Chapter 21 Niko
After we’d disposed of Steven, his body left to rot beneath the earth, we took a shower, ridding ourselves of blood, gore, and dirt. We lay in bed curled into one another, Lila’s head pressed to my chest. Her warm breath caressed my skin, and I ran my fingers through her silky hair.
Months ago, when I first saw her, I never imagined this was where we’d end up. I wasn’t sure if she would stay, and fear began to seep into me. I placed my finger under her chin, tilting her head up to look at me. She peered at me with sleepy eyes, a smile finding its way onto her lips.
“Lila?” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Yeah?”
“Stay with me.”
Her brows furrowed as she sat up, the comforter slipping down her body, revealing her full breasts underneath.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“I mean, don’t leave.”
Her face fell, and I watched as happiness gave way to grief.
“What about Casey? She’ll never stop searching for me.”
“We can figure that out. Find a way to let her know you’re okay. I just… can’t be without you, Lila. I can’t.”
She moved closer, her fingers brushing against my cheek, and I leaned into her touch.
“I… I want to stay, Niko. I do. But I have to see Casey. If for nothing else than to just… let her know I’m okay, let her see that I’m okay. Talking to her won’t cut it.”
I nodded in agreement, feeling the fear in my chest ease a little.
“Okay. We’ll go see her tomorrow.”
She smiled up at me before lying back down, placing her head against my chest. I felt her breathing slow as I played with her hair, and I let myself sink into her warmth.
For the first time in my life, my heart felt full, bursting at the seams with an emotion I had buried long ago.
Love.
I woke with a start and reached across the bed, feeling nothing but emptiness. The bed was still warm from where Lila had been asleep, the lack of her sending a wave of fear through my chest.
I jumped from the bed and turned on my lamp, searching the room for any sign of her.
When it came up empty, I started to panic, my chest heaving with each breath.
Suddenly, the bathroom door creaked opened, her crimson hair appearing brighter under the light.
She stared at me in confusion before flicking off the light.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
I lunged at her, wrapping my hand around her throat and pressing her against the wall. Her chest stilled as she gazed up at me, lust and fear flickering in her eyes.
“I thought you left,” I breathed into her.
She melted into me, her hand grazing against the length of my cock, and I started to grind against it. My body began to tingle as my cock hardened with every touch, and I reached down, sliding my fingers into her panties.
“Don’t ever leave me, Lila.”
“Never,” she whispered as she sank to her knees.
She reached up, pulling my boxers down, the feel of her warm breath making me tremble. A deep groan poured from my chest as she slid her tongue over the crown of my cock, then gliding it down.
“Fuck, Lila,” I breathed, wrapping my hand around her hair.
She took me deep into her throat, her tongue gliding across the underside of my cock. Drool coated her chin and dripped down onto her shirt as I pulled her head back and thrust back into her.
I looked down to see her peering up at me, tears streaming down her cheeks as I fucked into her mouth.
She reached up and massaged my balls in her hand.
I brought my other hand down to her cheek, wiping away some of her tears, before slamming into her with brutal force.
Her throat tightened and spasmed before relaxing, letting me sink further into her.
I watched her take me into her mouth, her back arching as she reached down to rub her clit. With every thrust, she moaned, sending vibrations through me that made me come almost instantly.
“You're so pretty when I'm fucking your mouth,” I whispered.
Her eyes glowed with the praise, and I sank deeper into her, watching her eyes light up.
I pulled myself free and reached down to give her my hand.
“Get up,” I said.
She stood from the floor, her legs shaky as she looked at me with confusion.
I walked over to my nightstand and grabbed my knife from the drawer, stabbing it into the bed, leaving just the hilt showing.
“Take off your panties.”
She slipped them off and dropped them to the side, her body trembling with anticipation.
I grabbed a fistful of hair and forced her onto the bed, lining her up with the knife.
My cock twitched as I pushed her back, watching her pussy swallow it whole.
She gasped at the intrusion, and I smirked down at her, seeing her eyes widen.
I pressed the tip of my cock against her lips, and like the good girl she was, she opened wide, letting me sink back into her with ease. I moaned at the sensation of her wrapping around me, sliding back just enough to let her breathe, then slamming back into her.
Her hips began to move as she ground against the hilt of the knife, her moans filling the silence.
“Such a good fucking slut for me,” I growled, slamming into her harder.
Her eyes watered with every savage thrust, and I gazed down at her with adoration. She looked up at me through hooded eyes, and I knew in that moment she had me wrapped around her finger.
“Fuck, Lila,” I said, as she swirled her tongue along the tip of my cock. “I could fuck your pretty little mouth all day.”
She moaned in agreement, her hand reaching down to rub her clit.
Her arousal slipped down her inner thighs, coating the bed and knife below her, and my thrusts grew more brutal as I chased my release.
Her eyes began to flutter, and her muscles tensed as a muffled cry slipped from her lips.
I quickened my pace, feeling the tip of my cock glide down her throat, pulling me toward my climax.
With one final thrust, my balls tightened, my orgasm hitting me without warning. I spilled into her, my warmth filling her mouth, and she swallowed down every last drop.
I pulled myself free, my muscles twitching with aftershocks as I reached down and lifted her into my arms. She wrapped her legs around my waist and pressed her lips gently to my forehead.
