Page 19 of Only in the Dark (Bound By Darkness Duet #1)

Olivia Mercer

I remained silent on the ride home, still reeling from learning that Kieran was a serial killer.

I shouldn’t have been surprised after learning he had stalked me and drugged me for weeks, or after seeing how easily he was ready to kill his brother for me.

I should’ve been alarmed, but I was ecstatic, except I had questions for him.

I believed he held the same moral standard I did about killing people, but if he didn’t, it’d be a deal breaker no matter how much I wanted him and felt safe and loved for the first time in my life.

I couldn’t be with someone who held the same beliefs as Mother.

But Kieran didn’t put money above all else like she had.

When we arrived at my place, Kieran ordered me to strip down, promising to run me a warm bubble bath.

I followed his instructions, sadly throwing my new lace lingerie in a trash bag, along with the matching black heels that Sarah picked out.

While he ran the bath, I reached up and gathered my hair into a ponytail, twisting the elastic tight.

I didn’t want stray strands dragging in the water.

He made me a fresh tea while the bathwater filled up, then disappeared and told me to join him after I drank my tea.

Kieran was already in the tub when I stepped closer, his knees bent and pressed to the porcelain sides so he could make room for me.

I eased into the space between his spread legs, sinking into the heat.

The bubbles clung to my skin like silk, and his hands were slow and deliberate as they glided over me.

The warm glow from the candles created a comforting ambiance.

He dipped the soapy sponge into the water and dragged it along my arms, over my shoulders, down my back, coaxing away the dried blood crusted against my skin.

The water around us swirled from milky white to a deep, diluted red, bringing a new meaning to bathing in the blood of your enemies.

Unsanitary, perhaps, but it soothed the hunger that lived in my darkness.

“I can only imagine how exhausted you feel right now. I hope I’m helping to make your night easier,” he whispered, pressing soft kisses along the back of my neck that forced a giggle to escape.

It was too domesticated for two people who had just murdered someone and played with their blood while fucking.

Especially given the fact that I had spent a year with said murdered person.

Now I had to trust that Kieran would take care of everything as he said he would.

My fate rested in his hands, which was odd since I never trusted anyone besides Sarah before.

I yawned, the exhaustion far deeper than Kieran could’ve expected. I was used to a post-kill high, not a post-kill nap, but a lot happened tonight that was different than usual. This kill took a lot more effort than my body was used to.

“Is it weird if I still want you to come through my window sometimes and watch me while I sleep? Or if I want to wake up with you inside of me?” I asked, my head resting on his shoulder. I felt his heart rate increase.

“Fuck no. It confirms what I already knew—you’re perfect for me.

What if I told you I wanted to watch you seduce men, lure them home, and kill them together before fucking in front of their dead bodies?

Would that turn you off, Little Serpent?

” he questioned in a low, sultry whisper.

His breath was warm and tantalizing near my ear before he gently nibbled on my earlobe, sending shivers down my spine.

His hand traced a slow, deliberate path down my breast, lingering just enough to ignite sparks of desire, then continued its journey over my stomach.

His fingertip lightly grazed my entrance, teasing with a fleeting touch that promised more before it withdrew, leaving an electric anticipation in its wake.

It didn’t matter how much he had already touched me tonight—it wasn’t enough.

He made me insatiable. “Or does that cater to the darkest parts of you?”

“I think we can make that happen occasionally. And we can start with my target, the guy Matthew was going to get me closer to so I could kill him. He hired Mother—the woman who stole me—to kill my birth mom and steal me. She kept me instead. Matthew had a purpose. Since he’s dead, you serve that purpose now. ”

“Tell me who, and I’ll help you kill the bastard. I’ll come up with a game plan,” he offered.

I leaned back and whispered the name in his ear. I wished I could see the look on his face, but his initial silence told me he was shocked by the information. I figured he was processing.

“Damn. I didn’t expect that. I’d do anything for you—bleed myself dry, break every bone, and still crawl back for more.”

“Before you say that, there’s something I need to know and something you need to know.

I never lied to your dad. I’m an entrepreneur…

but I kill men I feel are deserving, for money.

Mother didn’t discriminate; she killed everyone she was paid to kill.

And what about you, Kieran?” I turned to face him, straddling him.

A bit of water splashed out of the tub, but I didn’t care.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, leaned forward, and peppered kisses along his cheek and jawline.

“Who do you kill?” I whispered in his ear, mustering up the best seductive voice I could produce.

He groaned, his arms settling on the small of my back and pulling my body toward him, until we were as close as physically possible. “I kill men who got away with their crimes. The worse the crime, the more torturous the kill.”

“Mmm, talking about torture turns me on. It’s too bad I’m exhausted,” I teased, feeling his half-hard cock grow against me.

“But maybe tomorrow you can sneak into my room tomorrow night and have your way with me. Maybe you could even make me a special tea.” I leaned forward, pressing my forehead against his shoulder and closing my eyes.

A bath was the perfect way to relax so I could sleep, apparently.

Kieran’s laugh was so deep his chest rose and fell, and I lifted my head to look at him, a little dizzy and groggy now. Hopefully, he’d be able to get me out of the bath and into bed without too much of a hassle. I wasn’t used to feeling like this, not since…Fuck.

“I thought you might struggle to sleep, so I made you my special tea already. The timing happened to be perfect, Little Serpent, because I’m not done with you tonight.

Hopefully, you’ll wake up to enjoy it, too, or else you’ll wake up with a mess between your legs and know I gave you exactly what you wanted. ”

I wanted to fight, but fatigue won as I collapsed in his arms.