Chapter 20
ARIA
The sun is starting to set when Stone pulls off the highway into an abandoned town that looks as though it hasn’t seen life in well over fifty years. The buildings are falling apart, the windows boarded up, and the paint peeling off the old wood.
Half of the properties look as though a tornado ripped through here and destroyed everything, leaving nothing but rubble in its wake.
“Shit,” I muse, looking at what I’m sure used to be a thriving little town.
There’s a main street with stores lining either side, but the road is covered in a thick layer of red country dust, and as we pass through, it kicks up behind us, creating a cloud that seems to engulf the whole town.
“This is sad. I wonder what happened here.”
“Same old bullshit, probably,” Stone says.
“The grocer marries the town doctor and has a bunch of kids, but the small school can’t handle the demand, so they move away to offer a better life for their children.
Only now, the town doesn’t have good health care or fresh vegetables, and no one steps in and takes over, so more people move until there’s no one left to run the farms or stock the shelves.
They run out of supplies until they have no choice but to abandon what’s left of the town and move to more populated areas. ”
My gaze sweeps toward Stone, my brow arched. “Wow. Who would have known you were so versed in small-town abandonment issues?”
He rolls his eyes. “Seven years behind bars gives you a little perspective,” he says. “Plus, a little common sense tends to go a long way.”
“You calling me dumb, Stone Blackthorne?”
“If the shoe fits, Riley Maddox.”
I cringe at the sound of my real name on his lips, but I quickly shake it off, not wanting to dwell on it right now. “If I didn’t want to fuck you so bad, I’d beat your ass right now.”
“I’d like to see you try, but you and I both know you couldn’t get within two feet of me.”
I scoff and cross my arms over my chest. “I don’t need to punch you in the balls to prove I can beat your ass,” I tell him. “It’s an old town, I’m sure there’s a bunch of forgotten pistols somewhere. We’ll duel at dawn, but be warned. I cheat to win.”
“I know. I was the one who taught you how, but you’re delusional if you think for even a second that I can’t out-cheat your cheating.”
“Shit. Prison really changed you.”
He glances at me, his brow arched. “How would you know? I thought you couldn’t remember anything.”
I grin. “I don’t,” I say, getting all giddy. “I’ve just always wanted to say that.”
Stone shakes his head as he turns off the main street and heads deeper into the abandoned town, passing what looks like the remains of an old school, a gas station with bags over the pumps, and then a residential area.
Most of the houses are in ruins and clearly haven’t stood the test of time, but there are a few still standing. I wouldn’t exactly say they’re inhabitable, but considering the state of everything else, I suppose they should be awarded a gold star for their longevity.
Stone drives past them, deciding that they’re all somehow still too visible from the highway, despite us now being at least a few miles away, and it’s not until we approach the very end of the small town that we find a few farms, their houses still standing tall . . . mostly.
Stone picks the one with the cast-iron gates out front and a big barn to hide the Firebird in, and as we drive up the long gravel road, I can’t help but feel that this place would have been cute back in the day.
Now it looks as though it’s been used as a party house for rampant teens looking to get fucked up.
Just like most of the properties around here, the windows have been boarded up, and the blue shutters are barely hanging on. The decking on the porch is one broken board away from an unfortunate amputation, and as for the house itself, it looks as though it’s being strangled by an overgrown vine.
Back in the day, this house would have been the perfect farmhouse.
A big ranch house with a wrap-around porch.
It’s giving Yellowstone, and I’m obsessed.
Judging from the size of it, it would have been built with a big family in mind—a family who no doubt had more than enough money lining their pockets.
It’s two stories, and probably has a basement, storm cellar, and an attic.
There’s a huge barn outback, and what I can only guess might have been horse stables, then beyond that, a small cottage.
Maybe a home for the farmhand and his family.
Considering it’s not in ruins, it’s our best option for the night.
Stone drives right up through the broken barn doors and brings the Firebird to a stop, far away from any prying eyes. Not that there are any around here. The town is more than deserted. It’s a damn ghost town. I’ve never seen anything so eerie.
We clamber out of the car, Stone grabbing our survival bag and small blankets, just in case, and I roll my eyes when he goes as far as to lock the Firebird. “Worried someone is going to steal it?”
He doesn’t respond, just shakes his head as though he can’t possibly wait to fuck the attitude out of me. “Hurry up,” he says, nodding toward the main house with his chin. “It’ll be getting dark soon.”
“Yes, sir,” I say with a salute.
I trail after Stone, looking up at the huge home, and finding myself more than intrigued to see what’s going on inside.
I definitely have to use a bit of imagination to picture just how incredible this home used to be when it was sparkly and new, but I bet the inside is just as beautiful, and with just a bit of love, I’m sure this place could really be something amazing.
Stepping up onto the porch, I laugh to myself, finding a few of the old decking boards well past their prime, just as I knew they would be.
“Watch where you’re walking,” Stone mutters, making his way toward the front door, but hell, he must weigh more than triple my body weight.
He’s the one who should be watching himself.
If I fell through this deck, he could scoop me out with his pinky finger, but if he falls, that right there is where he’ll spend his dying days.
But it’s fine, I’ll add a nice floral arrangement, you know, try to make it really nice for him.
Though I can’t lie, if he were to suffer death by decking before I get a chance to take a ride on that particular pogo stick, I’m going to be pissed.
Reaching the front door, Stone trails his fingers across the frame, searching for a spare key, but I grab hold of the handle instead, my gut telling me it’s already open. When the door immediately swings wide, I chuff with pride.
Called it.
