by Dukey, Ker
“Good night, Mrs Young,” I whisper as the life leaves her.
Peeling myself from the bed I look down at the open mouth, wide-eyed corpse.
Alice wanted this. You’re welcome, little bird.
Twenty-Six
Chapter
ALICE
One week later
Grief is supposed to consume a person, but I just feel relief.
Watching them lower my mother’s casket into the ground gives me a sense of freedom I haven’t felt for a long.
Erik’s hand tightens in mine as a sigh leaves my lips.
Everything is falling into place.
Asher’s glare makes me squirm a little.
He knows how badly I wanted my mother dead, and he found her blue lipped and staring at the ceiling.
She’d been ill for so long the coroner didn’t even look into her death, and if he had, what would he have found?
“Come on,” Erik encourages, and I lean into him and follow him away from the service towards his car that will take us to a small wake at the house.
The house I’ll be putting on the market as soon as possible.
Paris is looking like a possibility after all.
“Oh, I left my purse,” I vomit out, searching my body for the strap.
“I’ll go get it, go to the car,” he tells me, and I offer him a tight smile.
Slipping into the car, I begin to reapply my lipstick when Asher, waiting for Erik by the grave, gets my attention, making my stomach knot.
They appear to be arguing.
Stepping out of the car, my insides solidify when Erik lands a blow to Asher who falls and disappears down the hole they just lowered my mother into.
Oh, God.
When feeling returns to my legs I move closer to see Asher dragging himself out of the grave.
They’re speaking in hushed tones and then Asher barges past Erik.
He tosses a, “See you at home,” to me over his shoulder and staggers away.
Erik’s eyes turn to me and it’s like I’m being pinned down by white hot fury.
Every part of me wilts inside from the pure intensity coming from him.
What the hell did Asher say to him?
He moves past me to the car, and at first I think he’s going to drive off, leaving me, but he doesn’t.
Timidly, I get in the car but don’t speak for fear of angering him further.
The tension is so thick I can feel it cloaking me like a storm cloud waiting to unleash its torrent on me.
Is he mad at me for something Asher’s said to him? Or just mad at Asher for being over protective of me?
When we reach the house, I slip out of the car first and put some distance between us.
As I enter the house, people greet me with solemn expressions and whispers of, “Sorry for your loss.”
Anger pulses in my chest when I see Asher huddled up with his stupid cousin.
What the fuck is she even doing here?
Turning on my heel, I waltz straight back outside.
Twenty-Seven
Chapter
ERIK
Asher was waiting for me when I went back to get Alice’s purse.
The glare on his face was laughable. Little punk.
“You got a problem?” I asked, pleased that it was just the two of us and that everyone else had moved back to their cars.
He held back for this moment on purpose, to wait for me. Well there I was, motherfucker.
“Do you think you’re going to be able to hold her down now? That she loves you or some shit?” he grunted, folding his arms over his chest in a pitiful attempt to look like a man.
“You sound a little bitter there. What’s the matter? Step brother got a thing for his sister?” I taunted, showing him none of the fire igniting inside me.
Shaking his head as if amused, he looked over to the car that Alice was sitting inside then back to me.
“A little young for you, no?” he sneered.
“If she can bleed she can breed,” I smirked, knowing that would rattle him.
And he didn’t disappoint, his jaw flexing.
“You honestly think she’s into you, don’t you?” he asked in disbelief.
When I didn’t speak, he took a step closer to me.
“She’s a Lolita, man. Manipulates, using men’s urges against them. Do you think she hasn’t offered me her pussy for the same price you paid?”
“I’ve paid nothing,” I growled, clenching my fists.
“Course you have, and she tried to get me to do it before you. Only I’m not a mama killer. Not for any pussy, no matter how tight it is.”
And that was my snapping point.
I launched at him, rearing back my fist and colliding with his jaw.
He stumbled backwards into the flower arrangement. I fucking knew it before it happened: he was about to join her mother.
Like a fucking nightmare, he falls down the fucking hole, landing with a thud on top of the coffin.
The air whooshing from his lungs.
Fucking cocksucker, probably threw himself down there on purpose.
I checked around to see if anyone saw and my eyes clashed with a startled Alice’s. She’d stepped out the car, frozen to the spot.
Using the casket-lowering device, he pulled himself out of the hole and dusted himself off.
Spitting blood Asher chuckled, looking over my shoulder to Alice before back to me. “Yeah, you’re a real fucking catch.”
“See you at home.”
Fucker.
No one uses me. He’s fucking lying.
* * *
I’m obsessive, and I love the hunt, but damn, these weeks with her, not watching her, have been the best of my life.
I didn’t think being needed would feel this good, but she awoke something new in me, and I like it.
But now I can’t get Asher’s words out of my head.
The rage manifests inside me without permission, and no matter how much I reason with it, it won’t leave.
