Wicked Game

Chapter 3

Exposed

Lust

I sat at the round kitchen table, head resting on my hand, staring out the window. I was watching the colors of the sunrise fade as I thought long and hard about what had happened last night. My legs were crossed under my tight fitting black dress and the top one bobbed up and down with nerves. Why did Ed ask me those questions? What was he getting at? He was so upset. Was this thing going too far? I knew everyone thought I was evil, but I knew better. I just wanted a normal life for myself. I just wanted to be human, even if it meant I’d lose immortality. Was there any other way for me to reach my goal without inflicting more damage on Edward? I ruminated over my options and decided I still had to go through with Greed’s plan, which meant I had to figure out what the day would hold for the young man still sleeping upstairs.

xxx

Edward

I woke to the sound of the door slamming open and the smell of breakfast. Opening my eyes, I tried to bring a hand up to rub the sleep from them when I realized my hands were still locked in the alchemic box. My eyes were still a little swollen and heavy from my outburst of emotion last night.

Lust stepped lightly across the wood floor in her bare feet. She seemed happy this morning. “Good morning, Edward. How are we today?” She plopped the familiar tray with plates of food on it onto the bed.

This was not like her at all. I'd already learned to be wary of her intentions whenever her behavior seemed odd. I sat up in my bed. Disheveled hair hung around my shoulders where it had expelled itself from my braid.

Lust sat on the bed beside me, grinning, looking me over. “My, you are a mess today.” She reached her fingers up to my face.

I flinched, leaning back.

“I’m not going to hurt you, honey.” Reaching closer, she wiped at my eyes, brushing the sleep from them. She wet a napkin in the water glass and swiped at my cheeks.

There must have been stains on them, sweat laced with old tears and little bit of dirt. My eyes widened suddenly. Honey, I thought, she called me honey. It sounded foreign coming off her lips, like she’d had to practice saying it. But I waited patiently while she tended to me. I was thankful she wasn’t bringing up my middle of the night breakdown.

In the daylight, I felt ashamed and embarrassed to have let her witness me in that condition. And for me to tell her I needed her, what had possessed me to make me do that? I glanced down at the chain binding me to my bed, questioning its powers.

“There, that’s better.” She turned her attention to the food waiting on the tray. “I made you eggs and toast this morning. You like that?”

“Um, yes. I do.” I answered, still unsure if I should trust her kindness. I opened my mouth to accept the egg she was waving in my face. I ate more slowly than usual, still having to fully wake.

When I looked at her, she was still grinning at me. What was going through her mind?

“So, Edward. I was thinking. You haven’t washed in at least two days and it’s getting a little musty in here. Let’s take a bath after breakfast, Okay?” Her smile widened and her eyes roamed my body.

I choked on my food, sending a few chunks of egg back onto the tray.

“Take it easy. I promise I won’t do anything to you. At least, nothing you don’t want.” She raised her eyebrows at me, seductively.

I was stared at her with wide, scared eyes under the muss of my gold bangs.

She winced, just a little.

I shifted on the bed, feeling uneasy. Now I knew why she was acting so strange, she had some devious plan up her sleeve. I finished eating. All the while my emotions ran the gamut of dread to craving as I thought about how this bath was going to be carried out.

Lust pushed the tray aside and got up to unfasten the chain wrapped around the bedpost. “Okay, it’s time.” she started walking in the direction of the bathroom. She stopped in the doorway, watching me reluctantly rise from the bed and follow her. “Oh, I almost forgot. I bet you need to use the restroom, huh?” She stepped toward me.

“Wh-what are you doing?” I felt my face flush and heat race to my groin as I watched her hands grip the top of my pants.

“Just helping you out of those clothes.” She looked down at my zipper while she pulled it down.

I drew back quickly, ripping her hands from me. “Stop it. I can do it.” I held up the box and showed her a snag in the corner. “I, I made this in the box and I can use it to do things.”

“Well, aren’t we inventive,” Lust said. “But you can’t get all your clothes off or wash yourself with that.” She stood to the side and motioned for me to pass into the bathroom.

