EMPIRE OF LUST

CHAPTER FIVE

Since I read that creepy text from the anonymous number, my mind hasn't been at ease.

I drowned myself in the thoughts of who could've sent such a text to me, but I couldn't think of anyone.

Kimberly wouldn't stoop that low and neither of Hunter's friends would send something like that to me, not even as a prank.

I perceived a degree of lustful and evil intent in the text and it scared the s**t out of me.

It only means one thing. I've got an anonymous creepy admirer and he's watching me.

I didn't speak to Natalie about the text until during recess.

"What do you mean you've got a creepy admirer?" She questioned, amused by my announcement.

We were walking down the school hall, to the cafeteria for lunch, when I informed her about the text.

I can't believe she finds it amusing when I'm s**t scared about it. I pulled up my disappointed look and she sighed,

"See Heaven, half the male population of Wilmer are crushing badly on you." she leaned closer and whispered, "I heard Gareth from the rugby team had your photo as his home screen wallpaper for over a week."

"Josh also told me, Chester once got a b***r, watching one of your makeup tutorials, and why do you think Bryan gives up his spot for you at the school gym every f*****g time or why Baron saves a seat for you, besides his, during music class?"

Although I was shocked to hear the first two, she was right about the last two. But then, I'd never for once thought they were being that nice to me because they have a crush on me.

I always thought they were just being nice and friendly.

We stepped into the noisy cafeteria and I began looking around for Hunter and his friends.

"Come on Heaven, don't perturb yourself because of one text. You just turned eighteen, we should be celebrating and not be bothered about one secret admirer when you've got tons of them."

I finally spotted Hunter with his team, and they were throwing a ball around themselves, laughing loudly.

My attention traveled from them to Kimberly Reed and her friends, who'd occupied the table next to theirs.

Kim was Hunter's ex-girlfriend until the beginning of their junior year, after she broke up with him for some guy she'd met during summer camp. I've no issues with Kim, but she does with me, for reasons best known to her.

She throws lethal glares at me, whenever she passes by, and makes rude comments on my page and on every post I make.

"Talking of celebration, are we still throwing our Sin City party tonight?" Natalie's question, dragging my attention back to her, and I nodded.

"Of course, we are. There's absolutely nothing stopping me from throwing that party. Who knows? It might be my last opportunity till graduation."

Plus, with Papa not being around to monitor who comes into our home and who doesn't, there's no stopping for me.

"Good. Now, do me a favor and discard those worries. You aren't supposed to be having any today." She threw her arm over my shoulders as we sauntered towards Hunter and his group.

Since Georgie was busy with the party preparation, Natalie offered to drive me home. She's lucky because her parents didn't wait for her to turn eighteen before getting her license and gifting her a car.

"They have to because none of them has time to chauffeur Henry to and fro school every day." She'd explained to me when I told her how lucky she was to get a car for her sixteenth birthday. Natalie's parents are divorced, but they co-parent Natalie and her eleven-year-old brother, Henry, living as next-house neighbors.

We arrived at my house a little later, because we'd had to drop Henry off at home first, and I was blown away by the good job Georgie had done.

The decor of the living house had been completely altered and it was the most elaborate Las Vegas-themed decor I've ever seen.

Yes, the theme of my eighteenth birthday party is; WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS, STAYS IN VEGAS.

Everything I ever wished for, when I thought about that theme, was right in front of me, from the decor to the lighting and the games that have been set aside for my guests.

Over the entrance door, was a lit neon sign that read, "WELCOME TO SIN CITY."

I was completely blown away, admiring the transformation.

"You like the decor, Ms. Casteel?" The familiar voice asked from behind us and both Natalie and I were startled, turning immediately,

"Georgie."

"I love it, Georgie!" I squealed excitedly, hugging him,

"f**k, it's exactly what I wanted."

"Better than what I imagined. You're the best event planner ever, Georgie." Natalie seconded and I nodded, still hugging Georgie.

I pulled away from him, after almost squeezing the life out of him, in exhilaration.

Just kidding, there's no way I could squeeze the life out of Georgie. He's over six feet tall and has the perfect body figure, compared to my five-foot rectangular shape.

"What about the cake, food, and drinks?"

"I've all the cocktail drinks you listed. Gin and tonic, martini and vermouth, scotch on the rocks." He listened effortlessly,

"Everything you asked for. The cake has been delivered and so are the snacks. Melinda included her famous banana cream pie in the buffet too. There are meatballs, crab cakes, and card cupcakes. You name the snacks."

"Thank you so much, Georgie."

"At your service, Ms. Casteel. Now, if you don't mind, I need to go check the rest of it out. As you can see, the party is for two hours. Go upstairs and take a rest.

See you later." He urged me and turned to Natalie,

"You too, Ms. Makker."

He gave us a courteous bow, before departing for the kitchen, while Natalie and I stayed behind, to take a tour of the entire decor.

The party kicked off at exactly seven pm, with Georgie welcoming our guests in, while I stayed with Natalie in my bedroom, getting prepared for the big night.

We powdered ourselves, baking our faces so we looked nothing but flawless during the party.

We finished a little late, because of some wardrobe emergency. Just as Natalie opened the door for us to go join the boisterous crowd downstairs, Hunter appeared in front of my door, wearing his most charming smile and holding a stick of red rose.

"Hey birthday girl, your party's lit." He winked at me and I flushed, looking away from him,

"Thanks, Hun."

"Hey, Nat." He waved at Natalie, flashing her his chivalrous smirk,

"You look beautiful, although compared to the birthday girl who's ten, I'll give you an eight."

Natalie smiled back,

"At least, I got something. I'll leave you guys to it and go join the guests downstairs," she revered her attention to him and whispered,

"Don't be late for your party."

"I won't," I assured her before she left.

"Here, happy birthday." He handed the rose to me and I outstretched my hand to take it.

With my hand touching his, he pushed me against the wall and closed in on me, leaving no room for escape.

"What are you doing, Mister Boyfriend?" I was grinning like a child, my gaze not leaving his face,

"You're so beautiful, Heaven." He raised his hand to my face and began to caress it slowly,

"I'm the luckiest guy in Wilmer, having you as my girlfriend. Super lucky you."

I flushed, trying to touch him, but he grabbed both my wrists and placed them over my head, pinning them against the wall with his one hand.

I feigned a sullen face at my inability to touch him, but the expression didn't last long. He kissed my forehead and I was flushing again, like a nine-year-old who'd just received a peck from her crush.

"How did I ever get too lucky?"

"We are both lucky, Hunter," I whispered to him,

"I can't imagine how incomplete my life would've been without you in it. You complete me and I hope we both stay this way forever."

"Me too."

He leaned his head closer to mine to kiss me and I tilted my head to the side, exposing my neck to him.

"You're so beautiful, Heaven. So freaking beautiful." He whispered to me, his breath fanning my neck.

I tightened my fist, trying to control the weird sensations I was feeling within myself, but I couldn't, not when I could feel his hardness poking my belly button through our clothes.

"I'm dying to be inside you, Heaven, and I know you are too. We've waited for a very long time to make this happen."

I couldn't judge the certainty of his statement on my part, neither was I positive that I wanted to have s*x with him, but I said nor did anything to stop him.

He's my boyfriend and has been for almost two years.

We've been abstaining from the act, because of my unreadiness and he has been very patient with me.

One moment, Hunter was kissing me like his life depended on it and the next moment, he was pulled away by some unseen force and tossed across the hall.

"What the..."

My mouth clipped the moment a haunting figure stepped out of the shadow, revealing his infuriated face, and my heart dropped into the pit of my stomach.

The monster is back from hell.