ready."
"Dex?" Her bottom lip is trembling and I feel sick pleasure at the sight of fear on her pretty face.
"You'll be okay." I smirk. "Whatever you think will happen won't, at least not in there."
That won't come until later, I add in my mind, fighting the self-satisfied smile off my face as she nods with relief. The woman leads her into the salon while I take the stairs to the main hall.
Before the entrance, a man with a gold masquerade mask hands me one to use myself. It's one I've picked especially for this - a beautiful, hand-painted Venetian mask in shades of blue, white and gold. I put it on, ensuring nobody will recognize me in the room before walking into the hall.
It looks like it used to in the good old times, when Mom and Dad were still here. They'd host lavish parties for the town's richest inhabitants, and I was allowed to attend with the other kids. Memories of Lily Anna usually sting in this place, but tonight, I'm not thinking about her.
My mind is focused solely on Pandora. The girl I once thought I hated has firmly cemented herself in the front of my mind.
I'm always thinking of her. Can't help but.
I pass through the banquet hall like an unseen shadow. It's easy to get lost amidst the droves of people we've invited. People from Prep, their older siblings. Everyone's here. And everyone's going to see Pandora turned into a toy tonight.
Of course, it's a gentlemen's event. No women allowed. Not for what we want to do to her.
I can't fucking wait for it.
Time passes too slowly, but then the lights finally give me the signal I've been waiting for. They dim even further. Whispers take over the guests, gossip passes around from one ear to the next.
And then the spotlight goes to the entrance, and there she is.
My beautiful toy, the only guest without a mask, shimmering in a dress of liquid gold that brings out the amber flecks in Pandora's eyes. She glows brighter than ever, and I need no further confirmation - I know then and there I love her, without shame.
That's why I have to hurt her.
My hands form fists as she stares at the crowd gathered in her honor. I don't know whether she'll recognize me. Whether I'm foolish hoping she'll be able to do so in such a big crowd. But fuck, I want her to. I want to know her body craves mine, too. I'll work on convincing her mind later. One way or another, though, she'll be mine.