I walked in and took care of myself, being careful with the corner of the box not to catch it on my skin. When I was done, I stood up against the wall and looked down at the claw-foot bathtub. A feeling of apprehension filled my heart. If she forced herself on me while I was bathing, I didn’t think I could stop himself from giving in this time. All her advances had made my skin oversensitive to her touch. I just wished the Lust I saw last night would be the one to bathe me.

“Are you done? What are you doing in there? Hope you’re saving it for me.” She opened the door and quickly looked me over before turning the spigot to let the water flow into the tub. She pushed the plug into its hole at the bottom and turned her attention to me, trying to disappear into the wall. “Come here.” She frowned, thinking for a moment, and seemed to regroup.

I stepped toward her, head down to hide my emotions. I was already resigned to the fact that she’d see me naked.

She unfastened my pants, lowered my zipper, and yanked my pants and boxers down in one quick move.

I cut off a gasp in my throat when I felt myself exposed to the cold air and her stare. The last time she did this, at least she’d turned around right away. This time, she sat in front of me, on her haunches, her eyes roaming my private area.

She nodded slowly. “Nice…” She stood and worked the clasp on my black jacket. She seemed to deliberately place her face close to mine. Our cheeks almost touched.

Heat rushed my body and my breathing started to quicken.

Once the clasp was opened, she put her hands on the box and jerked my flesh and bone hand out of it. She yanked the jacket off one shoulder and roughly pulled my shirt up over my head, running her fingernails over the soft flesh of my stomach and chest as she went.

I bit my lip, stifling a moan. I was trying so hard to put my mind someplace else so I wouldn’t show my desire, but the violent way she treated me kept dragging my mind back. She had gotten my jacket and shirt off me everywhere except for my metal arm, which still sat in the box. I looked up at her, wondering if she’d make the mistake of letting me have both my hands.

She shook her head. “Oh no, Edward, I’m not going to take the other hand out until this one is secured.” Taking hold of my flesh hand, she guided it towards the box. She shoved it in, scraping the top of it on the edge of the hole.

“Ow . . . ” I leaned forward in pain, holding the box to my lap.

Lust reacted quickly, immediately placing her hands on my shoulders. “I, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” He voice held genuine concern. "I'm so sorry. Forgive me."

I peered up at her, wounded emotionally more than physically. I couldn't believe how quickly and profusely she apologized. Suddenly, the woman I’d held last night appeared to be back.

“Here, let me see.” She gently drew my injured hand back out of the box. It was scraped on the top and small droplets of blood hung on thin fragments of skin. She opened a mirrored cabinet hanging over the sink and found a gauze bandage, but not much else. “This will have to do.” Using a tender touch, she wrapped the wound with the cloth.

When she finished, my hand gently entwined in hers and I gazed at her, awestruck and captivated.

She suddenly seemed uncomfortable. Yanking her hand out of my hold, she put my hand back in the box. “You can’t hold my hand like that, Edward. You didn’t beg.” She appeared unable to meet my gaze. Fumbling a bit, she tugged my metal hand out of the box and undressed me completely. After she turned off the water, she motioned for me to get in the tub.

I did as instructed. At least the injury took my mind momentarily away from the awkward situation. The water felt warm and soothing on my skin. I closed my eyes and let it engulf me. I held my wounded hand out of the tub. My metal hand was still attached to the box. I saw Lust coming at me from the corner of my eye.

Lust had a washcloth and soap in her hands. “Lean forward.” She knelt next to the bathtub.

Again, I complied. I felt her hands gently moving the washcloth across my back. It gradually made its way down to my waist and hips. I felt her hair tickle my shoulder blades as she rubbed the soft cloth across the top of my behind. She poured water over my head and massaged shampoo into my locks, gently pulling my hair tie off. I was finding the whole experience intoxicating, hoping she wasn’t going to taunt me anymore.

She emptied the water pitcher over my head for the third time. "Lean back."

When I leaned back and gazed up at her, I gave her a faint smile.

She returned the smile, gently caressing my chest with the washcloth. Suddenly, something seemed to snap inside her. Her smile faded while she reached lower into the water, so low she was at my groin. She massaged the insides of my thighs and below my navel, coming dangerously close to my hardening erection.

