Page 117 of Make Me Laugh

Me

Kinda like I’m hexed

I’ve been scolded by Joey at least twenty times already for trying to stray us from the task at hand, but I’m not really sure if anyone would be surprised to hear that I’m struggling to keep my fucking hands off her. The second I walked in and she was in the tiny maroon corset option, I turned into a street mutt being teased with a juicy steak.

She treated me like the dog I was being too, even went as far as to say, “after. Once you’ve finished your job, you can have your treat.”

I complained loudly, but it worked.

Once again, I show just how fucked this woman’s got me. I’ll even sit and stay if she asks, let her rub my belly—whatever her little heart desires as long as she’s giving me attention.

Puppy Parker, reporting for duty!

“Are you ready?” Joey asks, sitting on the edge of the massive luxury couch after making me change a total of four times.

I nod. “As long as I’m finally up to your standards?”

She purposely trails her eyes up my body slowly, a smile pulling at the corner of her lips the higher she goes. “Delicious,” she says seconds after those icy green eyes connect with mine.

I’m in a pair of black slacks, hanging low off my hips, and nothing else, but I wish I wasn’t wearing anything with the way Joey’s staring.

She stands and goes over the plan one more time. I’m only half listening after she turns around, her ass peeking out of the white button up she added to her outfit after taking it from me.

At first, she wanted me to look my part, to be West Parker, but the second I showed up and she put me in place for test shots, I could see the wheels turning in her head. “This one’s being posted from my account… I think we need to have you match my aesthetic.”

And here we are now, with half of an outfit on me, and the other on her.

She spins around, leans against the window, going through the movements for what feels like the hundredth time. “That’s when you’ll grab the book. Your full face will never be in frame.”

The first video is meant to be seen as a soft launch. A confirmation without confirming anything at all.

“Got it.” I give her a thumbs up, ready to get this over with so the real fun can start.

She nods, nibbling at her lip once. Twice. Three times. “Good. Okay. Stand here.” Joey puts her hands on my shoulders, situating me exactly where she wants me. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”

Careful not to move, I look over my shoulder at the busy street below. The cityscape twinkles, reflecting off the rain specks. It’s the perfect backdrop for our video.

I hear Joey return, but when I shift to look at her, she’s flipping off unnecessary lights, facing away, but I know what I’m going to see when she turns around.

Or rather, who…

It feels like time slows to half speed, and she’s emerging out of the shadows where she lives. The white button up hangs off one shoulder, her long legs drawing my attention. By the time I make it to see Joey in the mask for the first time, she’s within arm’s reach.

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

It’s one of her smaller masks with short twisted gray sheep horns. It has the masquerade fit, covering from her nose to about an inch below her hairline, with the typical Hex touch—a smear of blood on the horns, moss and hanging red jewels to match the maroon of her corset.

I swallow a breath and can feel it all the way down my throat. If the room were silent, it might have been possible to hear me gulp.

“Don’t forget to breathe.” Did she mean to say that like a sex-line operator or is this the person she becomes when she’s Hex?

Have I never really met Hex? Is this a new version of Joey?

I inhale.

Bad idea. Bad. Fucking. Idea. I catch her scent and groan, running a hand through my hair. The back of my head hits the window, hopefully rattling some sense into me.

I’m not sure my knuckle can take any more damage, but I need a little pain to keep me from absolutely losing my mind. “God-fucking-damnit, Joey. Fuck. Hold on.” I peek at her, and she’s taking a step towards me. “No, no.” I hold a hand out. “You stay there.”