by K L Rymer
Yet I find myself picturing that she’s Crystal, and I let my imagination run wild. I run my hands down her back, scoop her up, then throw her around against the wall.
I almost knock the breath out of her lungs, but Penelope doesn’t stop, wrapping her legs around my waist.
This is all the man in me. Not the demon. So I only have myself to blame.
Penelope bites on my lip, and I groan, reaching my hand up her dress to find that she’s wearing no underwear.
What a whore.
“How... how about we take this somewhere private?” she whispers, never breaking the kiss.
“C-Crystal...” I breathe, trying to search for her candy scent, but it doesn’t come.
“What?!” Penelope pulls back.
I stop, gazing into her furious green eyes. For a moment, I expect to see ocean blue, and shake my head.
“Wh-what did I say?”
Penelope’s green eyes sharpen like a cat’s. “You said Crystal...”
I blink, trying to think back, but my mind pulls a blank.
She scowls and pushes me away, storming off. “I won’t be confused with some little blonde whore.”
Something ignites inside me, and I yank her back, pushing her against the wall. I glare into her eyes.
My demon breaches the surface, and Penelope turns the colour of a ghost.
“Don’t. Call. Her. A. Whore. Whore...”
Penelope’s eyes widen, and now I can see into her soul, all her most precious fears and insecurities. I see her as a spotty pre-teen girl, throwing up her last meal into a sink, and I smirk.
Looks like Penelope wasn’t always so hot.
“Eli!”
I whirl around. Misaki stands behind me, a furious look burning in her bright brown eyes. I spot a slight ring of gold around the pupils and step away from Penelope.
Fuck... I went too far.
The poor girl stares up at me with wide, soulless eyes, and my heart stings.
What did I do to her?
She’s about ready to collapse, and Misaki runs to her aid, catching her in her arms.
“It’s all right. You’ve just had too much to drink, Penelope. Come and have a glass of water.”
Misaki carries her away, keeping an arm around her shoulder. Before they slip out the room, Misaki pierces me with her scorching gold eyes. “I’ll deal with you later...”
It’s a threat for almost fucking with her friend’s mind. Another demon gift: pure mind fuck.
If Misaki hadn’t arrived, I may have gone all the way, and poor Penelope would have gone completely insane, trapped in the mind of her twelve-year-old self for the rest of her life.
I really am a monster.
So I press my back to the wall, slipping down until I collapse to the floor.
Could this night get any worse?
24. Crystal
I feel like someone just punched me in the gut.
I’d snuck down to take a peek at the party, all clad in my fluffy slippers and unicorn PJs, until I saw them.
Eli and Penelope...
He was sucking on her face. And then... and then he moved his hand up her dress, slowly and seductively, and suddenly I’d forgotten how to breathe.
My whole world crashed, and I almost stumbled on my feet, but somehow I remained standing and rushed back to my room.
It’s not like I’m all that surprised, but still... it hurt.
Eli was never mine, and he made that perfectly clear when he stuck his tongue down Penelope’s stupid throat!
I find the ugly door to my bedroom and throw myself down on the floor, crying into my hands like the pathetic princess I am.
Screw that beautiful bastard... I hate him. I really hate him!
My lungs hurt but I can’t stop. Won’t stop.
I’ll always cry for that evil, wicked man. The one that got under my skin and twisted my heart around until I could no longer recognise myself anymore.
I’m definitely not the same Crystal who left Louisiana. That’s for sure.
Because now I’m in love with a perfect monster, and that makes me just as guilty.
Something red catches my eye inside the closet.
My dress.
I stagger up to my feet and move closer, pulling the dress out. It’s a beautiful V-neck that shows just the right amount of breast, something I would never wear in a million years.
But there’s always a first time for everything...
At once, I start to throw off my PJs and slip into the little red dress. It’s tight and pushes my breasts up without the need of a bra. It also brings out my curves and narrows my waist, and I’ve never looked so sexy.
