Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 92659 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92659 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
“Absolutely not.”
“So be it.” She motions at me. “What paint do you need?”
Charon pushes slowly to his feet. “I already have the materials.” He doesn’t give either of us a chance to argue before he turns and walks out of the dining room. A few seconds later, his footsteps ascend the staircase and move in the direction of the bedroom. He didn’t technically give us an order to follow, but the intent is clear all the same.
Eurydice looks shaken. “Did you two talk about this beforehand?”
I shake my head, feeling just as rattled as she looks. “No. We talked a little, while you were in the clinic, but not about this. I don’t know when the fuck he had the time to get body paint.” Assuming those are the materials he’s talking about. Theoretically, other paints would be safe to put on the skin, but I don’t feel comfortable getting experimental. Body paint exists for a reason.
We rise at the same time and follow Charon up the stairs to his room. I can’t help sneaking glances at Eurydice all the while. There are plenty of nerves present, but she shows the same anticipation I feel curling through my stomach. It’s happening again, that strange alchemy that seems to pop up when the three of us are together.
Once in Charon’s room, we find him laying a dark sheet over the bed. I still can’t believe his audacity. He had no doubt in his mind that we would both obey. He was right; here we are, obediently waiting for our next command. I can’t help but lift my brows when he pulls out a bucket of previously opened body paint. “You’re just full of surprises.”
It’s hard to tell in the low light, but I think Charon might be blushing. “There was a party several months ago where a particular kind of costume was highly recommended.”
Next to me, Eurydice frowns. “I don’t remember any party.”
“That’s because you weren’t invited.” Before she can do more than tense a little, he continues, “Hades and Persephone presided over the revelry.”
“Oh. Oh.” She looks at the body paint with new interest. “What was the theme?”
“We are not discussing it.” He sets the bucket on the ground by the bed and focuses on me. “I don’t have much in the way of brushes. We’ll just have to make do.” He holds up two brushes that have seen better days. They’re still better than I expected.
“Those will work. I’ll be right back.” I leave the room and head down to the kitchen to grab a plate from the cabinet. It takes me a few tries to find the right one, and by the time I get back up to the bedroom, Eurydice is in the process of taking off her clothes. I busy myself with examining the paint colors and dosing out a little bit of each onto the plate in a half circle. I might not have used this particular product before, but there’s some comfort in the familiarity of this process.
The brush feels strange my hand. For a moment I have the panicked thought that maybe I really don’t know how to paint anymore. Maybe it’s like everyone says—if you don’t use your skills, you’ll lose them. I sure as fuck haven’t been using it.
They aren’t expecting me to create a masterpiece though. Or rather, it will be a masterpiece that no one but the three of us will see. One meant to be destroyed in the shower later. In the past, the idea of creating art that disappears without an audience would have me turning away from the project. Tonight, it removes some of the pressure I didn’t realize I was feeling.
Charon climbs onto the bed and leans back against the headboard. He pats the mattress next to him. “Come here, baby. Lie down and give him a good canvas to work with.”
“I don’t see how this is much of a punishment.” She obeys though. I get a devastating look at her ass as she climbs onto the bed and arranges herself where he directed. Then they both look at me, and my heart drops into my stomach. I want this so desperately.
Intent solidifies inside me. Up until this point, I’ve been a passive party, willing to let Eurydice do as she would. If she had sent me away, I would’ve gone. But the time for that has passed.
I’ll do anything to stay. No matter the cost.
19
EURYDICE
When Charon said he wanted me to earn his forgiveness, I expected something more traditional. Bondage, or maybe him putting me over his knee and spanking me until I begged him to fuck me. I was even anticipating it. Somehow, despite my bravado, this is so much worse.
It’s absolutely agonizing watching Orpheus mix the paint. He’s got a look on his face that I’m intimately familiar with. Once upon a time, I used to love to watch him work. He wasn’t precious about being alone while he was painting, so I was able to watch him whenever I wanted to. And I always wanted to.