AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Kiera moves around the kitchen, preparing trays. "That was Mr. Cross. He doesn't like to be kept waiting for his breakfast. You should join him," she says softly.
I chew on my bottom lip nervously. I almost burned his house down. I'm the last person he wants to see, but seeing how nervous the older woman is rushing to do her job, I ask," Do you need help? I could help you––"
"I’ve got it. It's okay. Go have a seat at the dining table."
* * *
"What's with the mask?"
My eyes lift from the other side of the white Italian table for ten with clear resin legs to the man sitting across from me dressed all in black with a mask. An upside-down cross that reads No God sketched on the front.
"What's with yours?" I retort.
His faint chuckle vibrates between my legs, and I squeeze them tight under the shawl I chose to wear, hiding my body from his view. His voice calls to me in the back of my mind like I've heard it before, but I can't remember where.
"Oh, I'm sure you've heard. The beast. The freak. The recluse living in a dark mansion like a moth."
I pause with my fork full of strawberries midair to the opening of my mask. I lower it and lean back in my chair. "I'm not sure what you mean because I don't gossip and couldn’t care less what you look like underneath your mask."
"And why is that?"
"Because…nothing about you interests me."
"Is that why you were watching me fuck? Does that interest you?"
I stiffened slightly. I didn’t think he saw me. Did the woman he was with see me? My mouth is suddenly thick and dry as I think about what I saw.
Nervous, I take a sip and place the glass of water back, feeling the edge of the fabric of my mask with the tip of my tongue cool against my lips, deciding how best to answer.
My eyes focus on the words on the black matte of his mask, reminding me of who he is and what he represents.
"I couldn't concentrate on what I was reading," I lie. "I could hear pathetic moans from outside the bedroom, so I decided to see where it was coming from."
"And?" he challenges, his head angled to the side like a masked murderer from a slasher flick.
"And…I wasn't impressed. More annoyed, actually, but it was nothing I hadn't seen or heard before. Now that we've met, it's to be expected."
"What did you expect?" he asks in a tight voice.
I can tell I'm getting under his skin, and it makes me feel good that I can.
"Exactly what I saw and what I imagined when my father broke the news to me yesterday. Nothing special. We both should get tested before you make me spread my legs for you. Safety and all."
I see his fist clench on the table, and I smile inwardly, watching the ink of his tattoos flex. It's the only skin I can see besides the tattoos on his neck and jet-black hair.
"Now, why would you need to do that?" he asks, but I don't miss the way his knuckles clench tight.
"Because you wouldn't be the first man to touch me. I'm not a scared little virgin, Mr. Cross. I'm just not as filthy as you."
I slide my chair back and stand, not wanting to remain in his presence. I know I pissed him off and offended him, but I couldn’t care less.
As I walk away, his hard voice has me slowing down when I reach the bottom steps of the stairs. "The doctor will be in later today."
* * *
After I gavein to my pathetic crying, feeling sorry for myself, I hear a soft knock on the wooden door to my room.
I rush to the nightstand and pull the mask over my face. When I open the door, I'm greeted by an older gentleman and a young woman wearing a pair of white scrubs.