While driving Alice back home she sensed the impending explosion waiting to detonate.
She couldn’t get out the car fast enough, jumping out before I even set the parking break.
But then, before I even make it up the drive to follow her inside, she’s already racing back towards me, her face pale as a sheet.
“What’s wrong?” I ask her as she’s shaking her head.
“I just don’t want to go in there right now. Take me back to yours, please?” she urges, pushing past me and heading back to my car.
I look between her and the house and frown when she calls my name.
“Erik. Please, let’s go.”
* * *
There’s tension, thick like fog, condensing the atmosphere around us once we get back to my place. She looks more like the fragile girl I first discovered.
Standing in the huge space of my living room she looks small.
There’s guilt in her eyes or …something else.
“Have you fucked your brother?” I ask, the intent in my voice obvious.
I want to hurt her, dismantle her until she’s broken pieces all around me.
“No,” she gasps before adding, “Did he tell you we had?”
Closing the steps between us she falters, her arms dropping in front of her defensively.
Damn, it fucking pleases me.
Grasping her by the chin, I look into her large startled eyes. “What is it you want from me?” I ask, studying her for cracks.
“To be wanted,” she breathes.
“Oh, I want you, little bird,” I growl, slipping my hand down to her neck and tightening my grip.
Dark brown orbs begin to glass over with tears, and her dainty hands wrap around my wrist for support.
“I want your tears,” I lean forward, swiping my tongue up her cheek.
“I want your fear,” I guide her to the wall and slam her against it, making her lose her breath.
She’s panicking now,
her hands slapping at mine, still keeping her contained by the grip on her delicate neck.
When she begins to turn a shade of purple I release her, allowing her to drop to her knees and suck at the air to fill her lungs.
“You bastard,” she sniffles. She has no fucking idea.
“Run, little bird,” I warn her, flicking the switch to the shutters on the windows, turning our inside world dark.
Slipping out of the room, I locate my headpiece which allows me to see in the dark.
Shredding myself of my shirt, I loosen the zipper of my slacks.
“Erik, I don’t want to play,” she calls out, her voice croaky and trembling.
She needs to know she doesn’t set the rules.
She doesn’t play the game. I do, and she’s just the mouse on the board.
“Erik,” she screams out and my pulse jumps, exhilarated at the authentic horror in her cry.
The night vision goggles allow me to see everything, and it’s not long before I locate her, feeling along the wall for a light switch.
Creeping up behind her I whisper, “Boo!” in her ear, taking her by the arm and dragging her into the center of the room.
Her alarmed little squeal delights the hunter in me.
“Do you want to run?” I ask her, circling her.
“No,” she trembles, her entire frame rattling like she’s made of glass.
“Then take off your dress,” I order, licking my lips.
Meek movements take far too long to accomplish the demand, so I reach out, taking the fabric in my hands, tearing it down the middle.
Strips of material fall to the floor exposing her heavy tits, tapered waist and creamy thighs.
Her pussy is hidden behind black silk panties. Dropping to my knees I kiss her there.
She gasps and then moans, pushing her hands through my thick hair.
Yanking her panties down her legs, she steps out of them almost desperately.
Lifting her leg, I rest her foot on my shoulder and inhale her arousal.
She may have been scared, but she likes to feel that way. Her cunt is soaked, giving me her tell.
“Kiss me there, Erik, please,” she begs, and I grin, brushing my lips over hers then swiping out my tongue to taste her.
Leaning her hips forward she tries to writhe on my face, but this is a lesson not for her pleasure, but for mine.
Pushing her leg down she groans at the loss of my lips on her pussy.
“Erik?” she whimpers.
Getting to my feet I pull my cock from my slacks then push her shoulders down.
She gets to her knees and feels out for me, needy and willing.
Gripping a handful of her hair, I tip her head back so I can see her face as I push my fat cock past her lips into the warmth of her mouth.
Hungrily, she accepts me inside, lapping and sucking me like an ice pop.
Fucking her face, I relish her gags and the streaming of her eyes illuminated by the headset I’m wearing.
I push her head deeper down my shaft, touching the back of her throat and making her retch.
She’s fucking good at this shit, and before I can stop it, heat expands across my lower back, and euphoria takes over my body.
My cock pulses and my balls draw in tight as I pull her head back and come on her face, the creamy ribbons painting her skin.
A racket sounds in the corridor and then blinding light nearly fucking kills my eyesight when a light is flicked on.
Barking a, “Fuck,” I push the goggles from my head. They clatter to the floor, bouncing over the tiles.
“Oh my God,” a high-pitched voice cries.
When my vision comes back to me I see Maggie standing there wearing an all black outfit including a black veil over her face holding a hand to her chest. What the fuck? I forgot she still had a key.
Using the tatters of her dress, Alice cleans her face and uses the fabric to cover her naked form.
“Erik?” Maggie sobs. “Alice?” she then adds, and I falter. What the fuck?
