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14

ECHOES

DIYA

A sher walked toward me, his steps unhurried, whistling as he did.

“Take your sweet time. I’m in no hurry here,” I bit out.

“You’re welcome,” he whispered, staring at me with glittering eyes.

The asshole was enjoying my humiliation.

“Wait, how did you find me?” I asked with a frown.

“I saw him take you,” he said with a shrug, moving toward my leg and cutting off the tape around my feet.

“You saw him kidnap me and thought, ‘I might as well let him kill her for me.’ That’s just what a rational, well-adjusted person would do, right?” I let out a sharp laugh.

He smiled. “Even half naked and freezing, you’re still smart. I like that.”

I growled, but of course, I would’ve done the same thing.

“This is going to hurt,” he said, tugging at the tape around my thighs.

“I know.”

“Not the first time getting taped to a gurney?” he said, staring down at my body with a sneer. “So? I heard the name Toby. Is he related to Doctor Dawson?”

“You don’t need to know,” I said.

“That’s the thanks I get for saving you?” he asked as the metal blade slid closer to the inside of my thighs.

I trembled.

Let’s strangle myself for that. Later.

I fucking almost died, and here I was, thinking about his dagger and his fingers on my…

He bent down, and I trembled when his chuckle vibrated along my skin.

“What are you thinking right now, Doctor Sharma?”

“Nothing.”

“What a fucking liar,” he said, his voice a slow caress against my chilled skin.

He cut the tape around my waist, and his dagger went to my navel before he dragged it further down. My throat and bones ached, but I was more acutely aware of the ache in my pussy. For a touch. For even more.

“I hate you.”

“No, you just hate your pussy wants me so bad,” he whispered, his dagger moving temptingly close.

“What… are you doing?” I gasoed.

“What you wanted me to do,” he said, flicking the dagger until the hilt was pressing against my mound. “Let’s see how much you can take, Doctor Sharma.”

I can take a lot.

“Do you want me to move it lower?” he whispered, his breath teasing my aroused skin.

If I was a morally good, sensible woman, I would have said no. I would have had the decency to resist, to refuse.

But I had always craved the chaos, the fire, the intoxicating lure of madness, and Asher Maddox was all the three in one.

“Yes,” I answered, knowing very well it might become my undoing.

“Then… you’ll answer my questions,” he said, eyes hot against mine, the etched hilt of his dagger softly trailing up and down the insides of my thighs.

“Fuck…”

“Say yes.”

“Yes,” the word spilled out along with a whimper.

“Good. Did you kill Tobias Dawson?”

“I wasn’t convicted. I was released and…” My voice trailed off when he pressed the hilt closer to my wetness.

“I told you… only the right answers will get you what you want. You lie, you lose.” So fucking smug, but what the hell…

“Yes. Yes, I killed him. Toby was an asshole.”

“That’s my good girl. Now, spread your legs for me.” I did, and in a moment, the patterned edge of the hilt trailed up until it was pressing against my clit. I groaned in pleasure and pain. “Was he the first one you killed?”

“He… he killed his cancer patients. I killed him. It’s only fair. It’s like what you’re doing now.”

“Not the question I asked. Did you kill more before him, after him, or was he your only victim?”

“He’s my only—”

“Wrong.” He was no longer gentle with his dagger. I gritted my teeth when he met my eyes.

“Fuck, Ash. Fuck. Ok, ok. I’d killed before him, but haven’t killed anyone after him. He was my last.”

“How many? How many before Doctor Dawson?”

I stared at the ceiling with a sigh. I knew Asher was in no position to snitch, but did I want him to know all these little details about me? Dark, dangerous details that would give him some kind of power over me?

“Eight.”

“Eight?”

I nodded.

“Thanks for telling me the truth,” he said, dragging the hilt down until it was prodding my pussy. I jerked up, desperate, and he laughed, pulling it back from me, and replacing it with his fingers. “Why? Why did you kill?” He softly stroked me, and I clenched my teeth.

“For the same reason you’re killing now.”

“They killed your best friend?”

“These men hurt others.”

“So? You were doing social service before you got caught?” he mocked.

“No. I was helping myself.”

“Right answer,” he whispered, his fingers rubbing me softly. “Does killing make you happy?”

“Peaceful. The voices go quiet.”

He nodded, taking his finger back and when his dagger met my flesh again, it was the sharp side. It cut into my thigh, like a soft seduction, drawing blood and then the blade was gone.

“We should get going.”

That sick little fuck.

I grunted as he cut the rest of the tape and without another word or warning, he ripped it off from my body, and I bit the screams in.

Freed, I stumbled up from the gurney with a curse. My body was sore, my neck burned, and every inch of my skin ached. As if it wasn’t enough, I was aroused and humiliated.

“Eyes on me, asshole. I’ll take that shirt now, thank you,” I grumbled, motioning him to remove his shirt.

He played me perfectly and now… here he was, ogling.

