The First Cut: A Dark Psychological Thriller (Gushers Series Book 1)

by Chuck Buda

  Rebecca played with the hairs on his chest. His chest hair was darker than his head. Turner’s thick, wavy blond hair wasn’t as dark as the rest of the hair on his body. Her fingers walked down the strip from his chest to his mild beer belly. Rebecca thought about Holden’s rock hard abs.

  “Did you enjoy it, babe?”

  Turner smiled as he stared at the ceiling. “Did I enjoy it? You make sex sound like a bowl of soup.” He chuckled. Rebecca did too.

  She rolled up onto her elbow and searched Turner’s eyes. Her brown hair draped over the side of her face. “Just feels...”

  Turner glanced back at Rebecca. Her unfinished thought got his attention. “What? It just feels what?”

  Rebecca bit her lower lip and shrugged. She continued to stroke his chest without responding.

  Turner sat up. “Is something wrong, honey?”

  Rebecca shrugged again and avoided his eye contact. She wanted him to come to the conclusion on his own, saving her the tricky part of suggesting open sex.

  “Are you saying I’m not good?” Turner appeared distressed. Rebecca used the male ego and all its self doubts to goose things along.

  “No. It was fine.”

  “Fine? Just fine? You came didn’t you?” Turner dropped into all out panic mode.

  “Yeah. I did. I don’t know. Never mind.”

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa. You can’t throw chin music at me and not expect me to react.” Rebecca was lost with the baseball metaphor but she could tell she had gotten things off to a good start. “If there’s a problem with our lovemaking, just tell me and I’ll change or do things differently.”

  Rebecca giggled. “No, silly. Our lovemaking is great. Sometimes...sometimes I just wanna be fucked.”

  Turner gestured wildly. “What’s the difference? We just did.”

  Rebecca sat up and pulled her knees to her chest. Her breasts mashed into her legs and she felt his seed leaking out of her onto the sheets.

  “We made love. Fucking is different.”

  Turner wrinkled his forehead.

  “I love you so much, babe. But sometimes I need hard, dirty sex to change things up. You’re always very attentive to my needs and gentle. Delicate.”

  “So you want me to spank your or something? What about the noise?”

  Rebecca leaned her head into his shoulder and laughed. “I guess I want to try new things. Get wild. Feel young again.” She gazed deep into his eyes so he felt her passion for him. She didn’t want him to suspect this was coming from exactly where it had been coming from. Her affair.

  “I can get wild. What do you want me to do? Striptease? You know I can’t dance but I’ll do it if it’s what will make you happy.” Rebecca laughed harder at the image of her corporate businessman doing a pole dance in their bedroom.

  “I want to experiment.” She waited for his reaction but he only stared back at her. He seemed to wait for more information so she took a deep breath and made the leap forward. “Can we...add someone...once in a while?” She ducked her head and peered up at Turner as if she were completely embarrassed by the request.

  Turner was stunned. His mouth dropped open and he froze with his hand up. She blew it, she thought. Plan over. Rebecca wanted to cry but she didn’t want to lose her shit in front of him. Not now.

  “I...don’t know how to respond, honestly. I’m not enough for you? You want more...penises?”

  Rebecca sprayed Turner’s face with spittle as she laughed. His sterile outlook surprised her and she was glad. The laugh forced her tears away. “Oh, my God. No. You are plenty.” She played with the sheets before looking at him again. “I want to watch others while we do it.”

  “Like porn?”

  Rebecca nodded her head from side to side. “Sort of. I want to watch other people fuck while we fuck. And I want them to watch us fuck while they fuck.”

  Turner sat up straighter. His face expressed surprise, but Rebecca didn’t think it appeared as a bad surprise.

  “You want orgies?” He smiled, a little too wide for Rebecca’s comfort. Suddenly, she wondered if he wanted this more than she did. If so, then that would be a problem. She reminded herself not to be jealous. After all, she was the one sleeping around.

  “Not an orgy but...people around. But it would have to be somebody I am comfortable with. I wouldn’t want creepy strangers in our bedroom or anything.” Rebecca quickly clarified her desires.

