Lizzie blinked fast a few times without saying anything.
“Well, I guess we have our schedule for the week,” Krissie twittered. “Go ahead, Florentine,” she invited.
The short woman motioned toward a door at the back. “This way, Mrs. Winters.”
Lizzie hesitated.
“Go ahead.” Krissie pushed her.
She watched her sister-in-law disappear behind Florentine and only then did she sit down, absently turning the pages of a magazine she found on a crystal table.
The seconds ticked by, turning into minutes, and soon half an hour had passed since Lizzie had been gone.
An almost inhuman howl followed by an agonizing shriek made her jump to her feet. She rushed toward the back door and jerked it open, sweeping the room with panicked eyes.
“She pulled a handful of my hair out,” Florentine squeaked, holding her head with both hands.
“She tried to skin me alive,” Lizzie yelled, sitting up half-naked on a bed, her hand clutching a few strands of red hair.
Krissie covered her mouth with her fanned-out fingers. “Are you waxing her, Florentine?” she turned toward the short woman.
“Of course, Mademoiselle.” The beautician nodded with dignity. “Mrs. Winters was in need of a good epilation, and I thought it was a priority.”
“But why waxing, and not laser hair removal, as you do it to me?” Krissie asked.
“Because Mrs. Winters became very upset when I mentioned that she needed to shave before the procedure, and the words she used determined me to choose an alternative treatment,” the woman replied, splashing a disdainful look over her naked client.
Krissie nodded in understanding and closed the distance to the bed in a few unhurried steps.
“Lizzie, I suppose it’s my fault that I didn’t explain to you what would happen here. Waxing is a very painful procedure, particularly when it’s done for the first time. Laser hair removal is a much better alternative, but that involves, indeed, shaving. This is a small price you have to pay, remember what we discussed,” she said patiently.
Lizzie spread out her fingers to let the hair strands fall out. “I swear I’m gonna kill someone if this week doesn’t pay off, dammit,” she muttered.
“I volunteer.” Krissie smiled.
“Then stop gawkin’ at my tits and get the hell outta here before I change my mind and I decide to do the killin’ first,” Lizzie snapped.
“All right, all right.” Krissie raised her arms in the air in the sign of the peace. “I’ll come back to pick you up in three hours. Florentine, I’m sorry.” She turned toward the fat woman. “I’ll make sure you’ll get well rewarded for your efforts.”
“Thank you, Mademoiselle.” Florentine’s face lit up at the thought. A few hair strands were a small price to pay, considering the fat check she was going to get as compensation.
Krissie got out without another word, shaking her head with amusement. She was still wearing a grin when she returned three hours later.
Lizzie was waiting for her in the foyer, her face dark as the ocean before the storm. Her hair was a lot smoother though, and her fingernails had lost their encrusted black lines. A thin layer of cream was still glistening on top of her skin, both on her face and hands.
“What’s next?” she asked gloomily, shooting a side glance at her sister-in-law.
“Eye laser clinic, I told you,” Krissie smiled.
“And then?”
“Then we will go back home to meet with my fashion stylist, to take your measurements and choose clothes, shoes, and everything you need to wear,” Krissie answered.
“And then?” Lizzie’s face darkened a little more.
“Then we’ll start all over again at the beauty salon until your hair is soft, your nails are rounded and shiny, and your skin is smooth like silk,” Krissie replied.
“Hell no.” Lizzie looked at her appalled. “You ain’t turnin’ me into a baby’s ass.”
“I sure will.” Krissie burst out laughing. “By the end of the week, the ugly duckling will turn into a beautiful swan. Not that you’re ugly.” She shot out defending hands. “It’s just that you’re hiding your beauty, that’s all.”
“Beautiful swan my ass,” Lizzie muttered. “I might as well grow webbed feet and jump in the pond for a swim.”
Yet somehow that shred of hope that Krissie had planted in her mind kept tugging at her heart, making her do something she’d never done in her life. Look around for a mirror.
