Chapter 9
Nine
Burke
Witnessing Clara act out her revenge was sweeter than I thought it would be.
Now she gazes at me curiously. Even covered in blood, my dragonfly, with her radiant smile, has an air of confidence that she doesn’t always access. Her sheer strength, inside and out, turns me on. I want to provide for her in any way she needs me to.
Seeing her in action was everything I could have imagined. Clara covered in gore with a smile is sexy as sin. Making my dick throb, lust and curiosity swirl inside of me. She is making dreams come true for me that I will never express to her.
I shift my attention from her to the sack of shit with a rolling pin up his asshole. Lowering the knife to his neck, her voice gives me pause before I slice open his artery.
“What if we fucked right now?” she asks. “Wouldn’t it be the ultimate send-off?”
“Is that what you want?” I turn to gaze up at her, my mouth drying, and I arch an eyebrow.
“It’s wrong, though, right? I mean, I know what I did to him, but this seems fucked up, and I don’t know why I want it.” She fidgets with the button on her jeans, and I stand, bringing the knife with me.
“Don’t think so. If that’s what you want, who am I to deny you?
” I place the knife on the chair and rip her clothes off, tearing the fabric of her shirt and shucking off her jeans.
I unzip my large hoodie, and as I pull the shirt over my head, her cool touch makes me jump. “God, you drive me crazy,” I whisper.
Undoing my belt, she kneels in front of me. Her hair is pulled back in a slick ponytail, letting me see those green orbs I can get lost in. She rips my jeans and wraps her hand around the base of my cock.
When she pulls me closer to wrap her lips around my length, the room fills with the sound of her suction and Andrew’s death rattle. I should have sliced him wide open when I had the chance. He’s ruining the moment.
Gripping her ponytail, I slide her up and down my length and hold her to the base of my shaft for a few seconds, her throat milking me until I pull away and let her breathe.
Running my fingertips under her jaw, I tap against her skin and lift my head.
I’m surprised by the way she responds to my cues so well.
“You’re such a good slut, you know that, right?”
She nods, and I bend her over the arm of the old recliner, the smell of old, sour sweat curling in the air.
When she recoils, I release her, and Clara immediately stands. Her gaze darts around and her body shakes more than it was.
“I can’t… not there.” She looks at the floor, twisting her fingers.
I’m not about to press her for details. The memories crusted within these dirty walls are enough to make my skin crawl without needing details.
I lie beside the crimson mess and pull her onto my face. Gripping her thighs, I explore her folds and lick her sweet juices as she grinds her clit against me.
As she tenses and grabs onto my chest, she whines when she comes. I roll her over and Andrew’s vacant gaze is locked on us. She sent him straight to hell, and we can move toward our new path without having to look over her shoulder anymore with fear.
“You’ll rot somewhere,” Clara spits out at him. “I win, not you.” I hold on to her, pulling her onto all fours, and slide into her wet pussy. She lets out a primal groan. “Fuck! Make me come all over your hard cock, Burke.”
She’s putting on a performance, and if that’s what she needs, I’m happy to be here to deliver. I grab her ponytail, jerking her upright, and slam into her. The way she squeezes around my shaft is almost too much to bear.
Not wanting to hurt her scalp, I let go of her hair and grip her hips as I pound into her.
Clara grips the carpet in front of her, thrusting back on my dick as she screams out and tightens around me. “Fuck, Burke, I’ve never come like you make me do.”
“You belong to me, that’s why.” I growl and lift my leg to steady myself before pulling out and spreading her open to watch my cock disappear. “Dragonfly, you take me so fucking well,” I grit out before slamming in to the hilt.
Clara lurches forward until her hands rest on Andrew’s naked flesh.
Blood seeps through her fingers, and it’s undeniably hot as fuck. I have never experienced this before, but seeing her with her own handiwork has heightened all of our senses, and I cannot help but crave her even more.
“Don’t stop. I’m going to come again.”
I never intended to stop slamming into her and reach beneath us to swipe my fingertips over her clit. When she squeezes down again, I can’t stop and fill her with my come.
“Just like that,” I whisper. “Such a good job.” As much as I want to give her another round, I am aware Curt will be here soon, and I pull out. “What do you want, Clara?”
“Make me come again, please,” she begs.
Leaning back on my heels, I slide two fingers into our combined juices and rub her clit, and as she humps my hand, my dick throbs for more. Adding another finger, I fuck her until she clamps on my digits.
“Fuck yes,” she screams.
“Perfect. Let’s get out of here, Dragonfly.”
“I don’t have any clothes, you ripped them. What’re we gonna do? My prints are all over him now! Fuck, I’m stupid.” Clara’s face drains of colour.
“Nope, I know a guy. He’s scheduled to be here within an hour. I got this covered. No one will ever tie you to this piece of shit. Not like this.” I get up and pull my jeans on before doing them up.
“My clothes are still fucked.”
I hand her my hoodie and slip on my shirt. Clara drowns in the fabric, but it covers everything it needs to. I grab her blood-covered hand and leave the knife next to his body. “Any parting words?” I ask her.
