by Zoey Woods
His hand slid across my cheek until his fingers grasped the back of my hair. He tucked hard once, desire spiking inside.
“You like that?” His husky voice made a whimper of pleasure catch in my chest.
He tightened his hold on my hair, while his other hand traced up my neck with greedy fingers that no matter how I tried to fight it, left a trail of tremors behind.
“Why are you toying with me?” I gritted out. “We both know you were one of the fuckers who tried to kill me.”
His gaze snapped from my mouth to my glare. “If I had wanted you dead, I could’ve killed you with a touch.”
“Oh?” I breathed out in a sultry voice. What was wrong with me? “Then how come your cousins say you need a reaper to cut the threads of life? At least Patrick and Finn are active while you…what do you do? Wait for things to happen?”
I jerked from his hold, but he grabbed me, thrusting me against the wall. His thigh pressing between my legs.
“Careful, little one. My anger knows no bounds.” His hand clasped my throat.
The sensation of him so close and what I’d wanted him to do the first night I’d ever seen him came roaring back. My core tightened, anticipating his touch. Wanting more. Wanting him to kiss me and oh god, so much more.
He leaned forward, inhaling my scent my jugular. “You want me.”
“You’re full of yourself.” I lied. He was temptation and excess and everything sinful rolled up into a nice, tight-ass package.
So close that his scent of roasted cinnamon, pine, and trouble wafted over me. The hand clutching my hair, released, but he kept the one on my throat. Not too hard, not too soft, only the right amount to let me know he was in charged and liked our power play. His free hand traced down my side, leaving shivers of desire in their wake.
Something deep and raw stirred in my gut. I tried one last attempt to escape this desire swallowing me whole. Too late. My gaze fell to his luscious lips that sat in a cocky smile and my breath stopped.
He inched closer, his erection pushing against my heat. So he wasn’t as unaffected as he pretended to be.
His growl sent a spike of lust through me. “I’m going to enjoy breaking you into our tribe.”
“I don’t break easily,” I whispered in a hoarse voice.
When he crushed his lips to mine, his hand still on my throat, holding me in place while my entire body burst into million pieces.
All too soon, he pulled away from me and I leaned forward, desperate for more.
When I saw the arrogant glint in his dark eyes, I clenched my jaw. My skin felt hot and tight that he dared think that I could be broken or putty in his hands…never mind what just happened.
I clenched my jaw, skin burning alight that he dared--
“You’ll be fun to keep. Might even take my turn breaking you.”
“Is that your idea of swooping a girl off her feet?”
He laughed and made my knees weak. The sound made me want to drop my pants and underwear and wrap my legs around him. Ride him until we both came and screamed each other’s name. Which was so wrong. He shouldn’t sound so damn good and sexy.
Through my lust-fogged mind, I remembered it was because of him that I was here. Dead. A reaper. Using all my strength, including some I didn’t have, I shoved him back.
“Stop fucking with me.”
“Is that what this is?” He arched an eyebrow, looking me up and down. “I can think of better ways to do that.”
I leaned against the wall to keep myself upright. His words making me want to forget why I was pissed and let him do whatever the hell he wanted with me.
“You were one of the ones from the other night at the bar—here.” I waved out a hand.
He raked a hand through his hair. “I’m here a lot since I own the place.”
Figures. “You don’t remember me, do you?” I cocked my head, waiting for some sign of recognition.
When he didn’t flinch, a thread of despair wound around my heart. “Of course, you don’t know me. Our encounter was brief before you plunged your blade into my chest.”
“Oh, that—”
“Fuck you, yeah, oh that.” I crossed my arms. “Thanks to you, I’m this reaper person. And I want out. You owe me. Tell me who the other ten members are and after I dispatch them and you, I’ll be on my way to—”
“No.” He didn’t yell the word, but it felt like he had. It was low and deep and guttural. “You aren’t to touch any of them. Do you understand me?”