Krissie stopped in front of the door for a long time, her crooked fingers raised in the air ready to knock on the decaying plywood that was staring back at her. She finally took a deep breath and gave a couple of soft strikes with her knuckles, jerking her hand back afterward as if she’d touched hot coal. No sound came from inside.
No one’s home. She sighed inwardly, not quite sure if with relief or disappointment. Her quick steps rapped along the dark corridor as her stilettos clattered on the chipped, uneven floor.
“Hey!”
She froze as she recognized the low pitched, masculine voice that came from behind.
“Are you coming?” the voice pressed.
She slowly whirled on her heels to face him.
Johnny Benally was standing just a couple of yards away, his eyes smoldering with the same intensity she’d seen once before. He motioned silently toward the apartment and waited for her to make her way back to the door and hesitantly step in.
Krissie’s hands shot up instantly to wedge under her armpits in a nervous self-embrace.
“I…” she commenced shakily.
“I was expecting you,” Johnny said, and before she could say another word he wrapped his fingers around her nape and pulled her to him, meeting mid-way in an exquisite, gentle kiss.
She parted her lips in surprise at the feel of his mouth slanting over hers almost with reverence.
His tongue darted forward, not once trying to dominate or conquer. Just a gently probing caress that started to stir through her bloodstream a steadily growing whisper of something she desperately needed. He suddenly scooped her up in his arms and took her to his room with slow, yet firm steps.
Panic drifted through her mind, hovering over her like a dark shadow until she started to shiver.
“Johnny… I don’t think we should…” she started to whisper as he kneeled next to his mattress and placed her in the middle of it.
“I think you’re wrong,” he murmured, splaying his hand over the small of her back to make her lie down.
Flutters of panic and passion all at once began to run through her veins, turning the pit of her stomach ablaze. She remained all quiet and numb as his hands worked their way to undo the zipper of her dress and strip her body of any attire then went on to unclothe his own. The mattress sank, making her roll toward him as he lay in glorious nakedness at her side. Only then did she realize that there was no turning back. She had come to make love with Johnny Benally.
He lowered his head to kiss her again, but when his tongue delved deep into her mouth he wasn’t gentle anymore. He was staking his claim like a dangerous predator, his eyes blazing with a fierceness that made her shake with fearful anticipation.
She stared down as his dark head lowered to her cleavage. His hands started kneading and stroking her breasts, drawing passionate moans from her throat that she muffled with the back of her hand. She sucked in her breath when his tongue swirled around one nipple. He began to nibble the hardened nub, at times hungrily suckling on it. Her hands curled into tight balls at her sides. Another muffled cry escaped her lips when he parted her thighs and began to stroke scorching caresses over her tender flesh, just before delving deep inside her warmth with his fingers.
“Oh my God!” she gasped, feeling her legs quiver, helpless against the onslaught of such insane pleasure.
He covered her mouth with his again, plunging inside it in rhythm with the movement of his fingers, coaxing her higher and higher until the unbearable need that had b
lossomed in her stomach almost shattered her. He felt her tense, arching her back and grinding against his hand. His body shifted over hers in a feline caress until flesh met flesh, melding together her softness with his hardness, her fragility with his strength.
He slid into her in one long thrust, swallowing her sighs of pleasure with his hungry mouth. She strained against him to meet his hips, her back arching with desire.
He held himself deep inside her then he began to move, his pace becoming more urgent with every thrust. His face tightened with strain and passion. His lips left hers and slid across the delicate skin beneath her ear.
She shivered and moaned, her senses wildly aroused by the feel of his hips pumping against hers, and of his muscles rippling underneath her fingertips.
He raised his head to look at her with blazing eyes filled with unbearable hunger then tipped his head down to plunge his tongue once more into her mouth in a wild, clinging duel. She fisted his hair to keep him closer, prolonging the mating of their tongues. Their ragged breaths spilled between their passionate kisses until he thrust deep inside her body one more time. Their moans melded as the world shattered and blurred around them.