“I’ve said everything I need to,” she whispers. Her gait wobbles, and I know the adrenaline is going to run out.
Clara is silent on the ride home. I run my fingers over her bare leg, trying to keep her in the present, but she doesn’t respond. Staring out the window, she shivers and her body trembles.
Dissociation is a coping mechanism I have used more than once, and I can tell she might be doing that as her body handles the hormones pumping through it.
When we get to the front door, she stumbles over the first step, and I pick her up and cradle her against my chest. Walking up to the bathroom, I set her on the counter before drawing a warm bath.
“You did so good,” I tell her.
After I shed my clothes, I turn to her and watch the tears fall down her cheeks.
“Why does it feel bad, then?”
“Sometimes it doesn’t live up to the image you had in your head, but you were and are so fucking strong. I wouldn’t want to get on your bad side, Clara. You’re fucking powerful, and no one can take that away from you. Not Andrew, Ryan, or even me.”
I unzip the hoodie she is wearing and place it, along with her bra, on the pile of clothes next to the door.
“I’m exhausted.”
Knowing the physical aspect of what happened tonight was a lot, I pick Clara up and bring her to the tub.
Nothing can rival the emotional turmoil that she’s experiencing. Laying her into the water, I get in behind my dragonfly and rub the cloth through the bubbles before trailing it over her skin.
“It’s tiring being a complete badass. We’ll get you cleaned up and fed, and we deserve a good night’s sleep.
” I kiss her shoulder and continue washing the blood off of her.
She’s so fucking exquisite, and I can’t express the feelings that bubble in my heart.
“You have a power over me. Have for years. I don’t know how to control it, but I’d walk to the ends of the earth if that’s what you wanted. ”
Clara relaxes against my chest, and for the first time in my life it’s like the puzzle pieces fit right, like even though I waited for her, it all came together when it needed to and not a moment before.
“What if I wanted to kill again?” she whispers. “Would you still want me? What if I wanted to commit horrible acts on others?”
I finish cleaning both of us while pondering her question. Now would be my chance to tell her I enjoy the sight of gore, taking back power and seeing her sheer rage. I fear spooking her and stay cautious.
“Good thing I got a cleanup guy, then.”
“Why do you?”
Pulling the plug, I get out of the bath and grab towels. “CEO of a big company has to come with secrets, you know.”
“Is that what we’re gonna have? Secrets and omissions?” Clara grabs the towel from me and dries off.
Reaching for my phone, I order burgers and fries before I tie the towel around my waist. “No, I have private security for everyone who works for me. Sometimes I do illegal things, Clara, to advance in my career. As for secrets and lies toward you? I’m nothing but an open book.”
Her green gaze meets mine, and she leans in to kiss my bottom lip before heading out the door with a towel around her hair. She might be the death of me, but what a way to go.
Tidying up the bathroom, I head into the room to get ready and check my phone for progress on the food. “Don’t get too cozy,” I tell her. “I owe you burgers, and they’ll be here in five.”
“What?”
“You asked, and I deliver—well, technically they are, but you know.” I slip on a pair of joggers and a dark Henley before glancing at her drowning in one of my gym shirts. “We should go shopping, if you want. We can get all sorts of whatever you need.”
“Burke, I don’t have the money to do that.” She dries her hair and brushes past me to put the towel away.
When she comes back into the room, I grab her hand and spin her to me. “Maybe not, but I do, and I want you to feel comfortable.”
“At what cost?” Clara doesn’t look at me and fiddles with the hem of the shirt.
Lifting her chin, I kiss her nose. “Nothing. I know promises have been made and broken in the past, but all I want is for you to be safe and feel at home.”
“But what if—“
My phone buzzes and I stroke her cheek. “If you want to pay me back, have at it. I’ll funnel the money back into your account. I know it’ll take time, Dragonfly, but it’s important to me. Find something to watch. I’ll grab the food.”
She nods and gets onto the bed before flicking on the TV.
Heading down the stairs, I wonder how to approach the subject of buying her things without making her feel like she owes me. It’s nothing for me to give her what she desires, but I’m not taking away any of her independence in the process.
Opening the door, I grab the bags left at the front porch, and a chilling shiver rushes down my spine, like someone is watching. Locking up, I’m halfway to the stairs when my burner phone vibrates in the kitchen. Setting down the bags of food, I pick it up.
“Job’s done. Did you leave the front door open?” Curt asks.
“Would’ve left it unlocked for you, but I think that’s all.”
“No, the door was ajar. It’s fine—I cased the house, and no one was home—, but I found it odd. She good?”
“As good as can be. Could you do me a favour and install more cameras and security around the outside of my place? I had an eerie feeling tonight, and it’s likely nothing, but when it comes to her, I’m not risking a fucking thing.
” I glance at the time and worry Clara will pass out before I can get any food into her
“Sounds good. Glad she’s been able to take that stick out of your ass. I’ll be in touch.” He ends the call with a laugh.