All I need is a matching pair of shoes, but I don’t own any.
My eyes land on the four-inch red hot stilettos Misaki brought up with the dress, just in case I came to my senses and decide to make the right choice.
Well, thank you, Misaki, for your foresight...
I place my feet into the stilettos, wobbling slightly as I right myself up.
It’s not so bad but I still have yet to walk.
So I put one foot out and take a step, and I’m amazed I haven’t ended up face-down on the rug yet.
Before long I circle the room until I make it back to the mirror, squealing in delight.
I did it! I walked in heels!
My eyes land on the mirror and I gasp. The heels make me look so much taller, and I give an evil smirk.
Perhaps Misaki chose well with the red because I’m definitely feeling a little devilish tonight...
But there’s only one devil I want to get back at (and get back I will when he feasts his eyes on me in my new dress).
Unfortunately, my eyes are still bloodshot from crying. So I place my hands over my eyes and heal the puffiness, and the red clears away (my healing power did always come in handy when the waterworks got the better of me growing up).
Next, I apply a cherry red lipstick to my lips and smack them together, then tie the red satin mask around my eyes, smiling at my reflection.
Now I look like a mysterious red vixen, brushing my hair off to one shoulder like that perfect mermaid down stairs, and head out the door.
I’ve never felt so confident in my life, and my heartbeat is surprisingly steady. Well, until I make it to the stairs that is.
My head spins as I experience a little vertigo, but I hold the handrail and make my way down.
A few heads turn in my direction, and I smirk, feeling like an evil Cinderella gate-crashing the ball to get back at her demon prince.
Several posh-looking men eyeball me as I pass. One with dark blonde hair and a horsey face nearly chokes on his drink, but I only have eyes for one posh boy.
I search through the crowd, but he’s nowhere in sight.
A waiter passes me, carrying a tray of champagne flutes, and I take one, staring down into the fizzy yellow liquid.
I had a little champagne at my high school graduation, so I’m not completely unfamiliar with the stuff, but that had been one sip.
I’ve never been drunk.
Well, when in Rome.
I guzzle the champagne back in one go, shivering at the bitter taste, and it goes straight to my head.
Gah, how can people drink on the regular? I find alcohol of any kind sickly.
Yet I take another off a tray, then make my way through the house, searching for my dark prince.
My eyes land on Misaki. She stands above a seated, pale-faced Penelope, and my insides writhe when I see her, her perfect red hair falling effortlessly by her side.
Well, screw her; I’ll show her what Eli settled for...
I go up to Eli’s beautiful, exotic cousin, and tap her shoulder. She turns around, and her eyes nearly pop from her skull when she recognises me.
“Crystal, you came!” She throws her arms around me, and I notice the tender way she holds me.
She takes a step back again, taking me all in. “Damn.”
I poke my breasts out. �
��Yeah.”
Misaki stares a moment longer, looking a little distracted, then takes out her phone. “Let me just get a good photo of you.”
I pose for Misaki as Lilac, Beth and Bryony stare at me flabbergasted, and I’m glad to see Bryony drinks a juice. The only one who doesn’t look up is Penelope. She still sits at the chair, staring off into space while holding a shaking glass of water.
Perhaps she’s just feeling a little rough after sucking on my dark prince’s face out in the foyer.
Speaking of said prince.
“Do you know where I can find Eli?” I ask, looking over at Misaki after she takes my picture.
She rolls her eyes, gazing down at her phone. “Wallowing alone in self-pity somewhere. He deserves to rot after what he almost did to...” she trails off, meeting my gaze. “Erm... no one.”
I know she’s trying to spare my feelings by avoiding telling me that Eli kissed Penelope, but she needn’t have to.
In fact, it was probably one of the best things that happened to me in a while. I’m wearing a red skin-tight dress in killer high heels, something I never would have dreamed of doing if I hadn’t seen Eli Frenching that foxy-haired minx.
No, I thank him for this.