Johnny went limp for a moment, his dark head hidden in the crook of her neck. He then moved to one side, taking Krissie with him. Silence lingered in the small room for a long time while his fingers drew restlessly on her naked shoulder.
She had come on her own volition to make love to a perfect stranger. The thought picked up speed in Krissie’s mind, ricocheting inside her head. Then again, she was not regretting any second of it. It had been the most wonderful intimate moment she’d ever experienced. No man had been that tender and loving with her before. She had had a few lovers, all from the high society. They would just exchange a few brief kisses then go straight to the point. What was between her legs was all that ever mattered to them. The deed was done and over with before she even knew it had gotten started. No passion, no flames, nothing more than a mildly pleasant relief that always left her unsatisfied and had pushed her to the extreme of ordering a vibrator.
But falling in the arm of a stranger on grounds of bad sex was foolish and absurd. Although a nagging thought at the back of her mind kept telling her that Johnny Benally was no stranger to her. Not because he was her sister-in-law’s brother, but because of that unfathomable flow of unspoken, yet palpable connection that had run between the two of them since their very first encounter. Something strange and mysterious, scary and wonderful all at once. Oh God! What am I going to do? She mused with desperation.
Johnny’s fingers kept drawing small circles on her shoulder.
She sat up awkwardly and picked up her clothes one by one.
“I must go,” she said, her voice almost a mumble.
He didn’t say anything in response, neither trying to stop her or to accept her decision. Just remained immobile, his naked body gloriously gleaming with a fine sheen of perspiration, the aftermath of the steamy passion he had just shared with her. She hastily moved her gaze away and started to get dressed.
Another few seconds and there will be no more reason for her to be here, yet her heart couldn’t tell whether or not it was relieved. No, she wasn’t going to see him again, she decided. A crazy dalliance, that’s what it had been. She couldn’t possibly think… Oh God!
“Good bye, Johnny,” she said hastily and headed for the door.
His steps rapped behind her along the corridor. He wasn’t even dressed, she realized, feeling a hot flush creep up her cheeks. She grabbed the handle feverishly and pulled.
His hand slammed against the plywood panel of the door, holding it closed just as he’d done the first time they’d met two weeks ago.
“You’re coming back, Krissie,” he murmured.
She turned around and flattened her back against the door, staring helplessly into midnight blue eyes charged with electrifying passion.
“I’m… I’m not…” she stuttered miserably.
He raised his hand to graze her lower lip with the pad of his thumb. Her lips parted on their own volition to let his finger slip in a little and brush over the tip of her tongue. Sudden heat poured into her core and started smoldering. She closed her eyes at the feel.
“Yes, you are,” he murmured again, now so close to her ear she could feel the warmth of his breath caress her skin. Then he pulled away, letting go of the door as well.
Krissie opened her eyes wide, looking at him in confusion, as if she’d just woken up from a hypnotic trance. “I better go now,” she rushed the words out, and walked shakily out the door, turning her head a couple of times to look back.
Johnny was standing in the doorway, oblivious to the fact that he was still completely naked. His gaze kept boring into her with an intensity she couldn’t withstand, until she disappeared down the stairs.
“You’ll come back,” he murmured as he closed the door behind him.
“I won’t come back,” she reassured herself as she opened the building’s entrance door. Another few steps to the limousine, then everything became clear. She wasn’t going to return in two weeks’ time when Susan was going out again. She would call in next Monday and see if Johnny wanted to join her for dinner.
Krissie kept peeling her gaze off the window to turn it toward Lizzie every ten seconds, and shake her head in wonder just as often.
“I can’t believe it,” she repeated for the thousandth time.
“Say that once more, and I’m gonna stuff a damn gag down your throat, I swear.” Lizzie looked at her with murder in her eyes.
“How on earth do you want me to stop it?” Krissie smiled. “I can’t recognize you. You did turn into a beautiful swan. Justin is going to swoon tomorrow night.”
“The hell he will,” Lizzie muttered, yet her heart started a treacherous drumming. Her hope had grown throughout the week with every glimpse in the mirror.