The feel of her hand so close to where no had ever touched beside myself, sent a shudder though my body. My breath hitched.

Leaning closer, she brushed her cheek against mine. Oh, how I wanted to just twist my head and claim her lips. Instead, my rapid breath licked across her cheek.

She brought her hands closer to my center, kneading and rubbing across my skin, making my erection ache in sweet agony, my body tremble in fear.

Closing my eyes, I tried to hold my breath while her hands came closer and closer to my length, making it pulse in anticipation. “S-stop, Lust." Brows tensing in frustration, I began to pant. "Stop!”

She twisted her head, making her lips barely touch mine.

I held perfectly still.

“But you obviously like it, Edward." The washcloth floated to the surface of the water. "And you didn’t beg.”

I felt her hand squeeze my erection, rushing a pulse of pleasure through my body. Closing my eyes, I let out a soft gasp.

“Come on, it feels good, doesn’t it?” She squeezed a little tighter.

Gritting my teeth, I felt my body tingling My voice had disappeared. I was unable to speak even if my mind found the words I should say. I needed her hand to move. I needed her to stroke me and release my tension. “Stop, please . . . ” My voice was weak and the plea was obviously halfhearted.

“Not good enough, Ed.” She moved her slick hand slowly up my shaft and expertly circled her thumb over the tip.

I squirmed higher in the tub as the sensation rippled through my center. I had to turn my head away from her or I’d push my lips against her. Fighting to stifle a cry, I whimpered. Before I had a chance to try another feeble attempt at protest, the sweet feeling of her thumb circling me came again. It lasted longer this time. I couldn't stop my hips from thrusting into it. My whole body tensed.

“Oh, you really do like this. Should I keep going? I can’t let you make a mess in the tub though. Not after you’re all cleaned up. Guess we’ll have to stop before that happens.” Her thumb added an up and down motion to the rhythm.

My hips moved against my will, driving upward when her palm stroked down on my length. Rebellious moans escaped even though I did my best to keep my jaw clenched shut. Just as I felt the tingling of my climax intensify, enveloping my body, she stopped. Taking her hand out of the water, Lust stood up.

My pants echoed off the walls as I looked up at her, my blond hair just starting to dry around my face and shoulders. She seemed amused at my torment. “How could you do that?” I was frustrated and starting to feel nauseous.

“Well, it was obvious you were enjoying yourself and you didn’t beg me to stop, so—"

“But that was wrong, just wrong!" My face was tensed with emotion.

“Hey, you and I both know if you really wanted me to stop, you could have made me. You’re just pissed off I didn’t finish it. Don’t play the helpless victim with me.” Her voice was low and menacing.

I couldn't help but think she was justifying her actions to herself with her statement. Even so, tears welled in my eyes and I had to turn away from her.

She yanked a towel off the rack and shoved it toward me. “Here.”

I stood up and grabbed the towel from her.

She turned her gaze to the window, crossing her arms over her chest.

I tried to wrap the towel around me with only my metal hand, but it was trembling so much I couldn't do it.

She turned around and reached out to help me, keeping her eyes averted.

I slapped her hands away. “I can do it.” Finally, I wrapped it around my back and held onto it in the front. I stepped out of the water and waited for her to help me with my clothes.

“Um, I, I’m going to wash your clothes. You’ll have to use the towel until they’re done,” she said, softly.

Without saying a word or looking at her, I strode out the door. When I got to the bedroom, I ran to the bed and threw myself on it, landing cockeyed. I rolled to my side, towel still around my waist, and drew my legs into my chest.

When she came in, she fastened the chain back to the bedpost and stepped to my side. “Edward?”

“Leave me alone.” I turned my face into the sheet.

Reaching over, she tugged at my arms and placed my metal hand back into the box. "Why don't you just strike me?" she whispered.

I let out a soft gasp. How could I respond to that? There was no way I could do that. My heart wouldn't let me.

As she left the room, she took one more glance at me, looking pained, before stepping out and closing the door.