  “Somebody we know? How would we even go about finding people we know who are into...orgies? Once we throw it out there, word will get around and everyone will consider us the porn house in the neighborhood.” Turner became distressed thinking about the gossip.

  Rebecca rubbed his forearm. “I just so happen to have come across some information which would increase our chances of hitting the mark without rejection.”

  Turner waved his hands to indicate he wanted her to continue.

  “Turns out, Mrs. Fisher has the same fantasy. And she thinks you are cute.”

  She watched Turner’s face as it morphed into shock. “Samantha? Overly-motherly, loving wife, Samantha? She has a dark side?”

  “Hey. Just because people want to have fun, doesn’t mean they are dark.” She swatted his chest. Turner recoiled at the slap and rubbed his nipple.

  “Who would’ve seen that one?” His eyes glazed over as he must have been imagining Samantha involved in such acts.

  Rebecca felt like she might have hooked him. Time to reel him in. “You know, I have always wondered what it would be like to be with a woman. Who knows. Maybe I can entice her to play around with me for you.”

  Turner panted a bit as he thought about the possibility. Rebecca noticed the sheets pushing out against his immediate erection. Turner hadn’t been able to go for two sessions so quickly in years. Rebecca cooed and rubbed his cock through the sheets.

  “I’m in.” Turner shoved Rebecca down on her back. Then he grabbed her arm and pulled her over onto her stomach. He held her down and mounted her from behind, filling her up quickly.

  Rebecca grinned into the pillow as Turner thrust with reckless abandon. She was so happy she had done it. Rebecca made a note to use lesbian sex more often if she wanted to get her way with Turner.

  Chapter 13

  Jordyn painted Leah’s toe nails as they sat in Leah’s bedroom. Zoe glanced through the pages of a chick magazine. She never saw the point in reading this trash. The articles dished out bad advice on how to please men and make yourself a stick figure. Zoe didn’t believe in pleasing men just to hold onto them. If a guy expected too much of her, she would just cast him back into the ocean and fish for another one. Men were a means to an end for her. Nothing more. And Zoe ate whatever she wanted. She had been blessed with a healthy metabolism. She didn’t have to starve herself or run thousands of miles to keep her figure.

  Leah inspected her new toes. Jordyn watched Leah’s face with anticipation. Zoe was bored but she wanted to “hang out” with the ladies for a reason. She wanted to make a pre-emptive strike before Friday night’s First Cut meeting. She had Ryan’s undying attention now that she sucked him off and promised him more. But she wanted to hook one of the girls too. It would solidify her plans. She figured it would be more important to get Jordyn because Leah would fall in line with whatever they did. Zoe didn’t want Jordyn to hear about the plan for the first time in front of the others.

  Zoe got off Leah’s childish desk chair and strolled around the bedroom. She checked out all the teeny-bop photos of heartthrobs taped to the walls. Zoe wondered why Leah’s room had been decorated the same way since she was ten years old.

  “Friday’s meeting should be fun.” She threw it our there to see if anyone would bite.

  “Yeah. I had a blast last week. I just hope Ryan can keep his hands to himself this time. He’s such a perv.”

  Zoe ignored Jordyn’s complaint. “He’s not so bad. You just have to know how to deal with him. Like me.”

  Jordyn laughed. “Right.” She shot a look at L
eah. Zoe caught the interaction.

  “Ryan will be in line once we discuss the plans.”

  Leah looked up from her toes. “What plans?” A nervous cloud drifted over her expression.

  Zoe spun to face the girls. She sat on the floor. Indian-style. Not criss-cross, apple sauce like all the PC assholes forced down everyone’s throats these days. “I’m going to roll out our manifesto. I think everyone will be pleased with it. Especially, people named Jordyn.” She watched Jordyn’s reaction.

  “Me? What do you mean?” Jordyn shifted her position so Zoe was more in her line of sight.

  Zoe twirled her dark hair around her finger and grinned. “You said you wanted to be like the show True Blood, right?”

  “Yeah, but you already dismissed the goth dress and vampire fangs.” Jordyn raised her palm up in frustration.

