Page 14 of Unbinding the Demon

The evening sun gleamed low in the sky by the time we arrived back at Ashton’s house. Its gentle rays kissed the top of the roof, setting it ablaze in a warming glow. Now that I was seeing it in a new light, the place looked far more peaceful and rather charming in its own unique way. The sun caressed Ashton’s face and illuminated his golden eyes as he opened the car door for me with a smile. It was a much more pleasant experience than my first time arriving here.

“Would you like to watch the sunset by the lake?” he asked as we walked up to the porch.

“I’d love to, actually.” I smiled, avoiding direct eye contact. Sunrises and sunsets had a special place in my heart, and I wasn’t going to miss an opportunity to enjoy one.

“Perfect. I’ll be right back then.” He grinned and went inside.

I twiddled my thumbs as I waited for him to return, noticing the scratches in the white paint from me gripping the door frame. My gaze then shifted to the side of the yard at the imposing grove of pendulous spruce. The weeping branches drooped mournfully from the weight of sharp, draping needles and long, slender cones. Twisted vines of wild rose bushes reached up from the ground and ensnared the lower branches with their crimson-kissed thorns. It was as if they were trying to imprison whatever might dwell within the shadows beneath the trees. It was the type of sinister forest where someone might get lost and never return because some sort of otherworldly creature consumed them.

The breeze made me shiver as Ashton emerged from the house. Belzar rushed out behind him and ran over to me. He barked and wagged his fluffy tail with glee. “Hello, Belzar!” I cooed, while petting his head. He jumped up to give my cheek a slobbery lick, causing me to giggle.

“Here, I thought you might need this.” Ashton smiled endearingly at us while holding out a huge black denim jacket lined with soft fleece.

“Oh, thank you. I was starting to feel a bit cold.” I took it with gratitude and put it on. The thing was massive and reached down to my knees, but it was super warm. My senses were instantly bombarded with his wonderful fire and spice scent. I had to resist the urge to bury my nose in it, especially since he’d already caught me sniffing his shirt during my drunken escapade the other week.

“I also brought you these to snack on in case you’re hungry.” He placed a small to-go package of roasted almonds in my hand.

“Oh, um, thank you.” I hoped he didn’t notice the blush creeping onto my cheeks as I accepted them.

Of all the snacks he could have offered...

He put an arm around my upper back and guided me along a narrow path through the rustling, tall grass and wildflowers. Belzar ran ahead of us with his tongue hanging out of one side of his mouth. I snuggled up to Ashton’s side and reached out to brush my fingertips along the rough edges of the tall grass, colorful asters, black-eyed Susans, and occasional toad lilies. A few falling leaves swirled around us in the chilly breeze, and a murder of crows cawed noisily from one of the old oaks by the water.

He led me to a small stone bench. It rested beneath one of the oaks that stretched its mighty limbs out over the shoreline. We sat down and listened to the gentle waves lapping against the rocky shore and the eerie cries of loons echoing across the water. Dense forest and large, mossy stones secluded and surrounded the lake. Dancing ripples created a stunning reflection of the setting sun. Whirls of mist glided out from beneath the trees and across the water like spirits twirling out from their graves in the shadows. It all created a captivating and calming scene.

“Have you finished reading the journal yet?” Ashton asked while examining the side of my face, his tone relaxed.

Why does he care so much about my opinion regarding the journal?

“Not yet. But I’ve almost finished it.” I tucked an unruly strand of hair behind my ear to prevent it from blowing around in the autumn-scented breeze. “It’s fascinating how she fell deeper and deeper into what seemed like complete insanity by the end, though. It was a side of her I hadn’t known existed.” A tremendous gust of wind abruptly blew my hair all willy-nilly around my face.

“What makes you think she was insane?” he laughed and began smoothing my hair back down.

“Well, you should know since you read it too.” I reached into my bag and pulled it out. I had to fight the wind as I began flipping through the pages. “Just look at all this crazy stuff she wrote about different dimensions, some dark magical power from ‘The Abyss,’ and the evil demon that’s supposedly trapped there. It’s all a bunch of madness!” I faked a laugh to hide the hurt that my aunt’s insanity caused me. She must have been mentally suffering in the end, and I had been clueless to it all.

“She really was fascinated by all that magical abyss stuff... Did you enjoy reading about the demon?” He continued to run his hand through my hair, his movements delicate and careful.

“What? No way! That was one of the worst parts. I can’t believe she was actually crazy enough to try to summon that monstrous thing!” I looked out over the water. “Like, really? What a nutcase.”

