I reach my bedroom and smile. Showtime. Here we go…
I light the candles and inhale their strong scent. By the time Kaiser comes upstairs, their incense will permeate the air.
I strip naked and rinse off. When I’m done with my shower, I go through my ritual of oiling my body for him. It’s my own recipe. I even labeled it as a love potion—my idea of a joke. The label is funny, but the contents are serious. And they’re working.
Kaiser is obsessed with me. He’s angry with me right now, but he would never hurt me. He wants me too much.
We’re locked in a struggle. It’s a race: will he bend me to his will? Or will I trap him first?
Who will win? Who will figure it out first and gain the upper hand?
What else has he figured out?
By the time I’m done preparing, I’m quivering with horniness. I’m naked like he asked, but I also put on a sexy robe that I want to wear. It’s silky with a sash.
I settle into bed and draw it around me, imagining how he’ll remove it later.
Will he unwrap me like a present? Or rip it off?
Either way, I’ll love it.
I’m excited, but now that I’m in bed, my head feels heavy. The bed feels so soft and comfortable, so I stretch out and relax. I don’t need a nap, but it would be good to conserve my energy.
I’ll just close my eyes for a minute…
When I come to, I feel like I’ve been asleep for hours. The room is hazy with smoke. Thick with incense. The musk coats my face and tongue.
I sit up. How long have I been out? I can’t believe I fell asleep on the most exciting night of my life.
“Bella,” Kaiser murmurs. He’s somewhere in the room, but I can’t see him.
His voice is muffled, almost distorted. The drug must be hitting him hard.
“Kaiser?” I scoot off the bed and stand. And then I see him. He’s on the floor by the foot of the bed. He must have fallen a few steps into the room. I can only see his jean-clad legs, sticking out from beyond the bed.
The smoke must have been too much for him. He is down for the count.
So much for our hot night together. Oh well.
I sigh. “I knew it was a risk, drugging you like this,” I say aloud. I rise, wrapping the robe more firmly around myself and heading to one of the standing candelabras. “It’s so hard to get the dosage right.” I lick my fingers and snuff out some of the candles, one by one. “But how am I supposed to poison you? You won’t drink or eat anything I make. I offered you the mad honey, but you wouldn’t touch that either. You’ve been so careful.” I glance back at him. He hasn’t moved. I can’t see his upper torso, but his legs are in the same spot.
Poor guy.
“I had to find a different way, and obviously, I went too far. Too bad. I was so looking forward to teasing you tonight.” I fiddle with my sash. “I wore this for you to rip off. I keep hoping the drugs will lower your inhibitions. You’re so careful with me. I figured I could alter your state of mind so you wouldn’t hold back.” I bite my lip, wondering if I’ve shared too much. But no, he’s out of it.
“I know you know I’m poisoning you. You knew in the beginning. You guessed some of my strategy when you washed me off in the shower. You’re pretty smart, for someone so pretty. You’re a worthy adversary, you really are.” I come around the bed to where he’s splayed face down on the floor. “Too bad you didn’t figure it out in time to stop it…”
His hand shoots out and grabs my ankle. I scream. He says in a distorted voice, “Except I figured it out a week ago.”
26
Bella
* * *
Kaiser isn’t drugged at all. Not only that, but he got me monologuing.
Supervillain Rule # 3: Never monologue!
