Maybe Deklan has an extra toothbrush somewhere.
Glancing back at the locked door, I start opening drawers in cabinets. I find the toothpaste but no extra brush. No hairbrushes either, just a comb. Under the sink, there are boxes of gauze, first-aid tape, and three bottles of rubbing alcohol.
I take a deep breath and wash my face with the liquid hand soap. At least my cheeks aren’t all red and blotchy now. I toy with the idea of using Deklan’s toothbrush, but considering we had only kissed once, the act seems a little too intimate and a little bit gross.
I settle for rubbing my teeth with a washcloth and borrowing a bit of mouthwash.
Looking back at the pink box, I wonder if I should just put it on. The wedding dress is cumbersome, and I certainly can’t wear it to bed. There isn’t a change of clothes in the bag, either.
Why the hell did she even bother packing me anything?
I stare at myself in the small mirror that doubles as a medicine cabinet and think about the man in the other room. He said he was going to take care of me. Maybe that means just what I feared.
It explains Mom’s excessive crying. It also explains why she didn’t pack anything for tomorrow. Maybe she knew I wouldn’t need it.
But she did pack the sexy nightie.
This must be the plan then. He’s going to fuck me and then kill me. He’s going to rip me open, and then I’m going to die in his bed.
The violent thought has a strange, calming effect on me. At least it will be over soon. It’s already very late, well past midnight, and I don’t have to worry about what I’m going to wear in the morning. If I can manage to make Deklan happy, maybe he will at least
kill me quickly.
I clear my mind as I reach down and remove my shoes. I pull the garter along with the sheer pantyhose from my thigh and shove all of it in the bag. I stand up and reach behind my neck to loosen the dress. The first couple of hooks release easily, but I have to contort myself to get to the next one. I can’t reach the one below it at all.
“Dammit.” I mutter as I twist around, trying to get the hook with my other hand. It doesn’t work, so I attempt to pull the tight dress up from the waist, but it won’t move.
Maybe if I get some of the lower hooks first.
The lower hooks are covered with a long satin ribbon, which laces all the way back to the top. I can’t reach the ties or get to the hooks underneath them. In the mirror, I can see where I need to be, but I can’t reach the right spot.
My eyes burn as I stare at the little pink box and the contents within. How am I supposed to put that on when I can’t get out of what I’m wearing? I want to scream, but I cover my mouth with my hand and clench my teeth. I reach behind myself to try again, but now my hand is shaking, and I can’t grip the hooks at all.
The knock at the door startles me enough that I should have popped right out of the dress, but that doesn’t happen.
“You okay?” Deklan’s voice is muffled through the door.
“Um…yes?” I immediately turn the water on at the sink to muffle any sounds I might make. “I’m fine.”
Apparently, the water isn’t enough to hide my panic.
“Convincing.” His sarcastic tone isn’t lost on me.
“I just need a minute.”
“You’ve been in there almost an hour.”
I have?
With no other option, I admit my problem.
“I can’t get my dress off.” I hear the doorknob rattle.
“Open the door.”
I look in the mirror again. The blotches on my cheeks have returned. I close my eyes, grip the sink, and take one long breath.
“Open the fucking door, Kera.” His voice isn’t raised, but his words are harsh enough that I jump to his command and unlock the door.