Page 244 of The Invite
A knife!
“You say he’s your friend, right?” says Augustus in my ear.
I nod, afraid I’ll give us away if I speak.
“Show me. Wake him up. If he’s scared or doesn’t want you, I’ll believe you.”
My palms sweat and I hesitate.
A finger skims up my thigh, teasing the hem of my skirt, and my devil commands in my ear, “Be a huntress tonight, little prey.”
A strange power swirls around me, engulfing my senses in its clutches. I flick my gaze to Ace sleeping peacefully. Once upon a time, I lied in my bed too. Unlike me, my captors mustn’t have hesitated before becoming my perpetual nightmare.
Does this mean I’m no different than them?
No. I’m not here to inflict violence. As soon as I prove Augustus wrong, I’m leaving. I stalk into the bedroom. The heels of my boots barely make any noise against the carpet.
Ace, who’s lying shirtless on his back with an arm thrown over his eyes, doesn’t stir. I glance over my shoulder and find Augustus leaning sideways against the doorframe, staring raptly.
He looks relaxed, but I know he’ll intervene in a flash if needed.
No. Not if, when.
Facing forward, I regard a sleeping Ace. His features areGQmodel-worthy. His defined chest and eight-pack. UnlikeAugustus, his lips are fuller and more pouty. A brooding stranger until he smiles.
Will he ever bestow me another after tonight? I don’t think so.
He can’t see your face.
The knowledge gives me a sick thrill.
Ace is at my mercy.
Augustus’s dare echoes in my head and I tighten my hand around the wooden handle. Strolling to the end of the bed, I carefully climb on it. Since I don’t weigh much, the mattress barely sinks.
In my peripheral vision, I notice Augustus edge closer.
Keeping my eyes forward, I crawl over Ace’s prone form on my knees and stop above his waist. No part of my body touching his. The skirt rises the backs of my thighs as I lean over to rest one hand beside Ace’s hand and with the other, I press the knife against the pulse on his throat.
The thrill brings a heady rush, making me feel like a god.
Dragging the blade lightly over his collarbone, I tickle him. His arm jerks as he feels the sensation while his fingers clench and unclench. Everything could go wrong but I can’t seem to care.
I trail the weapon up his Adam’s apple and nudge the pointy tip under his chin. I pull back with a smile when he tries to bat it away with his hand. His face becoming visible. A pinch wrinkles his forehead.
“Ace,” I murmur, tapping his chin with the flat side of the blade. “Wake up.”
His entire body jerks and ocean blue eyes fling open, widening at my looming presence. He bucks and curses. “The fuck!”
Augustus appears behind the space between the head of the bed and the wall, trapping Ace’s wrists against the mattress.
I straddle his stomach and threateningly press the knife against his throat. He understands the silent message…Don’t move or I’ll cut you.
“Who the fuck are you both?”
I have to be insane because I smile at the small tremor in his husky voice. Lifting my head, I look Augustus dead in the eye.
You’re so going to lose.
