Chapter 6
S unlight filtered through the steel grey sheer drapery, rolling across her body as she lay on the massive bed.
Checking the clock, she noticed it was almost eleven, and that meant she had only slept about five hours, as Ghost had carried her back to the house from the garden as the sun hit the horizon.
Five hours was nowhere near enough sleep, but she had time for a couple more naps before she would be summoned to dinner, and maybe another nap as she waited for sundown, when she would see her seven once more.
Spending the day alone and eating alone weren’t her favorite parts of the process, though she was thankful for the reprieve to relax and heal.
Sitting up, she noticed a teapot and covered plate on the small table, just off the cold fireplace, which was a staple of her time there.
She was normally a coffee drinker, but the tea was apparently something that helped with healing and her peace of mind, or so the note had said the year before.
She didn’t knock it, as she had felt better for her second night after consuming it.
Slipping from the bed, she gingerly ambled to the table and uncovered the plate.
Croissants, a bowl of oatmeal with pineapple, and a cut up peach were there, along with a note from them reminding her to take a long soak. As if she could forget.
Pouring herself a small cup of the herbal tea, she slowly walked into the bathroom and started the tub, dumping the entire bag of the arnica Epsom salts into the massive garden tub, along with some lavender oil to help with her relaxation.
The aroma of blueberries and lavender hit her nose and she smiled, sipping from the cup.
She prepared towels and a razor and other things she knew she needed for the soak, and then left the tub to fill, to have her breakfast.
She ate quietly, looking out the window to the forest beyond.
She knew that night she would be hunted through the forest by Ghosty, his favorite, and she knew she would end that scene with the man himself naked but for the mask and her bent over something hard as he railed her.
Ghost was a lot of fun, and she was excited to show him her new speed.
Oh, the fun in the garden was more hide and seek with him, but tonight she would be his prey and that knife he constantly carried was going to be front and center. The idea made her shiver.
Was it wrong that she liked his version of foreplay? That the idea that he could slip with that knife was not a deterrent?
“Jesus, I’m turning into a fucking sicko.
..” she muttered to herself as she stood, popping the last of her peach into her mouth.
Feeling more relaxed and alive, she padded into the bathroom and took off her robe, then slid into the hot salty water, sighing as she lay her head back.
The water was just to her nipples, the lap of it kissing them as she got herself comfortable.
Her body was sore, but enjoyed the water, even with the sting between her thighs. Closing her eyes, she sighed.
“You are stunning when wet,” she heard from by her ear, and smiled.
“Neon...” she said softly and turned her head.
“Not right now. Right now I’m just Emerson.” He smiled at her. “Want company?”
She nodded. “You sure you’re not going to get in trouble?”
He laughed. “The guys are either sleeping or out somewhere.”
“And you’re not sleeping why?”
“Couldn’t. Not when I knew you were here, and you knew who I was.”
“Bold of you to come see me.”
“How could I not?” He stood and started to take his clothes off, which consisted of sleep pants and a t-shirt.
He stepped in and motioned for her to scoot up, then settled behind her, pulling her against his chest, hands on her torso under the water.
His knee came up and she ran her fingers over it, softly, enjoying the warmth and silence cocooned in him.
“You doing okay?”
She nodded.
“Good. Tonight is going to be...extra. Originally the plan was to ease you in, see if that changed the potency, but you walking in looking like a fucking gift changed that. None of us were ready for how amazing you looked in that dress.”
She smiled to herself, thankful for her yearlong mission to make herself a goddamn snack. “Who picked it out?”
“Goblin,” he said. “Plague picked the shoes this year.”
“Generous.”
“Nothing is too good for our little sacrifice.” He leaned forward, running his lips along the shell of her ear. “Honestly, though, who else are we going to spend money on?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know if you guys have wives or girlfriends or anything...”
“No and no,” he chuckled and kissed her shoulder, fingers stroking her belly. “Our lives aren’t conducive to relationships. I mean, how do you hide the fact that you murder people, right?”
“You are dudes. I’m sure you are getting your needs met.”
“Possibly? Some of us are a bit too...volatile in that respect to be set loose on the public. I can tell you that since you swallowed my cock that first time? It’s only been you.”
“Romantic.” She giggled and leaned back more. “Is that like part of the pact? Do you guys have to follow rules, too?”
