Lust. I remembered that sin. It was part of what I had committed when he had last come here, because I had lusted for blood and death. At the moment, I lusted for him.
I wanted to touch myself again, something I hadn’t wanted to do since that night. I really did. I wanted to feel that emotion again, that wave of absolute bliss, and I wanted him to see it. I wanted him to be so proud of how well I followed his directions. Which was strange because I hadn’t cared about making anyone proud since the day I picked my name, disappointing my mom with my choice.
He gestured towards the gift. “Your gift for being so good for me.”
My stomach warmed at his words, my eyes falling to the box. It was beautiful. Red with black stripes and a big black bow on top.
I glanced back to him, looking over him quickly, taking in as much as I could.
He was wearing all black. A black shiny vest over a black long-sleeved shirt with a black tie tucked in, and black pants with his leather boots.
He looked very handsome. So handsome that it made those electric butterflies flutter even more.
My hands flexed at my side, itching to touch something just as my eyes found a small silver chain clipped on his vest, falling slightly and disappearing into his vest pocket.
“My watch,” he explained, pulling it out of that very pocket.
My eyes widened at the shimmer of the silver he brought out. It was circular and had beautiful designs etched into the metal surface. It fit in the center of his palm perfectly.
I stepped closer to him just as he hit a button at the top, the familiar click sounding. It opened, revealing a beautiful clock face, filled with moving gears and three little hands that were as black as night.
I instantly stepped up next to him, watching the secondhand tick tick tick. It was beautiful. It had to be the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, the thing that beat in time with my heart.
Tick tock.
Tick tock.
Tick—
He closed it, pulling me from my reverie.
I blinked once and immediately stepped back, realizing what I had done. My chin dipped, my hands found each other at myhip, my face burned hot. I had crossed too many lines. Would his punishment be like Thomas’?
“Your wonder is allowed, little sinner,” he purred. “Your present.”
I swallowed, my hesitation burning through me, warning me not to do it. But that wasn’t my voice, it wastheirs. I could look up, he had said as much.
Still, it took me a second longer to break through the spell, lifting my eyes back to the present.
I glanced at his chest—seeing the chain back in place—as I stepped up to the table again, taking in the box. It was so beautiful, so perfect.
I finally reached out and took the top off, peeking inside to find a bag filled with colorful paper on one side, and on the other, many bottles of varying sizes, that hairbrush, and a new scrub brush. My eyes widened, my heart leaping in my chest, my stomach buzzing.
I signed ‘thank you’ several times while reaching in with my other hand, picking up one of the larger bottles and finally opening it to smell what was inside.
The citrus and sea soap from last week! I loved the scent, it was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.
“It’s shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and the smallest one is for your face,” he explained as I pulled each one out. “That one,” he gestured towards the diamond shaped bottle, “is perfume.”
Perfume?
I leaned back, examining the bottle carefully. It was beautiful, but what was perfume?
“Take the lid off,” he told me, “spray it on your wrist and either side of your neck. You rub your wrists together when you’re done.”
I pulled the lid off and held out my other wrist, spraying the perfume gently before spraying each side of my neck, the scent hitting me instantly.
I inhaled deeply, my eyes falling shut. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever smelled.
