Page 28 of Doormat
Liana looked down at what felt like the millionth gift Diego had gotten her.Not only had he allowed her to decorate the penthouse suite, which had been a lot of fun, he had asked her to invite her father and brother for dinner.They had enjoyed that as well.They hadn’t stayed over, just enjoyed a meal cooked by her.
Then, he’d taken her out dancing at several of his nightclubs.Not only did they have nighttime dates, they had daytime ones.One in which he took her to the park, and they ate a small little picnic in the freezing cold, and she hated to admit it, but she loved every second of it.
Each day, she had gotten less angry at him calling her names, because the lies between them had simply stopped.There was no reason to lie.Diego knew she was no doormat, and she was slowly falling in love with him.
The other little problem was, she hadn’t started her cycle.She was already a week late, and she didn’t want to get her hopes up.She also hadn’t told her friends.The hope of a divorce was nonexistent if she was pregnant with his child.
She took a deep breath as she looked down at the Halloween costume he had purchased for her.Giovanni and Mia were hosting a Halloween party.Well, according to Mia, she was not hosting any such party, but Giovanni was insisting on hosting one, and the invitations had gone out to their husbands.Mia was going to be there, seeing as it was her home.Clarissa had already confirmed, along with Tatiana.
Neither of them had gone back to the spa.They also hadn’t talked about what had happened after their trip to the spa.It was better if none of them talked about what happened.
Liana was never touching a drop of alcohol again.
She ran her fingers through the costume and knew this had been custom made.This was not purchased off the shelf.She figured there was no harm in trying it on, and she also noticed there was a set of sexy lingerie to go with it—red lace that felt so soft beneath her fingers.Stripping out of her clothes, she slipped the lingerie on, and this was not cheap.She felt it as it glided across her body, and slid into place so softly.
Next, she slipped on the red dress, and it was a slip-style dress that had a sexy slit up the side.She spotted the red heeled shoes that were divine, and she sat on the edge of the bed and wrapped them around her ankles.To complete the outfit, there was a pair of devil horns for her to wear, which also glowed.She put them on, and then it was a quick rush to her vanity, where she added a few curls to her hair, followed by a splash of red lipstick and black eyeliner.She did add some blush, soft and natural, to keep the eyes and lips the focus of the look.
Just as she finished, she heard the door open and she left the bedroom to walk out.She expected to find Diego dressed as he usually would, in a suit, with no signs of playing along.She was so wrong.He had slicked back his hair, and his face was painted sheer white as if he had not been out in the sunlight.His eyebrows had also been darkened, and he wore a pair of fangs with fake droplets of blood coming out of the corner of his mouth.He wore a cape along with a suit, but it wasn’t his usual type that she could see.There was also fake blood on this suit, or she was going to assume fake blood.
“You dressed up,” she said.
“You look ...amazing.”
She held her hands out and gave him a little twirl.“What do you think?”
“I don’t think we should go to that party, or if we do, I’ll take my gun.”
This made her laugh.“You’re kidding?”
He banded an arm around her and even with her heels on, he was much taller than her.She had no choice but to tilt her head back to look at him.
“I’m the only one that gets to dance with you tonight.”
“You’re being a little possessive.”
“That’s because you are mine, Liana.”And then he kissed her.
She felt her toes curl, and she slid her hands up and around his neck, not wanting to let him go.When he grabbed her ass and pulled her in close, she let out a little moan.It felt so good to have his hands all over her.She didn’t want him to stop, not even for a moment.
“You’re driving me crazy.”He pressed another kiss to her neck, and Liana saw that his lips were smeared with her lipstick.
“Don’t you think I should ...clean up?”
“Hell, no, let everyone know I’ve made out with the devil.”
She couldn’t help but laugh as he grabbed her hand and led them down toward the main parking lot, where his car was.There were a couple of guards waiting, and Diego opened the door for her, and she thanked him as she slid into the car.
The drive was uneventful, as Diego had a few calls he needed to make.Liana looked out of the window, seeing many of the places aglow with some form of Halloween light.It looked so beautiful.Some of them did look scary, but in a kitsch kind of way.She didn’t know why she loved Halloween so much.Her mother had as well, but neither of them had enjoyed horror movies.Liana would never sit and watch one.She absolutely hated them, and most often, she couldn’t get to sleep after watching one.
They arrived at Giovanni’s house, and Liana knew her best friend hadn’t done anything for this party.Yet, the moment they entered the gates, the long driveway was lined with gory props, pumpkin lanterns, and fairy lights.On the front yard, there was a twenty-foot pumpkin, along with several inflatable monsters and ghosts.There was also a graveyard on the lawn.Giovanni had gone all out.Liana was impressed.
Diego climbed out of the car, took her hand, and placed it around his arm.They stepped up into what appeared to be a horror-transformed mansion.There were a lot of guests inside, all of which had stuck to the demand they all dress up.
“Do we think Giovanni is trying to make amends to Mia?”Diego asked.
Liana had an idea he was, just as Diego was doing the same to her.
They entered the main dining room, and she saw a bar had been erected right at the far end, where a man wearing a scary mask was serving.She also spotted Mia, Tatiana, and Clarissa.
