Vicious Lies (Lies 1)

“The night I was raped should have been the worst night of my life,” I start again, wishing the wind would pick up again to drown out my voice. Instead, it’s stopped, ushering in an eerie silence, as if the entire forest is listening to my story, ready to call me a liar if I slip one time.

The quiet pushes my thoughts back to the beginning, back to the moment fear became normal in my life—the moment when I learned how evil men could truly be.

It’s not the story I intended to tell. This part of the story Langston already knows, but it’s what spills. I become consumed, and I can’t do anything but speak what happened…

I finally bought my first bikini, even though I’d asked my mother for one every year for the last three years. I finally saved up enough money to buy one from hours working at the ice cream shop.

I could have just asked Enzo for the money, and he would have gladly given it to me. Enzo doesn’t need to worry about something as simple as money. He doesn’t have to save and scrap. He just has it, an overabundance of it.

He’s not in the pool yet, but I know he normally swims around this time, so I start doing laps myself. I hear a splash and look up to find Enzo swimming towards me.

I watch Enzo’s arms stretch over his head and dip into the water. His muscles lengthen and contract as his legs propel him forward. He could swim laps for hours without stopping to rest. He’s a machine.

Soon, he’ll be mine.

“Enzo,” I shout, excited to see him.

He stops mid-stroke and turns in my direction.

It takes everything in me to not drool or let my mouth hang open at the sight of him shirtless. I’ve watched him swim countless times, and each time I’m shocked by how sculpted he is. How his muscles look like they’ve been chiseled by an artist into his chest—they are too perfect to have been gained from just regular working out. And that happy trail that leads down into his black swim trunks—yummy.

“Do you need something, Liesel?”

I walk up the shallow stairs, so he can see my body, and put my hand on my hip. When I shift my weight, he notices. His eyes heat, wanting to touch my hip.

I’m elated, but I try to keep my face sultry and indifferent.

“Want to join me for a swim?” I try to let my voice drop, to show how mature I am.

I’ve been infatuated with Enzo since my mom got a job here when I was ten. My interest in him has only grown as we’ve both grown older. Enzo is the boy for me. He’s the strongest boy I know. He would never hurt me. He is powerful enough to protect me. Someday he’ll own the Black empire—the money, the houses, the yachts—all his. And he’s smoking hot. I could fall in love with him.

I want him to be my first.

I’ve already given away my first kiss, but he could be the one to take my virginity.

Enzo grins smugly as he swims closer to me. I think for a moment that he might be getting out.

I don’t really want to swim—I just want an excuse to be half-naked with Enzo.

He walks into the shallow end, towards me. Then I feel him grab my hips.

“Enzo!” I squeal as he pulls me deeper into the pool. I fall headfirst on top of him. He doesn’t let go once we are in the water. His grip on my body tightens as if promising to protect me no matter what happens.

We both surface at the same time—gasping for air and laughing as I splash Enzo for pulling me under like that.

“Hold still,” Enzo suddenly says as he looks at my face with concern.

I still, except for my heart—it thumps and thumps and thumps, beating in anticipation of what Enzo is going to do.

He’s holding me by the waist to keep me afloat in the water, where he’s just tall enough to stand.

Enzo’s face turns serious. His lips part. He’s going to kiss me.

His hands inch up my body painfully slowly. I want him to take his time. I want this moment to last forever, but I’m not sure my heart can survive this slow pace. I need his lips on me like I need air.

His lips against mine might send my heart pounding at the speed of light. I’m not sure I’d survive his kiss, but I’ll gladly chance it to taste him.

Finally, his hands are gripping my face.