Alice gets to her feet now and won’t look at Maggie.
“How the fuck do you know Alice?” I snap, putting my cock away and zipping up my slacks.
“She’s my cousin’s whore step sister,” she screams, going on a tirade.
“You little skank, did you seek him out on purpose? Is it because you know he’s rich? I can’t believe I showed up to your mother’s wake and you couldn’t even stick around to mourn her.”
My eyes cut to Alice, and it’s there, written all over her fucking face! This wasn’t instant connection, this wasn’t me finding her, she fucking found me.
“How?” I ask, confused. She wrote to Ebony, not me. “Ebony?” I breathe, waiting for her to fucking answer.
“You devious little wench. I told Asher about Anonymous and Ebony helping people. You’re always eavesdropping.”
“I didn’t expect to find you,” Alice finally speaks up, looking at me with pleading eyes.
“I should rip your hair out,” Maggie scolds, throwing her purse to the floor.
“Maggie, get the fuck out, and leave the key on your way,” I bark, making her mouth drop open and close like she’s a fish searching for food.
Tugging at her finger, she pulls off her ring and chucks it at me.
It pings off my chest then clinks across the floor.
“Don’t think I’ll be waiting for you when the little tramp gives you an STD and drops you for the next idiot she finds to payroll her school fees.”
“I have my own money,” Alice snaps at her. “I’m going to sell the house, I don’t need his money.”
Cackling like a crack whore on a high, Maggie shakes her head before swiping up her purse.
“Your mother died. Anything she had goes to her husband, or in this case with him being incarcerated, his son. It’s not your house to sell.”
With a tight smirk on her lips Maggie saunters out, slamming the front door behind her.
My eyes roam over Alice who has collapsed down to sit on the couch.
“You better explain yourself right the hell now,” I thunder, grasping out and clutching a handful of her hair, making her scream out in pain.
Her pieces of dress fall from her hands as she attempts to pull my hand free from her head.
Her naked body struggles to keep up with me as I pull her through the house and toss her onto the bed.
“Tell me what your plan was with Ebony?” I kick off my boots and drop my slacks to the floor.
She’s crying now, shaking her head and sniffling.
“I just wanted help with college. Maggie is a cunt.” She sneers.
No argument there.
“She was always coming around, talking about her rich boyfriend and his firm and how he had a sister who helps people but can’t help herself.”
Anger coils deep in my bones. “And?” I grind out.
“And she said the company could help Ash with a scholarship, and he could finally go to college.”
She looks up at me through wet lashes.
“He doesn’t even want to go to college, he’s nearly twenty one, she was just saying it to hurt me.”
“So you thought you’d get pay back on her, by stealing her fiancé?”
I creep towards the bed as she pushes herself back against the headrest.
“No, I looked Anonymous up, found Ebony’s email address. I thought if she knew what I went through and how badly I wanted out of this fucking town, she would ask you to help me.” She admits, her brow frowning.
She played us, me. Ebony doesn’t even know she got that email, and I’m glad.
She thought she could manipulate Ebony’s good nature.
Use her weakness against her.
It’s devious little cunts like this that make the rest of us fucked in the head.
“So when the scholarship backfired, you thought you could give me a taste of your sweet little pussy to get what? What is it you want?”
I pounce on the b
ed and grab her ankle, pulling the weight from under her and sliding her towards me.
There’s a tremble in her body like a wounded animal suffering.
“I didn’t expect for you to be…”
“To be what?” I roar in her face.
Her psyche breaks, right before my eyes.
Fat, uncontrolled tears seep from her eyes, and she sobs like a child in distress.
“I didn’t think I’d love you,” she finally admits, and I stiffen.
Wrapping my arm under her knee, I part her legs and take up residence between her thighs.
Without warning, I ram my cock into her, rough and raw, making her lose her breath and tense all over.
I buck my hips into her over and over.
Her body becomes lucid under me, her nails finding their way to my back, ripping me to shreds.
Her patchy, red, swollen face is covered in dried tears, and I take everything from her in this moment.
I don’t make love to a girl who just told me she loves me.
I fuck the little bitch who thought she could play me.
When her wails turn to ear-deafening moans, I pull out of her, get to my feet, and go to the closet.
“Erik?” she whimpers.
Opening the closet up I go back to the bed and yank her up with a hand to the back of her neck.
She fumbles on her feet at first, but once I get her inside she begins to fight me.
“What are you doing?” she hollers, her little fists trying to hit out at me.
“I need to think,” I tell her, closing the doors and locking them.
It’s not soundproof in there, but this house is insulated throughout, and the door is thick so the house falls silent as soon as the gap diminishes.
My own raging heart hammers in my ears as I move to the shower, turning on the docking station to blast music throughout the house.
Thoughts of Lee bulldoze into my head, and I pull up the memory of that day at the office when I saw her in the elevator.