  “What if I said we could still have fun in a True Blood sort of way, without dressing like skanky Halloween whores?”

  Jordyn and Leah exchanged glances. They didn’t say a word. Both girls returned their attention to Zoe. She smiled at her ability to control them.

  “My idea is sure to please everyone. It holds all the mystery, intrigue and fun to satisfy everyone in the group.” She waited. Jordyn and Leah sat stoic, hanging on her words. Zoe continued.

  She filled the girls in on the plans to make The First Cut something unforgettable. An organization everyone would want to be a part of. She told them about Spencer’s occult knowledge and how he could lead them through ancient, esoteric rituals to summon the gods of the dark. And she mentioned the prospect of sexual practices as taught by the masters of the occult. The practices served a higher purpose and everyone could enjoy sex freely, without guilt or fear of being considered a slut. Zoe watched Leah turn pale. Paler than her normal coloring, which was pretty pale. Jordyn looked stunned.

  “So. What are your thoughts?”

  Jordyn rubbed her forehead. “I don’t know what to say. It sounds exciting. But I’m not so sure about the sex part.” Leah nodded emphatically.

  “Not everyone has to have sex. But everyone has to be a witness to it. The rituals require participation. Which includes being in the room. The energy levels increase when stronger vibes are present.” Zoe smiled and tried to make her tone sound light, like it was no big deal.

  “So, you are willing to have sex with these guys?” Jordyn was flabbergasted Zoe could even fathom such an idea. Especially since she openly despised Ryan’s talk.

  Zoe shrugged. She drooped her lips like it was no big deal. “I’ve considered it because it is for the greater good. We can really summon some incredible powers from such rituals. And if it requires some pussy, so be it. It serves a bigger purpose.”

  Leah dropped back on her bed. She looked stunned. Jordyn tried to pick up her jaw from the floor. “I’ve never seen you like this. It’s weird.”

  Zoe stared at Jordyn until she continued. She wanted Jordyn to make the next move, verbally, so she could figure out how to counteract the argument.

  “Okay. It sounds so dirty and exciting. I can’t believe we are going to do something like this. Oh, my God. I’m going to have sex with Todd.” Jordyn waved her hand in front of her face.

  Leah sat upright and glared at Jordyn. “You’re going to really do this?”

  Zoe jumped in before Jordyn could be talked out of it by Leah. “Once we start this, nobody can back out. Too risky for secrets to get out. You are either in all the way or you are out. All the way.” Zoe emphasized the last part. She knew threats worked better on mild-mannered, good girl Leah.

  Leah swallowed and looked between the girls.

  Jordyn rubbed Leah’s leg. “Come on, Leah. It’ll be fun. Maybe you can lose your virginity. Wouldn’t it be great to not have to worry about that anymore?”

  “I don’t worry about it at all.” Leah glared at Jordyn.

  “Why would you? Redheads don’t have as much fun as blonds, so you probably don’t have many guys chasing after you.” Zoe knew her comment was mean but she wanted to ante up the pressure.

  Leah clearly looked offended by Zoe’s remark. Jordyn shot Zoe a glare of her own. “Zoe. That was mean. Leah can be an observer then. Until she feels comfortable. And if she doesn’t want to have sex, she doesn’t have to.”

  Zoe smiled. “Nobody is going to be forced into doing something they don’t feel comfortable with. But this is the plan for The First Cut. So you are either on board or you aren’t.” Zoe stood with her hands on her hips. She stared at Leah to make her feel uncomfortable.

  Jordyn nodded at Leah and then turned to Zoe. “I’m in.”

  Zoe raised her eyebrows at Leah. Leah stared at her bed spread as she played with her newly painted toes.

  “I’m in.” Leah’s words were barely above a whisper.

  Zoe grinned. She had gotten her way.

  Now the fun would begin.

  Chapter 14

  Holden hung up the phone. He stared at his computer screen. His eyes didn’t connect with the Powerpoint presentation in front of him. Holden was dazed. Rebecca had called him at the office.