I understood him alright. He was one of the bastards that had to die.
Chapter 12
“You still don’t get it, do you?” David asked.
“So enlighten me.” I leaned a foot up against the bar’s wall. The music around us fading as I watched him. “Tell me how and why you and your buddies get your kicks off killing an innocent woman. Is that the only way you can get it up?”
The muscle in his jaw twitched, which should have been a warning, but I couldn’t stop.
“Why don’t you give me the names of your friends?” I smiled. “I’ll make your death as quick as I can like I did Emily.”
“You stupid girl,” he spat. “I only just found out she was involved and you fucking killed her.”
I blinked. What he was saying didn’t make sense. “No. Y-You drugged me that night. Put something in my drink an—”
“Emily put something in your drink. I was trying to protect you. Women have gone missing from my bar and the area for months and I was tracking down the culprits. I wanted you close to me, but then you took off, disappeared. By the time I found you…it was too late.”
“I-I don’t believe you.” He’d been one of the men. Hadn’t he? I shook my head, trying to remember that night. There had been men and women’s voices. None of them stood out as his. Was he telling the truth?
He closed the distance between us again and I stiffened. I pushed against his chest, not knowing if I could believe him or not. He trapped me with his body. I didn’t think I could stop him if he kissed me again. Didn’t know if I even wanted to try. My body hummed, aching for his touch. My lips tingled from when he had kissed me moments before.
His dark eyes flashed to my face, my lips. And god, he smelled so damn good. Like honey-whiskey that was both seductive and wild.
He might not have been one of the ones that killed me, but that didn’t mean I didn’t hate him.
His fingers slid over my shoulders, drawing me to him. His kiss was softer than the first time, but no less demanding. My thoughts quickly turned to mush. My body betrayed me by leaning into him. I reached up to tangle my fingers in his hair. The strands were like silk.
I shouldn’t want him. I hiked a leg up over his, pressing my heat to his erection.
He smiled against my lips, moving his hands to the hem of my shirt. When his fingers traced a sliver of flesh along my abs, I hissed in a breath, burning up all over.
Even grinding against him wasn’t enough. I wanted more. To feel his flesh and have his hands on my body. I traced the cords of his muscles across his shoulders and down his chest. His skin was warm against my hands. His kisses drowning me in desire and lust.
An all-consuming ache started at my core, a throbbing between my thighs. There were too many clothes between us. I tugged at his shirt. Unable to stop myself from taking my own blouse off as well. My chest heaving.
His mouth trailed fiery kisses across my jawline and down my neck, before dipping down to my bra. He freed my breasts from the cups by yanking the material down. I moaned, leaning back to allow him better access. He needed no encouragement. His mouth took in one nipple, swirling the sensitive nub with his tongue. While his other hand massaged my other breast. I mewled in pleasure, bucking my sex against his erection in his leather pants.
“Please,” I pleaded.
“Please what?” He switched to the other nipple, lavishing it until it was a hard peek in his hot mouth.
When I didn’t answer because, honestly, I di
dn’t know if I was capable of speech right at that moment, he drew back. The loss of him pressing into me had me gasping in shock and pain. Then he removed his pants and I gaped. He’d gone commando.
And his erection was rigid hard and begged for me to touch it. I reached out a hand but he moved back again.
“Say it.” He stroked his dick in slow, hard strokes that had me drooling.
“I-I…” I’d never talked dirty to a lover before. But my mouth and my sex were both wet and wanting him. Maybe I didn’t need to tell him. I could show him. My boots came off with a thud and I pushed them away with my bare feet.
Next, I unzipped my pants and his eyes filled with lust, but he didn’t move toward me. Slowly, never taking my attention from him, I shimmied out of my jeans. Then I rolled my underwear off, kicking it aside. I crooked my finger at him. Wetness pooling and ready for him.