Stone rolls his eyes, but I move past him, walking into the old home, only to immediately get a mouthful of stale dust. “Shit,” I grunt, waving my hand in front of my face, pleased that I don’t suffer from asthma or have allergies; otherwise, there’s no way I’d be able to survive this place.
I’d be sleeping with the bugs out on the old oak deck.
There’s just enough sunlight left in the day shining through the windows to light up the property, and I have to admit, with the dust particles in the air, there’s something almost romantic about it.
“Wow,” I murmur, walking deeper into the home.
It’s definitely falling apart, but the bones of the home still remain, and they’re absolutely breathtaking.
Everything is finished with stained wood, giving it the perfect farmhouse interior, and as I walk in past the entryway into the main living room, taking myself on a full tour, I’m blown away by just how big it really is.
Every piece of furniture has been stripped from the house. It’s basically just an empty shell with uneven floorboards, an old stone fireplace, and broken windows.
Every room is the same. Kitchen, bedrooms, dining room.
I’m a bit disappointed. It would have been nice to have seen it fully furnished.
I can only imagine how beautiful it would have been.
Grandfather clocks, ornate buffet tables and dressers.
Rolltop desks and old-school telephones, but it would have been the velvet upholstered lounge suites that would have knocked my socks off.
I shake my head. Who would have known that antique furniture would get me so hot and bothered? I sure as hell didn’t.
We’re just about finished with our grand tour when we head into the final room on the ground floor, but as I do a little mental gymnastics, I can’t possibly work out what other rooms could be left. “What do you think is in here?” I mutter to Stone as I reach for the door.
He shrugs and grunts. “Beats me. Maybe a library or one of those sitting room things they have in all the old movies.”
“Oooh, a library?” I muse, already getting excited. “I swear, if it’s not a library and there isn’t one of those cool built-in shelves with the rolling ladder, I’m gonna be pissed.”
Pushing the door open, I step through with a burning excitement pulsing through my veins, only to come to a screeching halt, my eyes widening in horror. “OH FUCK, NO!” I cry, turning on my heels and trying to bail, only Stone’s ridiculously big body fills the doorway, blocking my escape.
“The fuck is wrong with you?” he grunts, peering past me and into the room.
His brow arches as he takes in the massive pentagram drawn on the ground and what looks like massive claw marks scratched into the walls as though some kind of beast has torn the room to shreds.
“Well, shit. You don’t see that every day. ”
“Fuck no. There’s no way in hell I am staying here,” I panic, still trying to get past him, but the fucker doesn’t budge, clearly not knowing what’s good for him.
But how would he? His idea of a vacation is escaping a maximum security prison and taking out a bunch of prisoners on the way.
“What the hell are you doing? Move your ass out of the way. If you want to stay here and get annihilated by some underworld demon, that’s your business.
I bet you could even take him. You’re part beast, but I’m not taking the risk. I’ve got too much to live for.”
“Chill,” he laughs. “You don’t actually believe in that shit, do you?”
“Screw the town grocer and doctor shacking up and having kids. This right here is why this damn town is abandoned. This is some fucked-up juju. We can’t be here.”
Stone shakes his head, his heated stare colliding with mine as he grabs hold of me and presses me against the claw-marked walls. “Embrace the fucking demon, Menace. We’re not going anywhere,” he tells me, his voice a deep, lustful groan. “I’ve waited too long for this.”
“And if there really is a demon here?”
“Then he better buckle up for a goddamn show,” he growls, his hands on my waist. “Either way, you’re seeing demons tonight.
If the pentagram failed to summon one, then the bloodthirsty way you’ll be screaming for mercy while I fuck you will be more than enough to raise an army from the deepest pits of Hell. ”
I lift my chin, a heavy pulse appearing between my thighs. “Oh yeah?” I ask, a smirk pulling at the corner of my lips. “You seem pretty damn sure about that.”
His knee pushes between my thighs, pressing right up against my core and making my eyes roll. “Don’t test me, Aria. I’m already on the edge. You don’t want me losing control. Not yet.”
I groan, my head lolling to the side as he grips my throat with his big hand, more than ready to claim every inch of me. “Then what the fuck are you waiting for?”
Stone doesn’t need any more invitation. He scoops me into his strong arms, having the common sense to walk out of the demon’s chambers, but just as he crosses the threshold, I find my hands whipping out, grasping the doorframe on either side.
“Wait, wait, wait,” I call out as Stone pauses in the doorway.
“What is it?”
I swallow over the lump in my throat and cringe as I stare back into the room.
“Uhh, just in case there so happens to be an unearthly creature residing in this fucked-up little room, please know that what you’re about to witness is not for you.
This is strictly human business only, and definitely not a group project.
You may watch for your own immoral pleasure, but please refrain from joining in,” I announce, being as clear as possible.
“I don’t need a barbed demon dick penetrating my asshole.
Unless that shit ain’t barbed,” I add on second thought, picturing the many thorough descriptions I’ve seen in my special monster books.
“Actually, what kind of freaky shit have you got going on? If you wouldn’t mind whipping it out for just a second. ”
Stone gapes at me, his lips twisted. “The fuck is wrong with you?”
I grin, my tongue rolling over my lips as I take in the wild desire still growing in his eyes.
“You didn’t get monster smut in prison, and it shows,” I tell him, releasing the doorframe and hooking my arms back around his neck.
“You should really check that shit out. Actually, leave it to me. I’ll get you the good stuff. ”
He shakes his head. “You’ve been deprived of good dick, and it shows.”
“Is that so?”
“You tell me, Menace. Are you ready to be fucked within an inch of your life?”
I laugh. “Oh, you’ve got no idea what you’re asking for, but sure, Stone Blackthorne. Do your worst.”