How did my life get here?
Being born into something like this never got any easier. Every time I thought I was out of the woods with one thing, another thing would pop up and take its shot at me. I admired the tenacity of those around me. Those who wanted to take me down and mount my head on a wall for someone to show off at darkened dinner parties. I’d never give them the satisfaction, though.
They’d all die by my hand if it meant scraping together a life I might actually want to live.
All too soon, though, the elevator slowed to a stop. I felt my body weight temporarily shift and it made me raise my head. I looked at the Rolex watch on my left wrist and sighed. Damn it; I only had forty-five minutes to get ready for this damned thing before we had to head out. And while I knew Bonnie had probably been getting ready all afternoon, I wouldn’t have the luxury of showering off the stench of blood-caked beneath my fingernails before we walked out the door.
Such is life, I suppose.
“Bonnie,” I called as I got off the elevator.
“Yes?” Her voice was muffled and sounded like it came from the bedroom.
I climbed the stairs, looking around the empty room. “Bring me those diamond cufflinks from my top drawer.”
She poked her head out of my closet. “I’m telling you, those things are—wait. Where did you get that tuxedo from?”
I grinned. “You like it?”
I looked over at her, and my heart fell into my stomach. Bonnie mindlessly rummaged through the top drawer of my accessories right by the door. Her body filled out the beautiful black dress she’d donned for the evening. The sash she had around her bare shoulders sparkled like stars in the night sky. Her hair was piled high on top of the crown of her head, with wispy curls hanging softly against her face. And when she stood to look at me, with those diamond cufflinks in her hands, I caught a glimpse of the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen in my life.
She looked at me in questions as she handed me the cufflinks. “Too much?”
I blinked. “Not nearly enough to outshine how beautiful you are.”
She blushed. “Here you go.”
Our fingers brushed together as I took them from her, sending a bolt of electricity down my body. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
I turned back to the mirror and watched her maneuver behind me. As I lifted my wrists and placed the cufflinks through the buttonholes, I fumbled around with the backs of them. I couldn't pay attention long enough to fix them. I couldn't stop looking at Bonnie in that fucking mirror long enough to finish dressing.
“Here.” She looked up and noticed my issue. Smiling, she moved to assist. “Let me.”
I turned to face her and watched as she voluntarily helped me get dressed. I mean, I thought my all-black tuxedo with my crimson red skinny tie made a bold statement. A powerful statement. One that would tell everyone at this damn party tonight that I wasn’t going anywhere. But I had nothing on how wondrous Bonnie looked.
She’d outshine me the entire night.
“There,” she said as she took my hands in hers. “All settled.”
I grinned. “Thank you.”
She looked up at me. “Anytime, Israel. I mean that.”
I winked. “Careful what you wish for.”
“And why is that?”
I pulled her close to me. “Because I might call you one day and ask for something to be removed.”
She fluttered her eyelashes. “Don’t mind if I squeal with delight, then.”
I chuckled. “You like that?”
“What? The idea of taking your clothes off? I think you know me better than that by now.”
I do.
As those two little words danced around in my mind, I felt her breath pulsing against my lips. My hand slid into hers, our fingers softly intertwining. I heard her draw in a shuddered breath. I squeezed her hand as everything within me mounted. I felt my cock stiffen. My gut clenched. My toes curled in my freshly-shined shoes as I licked my lips.
“Israel?”
“Yes?”
She sighed. “We’re going to be late.”
The sadness in her voice ripped me out of my trance, and I studied her. I really, genuinely studied her. She stepped away from me and turned her back. And I could have sworn her shoulders were slumped. “Stand up straight.”
She peered over her shoulder. “What?”
I straightened. “Stand up straight. Never give the appearance that something is weighing you down. Not in front of this crowd.”
“I didn’t realize I had to put that front on with you as well.”
Then, she disappeared from my closet.
“Damn it,” I murmured.
After I finished getting ready, I headed downstairs. Bonnie stood by the elevator, waiting for me, but she didn’t turn around when I approached. She had her sash over her bare shoulders, and her clutch squeezed tightly within her grasp. I plucked my coat off the rack and slid it over my shoulders before wrapping my neck up with a scarf. “Ready?”
She rolled her shoulders back. “Whenever you are.”
I placed my hand on the small of her back before I summoned the elevator. “And just so we’re clear, I want to say one thing.”
She slowly looked up at me as the elevator doors slid open. “What is it?”
I led her inside the cab. “I will never expect you to put on any kind of front with me. Ever. Understood?”
She took in a deep breath and released it. “I