“You’re so beautiful,” I said, pressing my mouth against hers, the salty taste of my own release coating my lips.
She melted against me, a low hum of approval vibrating through her chest.
“So are you,” she whispered.
I carried her over to the bed, placing her down gently before slipping in next to her. She nuzzled into my neck, her head resting against my shoulder, falling back into a deep sleep.
When she was fast asleep, I leaned down and whispered against her cheek.
“I love you, Lila.”
Lila sat at a table inside the coffee shop, her eyes darting up every so often to look at me.
I sat a few tables away, my leg bouncing with anxiety.
The bell above the door jingled, and I glanced up, seeing Casey’s panicked face.
She glanced around the room, searching for Lila, and when she finally saw her, she rushed forward, wrapping her tightly in a hug.
“Are you okay?” she asked, looking over every inch of Lila.
Lila smiled warmly and took her hand, holding it between both of hers.
“I’m fine, Casey, I promise.”
“Where have you been?”
They sat down, their hands still clinging to each other, and jealousy flared in my chest. I shifted in my seat, watching as Lila reached up and took a sip of her coffee.
“Around,” she said, swallowing down half the cup.
“Around? What the fuck does that mean? I’ve been worried about you and all you can say is you’ve been around?”
Lila shook her head, her eyes darting toward me for half a second before looking back at Casey.
“I just… needed to get away. Everything was too much. I didn’t want to put you in danger. Especially since I had no idea what this… stalker would do.”
Casey dropped Lila’s hand and leaned back in the chair, crossing her arms over her chest.
“I woke up at the cabin sixteen hours later, seeing you gone. Your suitcase, your phone, all of it. I’ve never slept for that long in my life unless I was sick. Did you slip something in my drink?”
Lila’s face paled, and she glanced at me, unsure of what to say. She stumbled over her words, and my muscles tightened as I could see the pain in her eyes.
“No, of course not,” she said, shaking her head.
Silence filled the air between them, and Lila’s body sagged with defeat. I looked toward her, and her eyes darted back to Casey as she leaned forward in her seat.
“I… met someone,” she said, her gaze flicking to me for the briefest of moments.
I stilled, my breath catching in my throat, and pressed forward, listening to Casey’s reply.
“What?”
Lila nodded at me, and I saw her motioning for me to come over under the table. I stood and made my way toward her, her chair scraping against the tile floor as she stood. I stopped next to her and wrapped my arm around her waist, holding her against me possessively.
“This is Niko,” Lila said, smiling up at me.
She slid her arm around me, and I smiled down at her, her warmth easing my anxiety. Casey sat up in her chair, her muscles tensing as she looked between us. Her eyes met mine, and I watched as the confusion faded away and realization took its place.
“This is him, isn’t it?” she whispered, her eyes boring into mine.
My arm tightened around Lila, and I had to fight back the urge to take her and run.
“What?” Lila whispered, her voice laced with panic.
“You know, the one who sent you the hand, and the flowers, and made you so terrified you couldn’t sleep?”
“Casey—”
She cut her off with a scoff and shook her head, her face turned up in disgust.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” she laughed. “This is some Stockholm Syndrome shit, Lila. Seriously, you have to see that.”
“I don’t think it is,” Lila said with a shrug. “You’re entitled to your opinion, but your opinion is wrong.”
“Come on, Lila. Let me take you back to my apartment so we can talk.”
Casey reached forward, but Lila took a step back, pulling me with her. I fought back a smile as pain flickered in Casey’s eyes.
“I met with you today because I didn’t want you to worry. I wanted you to see that I’m perfectly fine. I’ve already talked to Detective Pearson and let her know I’m okay.”
Casey’s shoulders sagged in defeat.
“I’m happy, Casey. For the first time in my life, I’m actually, truly happy. Please, just, accept that.”
Casey stood from her chair and grabbed her purse, her eyes looking between me and Lila.
“I can’t be happy for you when you’re obviously brainwashed.”
Anger flared in my chest, and I stepped forward, but Lila’s grip around my waist tightened, holding me back. I glanced down at her, and she shook her head. She slipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out a piece of paper with her number written on it.
We’d stopped by and picked her up another phone this morning before coming here, since I’d destroyed her old one.
She slipped the paper into Casey’s hand and gave her a gentle squeeze.
“This is my new number. You know how to reach me.”
Without another word, she pulled me toward the door, and I glanced back at Casey, a tear sliding down her cheek, and smirked.
We headed to my car, our hands clasped together as we walked side by side.
I stopped just before reaching it and pulled her into me, her warm breath creating a mist in the air.
“Are you okay?” I asked, caressing her cheek with my thumb.
She nodded and smiled, her eyes sparkling with joy.
“I’m okay.”
“I know she’s your best friend,” I said.
“She’ll come around eventually.”
“And if she doesn’t?”
She looked back at the coffee shop as Casey exited and sighed, shaking her head.
“I don’t know. But I know that as long as I have you,” she looked back at me, her hand reaching up to stroke my cheek, “I can handle anything.”
I pressed my lips against her and her body relaxed, melting so perfectly into mine. I knew in that moment that everything had worked out just as it was supposed to.
Lila was finally mine.