Page 21 of Craved By You (Dark Desires Duet #1)

Astrid

C olt texted me as soon as band practice ended, letting me know that he was coming to get me.

At first, I was just going to tell him ‘no’, that I was already in bed and was going to stay home tonight.

But I realized that I would have probably had an easier time falling asleep if he was next to me, so I didn’t argue.

This man spoiled me in ways I didn’t know were possible.

As soon as we got back to his house, we fooled around but he passed out soon after.

I’m sure being a rockstar was exhausting at times.

On the drive home, Colt told me that he needed to talk to me about something but then followed it up by telling me that it could wait until tomorrow since it was late.

You’d think that he would know by now that his words were going to linger in my brain, keeping me awake all night.

I rolled over onto my side to face Colt and watch him sleep.

He looked so peaceful. Last night, when I had gotten out of bed, even when I thought that he wouldn’t notice, he was still attentive.

Colt went searching for me - stretching his arm out and checking the space where my body had just been - all while still dreaming.

As soon as I came back to bed I wasn’t even situated and he was already wrapping his arms around me.

I did have to wake him up so I could get fully into bed but still, it was the sweetest thing.

After a bit of time, I rolled onto my back and stared up at the ceiling, willing the fan to turn on by itself. I would have gotten up and just done it myself, but I was worried that by flipping the switch the light would also come on, waking Colt. I didn’t want to be that asshole.

Instinctually, Colt followed me, snuggling up against my body and I could feel myself starting to sweat.

Why is his place so hot? I finally had enough.

I got up again, grabbed my phone - turning on the flashlight - and journeyed my way through the house. Hopefully I could find the thermostat and bump the temperature down a degree or two so I could hopefully pass out myself.

Seventy-six? Fuck that . Down to seventy-two it went.

That was still pushing it, my comfortable temperature was usually about seventy, but this wasn’t my house.

Now that that was done, I made my way over to the fridge thinking about a bottle of water.

When I opened it, I got a whole hell of a lot more than that.

Inside the fridge, there was a package of meat that had been left to thaw.

It looked different compared to typical store-bought meat.

Like this had been packaged at home, or ideally at a butcher.

I pulled a pack out and noticed the label on it was handwritten.

Andrew. My heart began to race and I was frozen in place.

This wasn’t what I think it was…was it? Tears began to form in my eyes while a lump formed in my throat.

I’m dreaming. Right ?

I tried to convince myself as I closed the fridge, shoving the meat back in as I slowly watched the light go out inside before opening the door again quickly.

It was still there. In a haste, I grabbed the package again, accidentally spilling some of the goo that was inside it.

I opened the freezer to find it stocked fully with meat that had handwritten labels.

Each with a different name: Kyle, James, Jonathan.

I gulped. Each of these names were ones that I had heard across the news stations and on the radio.

These names were the people whose loved ones were desperately searching for them after they didn’t come home.

“ Nope.” The word slipped out with an emphasized pop. “Not a dream.” I whispered as panic quickly set in and reality became more apparent.

These were human and that was , I gulped, blood .

Why are these in his fridge? Did he kill these people? So many questions raced through my mind and the only person who could answer me was the person who had incited this chaos in the first place.

I glanced down at the crimson puddle forming at my feet.

Gross.

I was freaking out, but I knew I had to clean it up. I didn’t want Colt to know I had discovered his murder house fridge and freezer, yet.

I needed a plan. I needed answers. Most importantly, I needed to try and calm the fuck down.

Who just keeps this stuff in their kitchen? Unless…

I couldn’t breathe, my heart had caught in my throat and I felt the urge to run.

Should I call 9-1-1? I definitely need to call 9-1-1.

I began to fumble around on my phone and started to dial the number when suddenly I felt the hairs on my arms start to raise. I was being watched. Slowly, I turned to see Colt’s silhouette in the doorway, outlined by the light of the moon coming in through the window.

“ What do you think you’re doing?” Colt’s words may have felt like ice, but the fire in his eyes burned straight through my soul. He seemed panicked, and he should be because his girlfriend had just discovered his darkest secret of all.

Not only was Colt a murderer. He was doing it… Dahmer style.

“ I- I’m sorry,” I stuttered as the crimson puddle continued to pool beneath my feet.

I reached for a paper towel, squatting down to clean up the mess I had just made.

I didn’t want to believe what I had just seen, but I knew that I couldn’t continue to lie to myself.

There was nothing that could be done to ease my mind.

In an instant, I was upright again, his grip tightening viciously around my arm. The person who was supposed to protect me now had me fearing for my own life as terror seized me. I prayed desperately to anyone who might be listening, begging for this not to be my end.

“ You shouldn’t go through things that aren’t yours,” he seethed.

“ I was thirsty,” I stumbled over my words, confused about what he was saying. He wanted a life together but didn’t want me going through the fridge?

“ I would have gotten you a drink, you should have woke me up,” he lectured. “Now put your phone away and come back to bed.”

“ I’m not tired.” I finally found my voice after he let go of me. “How do you expect me to sleep after what I just saw?” I gestured to the fridge.

“ I’m sorry,” Colt attempted to apologize without even expressing what for. “You wouldn’t understand.”

I stood there glaring back at him wishing that he would help me at least try to understand. “Sorry, isn’t going to bring those people back to life, Colt.”

“ Come back to bed.” Now Colt was the one begging. “Please, sunshine.”

“ Stop sunshining me, Colt,” I pushed back with my words, and yet, I still found myself doing as he said, regardless of the warning sirens that were going off in my brain.

What if I’m next?

Was I just another piece in his game, manipulated into falling for him before he… Before he discarded me like the others?

I couldn’t be.

None of that seemed to matter anymore. The man I had started to fall for had now been replaced by the monster standing in front of me. The most terrifying part? I still craved for him to devour me. I yearned for him, even if the word devour now echoed with a chilling, predatory undertone.