Misaki sighs. “Try the drawing room.”
I nod, making my way over, but then she grabs my shoulder. I meet her brown eyes.
She smirks. “Make him pay, Crystal.”
I return her smirk and head towards my prince. More men ogle me as I pass, but I keep my gaze on the door of the drawing room as I approach the foyer.
Before I enter, I press my head to the door, wondering if I really wanted to go through with this.
I don’t even know what I hope to achieve. Just have him gaze at me in my red dress, showing him what he can never have, then be on my way?
We would be alone in a room together. I just hoped I wouldn’t lose control, and throw myself at him like I do in my dreams, but this wasn’t a dream.
This was real life where he freely kisses other women. So I will do this, and I will enjoy it.
I push the door, opening into a clouded room. I strain my eyes, trying to see through the smoky haze until I find that dark shape by the fireplace.
He still wears his long, black cape, scowling down into the flames as he smokes a cigar.
I’ll admit. The sight’s all too sexy, and it does all kinds of crazy things to my lady parts, but I keep my head high, fixing my eyes on his grey ones when they finally look up.
We just stare at each other for a while, neither one of us speaking as I linger in the doorway.
It appears I’ve stunned him into silence since he lets the cigar burn in his hand.
His chest begins to heave, his face glistening with sweat as he takes in my dress. “C-Crystal...?”
I smile. “In the flesh.”
Eli continues to stare, a fiery heat growing inside his storm cloud eyes, and it could only mean one thing...
Yet I shut the door, prowling closer.
I may as well make him think he’s going to get a piece of me in this red hot dress before I cruelly take it away.
I reach up to his neck now, my stilettos giving me an extra four inches as we stand by the fire.
He still has on the mask, the one that accentuates his strong jaw, and once again I marvel at how beautiful he is. It’s almost unfair.
Eli Black doesn’t deserve to be so attractive.
He’s like a renaissance statue, perfectly sculpted in every way, and I shake my head, trying not to get lost in his handsomeness.
Eli still neglects the cigar. So I take it out of his hand, bringing it to my lips.
My grandfather smoked cigars for years, so I know not to inhale. The smoke seems to fill my brain as I almost cough, but I hold it in my mouth, blowing it up slowly into his face.
Eli’s too stunned to speak, and I see the sweat gathering on his upper lip as the temperature starts to rise.
I step closer, gazing up lustfully into his masked eyes. I see the want and desire in his deep greys, and lean forward, placing my mouth to his neck.
His breath catches in his throat as I hover over his pulse, staining the white of his cravat with my lipstick. Then I pull away, and I see the irritation brewing in his eyes.
“Crystal...” he warns, straining his face as he tries his darn best to resist me.
“Shh...” I place my finger to his lips, and it fits snugly inside that angel’s fingerprint once again. “You talk too much.”
Eli keeps those furious storm cloud eyes on me, but I ignore them and push him back into the chair, placing myself over his lap.
His manhood pokes me between my legs, and I giggle, enjoying the sound his breath makes as I pull his cravat.
He’s mine to do what I want with now.
Next, I place my mouth to his ear and whisper softly. “Oh, Eli...”
“S-stop...” he begs, keeping his eyes tight shut.
Yet I keep my lips by his ear, my breath hot and moist. “I’m... I’m wet...”
It’s not a lie; I’m dripping as his length jabs at my panties like a well-forged sword, and I stop a moment, savouring the sensation of having him inside me.
A deep growl rumbles inside his chest, and I give a seductive laugh. “But you already knew that, didn’t you?”
“You’ve... no idea, Crystal...”
I smirk and whisper into his ear. “Because we’re so in sync... remember? All those times you got me soaking wet in our dreams?”
His heart’s racing, and now he starts to pant, dripping with sweat.
Eli has fallen completely under my spell, and it gives me a sense of power to know I have this kind of control over him.
