Vain (The Seven Deadly 1)

“Thank you,” I told him, trying my damnedest not to burst into tears laughing.

We rounded the boxwoods and entered the garden maze.

“Perhaps we should return to the house...” I started before Devon shoved me into the prickly bush maze behind me.

“Or we could just stay here,” he roughly bit out, kissing me so harshly I wasn’t able to speak.

I shoved him off me. “What the hell, Devon?”

“Oh, come on. You know you want to,” he continued, handling me as if I hadn’t just thrown him off.

“Excuse me?” I said, shoving him back again, but he only came back twofold.

“Please, Sophie. I know you’re reputation, and you could do a lot worse than me.”

My chin dropped to my chest. The gall. I purposely fixed my gaze.

“You’re right, but we can’t do it here so close to the maze entrance, someone might hear.”

He backed off me for a moment. “Lead the way, Miss Price.”

“Follow me,” I flirted over my shoulder. “This way.”

I led him through the winding maze and purposely toward a dead end but near a bench so I could enjoy the show. “No one will find us here,” I told him. I grabbed the front of his jacket and settled him in front of me as I sat myself on the bench, reclining on one arm. “Go ahead.”

“Wh-what should I do?”

“Undress, of course,” I playfully teased.

“You’re a kinky bitch.”

What a lovely compliment. “You know it.”

I watched Devon shed each expensive layer of clothing until there was nothing left but the moonlight on his skin. He smiled devilishly at me. I won’t go into how ironic his name suddenly became to me.

“Here I am,” he said, spreading his arms wide.

I stood slowly and walked seductively his direction. I bent slightly to retrieve his tie from the pile and sauntered around him. I placed the tie around his eyes and began to tie a knot.

“Wait, what are you doing?” he asked.

“Just a little game I like to play,” I sang into his ear before kissing his neck. This visibly relaxed him. “Now, I want you to count to ten then come find me,” I hurriedly said while gathering all his belongings down to his shoes.

“Wait, I don’t think...”

“Don’t think. Feel,” I teased.

He grabbed for me blindly and I sidestepped him, making a beeline for the exit of the maze I’d used to visit every day as a little girl. It’s where I used to hide from my nannies. What a fool. I made my way from the maze and finally let myself smile genuinely for the first time that night. I threw his clothing in the fountain in the center of the boxwoods and turned around when I heard Devon call out my name. He was quicker finding his way out than I’d anticipated.

“What are you doing!” he grated as I tossed in the last shoe.

“Oops.”

“You bitch!”

I climbed my way up the gravel walk and into the house not bothering to look behind me. I continued up to my room determined not to think of the consequences of what I’d done.

“Nobody messes with Sophie Price,” I said out loud. “I don’t care who you are.”