Toxic - Zoe Blake Page 0,18

details of my life, I placated him. “Don’t worry, John. I won’t mention a thing.”

The poor dead bird had been a brightly colored parakeet. A pet bird. If it had been from the wild, it would have more than likely been grey, like a pigeon or a brown sparrow.

No. This was a message.

Richard always called me his little bird.

It looks like another game had begun.

Once again, I didn’t know the rules. The frigid hand of dread gripped my heart as I guessed at what the final outcome would be.

Chapter 8

Lizzie

Sitting at my vanity table, I stared down at the stolen mobile I had partially hidden in my lap. I wasn’t allowed a mobile of my own anymore. Despite owning one of the world’s richest telecommunication companies, Richard hated technology, especially cell phones. He said they were a mindless, trivial distraction. He rarely carried his own, and I had fallen out of the habit of carrying one as well. It’s funny how something that felt so necessary to modern life could so easily be discarded.

Unfortunately, I needed to check something on the internet and I didn’t want Richard to find out by seeing a search history on the computer he allowed me to use in the study. I didn’t trust those clear history options.

My hands were shaking too much to type the words in the search bar. I had to be quick. The sleeping footman I had stolen it from would soon realize it was missing. It had been hard getting the facial recognition to work with his closed eyes and slack jaw but eventually the softly illuminated screen lit up. When done, I would drop it under a chair in the hallway for him to find later.

“Ready so soon, my love?”

I jumped at the sound of Richard’s voice. Hiding the phone within the folds of my dress, I met his gaze in the mirror’s reflection.

His footsteps were silent as he walked across the thick bedroom carpet to reach me. Placing his hands on my bare shoulders, he gave the top of my head a kiss.

“Did you have a nice lesson today?”

Squeezing my thighs tight, praying the light of the screen didn’t show through the tulle of my skirt, I had to swallow past the dryness in my throat before answering. “It was amazing actually. I never thought I’d like something as much as designing dresses, but I might actually like designing jewelry even more. All the techniques were fascinating and everyone was very generous with their time and in answering all my newbie questions.”

I was rambling.

“The necklace rendering is over there, if you’d like to see it.” I gestured with my head, hoping he would turn away.

He didn’t.

Keeping his keen gaze locked on mine in the mirror, he smoothed his hand down over my hair before resting it once more, high on my shoulder. Slipping his other hand up higher, his fingertips pressed against my collarbone.

Feeling lightheaded, I tried to steady my breathing as my heart thumped loudly in my chest.

His voice was a husky purr against my ear. “Each time I look at those jewels wrapped around this pretty little neck of yours, I will remember the sight of them covered in my cum resting on your tongue.”

Both of his hands were pressed against the base of my throat. If anyone were to look upon us, they would think it was a loving gesture.

It didn’t feel like love to me. Memories of the dead bird flashed before my eyes. In this moment, it felt more like a threat.

Every second that passed increased the chances the phone hidden in my lap would suddenly ring. There would be no way I could explain its existence or why I was hiding it to Richard.

Curling my hands into fists, I let my nails bite into the barely healed scratches on my palms. The harsh sting of pain grounded me. Swallowing, I picked up a blush brush with what I hoped was a steady hand and swirled its bristles around the dusky pink compact. Raising it to my cheek, I said, “You need to let me get ready or we’ll be late. I know how much you hate being late.”

Richard smiled before giving the top of my head another affectionate kiss. Taking his jacket off as he crossed the threshold into his dressing area, I could hear his slightly muffled voice as he continued to make conversation. “Did I mention where we are going tonight?”

Lifting the cell phone from its hiding place, my heart