It was about time someone gave him a taste of his own medicine. Now he knows how all those women felt when he dug deep inside their skin and hypnotised them too.
Next, I brush a finger over his prominent jawline, taking in his handsome features.
His body must be absolutely soaked beneath that three-piece suit. It shows on his face, and now he has a serious sweat stache on the go.
This is my moment. When he’s at his most vulnerable. Yet I find myself unable to continue. He just looks so helpless, it pulls on my heart.
I wasn’t sure what I would do. Make him strip maybe and take away his clothes? Or perhaps I’ll tie him to the chair in a good old-fashioned game of bondage, and love and leave him?
But I’m not that kind of girl. No matter how many times he’s hurt me and others too, I can’t hurt him back.
I still care about him too much.
I sigh, planting a kiss on his cheek. My lipstick leaves a mark.
Then I remove myself from his lap, taking one last look at him, knowing full well he will never be mine, this beautiful, exquisite specimen of a man.
Slowly, he starts to come to, opening his grey eyes as they wander around the room, and I head out the door, aiming straight for the stairs.
Coming down here was a mistake.
I go to take the first step up the stairs, but then the horsey-faced boy steps in front of me, a crooked smile on his smug face.
“Now where’s an adorable little creature like yourself off to at such an hour? The party’s barely started.”
I open my mouth, too shocked to speak. “Um... I was... j-just heading to the bathroom.”
Somehow, I didn’t want to tell him I was going to my bedroom. I didn’t want him to see it as an invitation.
His eyes widen when he hears me talk. “Ooh, American? I guess I should have known.”
I cock a brow. What the heck was that supposed to mean?
He places his smooth hand against the small of my back and hauls me away from the stairs. “Let’s go and get you a drink, shall we?”
I gaze at the stairs longingly as he pulls me back to the party. My unicorn PJs are crying out to me, and sweet little Sparkles too, bless her horn, but I suppose one more drink wouldn’t hurt.
25. Misaki
Lilac tells me yet another tale about her purebred Yorkshire Terrier Snuffles’ latest win at Crufts, and I feel my eyes glaze over.
Best in show for three years straight. Wow.
The girl can talk your ear off for hours about that stupid little mutt, which looks like a rat on steroids to me, yet I nod along, pretending I find her story interesting.
I hate dogs.
I guess I shouldn’t be too harsh. Lilac is barren after all. Hence the fascination with the dog. It’s the only baby she’ll ever have.
She keeps staring at Bryony’s prominent belly longingly, and it’s almost unfair.
But I can’t relate to either of them because I hate children more than I hate dogs.
Disgusting little creatures.
Eli and I did have a cat once, and he managed to survive for four months at the Black Estate until he got run over by the chauffeur. Poor thing.
Eli cried his heart out, but he doesn’t like to tell anyone lest it ruins his image as the cold, ruthless bastard.
Penelope has fallen asleep on the chair, and it’s about time I got her to bed.
Beth’s quiet, giving everyone at the party nervous glances, and I wonder if it was a good idea inviting her. She was a recovering drug addict after all (though she sips juice along with Bryony — smart girl).
My friends really are messed up.
My mind wanders to Crystal as Lilac starts doing impressions of Snuffles’ barks, and I smirk.
Hopefully, the girl has got even with Eli by now. I’ve already put her photos up on my page with the hashtags “timetogeteven” and “sexyreddress”.
My sweet little Crystal has finally grown up. I’m so proud.
It’s strange, but I’ve only known her several days, but I already feel closer to her than I do my four best friends, and we all grew up together. We remained pen pals even when I moved to the states, and I always brought them a little something from Tiffany’s when I came home, but Crystal was something else.
She wasn’t vain, slutty, reckless, or just plain old stupid (that last one being Bryony, of course). She was just Crystal. Pure, unadulterated Crystal.
Her mother named her well the day she was born. There’s not a more precious mineral.
I take a sip of my champagne and leave my friends to check up on her. She should be almost finished with Eli by now.