“You know he will.” Krissie patted gently her hand. “We only have a little bit of work to do before the party.”
“Work?” Lizzie gasped. “What the hell are you talkin’ about? You ain’t goin’ to do anythin’ to me anymore.”
“No more treatments.” Krissie wrinkled her nose. “Just getting you used to wear girlish clothes, and high heels.”
“I’m gonna break my damn ankles, I swear,” Lizzie predicted.
“Probably.” Krissie pursed her lips. “It takes a while to get used to stilettos.”
Lizzie fell quiet for a while, her gaze glued out the window. “Is he goin’ to…uhmm…” She stopped for a moment in indecision, an unexpected blush creeping up her cheeks. “In case he likes me,” she recommenced, “is he gonna want to do that thing to me?”
“What thing?” Krissie looked at her disconcerted.
“You know.” Lizzie turned crimson. “The thing that a man does to his woman.”
“You mean, be intimate with you?” Krissie asked.
“Yeah, that,” Lizzie muttered.
Krissie blinked fast a couple of times, not quite sure how to deal with this brand new situation. “Are you a virgin?” she finally asked.
“Nope.” Lizzie shook her head, not peeling her gaze from the window.
“Then why are you asking?” Krissie stared at her dumbfounded.
“Cuz’ I’d rather not do that. It hurts like hell,” Lizzie murmured.
Silence fell in the limousine again for what seemed to be an eternity until Krissie summoned the courage to get to the next painful question. “Did something happen to you?” she asked with all the gentleness she could gather.
“Yeah.” Lizzie nodded, still looking absently in the distance at the rolling landscape. “Got raped.”
“Oh my God.” Krissie gasped. “By whom?”
“My neighbor Bronk.” Lizzie’s voice turned into a whisper. “I was thirteen at the time. Just skin and bones. The bastard grabbed me by the neck and dragged me inside his apartment. Threw me on his bed, pulled my jeans down then pushed my knees right up to my chi
n and impaled me.” Her mouth turned into a thin line.
“Jesus Christ.” Krissie paled.
“Yeah… It hurt like hell. But it didn’ last long. He squeaked a couple of times and he was done. I bled for a couple of days like a stuck pig after that,” Lizzie kept whispering.
“Oh, God.” Krissie leaned sideways to hug her. “Did you tell anyone? Did you tell Johnny at least?”
“Nope.” Lizzie shook her head. “It wouldn’ have done any good. Why tell Johnny? He’d have beaten the shit outta Bronk and would have landed in jail for it. But I took my revenge.” A sad smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “I kicked the bastard in the groin when he tried to do it again. He stopped after that, the damn lecher.”
“Does he still live there?” Krissie asked.
“Nah. He came to a sticky end. Got shot by a gang when he was sellin’ crack,” Lizzie said.
“Well, you see, there is a God up there.” Krissie clasped her hands in contentment.
Lizzie’s gaze turned dark, almost sinister. “There’s no God.” She clenched her jaws. “T’was not God who killed Bronk, it was the damn crack business. If God was there for me, nothin’ would have happened when I was thirteen. There’s no God out there.” She nodded slowly in self-approval.
A tear slid down Krissie’s cheek, heavy and burning. Life had given blow after blow to her sister-in-law, yet the young woman was still standing, growing stronger and more defiant after each beating she’d received. One thing became certain in Krissie’s mind: if Justin were to harm his wife in any way, Krissie was going to draw his blood.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The night was unfamiliar and hostile, absorbing the dark contours of the landscape like a hungry black hole. It was perhaps because of the clouds that completely obscured the sky, eating up the moon and the stars.
Justin glanced at his watch again. Another few minutes and he’ll be home, but instead of going straight to see Jimmy he would have to attend the party. It was his father’s birthday, and half the high society was invited. Too bad that Marcus Winters had decided he had not enough room in his condo for so many guests, and had instead moved the gathering to his son’s mansion.
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