  When he had awakened today, Holden had looked forward to getting into the office. He had spent weeks preparing for the meeting with the CEO. Tons of extra hours, working on the presentation. He had made sure to run it by several colleagues too. Holden wanted to be sure his ask wasn’t out of line with company objectives. He knew the proposed changes would be necessary in order to meet the sales goals for next year. With the fiscal year looming, the time had been now to make his case.

  Rebecca.

  The meeting was a disaster. The CEO ripped him a new ass for even considering such changes at a time like this. Time like this? What the fuck did that mean? Holden found out soon enough. A merger was in the works and they would be the team swallowed up by the other firm. The CEO assured Holden his position was safe, for now. But half his people would most likely lose their jobs.

  Rebecca called.

  The news came out of left field. How was he to know there was an imminent merger? Holden was pissed off because he had previewed his ask in advance, when he scheduled the goddamn meeting in the first place. Didn’t it occur to that shit-for-brain CEO to deny his request on the spot, or at least, cancel the meeting beforehand? Why leave it on the calendar and let him walk into a brick wall?

  Rebecca called me at the office.

  Holden wished he had stayed at home today. Curled up in bed with the shades drawn and the covers pulled up over his head. It had been one of those days. And then she calls him at the office to tell him about Turner.

  He was into it.

  Holden rubbed his eyes. His blood pressure was high because he could hear it pound within his temples.

  Rebecca had done it. She convinced Turner to agree to swinging or some shit. Now they wouldn’t have to hide behind everyone’s back. But he still would. He had already cheated on Samantha. Sure, the future might be open to fooling around. But he couldn’t put the milk back in the container. He had been screwing Rebecca for months. And he couldn’t pretend it hadn’t already happened.

  He knew what she liked. It would be awkward when Holden went right for Rebecca’s g-spot. That would be a regular old head-scratcher.

  Samantha.

  How could he even bring this up with her. He hadn’t worried about it when Rebecca originally suggested it because he never would have guessed that milquetoast Turner would be up for it. He liked Turner. They always got along at neighborhood events. The guys shot the shit once in a while when they crossed paths in the street. But this would be different. Now he had to work on Samantha or else Rebecca and Turner would say something.

  What if Rebecca already told Turner about them? If he didn’t get Samantha on board then they would tell Samantha everything. And Holden would lose it all. All he cared about.

  He placed his head in his hands and closed his eyes to concentrate. How could he get out of this? Holden wanted out. Completely out. He loved fucking Rebecca. Sh
e was amazing in the sack and her body was unreal for a woman of her age. She was insatiable. And she did it all. Everything Samantha did. And much more which she didn’t. Holden hated to think about giving it all up and settling for Samantha’s sex.

  But his conscience wouldn’t let him live. Even when he was with Rebecca, he thought about Samantha. Holden loved her so much. Yet, his appetites and urges overpowered him. Holden knew it wasn’t an excuse. He could try things with Samantha. He could resort to porn to get his rocks off. There were so many things he could do to keep his problems in his own yard.

  Rebecca was that good.

  Holden slammed his fist on the desk. He realized he made a loud noise and his eyes scanned the window of his office which overlooked the bank of cubicles. No heads popped up to check on him. He was relieved. But he still had a problem. Holden couldn’t have his cake and eat it too. He had to suck it up and keep living like the lowdown snake he was. Or he had to end it with Rebecca and remain faithful to Samantha. Hopefully, she would never find out about his affair.

  He wondered if he could trust Rebecca. She had always been nice. A perfect neighbor. The stakes were much higher than just regular neighborly things though. She found things in Holden which she couldn’t get with Turner. Similar to Holden and Samantha. She might get nuts if he were to dump her.

  Get over yourself, Holden.

  He snorted at the ridiculous thought that Rebecca was so stuck on him. She just liked to fuck. There was no way Rebecca had feelings for Holden. She wouldn’t create drama if it were to go away. Only psychos and lovers took things that far. But how well did he really know Rebecca? He knew every inch of her body. Her mind was still an unknown outside of the bedroom. Holden had no idea if there was potential for her to lose her shit.