Chapter 6: The Mirror & The Toy

The marks on her neck had gone dark overnight.

Amara stood in front of the mirror in the guest room, tracing the purple fingerprints with one finger. Chidinma’s hand had been there. Her mouth. Her teeth. The wet drag of her tongue. The necklace still sat cold and heavy against her collarbone. She had not taken it off.

She was wearing one of the new dresses Chidinma had bought her—a short blue thing with thin straps that barely covered anything. It made her look expensive. It made her look owned.

A soft knock.

She opened the door.

Chidinma stood there in a silk wrapper, hair loose down her back, skin still glowing from whatever cream she used. She didn’t wait for permission. She stepped inside, eyes moving over Amara slow and hungry.

“Good morning, my beautiful girl.”

She reached out and touched the thin strap on Amara’s shoulder, sliding it down until it hung off one side.

“I knew you would look perfect in this.”

Amara stayed still.

Chidinma’s hand moved lower, cupping her breast through the thin fabric. Her thumb brushed the nipple once, then again.

“Did you sleep well?”

“No.”

“Good.” Chidinma smiled, soft and knowing. “You will sleep better tonight.”

She left without another word.

After lunch Chidinma called her to the master bedroom.

She was already on the bed, robe open, nothing underneath. The afternoon light cut across her thighs. On the bedside table sat a cucumber. Long. Thick. Dark green. Still cool from the fridge.

“Come here.”

Amara’s heart was already beating too fast. She walked to the side of the bed.

Chidinma picked up the cucumber and held it up between them.

“You are still so tight,” she said. “Always flinching when I put my fingers in you. Tonight I want to see you take something bigger.”