“You mean when we’re with you, or the rest of the time?”
“I don’t even know where to start,” she admitted. “I want to know everything.”
“I can’t tell you much. The seven of us were raised in a cult, and in exchange for keeping a dark god fed, we are gifted lives others would kill for.” She heard the smirk in his voice. “Pun intended.”
“I see. And the fact that you’re fucking insanely hot doesn’t throw women at you at all times?”
“No, actually. I’m good natured in my day to day, but I don’t get close. I don’t date and I don’t get attached to anyone. Except the others. Except you,” he offered. “You are a constant obsession. To all of us.”
“Even Snake?”
“Even Snake,” he said carefully. “Why do you think he doesn’t like you?”
“He’s never touched me unless he’s treating me as a tool to be checked for flaws before putting me back in a drawer until next year,” she said softly. “Everything is apparatus, nothing is him.”
“Ah. Well...” He kissed her again. “He has his needs.”
“And they aren’t me.”
“Does that upset you?”
She nodded but didn’t say more. How could she say wanted them all and not seem like she was totally delusional? Though Emerson wouldn’t judge her, she was still on the cusp of judging herself.
“You know, it’s kinda awesome that I mention the whys of our arrangement, and you don’t bat an eye at the idea of a dark god offering favors in exchange for life force.”
“Obviously I’m skeptical, but I’m not ruling it out.
There’s more in this world than we can see, or touch.
So, you say you’re killing people, and now rearranging my guts for two nights a year, to feed him and it makes a twisted kind of sense.
Fucking and dying are two ends of the same spectrum.
Whether pageantry, truth or psychosis, I’m all in. ”
“Which is also baffling to me.” He shook his head. “Don’t get me wrong; the fact that we get a goddamn smoke show to play with that’s down for anything is kinda amazing, but why embrace it?”
“The choice between enjoying what seven talented men do to me, introducing me to things I never would have thought I liked, or being afraid of what my body feels isn’t a choice.
” She turned her head to look up at him.
“I don’t think you guys understand, but you awoke something in me, something sleeping and needy, and it responds only to you. To them.”
Turning completely she went to her knees, hands on his beautiful face. “I miss you all when you’re not here. The year alone sucks, and I live for these two nights. I get to feel alive. I get to experience the truth of who I am.”
His smile, the look in his eyes, she shivered. “Damn it, Pet...”
Then his lips were on hers and they were kissing, him pulling her into his lap, sitting her on his hips. She moaned, her hips rolling on his lap as she whimpered. Gods, being able to have this, this stolen moment with him.
“Fuck, Pet, you are so fucking sexy.” He slid fingers down and into her and she winced, which stopped him cold. “No. You need to heal more.”
“But I want...”
“Oh, I didn’t say you weren’t getting anything. There’s something I very much want from you. Something I haven’t ever been able to do.”
“What? Cuz I have never...” she squealed as he lifted her off him and onto the ledge around the far side of the tub, sitting her on the towel there. They kissed and then he was sliding down while lifting her hips to his mouth.
“Holy shit...” she moaned and arched hard into what his tongue was doing to her clit.
It was like a balm, long sure strokes to her poor abused clit calmed through his onslaught.
“Em... Fuck, Emerson, that’s sooo good..
.” Her body shook as a lazy orgasm rolled up her spine and she sobbed, the softness, the deep thrum sending her into outer space.
“Peaches everywhere,” she heard him say, realizing she was back in his arms, in the water, snuggled close.
“Did I...how did I get back in the water?”
“I pulled you down after watching you sigh and twitch with that lovely orgasm. Do you know how long I have wanted to get my face between these thighs?” He nipped her shoulder. “Fucking peaches. You are fucking addictive.”
She giggled. “That why you left me the peach?”
“Obviously.” He pulled her closer. “You need a nap, yeah?”
“Will you stay with me ‘til I fall asleep?” He nodded. “Good. You are comfy, Emerson.”
Moments later she was under blankets, yawning and cuddling with him. “If I sleep...”
“You are halfway there, love. Sleep, trust. I will see you later.”
“No, Neon will see me later.”
He chuckled. “Yes he will, and you will enjoy it.”
She nodded, well aware he was right, and slipped off into dreams.