He rushed me. One second he was too far away, the next he had every inch of himself pressed to me except the part I needed. His hand clutched my throat, squeezing gently like I imagined all those times I’d seen him here at this bar doing to me. “Say it!”
“Fuck, fuck me.”
He grunted in satisfaction and his free hand stroked my clit in slow, circles until I was writhing against him. He kissed me, hard and deep, his hand pressing on my throat. I moaned into his mouth as his hand stroked the fire burning inside me. I shuddered as my climax grew into a raging volcano.
My hands blinding hunting for his hardness. To bring him pleasure as he was bringing me, but he took his hand away from my throat, locking both my hands in his and raising them above my head.
“Not yet. I want you wet and screaming my name when I take you.”
I whimpered in need and growing pleasure. At this rate, I was going to cream all over his hand.
David’s fingers dipped in and out of me in a steady rhythm while his thumb flicked gently across my clit. I thrust my hips forward, riding his hand as the wave of pleasure carried me away.
“Shit, I can’t wait anymore, you’re driving me fucking crazy.” He slid his cock into me hard and deep.
I screamed as an orgasm broke free and another one quickly built in its place. I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t do anything except cum over and over as he thrust into me, filling me.
My legs trembled as he held me, pumping into me, stretching me deliciously.
“God, you feel so fucking good.”
I couldn’t speak. Wave after wave crashed into me, hollowing me out. My throat raw from my screams until I was limp and boneless in his arms. His body was the only thing keeping me upright. He grunted, thrusting half a dozen more times hard and fast before he sagged against me.
Our panted breaths mingling in the afterglow of our lovemaking.
Chapter 13
David backed away from me and I was left cold again. Did what we just did mean nothing to him? Was I only a challenge that once he had me, he was done with me?
“I’ve wanted to do that to you from the first moment I saw you.” His husky, sexy voice sent shivers through me and I couldn’t stop my smile. “Come, we need to get you cleaned up and figure out what to do with you.”
My smile quickly faded. “Do with me? Nothing. I’m a reaper until I get those responsible for my death.”
“No, you need to reap the souls we give you. No more. No less.”
I bristled. I fucking hated being told what to do. And Finn. God, he was an arrogant prick almost as bad as David. Yet, I’d let David fuck me, I’d enjoyed it, and I wanted him to do me again. But I also wanted to know the sweetness of Patrick and the burning desire for Finn. What was wrong with me? Did being dead make people hornier?
Nah. If I was alive and had these three sexy men after me, I’d want them just the same. I was just fucking lucky…or cursed. It was only my first official day as a reaper and I wasn’t sure I’d gotten any closer to figuring this shit out. And I only had eleven more days to finish finding all my killers.
* * *
After dressing, I marched back outside to where Finn and Patrick waited. There was no sign of David and part of me was disappointed, but what had I expected? For him to hold my hand like Patrick?
Finn smirked like he knew what I’d done. Oh god, did I have sex hair? I ran a hand to smooth down any loose strands.
“What do we do now?” I glanced around, Emily’s body was gone. “Where did she go?”
“Remember, the human world passes differently than ours.” Patrick kicked aside a pinecone. “They’ve already found her and done an investigation, coming up empty-handed on her killer.”
My insides churned. I was guilty of her murder. I’d been the one to kill her. It didn’t matter that she’d been one of the ones who stabbed me first.
“Don’t sweat it. Each kill will get easier.” Finn shrugged a shoulder.
“You mean when my soul has been chipped away? Isn’t that what you called it? Until I no longer care how I reap…what if it’s a child?” I doubled over, my chest heaving.
“Way to go, Finn.” Patrick hunched next to me, rubbing my back.
“What? She deserves the truth. The sooner she accepts her fate, the better.”
“No,” I choked out. “I’m only doing this to bring the twelve who killed me to justice.”
“Is that what you call what you did to Emily?” Finn squatted in front of me. “Sure, she had her issues and you defended yourself, but now how many women will die because we don’t know who the eleven guilty are? Time’s ticking. You’ve got only ten days left.”
