Page 21

Billy

C losing the distance between us, I move until my nose is mere inches away from hers. I can hear the faint sound of her breathing. Lucy’s mossy green eyes stare into mine. The disgust and doubt from earlier gone.

I tighten my grip on her face, pulling her closer as I kiss her with force.

“Of course,” I whisper.

This is the last thing I wanted. I had planned to use Rigg’s hand on the other girl, but this worked just as well.

I read something in Lou’s notes and thought I should try it before she asked. The one girl still needs to be killed. The amount of work I have to do is daunting. I should have finished it before Lou came home.

“I’m going to go in and shower. You need to fix your arm.” She is taking this remarkably well, or she’s in denial .

I nod and we stand, grabbing everything from the forest floor before heading toward the house.

“Want a ride?” I tilt my head to my car and she waves her hand.

“I’ll see you inside.” Her voice drops, and I feel her slipping through my fingers.

“Lou,” I growl, “I own you. Don’t fucking forget it. Forever.”

“And always.” She smirks and lowers her head before walking down the path. I am unsure what to make of it.

I walk into the barn, tossing the hand on the body that lies on the table. Sunny is covered in tattoos and a lost cause, except for the information she gave me about Riggs.

Upon entering the stall, I carry out the chilling act of slitting her throat, the echo of the blade cutting through the silence. She will bleed out until I can make my way back here.

Before heading to my car, I lock up everything securely.

When I finally reach the porch, I can’t help but cast my eyes downward to the sight of my blood-soaked attire.

With a heavy exhale, I pivot on my heels and walk off. Stripping down by the vehicle, I gather all my belongings and stow them away in the trunk, except for my boxers .

“Going for a new look?” Lucy asks when I enter the front door.

“Yeah, you like it?”

Her eyes wander from my chest, down to my boxers, then back up to meet my gaze, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips.

“I mean, it’s good, but I don’t think it’s practical.”

I grin. My heart is heavy with dread and I approach her slowly to pick out a twig and some leaves from her hair.

“Guess I rushed through the shower,” she utters.

“Let’s go. I’ll take care of you.”

Without waiting for a response, I grab her hand and lead her up the stairs.

Upon reaching the bathroom, I waste no time in removing the shirt from her head. Lucy redirects her attention, her eyes fixating on the floor.

I run my fingers over her warm cheek as I tilt her chin toward me. “Can’t look at me?”

“Just those women were thinner. What a stupid fucking thing to focus on. I’m clearly mentally unwell,” she whispers.

When she looks into my eyes, a slight mist covers them.

My heart clenches with guilt as I realize I am responsible for causing this anguish. Despite my twisted enjoyment of inflicting pain on others and feeding off their fear like coffee, she is the only person I have no desire to hurt .

“Listen, I have no interest in who the fuck they are. I’ve done it more often to help you with research, but their looks? I don’t give a damn. You’re the one who’s gorgeous.”

She doesn’t meet my gaze and pulls out of my grasp, shimmying out of her yoga pants and turning on the shower.

“Darlin’, you aren’t mentally unwell. We both have trauma that clings to our brains. The difference between us is that mine clouds my mind with a darkness that I can’t rid myself of in normal ways. Whereas yours… Fuck, Lou, your heart is so pure. The love you give is everything I’ve always needed and never received until you.”

She stands and looks over her shoulder. Every extra fluff she spots on herself ignites an irresistible desire within me. I am consumed by the effect her heart and mind have on me.

“It’s going to take time. I kinda want to bury my head in the sand and pretend none of this happened today.”

I swallow my emotions and smile, closing the distance between us.

“Get in,” I whisper.

She does as told, and I lather up her tresses and switch our positions around to wash myself off. Using the shower nozzle, I lower it to rinse her clean.

Lucy puts on some conditioner that smells like cupcakes while I shampoo my hair .

“You’ll have to pick a new colour. The green is so faded.”

I open my eyes, noticing her intense gaze fixed upon me. With a nod and a grin, I contemplate my options. Maybe I’ll return to a chocolate brown, but it’s her call.

Taking the loofah, I squeeze the soft floral-scented body wash on it and run it over her figure. I curse myself as I see the faint scratches on her knees, evidence of the injury I inflicted.

As she runs the bar of soap over my back, her touch ignites a deep longing within me. I feel a pulsating desire within. It’s more than sexual with her.

She’s my kindred spirit, the person who makes me believe in the existence of a deeper bond.

“I’ll get my first-aid kit and clean up your arm,” she says.

As we step out and dry off, the towel wrapped around my waist, I watch as she pulls a box from the closet and gestures toward the toilet.

I lower myself onto the seat, its coolness beneath me.

With her hair in a towel, Lucy applies cream and wraps my arm in a bandage.

“If you can not get it wet for at least a few hours, that would be good.”

