Page 117 of Lau Ahi
“Strength. Feminine strength. You’re beautiful to look at and most women who would claim themselves misandrist wouldn’t normally bother with vanity.”
I sneered at his words hating that it was the prevailing standard for society. “A chauvinistic perspective.”
He nodded his agreement to my point without looking offended. “True. Most men think that women do everything for the male gaze because society has made male praise, acceptance and validation the end goals for women.”
I looked at him suspiciously wondering how we’d gotten to this place. It made all of this feel almost real. “You really sound more like me the more we talk.”
“I told you before, I have no use for most men. They can be weak. Fickle. They allow the wrong things to turn their heads and men are far easier to compromise than women are. That piece of shit that was just in here was a perfect example of that.”
I heard what he said and what he didn’t and now the totality of the man in front of me “Are you a spy?”
He smirked lazily his eyes narrowing in a sleepy, non-violent way. “Classified information,”
My response was only to nod and I tucked away the information that this man was even more of a chameleon than he appeared and I shouldn’t underestimate what he was capable of. “I’ll take that as a yes and not ask anymore questions. To answer yours, he tried to approach me multiple times throughout my graduate and Ph.D. programs. Of course I wasn’t interested.”
“And now he’s going to do some weird shit like try to get you under his thumb and make you feel as though you’re beholden to him in order for you to advance.”
My stomach turned and I hated the way his words sounded but that didn’t make them any less accurate. “That sums it up. Which is stupid. I could literally quit and never have to worry about having my bills paid.”
He huffed and poked his chest out proudly. “Especially now.”
“What does that mean?”
“You don’t think you’re still going to pay for bills once we’re married.”
“I’m never one to turn down a newWilbur.”
He grinned but this time it wasn’t the sadistic type of smile. It was filled with humor and I was happy that he took my words as a joke. I wasn’t lying, though.
“Only unlike him, I know what lies beneath and I would do more than drain every account I have to ensure I stay within your good graces.”
“And what is that supposed to mean?” Because his words sounded a touch too transactional and I didn’t like it.
“It means that I would go to war with and end the life of anyone who felt the need to disturb the peace that I can see you have battled so hard to maintain in your life. Your world is full of beautiful things that bring you joy and someone attempting to make it ugly is unacceptable. Starting with Dean Callahan and his attempts to belittle the accomplishments that come with earning all those letters before and after your name. Since he wants to make you feel small I would take a hammer to the bottoms of his feet as he hung upside down breaking his bones a centimeter at a time as he screamed for mercy. I would even desecrate something as sacred as fire by having it touch his body. I would let him dry out in a kiln until his body was little more than a husk and feed it through a wood chipper until it was ground into dust.”
His words painted a vivid picture. One that spoke to me on a visceral level judging by how my nipples were fighting to break free. Thankfully, the padding meant I wasn’t exposed but somehow he knew how aroused he had me. Ori seemed pleased that I wasn’t running away screaming and that I was too intrigued by his words, wondering why and how he’d found the time for his imagination to run so wild.
“That was explicit.”
His eyes sparkled, although his face hadn’t changed. “Explicit. Interesting choice of words. You need to run to your father and tell him I’ve scared you?”
“No. Is this you trying to give me an out?” And why did the idea of that offend so greatly?
“No. Showing you what I’m capable of if someone tried to harm you.”
“More of you keeping your promise to me?”
He didn’t look at all remorseful for his words. “Yes. Glad you see it for what it is. I’ve interrupted enough of your day. When you leave here we need you at the office.”
He stopped speaking abruptly his body held tight before he dipped his head at me respectfully, before he turned and walked out the door.
What the hell had just happened?
GET AT ME
ORI
“I need you to be honest with me, Pappy.”