“Why would you assume that I’m going to give my shirt to you?” he teased, but he unbuttoned his shirt anyway and handed it to me. “You look cold. And grumpy. You wanted more of my dagger?” His eyes were on my erect nipples when I pulled on the shirt. When I was considerably warmer, I turned to Asher, and once again… I was struck.

I had a feeling I’d never not be struck by how magnificent he was.

My mouth watered.

“Are you done checking me out?”

“Well, we both know you’re sexy as fuck. Had your personality matched your body… I’d be on my knees in a second.” I licked my lips. Oh, I’d still be on my knees if he asked me to. Personality be damned.

“Yeah?” he said, his smile cocky. “You won’t be on your knees now because my personality sucks?”

“Well, I don’t know. Maybe… if you play it right.” I pulled the dagger from him, and his eyes widened. “How about I finish what you started? Do you want to try?” I whispered, pressing the hilt to his cock. I didn’t miss how hard he already was.

“I’ll fucking kill you, Diya. Take your…”

“What? You went to all that trouble to save me only to kill me?” I sang, replacing the dagger with my hand. I rubbed his cock with a moan, relishing the way he grew harder with just a touch. “Why did you save me, Asher?”

“I…”

He groaned when I pulled his pants down.

“What the fuck are you doing?” he growled, going stiff when I threw the dagger down.

“I hate being in debt. I don’t want to owe you anything,” I whispered, and he trembled. I waited for him to say no, to stop me, but he didn’t even move when I pulled his boxers down and his cock sprang out, already ready for me.

I traced along the veins running up and down the satin skin.

“Diya, what are you doing?”

“Paying the debt back. Don’t you want it?”

He nodded, half in a trance when I wrapped my fingers around him.

I had no idea what kind of madness this was. I wasn’t in control for once in my life. I desired to kiss him just as much as I wanted to kill him. It was irrational, and consuming, but here I was.

He groaned when I rubbed the head until the precum glistened. I grazed my thumb, wiping the wetness away before pressing it against his lips.

“You’re being too quiet. Scream for me, Pussycat. Scream louder. No one will hear you, though.”

It didn’t take him long to explode in my hand. He was too fucking eager to come for me, too eager to please.

“Good boy.”

Unable to resist me any longer, he tugged me by my hair, making me groan.

“Sorry,” he whispered, snaking his tongue between my parted lips with a dark growl. “I needed that.”

“I needed that too. But seriously, why did you save me?”

“Vincent would come sniffing again like a damn hound if you died,” Asher said, eyes narrowed. “That would be a problem.”“Ah,” I said with a nod. “Makes sense.” I sighed, rubbing my hand against my neck. “So? What now?”

He stared at me for a long moment before shrugging. “Don’t know.”

“Why don’t we call a truce? You know my secrets now, and I know yours. I can be a greater ally than an enemy.”

“Truce?”

“I have already got one psychopath to deal with, and he won’t listen to reason. Taking on two of you’d be a real pain in my beautiful ass.”

“That really is a beautiful ass.”

“I’m good at this,” I said.

He snorted. “What? Handjobs?”

“That too, but I’m talking about murder. You’re new, and you make such a mess. Also… you’re delusional to think your alibi is airtight. You’ve been caught twice already.”

“That’s only because you’re a nosy busybody who doesn’t know when to back off, Sharma.”

I scoffed, crossing my arms. “No, Maddox, it’s because you’re reckless. You see… I can be your alibi. I can come and go without anyone batting an eye. I’ve got access, and Vincent’s trust whereas you don’t.”

“But you got caught too.”

I leaned in slightly, my voice lowering. “Yeah, but I’m still here, aren’t I?”

He nodded.

“You need me more than you realize.”

“Do I?” he asked.

I tilted my head and gave him my most innocent smile, fluttering my eyes. “Come on, no one would ever suspect this face belongs to a killer. Just look at me—how could I possibly be one? I’m too cute for that.”

Asher paused, his eyes narrowing as he studied me. “You’re fucking good,” he said, shaking his head. “You didn’t fool me once, though. Most people would have underestimated you, but not me.”

“Yeah fine, Ash, but nobody else suspects me. Especially not the handsome sheriff,” I said, rubbing my hands together. “He wants me.”

He growled. “He’s such a fucking moron. Did you sleep with him?”

That was a total turn of conversation, but he looked eager to find out.

“I don’t know why it’s relevant here?”

His eyes flashed, but he didn’t say anything. The silence stretched. I had a feeling he was going to say no, but then he nodded.

“Yes. Let’s call a truce. I’ll, you know, take your help.”

“That’s my good boy,” I said, tracing his stubble.

“Oh, but there’s one more thing.”

“What?” I narrowed my eyes. I could hear the cogs in his mind turning.

He was planning something else, and I had a feeling I wouldn’t like it.

“One handjob isn’t enough of a payment for saving your life, Sharma, no matter how good it was. You should know that.” His eyes gleamed, as he took a step toward me. Voice rough, he bunched my shirt up my hips and pulled me closer to him with a growl.

“I’ll use you, your mouth…” he pushed a finger between my lips. “And every inch of your body until I feel like the debt is completely paid.”