He soon discovered a sharp, vengeful streak beneath her composure. Upon his next arrival, she greeted him in a gown of such thin fabric that it left little to the imagination. Though she quickly suppressed it, he caught the flash of triumph and wicked amusement on her face when she saw his reaction.
From then on, his visits became a form of psychological torment. Mahu mastered the art of exquisite proximity, finding endless excuses to make contact, a lingering touch, a brush of her skin against his, all while artfully denying him the release he craved. She was punishing him in the way of longing, keeping him anchored to her side, aching and entirely at her mercy.
For Ikenga, who had once held her close and tasted the intimacy they had shared, this newfound distance was pure hell. A torment magnified by the fact that Keles, despite raising no objection to his visits with Mahu, had made it abundantly clear that she would not be serving as his outlet or place of peace either.
