Hidden Truths (Truths and Lies 1)

Pluto and Proserpina.

The rapist and his victim.

“Keep eyeing me like that and I’ll fulfill those dark fantasies rolling through your mind,” he bites out, his intense hazel eyes searing into me. “Every last one of them. All night long.”

Averting my eyes, I stare down at the floor, frozen on what to do next. He stalks over to me until his black socks come into view.

Socks.

So simple and normal.

That is, unless you’re using said sock to contain a murder weapon.

His fingers grip my jaw and he lifts my chin until I’m forced to look at him. He runs his thumb along my bottom lip, dragging the flesh roughly to the side.

“This is the part where you get ready for bed also,” he explains, his voice dry and condescending. “Understand?”

I swallow down the mixture of hatred and fear that have tangled inside my throat. Furious tears burn at my eyes. One escapes and slides down my cheek. He leans forward, kissing the wetness.

“You have an early morning. I suggest you move.” With those words, he releases me and motions at the dresser before turning his back to me.

I focus on grabbing my own change of clothes from the drawer, but unlike Kostas, who’s clearly okay with being on display, I close the bathroom door and get changed in there. When I come out, dressed in the silkiest pair of pajamas I’ve ever felt, Kostas is already in bed and the room is darkened. He’s staring down at his phone and it illuminates his face, making him seem darker and scarier than he already is, which is quite a feat if you ask me.

When he tilts his head up, I snap my eyes down and walk around to the other side of the bed.

I’ve never slept in a bed with a man before, and I have no clue what I’m supposed to do. He said we’re waiting until our wedding night to have sex, but does that mean we’re waiting until that night to do everything? Suddenly feeling inexperienced and sheltered and terrified out of my mind, I tug my blankets up to my neck and lie on my side, facing away from Kostas, in hope that he’ll let me go to sleep without asking anything of me.

But sleeping beside a monster is easier said than done.

No matter how tightly I squeeze my eyes shut, I know he’s there, lying in wait. Just waiting to sink his teeth in and take a bite.

Just as I begin to relax, I hear him set his phone on the nightstand. The bed moves slightly as he adjusts to get comfortable.

“You’re shaking the bed,” he rumbles, pulling me slightly into his chest. “Are you crying?”

“No,” I rasp out.

He wraps his arm around my front and nuzzles his face into the crook of my neck. “Are you afraid of me?”

“Y-Yes,” I admit, knowing lying to him is futile and stupid.

“Mmm,” is all he says. As though my being afraid is hardly an interesting thought to him. Then, his grip around me tightens as he draws me closer, his hips slightly flexing as he rubs his very obvious erection against my butt. “Fear can be healthy. Keeps the heart pumping like it should.”

I hate this man.

I hate him with everything I am.

His palm spreads out over the front of my pajama top above my breasts. He caresses me gently with his thumb.

“Your heart is certainly beating like a champ.” He slides his thumb lower, grazing my nipple and causing it to harden. “This works too.”

I’d burst into tears if I weren’t so pissed at his arrogance.

“Fuck you,” I whisper, the hate vibrating through me.

“Don’t worry, moró mou. I will. And soon.”

Kostas

I’m an asshole.

The poor girl thought I’d rape her.

I am a lot of things, but I don’t have to force women. My sweet little fiancée will one day beg, whether she likes it or not. I’ll spread her out on the bed and bury my face in her cunt until she doesn’t push me away, but instead tugs me to her.

My phone buzzes and I groan. Fucking Aris. If he knows what’s good for him, he’d leave me the hell alone.

Aris: We need to talk.

Me: I’m busy.

Aris: Too bad.

I toss my phone on my desk, swallowing down my irritation. It’s not like I can avoid my brother forever. He’s a part of the family business. Without his incredible ability to manipulate numbers in our favor, we wouldn’t have half the fortune we do. Unfortunately, Aris is a necessary part of my world.

While I wait on the smug bastard, I think about this morning. I’d left Talia sleeping. At some point in the middle of the night, she’d softened toward me. In her dreams, I’m not a total monster. Her hand had snaked up my chest and she’d held on to me. Selfishly, I’d inhaled her hair while I wondered about my future with her.