Chapter 31
Chapter thirty-one
Reeve Hardy
Give — Sleep Token
Blades of grass brush against my boots, and twigs crunch beneath them as I descend the light incline of the terrain from her tower.
The chirping birds dart from tree to tree.
Sunlight filters through the dense canopy, casting a bokeh of light and shadow on the ground, where patches of vibrant moss flourish.
The rich, earthy scent fills my nose, reminding me of the days I spent here as a teenager.
Lost but hopeful. Eager. Determined. Waiting.
An unlit cigarette hangs from my lips. “Run, Baby. Give a reason to spank that ass, I know your little clit is already pulsing for me,” I raise my voice enough for her to hear me, flick the lid open, and bring the lighter to the end of the cigarette.
I’m still trying to fix everything I’ve broken. I barged back into her life, and the pain I’ve put her through is unbearable. If that had been done to me, I would have lost my fucking mind.
I exhale a cloud of smoke and walk through it. Sweat beads on every cut of my body.
The air feels warm and sticky.
I didn’t forget to bring a few EpiPens for her, just in case she gets stung by a bee.
I glance to my left as I pass a single yellow tree. Sighing, I take another drag and listen to her footsteps as she skips ahead, not bothering to look back, not scared.
Fearless.
My girl is fearless.
“Winona,” I shout.
No answer.
“I know you can hear me, Baby. Dip your fingers in your wet pussy and rub your clit for me.” I command, and a few seconds later, a tiny moan drifts to me. A satisfied grin pulls at the corners of my lips. “Good girl.”
Her soft giggles dance between the trees as I rush forward, licking my lips. I can already taste her as I bring the cigarette to my mouth again for another pull.
Her musky scent is like a warm hug, soothing and persistent, lingering in the early morning breeze.
Her muscles have become stronger, yet she still feels tender against me. Her thick thighs are shaped perfectly under her plump ass. She’s a masterpiece.
The flame that keeps me going.
I’m pretty sure I’m the moth.
I was always the moth.
In her letter, she told me I have invisible wings and am like an angel. That’s not true. I’m just an insect who fell in love with a goddess who loved him back, but my days are numbered.
I may be her husband, but I’m first and foremost her bodyguard. I’m not taking any chances when it comes to her. However, I will let her have some fun over the next few hours.
That’s all that’s left anyway.
I turn my head to the left when I hear a knock on the bark, noticing a small shadow dancing around it. My boots shuffle toward it, moving in that direction as Winona breaks to the right and sprints away.
I round the tree she hid behind. My eyes land on our engraved initials.
R the last thing I need is the police in my business. I still remember the corrupt officers who used to show up at the circus. I don’t know who might show up now, and I’m not about to find out if their faces belong to people from the past.
“You’ve never been to a police chase before,” I say as I head toward the stadium a mile ahead.
“Are you suggesting there will be more?” The little brat can’t help herself.
I chuckle. “Think you can negotiate a good deal for us?”
“I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve,” she replies, excitement coloring her voice. “Maybe I can bat my eyelashes prettily, and they will let us go.”
“Not a fucking chance. They won’t get the opportunity to rake their eyes down your body with dirty looks.”
I pull in the clutch, bang the gear up, and then release it as I twist the throttle.
I turn left and enter the busy parking lot just as groups of bikers and hundreds of cars are leaving. A warm hand grips my cock, squeezing it tightly. My breath hitches as she runs her fingers up and down the bulge in my pants.
I wear sweats, and goddammit, I can feel everything. The girl wanted ice cream, so we left our apartment, and this turned out to be so much more.
It always happens.
I wanted her to get out of Salem, so I took her on a short trip.
“What are you doing?” I whimper as I try to refocus on the road. I slow down to enjoy the feel of her touch without risking her safety. “That’s why you wanted to be my backpack today instead of riding your own bike.”
I go around a few vehicles, get us back onto the main road, then turn down a side street.
“Shh,” she whispers. “You’re already getting hard.” I hear the grin tug at her lips from her lustful voice, and it makes me want to bend her over the bike and claim her in front of everyone.
Show them she belongs to me.
Her free hand massages my shoulder thoroughly before she drags her nails down my jacket onto my chest and twists my nipple, setting every nerve in my body ablaze.
Fuck.
My cock jerks against its confines.
“That’s d-dangerous.” I groan just as she wraps her hand around my throat. “I need to bring you home safe, Little Demon.”
“I trust you will.”
Winona’s scream shatters the silence and reverberates across the forest, drawing my rapt attention immediately as I stride toward her.
I chuckle darkly. So adorable. Trapped like a little prey for me to feast on. I waited to be hers again and earn the right to stand beside what’s mine.
Yanked up, a thick net is tangled around her ankles, resembling a hammock between two thick trees a few inches apart. Her radio and rifle are tossed at the bottom, and her hair spills freely above them. Blush creeps up her cheeks from all the blood that’s rushing down.