“Got it. Want me to make dinner? ”

While I wait for her answer, I bite my lip. I know what she saw, but I also don’t want her to slip away unnoticed from my grasp, like a shadow disappearing into the night. Losing her would be the end of me. I won’t let that happen.

“You’re the better cook, unless you want a PB&J.”

“I got you. Get dressed and bring your laptop down,” I whisper before leaving the bathroom.

Stopping in the room, I grab my sweatpants and a dark tee, slipping them on and placing my hat on backward before heading downstairs to the kitchen.

When I see the pie on the counter, I hang my head. With everything that happened today, I forgot about the farmer’s market.

Rifling through the cupboards, I finally locate the perfect ingredients for a mouthwatering stir-fry. With a firm grip on the frying pan and pot, I dive into preparing dinner.

The sound of her footsteps on the stairs comforts me. At least she wants to be in the same room with me, or she’s just hungry.

“How’d you know about the hand?”

“Read through your notes when I was in there dropping off the new pens I found,” I say, and start boiling water for noodles.

“I appreciate how much you believe in me,” she whispers .

Setting her laptop on the table, her fingers dance across the keyboard and I continue chopping up vegetables for dinner.

“We have blueberry pie from the market.”

“Thank you for doing that today. Kinda forgot to say that.”

“Shocking. I assumed you would’ve remembered. I mean, your girlfriend only caught you killing women. You had to chase her through the woods and fuck her with someone else’s hand! Which, by the way, is weird, because I thought I was only yours?”

I steal a glance at her. Her eyes dance with amusement, radiating a mischievous sparkle. And that smirk on her pretty pink lips? It’s downright tantalizing.

“Listen, things kinda got outta hand out there.” I do my best to keep a straight face, but we both lose it and laugh together. “As for the touching, you’re right, but I decide what touches you. I much prefer only me, though.”

“What’re you making?”

I use the knife to scrap the vegetables into the pan, along with the sauce. “Stir-fry,” I say as I spin around to drain the noodles.

She says nothing more and turns on her music playlist.

Once everything is cooked, I portion it onto a plate and carry it over to her. She looks over at the dish, her eyes filling with curiosity.

“Can we have pie first?”

I tilt my head. “Did you poison it?” I ask her.

She laughs and rolls her eyes. “Obviously, just for this occasion. I figured we’d go out together.”

I jump up and grab the pie, putting it between us. The tension in the air is palpable. I can feel the rapid thumping of my heart in my chest, as if it’s trying to break free.

“I don’t want to live on this ledge. What’s it going to be, Lucy? Want me to leave, done with me? I need to know.”

She lowers her fork to the pie. I wait, curious to see what she wants as she takes a bite and reclines in her chair.

“Billy, I should need a lot of time. I should’ve run already. Maybe I’m as messed up as you, or maybe it’s the daddy issues, but you’re the only person who’s ever shown me how I deserve to be loved. I love you.”

“I’ll keep being that person,” I tell her.

Widening my eyes, I arch an eyebrow before taking my bite of pie.

“I know, so for now, I am all in.”

Tilting my head in thought, I watched her take another bite of the pie.

“What makes you draw the line? ”

I’ll never go away, like an unwavering shadow. I will always remain in her memories, lurking out of sight, observing her every move.

“If you fuck any of them, I’ll use every object you have for torture on you. I’ll tear the balls from your body and fuck your eye socket with a prong while I shove your own dick in your ass.”

I purse my lips. “Well fuck. Maybe I need to take lessons from the queen herself.”

Any awkward tension left in the air dissipates with her laughter, giving us hope for a smoother encounter.

We finish eating, and I do the dishes as she types away. Once everything is done, I look over at her and notice her eyelids growing heavy, showing that it’s later than our usual bedtime.

“Let’s go to bed. We can continue the work tomorrow.”

Lou waves me off, but I take the laptop and head up the stairs. As she chases after me, I feel her arms wrap tightly around my waist from behind.

I twist and turn until I can embrace her, encircling her with my strong arms.

“I love you, darlin’.”

As we settle under the covers, I tenderly stroke her hair, lulling her into a deep slumber while admiring the tranquillity etched on her face. I can’t lose this. I’d tear out my heart from my ribcage to prove my love for her .

Taking one last glimpse, I slip out of the bed and wrap the blanket snugly around her. I have a lot of work to get done tonight.

As I pad out of the house to my car, I know I can cut down on victims for her.

By the time I finish, the clock reads almost five a.m., but I change clothes and make my way into the bedroom, silently slipping in behind Lucy. I snuggle up next to her. I can’t help but feel a sense of comfort and closeness.

When her fingers grip mine, I know that I’m as home as I’ve ever been in my life and drift off to sleep.

“Plan to sleep all day? Because I’m pretty sure you said something about a date?” Lucy asks, waking me up.

I open my eyes and see her leaning against the door, wearing leggings and a loose green shirt that makes her hair pop .