“What? You don’t think it would be a good idea?” He teased and softly bumped my shoulder, but the laugh he let out sounded forced.

“Well, of course not.” I looked up to see his smiling face, yet something unreadable dwelt within the depths of his gaze. “Especially since they imprisoned this one there for destroying several cities back in ancient times.” I pointed to a paragraph that mentioned the dreadful demon. “Thank goodness demons aren’t real, or she might have doomed us all if she actually tried to summon Azathoth!” My expression was goofy as I dramatically emphasized its name.

“Well, if they were real, I’m sure he would have a pretty good explanation for what he did.” He laughed again and put an arm around me.

I scoffed in amusement. “Doubt it.”

Like a little love bug, I snuggled up against his warm body and giggled. He seemed to appreciate my move and pulled me closer while wrapping his other arm around my front. Together, we gazed out at the setting sun. The clouds lit up in a breathtaking spectacle of rich crimsons that bled into bright shades of purple, orange, and pink. The black crystalline waters reflected the light in beautiful shades of scarlet, gold, and midnight blue.

We continued to chit-chat while the dying sun sank lower behind the silhouette of the lofty mountains, and I found myself eager for the growing darkness. The creeping mist grew thicker, and the loons continued their mournful calls. Ashton held me close, caressing my arm, and occasionally kissing the top of my head as I munched on the almonds. Belzar came over and sat beside us. He rested his large furry head in my lap, enjoying how I was stroking behind his soft ear. I smiled, content to be with them.

The dim light of a chinoiserie table lamp illuminated the old book in my hands. I was reading my poetry assignment while all snuggled up with Belzar on a big, floral Victorian couch. The living room was rather large and matched the outdated look of the rest of the house. The same dingy maroon wallpaper that lined the foyer covered the walls, meeting with the intricately carved designs that stretched across the ceiling. Large marble pillars framed the elegant fireplace, and wooden panes decorated tall windows that faced the lake.

At least three hundred books were perched upon the shelves and piled up all around the room. They lined the walls and stretched all the way out to the dark oriental rug. All of them were occult-themed, making it obvious that the guy had a peculiar obsession.

The only sounds were from the wind blowing through heavy black curtains and the soft turning of pages. Ashton sat in a chair across the room from me, reading his own book. It had been apparent that he wanted to sit next to me, but Belzar beat him to it and took up most of the couch. He had scowled at the fluffy pupper, and if ever a dog could smirk, that was the look Belzar had given him in return.

I shivered from the breeze, and Ashton noticed. He got up and shut the window. I gave him a small smile as he strolled back over to his chair. “Are you enjoying your poetry?” he asked, breaking the silence with his baritone voice.

“Yeah, I am. I’m reading ‘The Song of Hiawatha’ by

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Have you ever read it?”

“I have. It’s beautifully written.” He sat back down in his chair and ran his fingers through his hair, letting the inky strands fall to one side.

I noticed an old violin hidden away in the corner behind him. Gorgeous vine-like carvings decorated its sides, and it appeared handcrafted from rosewood. “That’s a beautiful violin over there. Do you play?” With my book in hand, I tilted my head to the side and tapped the cover.

He glanced at the neglected instrument. “I do every now and then to kill time.” He turned back around to look at me. “What about you?”

“I play a little, but I only know a few songs,” I admitted while shyly hiding half my face behind my book so that just my eyes were peering over.

“Would you like to try it out?” he lifted a brow.

“No thank you. I’d much rather hear you play.” It had been years since I’d played, and I didn’t want to embarrass myself. I’d likely produce the cacophonous sound of a thousand rabid screech owls scratching around on dry chalkboards in a discordant frenzy.

“Alright, as you wish.” He chuckled as he stood and picked up the violin. The sound of stretching strings filled the room while he spent a few minutes fidgeting with the pegs, making sure it was in tune. I watched each movement with anticipation. “Have you ever heard ‘The Devil’s Trill’ by Giuseppe Tartini?” His eyes remained on the small curved instrument as he plucked at the strings to hear if the correct notes were produced.

“Well, yeah, of course I have, but there’s no way you could possibly play that. It’s way too complicated!” I teased.

“Oh really? Is that so?” He looked at me and smirked. “I’ll tell you what, let’s make a deal. If I can play the entire sonata without faltering, then we play with the violin together in a manner of my choosing... However , if I lose, you get to pick my punishment.” His eyes twinkled with trickery as he rosined the bow, causing a small cloud of white dust to fall to the floor.

