Page 12 of Sinners’ Appetite

Even though she pushed past her boundaries and let me take over her body and mind, I still want to find out what made her fearful of me in the first place.

Not so much me, but… my cock. Specifically—giving head.

Was she forced to at some point? Was she raped in the past?

If so, who the fuck did it? Once I find out, they’ll never get the chance to lay their hands on her again.

She’s mine and I’ll do anything in my power to make sure she never gets hurt again. Even if that means killing another useless twat to prove a point.

See, before I took off from Ohio, I killed someone else.

I even kept the shirt he was wearing as a souvenir.

It’s locked in layers of sealed bags, at the bottom of the boxes I have stacked in my bedroom still.

I don’t know exactly why I kept it. I just knew I wanted more than just the memory of ending his miserable life.

He took Amber from me, and I made sure he paid the price—slowly. That’s part of the reason I left Ohio. I knew they would find his body eventually and I didn’t want to stick around to find out when. I have yet to hear if they found him, and I honestly don’t give a shit.

His last moments on earth were the best moments of mine, aside from the memories I have with Amber. I replay his death in my mind over and over, every single day. Still—it won’t ever bring her back.

Sure, I could have waited until his case went to trial, but I knew, as a first time offender, he would have the chance to “rehabilitate” and get off the hook early. Someone like that doesn’t deserve a second chance. Amber didn’t get to see her next birthday, so I made sure he didn’t either.

“Do you want another beer?” Jeremy asks, tapping me on my shoulder and snapping me out of my own thoughts.

“Oh—yeah, sure,” I reply.

He walks up to the patio and grabs two bottles, handing one to me as he approaches. “Sorry about the PDA,” he says.

“No worries. It’s your house, after-all,” I smirk. “Plus, it somehow encouraged Nikki.”

“I noticed that.”

“I have something to ask you,” I blurt out.

“Sure, shoot.”

“What’s her deal? I tried to fuck her in the sauna, but she closed up and said she couldn’t tell me the reason why.”

Jeremy sighs, keeping a close eye on the patio door. “Man, you have no idea. She’s been through a lot of bullshit during the past year.”

“An ex?” I ask quietly.

“More like—her ex’s brother.”

“What? Really?” My eyes widen. “What happened?”

“She’ll kill me if I mention anything about it. You have to swear not to tell her that I said anything.”

“I won’t say a word.”

He sits back, his eyes still glued to the door. “Her ex’s brother took her out on a date one night and things—well—he tried to rape her. Forced her to suck his dick out on a back road that he drove her to instead of taking her home like she asked.”

My blood starts to boil and I can feel my heart thumping through my chest as I play his words over and over again in my head. The more I try to fight the rage I feel building up inside me, the tighter my hands form into fists.

“She bit him and was able to stab him with a set of keys to escape. Then she took off into the woods and waited for him to drive away before she called Sammi to come get her.”

“Where is he now?” I ask, barely able to form a sentence.

“Plot twist—the guy you saved her from the other night? That was him. She made me promise not to say anything. She’s scared now because he’s out there running free.”

I shake my head. “No, he’s not.”

Jeremy takes his eyes off the door long enough to shoot me a curious glare. “What?”

“I fucking killed him,” I say in a nonchalant tone. “I’m surprised they haven’t found him yet.”

Knowing the man that caused her so much grief is already dead because of me, makes the adrenaline rush through my veins proudly.

“You—killed him?”

“I sure did. Dragged him off behind the dumpster before the paramedics showed up.”

A smile slowly forms on his face as he glances back at the patio door while the girls come back outside. “Holy fucking shit, man. You gotta tell her.”

I place a finger to my lips, narrowing my eyes at him. “Not yet. Don’t. Say. A. Fucking. Word.”

“Your secret is safe with me.” He grins.

Sammi and Nikki make their way over to us and I pat my leg, gesturing for Nikki to come sit on my lap. When she does without hesitation, I can’t help but smile. I wonder what she would think if I told her that I put an end to her nightmare?

Would she hate me for it?

Or—would she thank me?

“Malachi and I were just discussing the plans he has for the studio,” Jeremy says, guiding the conversation into a different direction.

“Yeah…I was thinking—maybe I should hire you to paint it instead,” I mention to Nikki.

“What makes you think I like to paint?” she chuckles, leaning back against me. My god, she smells so fucking good.

“I’ll pay you extra if you do it in the nude,” I tease, resting my hands on her thighs.

“I might have to. I’d hate to get my clothes all dirty.”

“Wise choice,” I grin. “So, you’ll do it then?”

“Maybe. Jeff won’t let me come back to work just yet…”

“I don’t blame him.”

“I can’t get by without those tips. My regular wage doesn’t cut it.”

“I can be your sugar Daddy in the meantime.” I laugh.

“Smart-ass.” She huffs, slapping the side of my leg.

“So, what exactly do you photograph, Malachi?” Sammi asks, wrapping her arms around Jeremy’s neck as she hops onto his lap.

“Pretty much everything. Nature, cars, people. Anything I catch a glimpse of beauty in,” I reply, taking a swig of my beer.

“We should get him to take some naughty pics of us sometime, Jer,”

“We’ve done that plenty of time ourselves, my love,” Jeremy replies.

“But—he’s a professional.”

“I’d be game,” I chime in. “I won’t charge much.”

“See—he wants to…”

“I guess it’s settled then…”

I think taking a few risque photos of the two of them is minor compared to what just went on in their backyard.