I swallowed, despite my tongue feeling thick in my mouth. “No, eleven days.”
“Human days, Luv.” He tapped his wrist. “Tick-Tock.”
* * *
An hour later, I paced inside the Fates’ home. After scouring the internet, something that was available in the afterlife too, and stalking Emily’s friends, I was no closer to discovering the identity of any of my murderers.
“Why aren’t you more helpful?” I snapped at Finn who lounged on the couch watching me pace back and forth.
“You have my undivided attention.” He bowed his head. “What more can I do?”
“Fuck you.” God, I hated his arrogance.
“Sure, but you’ve less than nine days now.” He stroked his lower lip with his thumb.
The gesture made my mouth water, remembering his kiss not more than five feet from where we were now. “You’re the fate of the future…which path do we need to take to find my killers?”
“Doesn’t work that way.” He sighed. “There are too many paths that tangle and cross or end up nowhere. This is something you have to unravel yourself.”
Of course, it was. Why did I think it would be any different? If Patrick was able to see the future, he’d give me some clue, wouldn’t he? Maybe that was why he was only given the here and now.
Wait. Dave—David. He had all of the pieces of the past. So why wasn’t he able to know who all had stabbed me or what happened to those other women? Was he hiding something or did he really not know? And how could I have allowed him to dissuade me from my questions with touches, kisses and sex?
Of course. What better way to distract me? And I’d fallen for it. I’d even spread my legs in a rush and let him fuck me when I didn’t even know him. Swept away in lust and gratification while I lost more time to gain insight into the ones who had killed me. Did the fate of the past not want me to retire the mantle of reaper? Did he think I could walk eternity like this? Waiting for them to give me the orders to slice someone’s life thread?
Patrick had said that they had trouble keeping reapers. Was that the reason for the secrets? Here I was stuck between three men. One who couldn’t tell me anything outside of what was happening at this very moment, one who saw too many paths shatter into a thousand possibilities, and one who had to have known what happened but chose to try to keep me in the dark. The question was why. My gut said that I wasn’t going to like the answers.
“Take me to David,” I said a
dding as much menace to my words as I could. “I’m done playing your sick games. I want the truth now.”
Chapter 14
Finn schooled his features, but not before I caught the pinched expression on his face. I was done waiting around for them to decide when and who I would kill. Eleven of my killers still roomed free and bound me to this eternity.
“So eager to leave us?” His husky voice sent shivers through my body.
What was wrong with me? It was like since I’d died, I’d become a raging sex maniac.
Finn rubbed his bottom lip with his thumb, his gaze roving up and down my body and sending heat to my core. I glanced away from his movement, focusing instead on the ambient lights glowing against the night sky. How much time had passed in a single night here in the underworld? I didn’t feel tired or sleepy or even hungry. It was almost like something else fueled me.
I marched away from Finn, too wound up with the sexual energy pulsing between us. Wasn’t going to let him distract me like David had done earlier.
And Emily. God. What the heck had happened to her? It was like she was possessed or something. I brushed my arm across my middle, feeling stickiness there. What on earth? Black blood stuck my shirt to me. Ugh.
“I don’t suppose there are showers and a change of clothes around here?” I asked.
“Thought you wanted to speak with David?” Finn gave me a crooked grin that made my heart thumped harder in my chest.
“I do.” I lifted my chin. Ten minutes to get demon slime off me couldn’t hurt. “I’ll be ready to speak with him in twenty minutes tops. Unless it will take you longer to bring him here?”
“No one brings David anywhere without his consent. But I’ll pass along the message to him.”
“Great. Now, where’s the shower in this place?”
Finn led me to a hallway of closed doors and opened the fourth one on the right.
“What do the other doors lead to?”
“Call out when you’re done. They will be a fresh pair of clothes outside the shower.”