“Yeah, whatever. Deal,” I agreed with a smug expression. There was no way he could play that whole thing without messing up, so I was certain I was safe. It was one of the hardest pieces out there, after all.

I’m totally going to make this guy get a silly perm and wear a colorful jester hat for an entire week...

“Then it’s a deal.” Wickedness lit up his face while he held the violin to his chin. The bow pressed against the lustrous strings as he began to play... And my jaw just about hit the floor. The first mournful notes flawlessly poured into the room as he gracefully danced his large fingers over the neck of the delicate instrument. He worked it like a true virtuoso, switching between the haunting, velvet melodies and the shrill, quavering crescendos of the sinuous sonata.

The whitened hairs of the bow glided over the silvery strings, filling the room with the rich and bold sound of pure musical perfection. I was completely flabbergasted . He made eye contact with a smug smile as he continued to play. Every note was filled with passion and raw emotion, yet his arrogant smirk contrasted with the ambiance that the music created.

That fucking cheater!

The only reason he suggested that stupid little bet was because he was confident he would win! I crossed my arms and glared at him as he drew out the last powerful note. I knew I had lost, and I was grateful that I hadn’t bet on anything major. The music stopped, and he flashed me a devilish smirk as though I’d bargained away my soul. “I win,” he teased, his features twisting into an expression that reflected his conceit.

“Yeah, yeah, okay. Fair enough, Vivaldi. So, what song are we going to play then?” I waved my hand dismissively and glanced over at the wall. I tried to seem unimpressed, but I was very impressed.

Damn, his parents must have made him practice ten hours a day as a kid ...

He prowled across the room like a predator pursuing its prey and stood imposingly over my stiffening frame. Belzar jumped off the couch and hurried into the other room. Welp... That can’t be a good sign. Ashton bent down so his menacing face was close to mine, chuckling sinisterly. “We’re not going to play a song, Buttercup. Although, you will be making lots of noises that will sound like music to my ears.” His voice was husky and laced with lust.

Oh, snap...

“Oh, I-uh, um, well—”

My incoherent rambling got cut off as his large arm swooped my body up and single-handedly threw me over his shoulder. He had one hand on my butt and the violin in the other as he carried me up the stairs like a horny caveman. With a single swing of his leg, he kicked the bedroom door wide open. I was ungracefully thrown onto the foot of his bed with a small bounce. He walked over to the dresser and pulled a coil of rope and a black blindfold out of the top drawer. My eyes widened at the sight of them.

“Um, what are you doing with those?” I asked, my voice shaking. I must have looked like a helpless little rabbit in the presence of a big, hungry wolf.

“Take off your clothes,” he commanded, his expression shadowed with menace, not sparing me a glance.

“Wait, are you actually serious?” I leaned back as he turned around and walked over with an intimidating gait.

He reached down and grabbed my chin with an air of pure dominance. “I’m very serious, actually .” He spoke into my ear and then forcefully licked up the side of my cheek. In one swift swoop, he ripped my dress over my head and smashed his lips against mine in a quick but violent kiss.

Holy smokes...

“Now take your underwear off.”

I gazed at him with wide, fearful eyes. I wasn’t sure what I was more afraid of, him or the fact that I wanted him to fuck me again. I took my time unlatching my black bra to reveal my plump, round breasts and slid my matching panties down to the floor. His eyes burned with lust as they raked over my naked form. I sucked in a breath and held it, feeling both terrified and excited for what was to come.

“Beautiful,” he purred.

He grabbed my wrists and used one end of the soft rope to tie them together. The other end of the rope flew over the thick wooden beam of the canopy like a swiveling streamer. He pulled it taut and tied it, forcing my arms to stretch high above my head. The sharp tug caused me to let out a whimper. “What are you doing?” I asked, breathless. It was a bit unnerving, considering I was practically hanging from the bed and completely exposed before him.

A low chuckle rumbled deep within his chest as he grabbed the violin bow. He began slowly pacing back and forth while hitting it against the palm of his hand like a sadistic madman. His gaze was dark and lustful, almost demonic. “You and I are going to play with the violin, as we agreed upon.”

He placed the silky blindfold over my wary eyes. Feeling his warm arms reaching around my body sent an electric shiver up my spine. I bit my lower lip in anticipation of what was to come, but the next thing I knew, his mouth was covering mine. His tongue swept along my inner lip to pop it out from under my bite, and then he bit down on it himself. With a small growl, he tugged with his teeth to create a pleasurable sting.