“Reeve!” she yells, thrashing against the bindings. “You crazy motherfucker.”
This is just the beginning.
“I only fuck you, and it stays that way.” I inch closer. “But if you want me to turn you into a mama, just say the word.”
“Ahhhh!”
More chuckles escape my lips.
The net trap caught her well with the added strings and ropes I tied to a thick branch. Everything connects to a metal bar with a handle I can operate—like a windlass—a mechanical toy for my book lover. I’ve been working on it for months.
I click my tongue. “What happened to rule number one?”
My sounds of amusement quickly fade when she pulls out our pocket knife to cut the net.
I snatch it out of her hand. “Give me that. No cheating.”
She gives me her sassy little smirk in return. “Fine. Are you going to fuck me upside down?”
I drag my tongue across the inside of my teeth.
Controlling her, owning her, claiming her time and again fuels my entire body.
I will satiate her needs, her unspoken demands, in a way that will forever alter her mind. I claim her silently. With a single glance, I ignite her soul, and she burns beautifully for me. My eternal flame. She owns every inch of my body and every part of my soul.
I feel like fire and electricity bounce across my chest, from side to side—trapped, wired, raging, and ready to burst out.
I whisper, “Your smile is enough to ruin me.”
Her eyes flash wide—desire quick to darken them.
I drop my cigarette on the ground and press my boot on it before crouching down until my face is just above hers. My fingers thread through her hair, tugging gently until her head tilts back, exposing her neck to me.
I bite her collarbone, and she instinctively grabs my shirt, twisting it. Her fingernails dig into my skin, leaving me with little reminders of her.
I nibble on a spot until it reddens and a beautiful bruise blooms before me. My tongue runs over it. I kiss the spot and finish by licking her neck up to her jaw.
Her soft moans morph to desperation.
A growl slips out, and I bite the air next to her ear as she squirms. Her sensual sounds are like a drug—so addictive that I’ll never stop craving her. I need to be near her. Taste her. Leave my scent on her skin and fuck her until we both collapse.
“Don’t freak out, but I have a little surprise,” I say as my lips tease hers. The slithering on my back nearly reaches my shoulder, and when the snake’s head pops up in front of her, Winona’s expression turns to stone.
“Snake,” she mumbles past parted lips.
“It’s harmless.”
“I think I’m going to faint.”
“You’re not going to faint. We’re going to heal you.”
“We?” she questions, her mortified expression unchanged.
“Mona and I,” I reply as I stretch my arm to the side, and the baby snake crawls over it. “She’s Braxton’s pet snake. He gave her to me for today.”
“When did you see Braxton?”
“He came here to help me with something. You’ll meet them soon.” I grin. “I just want you all to myself for now.”
“Reeve, I can’t,” she says in a small voice, burying her face in her palms.
I bring my free hand above hers. Sparks ignite when my warm fingers brush her delicate skin. “Hey... I’m not going to do anything you don’t like. It stays on me for now until you’re ready.”
Her breathing slows beneath my touch. “Reeve…”
“Want to give me your hand?” I ask, waiting for her to make the first move. It’s her choice, not mine. And I wouldn’t force her to do something she doesn’t want. But I will encourage her to try.
“Okay,” she finally takes my hand, still covering her other eye. She dares to peek at the friendly snake coiled around my arm. “Mona, if you bite me, Reeve will hang you from a tree and make you an example of why no one should hurt me.”
I chuckle at her adorable pout.
“Damn right I will, but I think this little snake won’t hurt you. She might help you overcome your fear through a fun experience instead of a circus nightmare.”
“She can strangle me,” Winona points out, her eyebrows knitted together.
I let my thumb draw circles on her wrists while she still holds my hand tight enough to cut off my blood circulation. “Not strangle, choke a little. Braxton trained her to do that. She’s a good girl, right, Mona?”
The snake hisses.
“I’m your good girl, not the snake,” she scowls.
“Are you jealous?”
“She’s a snake.”
“So…”
“Don’t ever call her a good girl again.”
“Never again,” I say with a shit-eating grin. “So be my good girl and touch the snake.”
A cute grin crosses her face, but it turns into a grimace when she looks at the snake again.
“You can always use your safe word,” I reassure her. “Okay?”
“Yes.”
I straighten up, my chest puffing with pride. Winona has slithered her way into the marrow of my being since the day I met her. I walk to the tree and turn the handle; the rope rolls as it lifts her to my liking, placing her at the perfect height.
Her pussy is at eye level with my face.
I unclip the holster from my pants and set it on the ground along with my thigh bag, then untie the mask strap from the waistband loop and chuck it next to them.
“You trust me. Let me hear you say it,” I order.
Taking a shaky breath, she opens her mouth to say, “I trust you.”
Now, we can start playing.