Ghost Silk (Ghost Perfume, Book 2) | ✔

9 - Punish me - Part 1

"Look at me," Michael said again. I widened the gap between the fingers over my right eye. "Explain why your phone was downstairs."

I slid my hands down my wet cheeks so they only covered my mouth.

I couldn't think of anything to say that he'd want to hear.

I'd never not been able to tell him what he wanted to hear.

"I didn't think about it ..."

"From now on it is always on you. And the watch."

I nodded rapidly.

"It's just, usually e-everyone who might want to reach me are home with me or ..."

"Always on you," Michael snarled. "Always." Were his muscles getting bigger?

He eased forward, putting a hand on the wall, caging me much as Lukas had. "Of course, we could put a tracking chip in your arm. I haven't ruled that out. We could have it done tomorrow." He blinked slow, and I saw how he meant it when he said in a lower, darker voice, "It would give me peace of mind."

I stared at him. I considered using the honey of my persuasion, but I was genuinely afraid that he would physically overpower me in response.

His body seemed locked down under such a tight control, I thought he might snap at the slightest sign of aggression.

Gently and slowly, I put my right hand on his chest.

I spread my fingers over his hard muscle. His heart beat faster underneath.

"Michael," I warned.

I was wrong. Softness from me only seemed to wind him up worse.

"Chip or phone?" he breathed in my ear.

"... Phone."

On perfect cue, my phone shuddered on the floor. Lukas bent forward swiftly to reach for it and hand it to me.

It was another text from Tommy. I opened messages with him. The one he'd sent before read Your boy toys were looking for you. The one he'd sent just now read Hello?

"It's Tommy, I'll answer him in a sec," I whispered, glancing up Michael's chest. The rise and fall with his breath. The irritated flex of his jaw.

What did Michael want? What would make him happy? Was a part of him afraid that I could go somewhere that was closed to him?

"Do you want to go through the portal? To see for yourself?" I offered. I cleared my throat, pointing to my death notebook. "We can try. The book was what got me through."

There was a ringing silence in my room.

"It's not scary or dangerous," I said.

Lukas rolled his eyes.

"Yes," Michael said. "I will try." He finally eased back. "But you will stay here, Rose. I'll go alone."

I scurried to the notebook and handed it to him. "The portal is – hey!"

The portal had retreated backwards. I glared. It stopped moving.

"Lower."

It lowered itself to float right above the floor.

"Walk through it here," I mumbled, showing him where it was.

Michael stepped towards the portal – through it –

He disappeared, and the portal disappeared with him.

I glanced nervously between Lukas and Gabriel. Would they be against me even with Michael gone? It was hard to read their expressions.