“Do you have to be so beautiful first thing in the morning?” I lower my hand to stroke my morning wood.

“It’s past noon. I’ve reached my word count and I’m bored,” she says as her gaze trails down my body.

I throw off the comforter and fix my focus on her, my grip gliding along my shaft as I await her initiation.

“If we fuck, can we go do something after?”

“Way to cheapen it and make me feel like I’m not entertaining enough,” I say and pretend to pout.

She smirks and steps away from the doorframe. I swallow the growl that wants to tear out of me as I jump out of bed.

Walking out into the hall, checking through the rooms, I don’t see her and head down the stairs stark-naked.

“Oh Lou, what game are we playing?” I say in a sing-song voice.

Tensing, I listen for her footsteps but am met with silence. I creep through the main floor, but she’s not here. When I reach the front porch, the cool breeze slips over my body but does nothing to lessen my throbbing dick.

If she wants me to chase her, I have no problem, but I find her sitting on the porch swing.

“I’ve wanted to fuck you on this, but I didn’t want to break it. ”

Walking toward her, I raise an eyebrow, expressing my curiosity. Standing in front of her, I stroke my dick, looking down into her shirt, those luscious tits always on my mind.

Her lips glisten with moisture as she wets them, the sight alone making me let out an involuntary groan.

Taking a fistful of hair, I bring her head forward and slide into her wet, hot mouth. The suction over my cock is divine, and I roll my eyes back.

Lucy’s long nails run over my stomach while I fuck her face. She pulls away and I snap open my lids to watch.

Her tongue snakes out and curls around the head while her fist jerks me. When she looks up, her pert nose, lust-filled eyes and layer of freckles does me in and I rip out of her mouth.

“Up. Let’s go.” I clutch her hand and pull her off the swing.

She giggles, but follows me to the front door. I turn and grab her by the throat, slamming her against the wooden panelling.

Lowering my face to hers, I’m inches away and her light panting drives me fucking crazy. I kiss her and when her mouth opens, I caress her tongue with mine.

The sensation of her nails in my hair sends shivers down my spine, adding to the intensity of the moment. I feel an insatiable desire for her, like I can never get my fill.

I kneel in front of her, running my hands over her skin, and rip down the leggings she’s wearing. Placing her thigh on my shoulder, she’s already fucking soaked for me. I run my fingers over her slit.

Pressing my lips against her, I flatten my tongue and lick up all her juices, tasting her sweet essence. I don’t stop until she cries out and I back away.

I twirl my fingers and she moves around, pressed against the house.

“You’re so fucking good,” I whisper and stand, pressing myself against her.

I slide into her from behind, feeling her tightness gripping me. I let out a growl while penetrating her hot cunt. But it’s not enough.

I grip her arms and turn her to face me. “You are my slut, right?” I cock an eyebrow before grasping her and picking her up, her loud gasp in surprise before I drop her down on my cock.

“My pussy, right? I own this?” I say as I slam into her.

“Yes,” she whimpers.

“What?”

“You own me, Billy. I’m only yours,” she screams.

Overwhelmed by her words, I increase the intensity of my movements, savouring the taste of sweat trickling down her neck .

As she reaches her peak, I bite down on her shoulder when she tightens around me, which elicits a deep groan from me as I release into her.

Holding her close, I experience her warmth against my body. Before I set her down, I kiss her forehead.

“I love you Lou.”

“I love you too.”

“Wanna go do laundry?” I ask, looking around her room as we change. I need to get my trunk of clothes to my place.

“Laundry…Big date night?” she teases.

“Well, if you get it together, we can drop stuff off at my shop and then laundromat before our date,” I tell her.

“Where’s our date?”

I shrug. I have an idea, just have to figure out where we should eat.

“Okay, I’ll get everything together and put it in your trunk?”

“Backseat. I’ll be back, okay?”

Grabbing my hat, I spin it backwards and head out the front door.

Walking to the barn is different for me, but it isn’t terrible. The overgrowth is annoying and wets the bottom of my jeans, but once I turn into the garage, it is dry.

I dig and add all the teeth, belly buttons, and pieces of bones into two large garbage bags. Thankfully, I get back before her and stuff the trunk with my shit, then head into the house to help her with the laundry.

Once everything is in, we start the drive.

As we cruise to my shop and the laundromat, she cranks up the music. We vibe and the breeze whips her hair around, the slight cupcake smell filling the car. Her presence always enhances our trips, regardless of the destination.

I run everything into the shop and rush up the stairs to my apartment to place my work clothes in the washer, aiming to swing by on the way back to her house to place it in the dryer so I don’t end up with stank-ass clothes.

“I know where to take you for dinner,” I tell her as I get in the car.

“Thai?” Her face perks up and I grin.

Don’t care about the food, but it makes it easier than asking her.