“What did I tell you about biting your lip, Buttercup?” he growled. “I was going to go easy on you, but since you love being such a little tease, I’ll have to make this a punishment.”

Oh god...

Strong hands lifted me up and spun me around, placing my bare feet on the cold, hard floor. He then pulled my hips back and bent me over the bed. My tied-up arms caused my back to arch considerably so that my butt was perfectly presented to him. And then... nothing happened. The room fell eerily quiet as I anxiously waited in the darkness created by the blindfold.

“Ashton?” I called out, hesitating before breaking the silence. “Are you still—”

SMACK!

A sharp scream tore from my lungs as the wooden side of the bow whipped against my ass. The sting was intense and took me completely by surprise.

What the fuck have I gotten myself into? I should be at home, safely knitting!

Another dreadful pause occurred, leaving me hanging there in shock. I had done nothing like this before, but I still knew we should have established a safe word or something beforehand. He repeated the assault, this time even harder than the first. I screamed and tugged at the rope, which forced my body into a more vertical angle. He roughly grabbed a fistful of my hair and shoved me back down. Leaning above me, he pressed his rock-hard erection against my butt and growled into my ear.

“Stay bent over and keep your back arched for me, Buttercup .” His lips were harsh and forceful as he kissed down my neck and then stepped away.

My entire body trembled and tears welled in my blinded eyes. I was terrified— but I liked it. It was as though every inch of me had come alive, unable to differentiate between pain and pleasure.

It was euphoric . I stayed in that helpless position, screaming and yelping as he continued for what felt like ten more merciless whacks against my poor, cherry-red derriere. He then stood right behind me, and I finally heard the bow fall to the floor. His hand gently cupped my pussy, curling his middle finger into my wet, weeping folds.

“Well done, Buttercup.” He sadistically chuckled and slid his hand up along my slick slit before stepping away.

My heart raced as I listened to the heavy footsteps and creaking of the floorboards. He took his time walking across the room before returning to me. Then, he placed a smooth, cool object on my sore, brutalized butt. It soothed the angry stings from his ruthless assault and only made me all the wetter. It was only when I heard him place it down on the floor that I realized it was the back of the violin.

The rough material of his pants caressed my legs as he knelt down behind me. He began to lick and kiss the red marks from his violent walloping and then sensually trailed his mouth up my still-arching back. His hands gripped my burning ass cheeks and gently massaged the rest of the sting away.

The threads of his hair tickled my side while he leaned over and slowly slid his hands down my arms until they found the ropes that restrained my body. His fingers swirled over them for a moment, and then he undid the knots, releasing me from my binds. I flopped forward onto the cozy bed, just barely managing to catch myself. He removed the blindfold and tilted my head to the side to make me look at him. His eyes burned with desire, and a sinful grin lingered across his lips.

He seized my trembling frame and flung me further up on the bed and onto my back. I sat halfway up, supporting my weight with my elbows. My heart thumped against my ribs, and my breath was shaky. I was too intimidated to move even a measly inch as he undressed before me. He pulled his shirt over his head, causing his long hair to flow down over his chiseled torso in one fluid swoosh. A look of raw, bestial hunger crossed his face as he unbuckled his belt and pulled down his pants, releasing the beast between his thighs.

My stomach clenched with desire at the sight, yet I scurried back until I hit the headboard. He crawled onto the bed, swiftly maneuvering towards me with a predatory posture. I was a bit unsettled by the psychotic and possessive way he was staring at me. He looked crazy. “Just where do you think you’re going?” His hand wrapped around my ankle, and he yanked me toward him. The air was knocked out of my lungs as he roughly pounced on top of me, pinning my scrawny frame down like a grizzly bear that had just caught a meal.

He slid two fingers deep into my pussy and brandished me with a devious smile. Heat flushed through my body, and my breathing became uneven from the arousal he stirred. His fingers slowly circled, pumping in and out before pushing in even deeper to make scissoring motions inside me. Despite my sudden worries about him being inspired by the BTK killer, I arched my hips into his touch and let out soft little moans.

“Fuck, Ashton,” I whispered, leaning my head back while reaching out to grab his rough bicep.

“Hmm... Aren’t you a naughty girl? You just loved the way I spanked you, didn’t you?” he purred as his thumb pressed down on my clit, adding extra pressure while his two fingers continued their scissor-like assault. A loud, passionate cry escaped my lips on its own. He chuckled and then grabbed my wrists, forcefully pinning them above my head with his free hand. “Didn’t you?” He growled while removing his fingers from my dripping core.

I let out a small whimper at the loss of his touch. “Ashton—please, I-I...” I desperately needed him to be touching me inside again.

“Oh, you want these, do you?” He wiggled his glistening digits tauntingly. “Then answer me! Did you like it when I spanked you?” He roughly grabbed my face with his wet hand to force me to look at his domineering face. His fingers slowly slid across my jaw and into my mouth, allowing me to taste my sweetness before they slipped back out.

“Yes. Yes, I did; now please do something, dammit!”

With a lecherous look in his eyes, he began to forcefully fuck me with his fingers, pumping them in and out of my center. I moaned in a state of desperation, but his lips crashed down onto mine, muffling my voice. The kiss was deep, raw, and sensual. Our tongues fought for dominance, twisting in and out of each other’s mouths as if they were battling to the death. He released my wrists and grabbed the back of my head, pulling my face even closer to his, deepening the kiss. I felt so utterly consumed by him. By his taste, his scent, his heat melting my body against his in an erotic pyre of passion.

My body writhed beneath his crushing frame, causing my hardened nipples to scrape against his chest. He growled into my mouth and I screamed into his as my inner walls clenched around his fingers. The first disorienting waves of euphoria crashed over me. My body trembled and my toes curled as his mouth hungrily trailed down my neck and to my breasts. His teeth nipped one of my nipples, causing me to yelp from the sudden sting. He brutally sucked and licked the throbbing bead and then did the same to the other.

He sat up on his knees and furiously flipped me over onto my stomach. His legs were shoved between mine, spreading them apart. Large hands curled around my hips, then he pulled my lower half up onto his lap so his cock was pressing against my slick pussy. My upper back curved down with my arms stretched above my head and my face planted in the sheets. He lifted my tender butt up and then slammed it back down to sheath his throbbing cock.

“Oh fuck!”

I gripped the sheets in desperation as a cadence of screams and moans abounded from my lips. He thrust into me like some crazed barbarian on crack, pounding my pussy with lecherous abandon. His sweaty body fell forward, encasing mine in a fleshy cage. Veins protruded from his large hands as his fingers curled into the bedding on either side of me. The delicious, spicy scent of him engulfed me, and his hair fell forward to curtain half of my view in a midnight veil. He leaned his face down, and I turned mine toward him. Our lips met in another fierce kiss, all the while he continued to pound into me.

The tips of his teeth scraped my lower lip, giving it a good tug before he pressed another wet kiss to my cheek. “Fuck. Do you have any idea just how fucking tight you are, Buttercup?” he asked through his breathy grunts, still ruthlessly plowing into my pussy.

I had no idea how he’d managed to get the words out, because I certainly couldn’t answer him. All I did was sputter and gasp as the bed shook and squeaked with our passion. My skin was flushed and sweaty, like the inferno of heat inside of me was clawing its way to the surface. It felt as though I was being thoroughly dominated by this psychotic beast of a man. His carnal grunts and growls matched my loud moans and screams as I finally reached my peak. My voice grew silent, mouth hanging open with drool dribbling out. Flashing white visions of the heavens danced before my soul as sparks shot up my spine.

His arm wrapped around my stomach and his thrust became more frantic. Thick spurts of hot cum were rhythmically fucked into my pulverized womb, beginning to drip down my sweaty inner thighs. He gave me one more rough kiss and then collapsed onto his side, taking me down with him.

We stayed there, spooning and panting together like we’d both just run a marathon. Ashton still held me close with his arm wrapped around me. A few strands of his hair draped down over my shoulder and onto my breast, feeling like a velvety caress against my nipple. His softening flesh was still buried deep inside me, filling my stomach with a warm, full feeling. He leaned his head closer and began placing delicate kisses on my neck.

“Thanks for the study date, “ he said with a slight laugh.

“Study time. This was study time .” I corrected while pointing my enervated finger up. Then I curled my hand back toward my chest with uncertainty. “But, I was wondering if, um...“ I waved my hand in a circle. “A few friends and I are going out to eat this weekend. You can come if you want.” I drew little circles on the comforter with my fingertip.

He chuckled into the crook of my neck and nuzzled there before resting his head back down on the pillow. “I’d love to.” He squeezed me closer.

With a secret smile, I closed my eyes and snuggled deeper into his embrace. Exhaustion crept over my senses. I knew I should have gotten up and gone home. Or at least have told Lacey or William that I’d be gone for the night, but my body refused to move from such a cozy position. So, I drifted off to sleep, cradled in his big strong arms.