Tommy
I’ve never ran so fast in my life.
I’m desperate to get Didi out of there, dragging her to safety, bolting through the dark forest toward our rendezvous point, abandoning our masks.
I stop mid-stride, turn her around, and pull her into me.
Our breaths mingle in the dark as I fumble for my small flashlight in my pocket, knowing we would have to scatter.
Pausing to catch my breath, I look around.
The swigs of rum I had earlier are catching up with me. My chest is beating like a machine.
No one is chasing us; no one is here. It’s just me and Didi.
They saw her…
That was violent. Worse than violent. This was different from what we did at Smith Hall. This was targeted.
“Tommy,” she says, as breathless as I am. I lean my forehead against hers as our faces mingle. “I didn’t mean to do that.” Her eyes grow wide and wet as she adjusts to the light. “I burned him.”
I run my hand over her cheekbone. “Yeah, you did mean to do that, Didi. But that’s okay.”
She bites her lip as she draws in a breath. Not only did she light the match, but she was eager. She’s shaking violently in my arms, and I don’t blame her.
The adrenaline is insane.
I brush a strand of her hair off her cheek. “Shh. I got you, firefly. You did a good job.”
“Where is Remy? Did he make it out?” Her voice comes out haunted.
“He made it out. They all did.” At least, I’m assuming they did. I couldn’t focus on anything else other than Didi.
She peers up at me. “Are you sure?”
I flash the light through the trees to make sure no one is following us. “I’m not sure about anything anymore, but Remy is smart, Didi; he would have found a way.”
I brush her tears away, my hand tracing the curve of her face. In the darkness, I find her lips, trying to soothe her with mine. “Tommy,” she says breathlessly against my lips. “Did I pass Talia’s test? Do I get to stay?”
I revel in her taste, the smoky scent of the flames clinging to her skin. “Yeah, Didi, you passed. I’m not letting you go anywhere, okay?”
She better have passed.
She crinkles her nose. “Is Talia mad about what we did earlier?”
“I have no damn clue what Talia is feeling anymore.” If anything, she seemed happy Didi and I were together. The kiss she gave me in front of Didi hinted at more.
Having spoken with Remy at the Sheffield house, I now better grasp the puzzle that is Talia’s emotions.
Her rage is intense, but fleeting, and she’s a master at channeling it through pure manipulation.
When she loves, she loves so hard, and when she hates, it’s with savage viciousness.
She’s more delicate than she portrays, which makes her really fucking dangerous.
I’m beginning to believe she’s obsessed with Didi. And Didi seems more concerned about pleasing Talia than anything else—an obsession I also understand.
The power of Talia’s approval is intoxicating. And while I grapple with my guilt of what we are doing every day, it’s also mind-blowing and addictive.
An owl hoots somewhere nearby, causing us both to jump. I twist around, trying to get my bearings in the woods that seem to have no end or beginning. “Come on,” I whisper. “Let’s keep walking; the cave is around here somewhere. We’ll find it.”
I take the lead, waving my flashlight to find the markers we left that will lead us to the cave hidden deep in these woods.
I keep her hand tight in mine, because beyond this spot, the woods stretch for miles, and no one ever ventures beyond here.
It’s too easy to get lost. The trees are gnarled—they hook and scratch—and the forest floor is littered with ancient roots and fallen logs.
She doesn’t say anything, she just holds on to me as I lead her deeper into the forest.
“How much farther?” she asks, tripping on a protruding root.
I squeeze her hand and frown. “Not far, firefly. Want me to carry you?”
“Yeah,” she says, hugging herself. “I’m tired and cold.” Her breath coils out in front of her, swirling with each deep exhale.
She doesn’t have to ask me twice. I sweep her off her feet, and she giggles as I place her over my shoulder, giving her ass a playful slap before twisting her in my arms. She giggles and wraps her arms around me, and I instantly sense her relax in my arms as I trudge forward. “I’ve got you, baby.”
She stares up at me with bright eyes.
This girl…this tiny wisp of a girl in my arms seems harmless… except, I’m not stupid enough to think that she is. Talia wouldn’t be so interested in her if she was. Which makes me want to cling to her tighter.
“Wait, Tommy.” She waves her hand over my shoulder. “Over there.” I turn and shine the light in the direction she’s staring at and notice a red ribbon tied around a gnarled branch.
I tickle her ribs. “I forgot my little firefly can see in the dark.”
After five minutes, we spot the cave. I set her down and we descend the steep hill.
Ducking inside, I settle us on a flat rock, drawing her onto my lap.
Still catching my breath, I hold her close.
She rests her head on my chest as I scan the area with my flashlight and don’t see anything.
Not even the remnants from the night the boys and I got pissed drunk here all those months ago. That night everything changed.
A hint of her breath coils in the air as I place the flashlight beside us. In the darkest parts of hell, she still looks like an angel. Even if she just burned someone’s face off.
She looks around, confused. “Tommy, what is this place?”
She curls her legs around me and looks around as I run my hand through her hair. “This is where I gave my blood oath, and where all the ceremonial shit happens with the Order. It’s where my sister will eventually be initiated in a couple of years, too.”
She cups my face and kisses me, twisting her body so her legs are on either side of mine, and her pussy is anchored on top of me.
“I’m sorry that happened to you,” she says.
My erection grows from the position she’s in. I run my fingers through her hair and kiss her. I need to finish what I started earlier. I buck my hips and bite down on her bottom lip. “I’m not sorry. You’re still here, Didi. I still get to keep you.”
She kisses me, hard and deep, and I kiss her back with a possessiveness she’s never encountered with me.
I yank her hair, and she whimpers. The thought of Remy with her is driving me insane, so I sink my teeth into her shoulder, biting hard.
I always intended to share her…I just wanted her to be mine first.
“You drive me wild, firefly.”
My kisses turn soft, and I graze my teeth along her bottom lip, knowing she’s no longer the delicate little firefly she used to be. She used to be so untouchable, and now she’s mine to break.
“Tommy,” she whispers against my lips. “Shouldn’t the others be here by now?”
“I don’t care about them right now,” I murmur, and move my lips to her neck, running my hand up her shirt, cupping her soft tits. “I just want you, firefly; I want to finish what we started earlier. I need you so badly. All I can ever think about when I’m around you is being inside you.”
Nothing is going to stop me this time from fucking her brains out.
“Yes, you do.” Her fingers are so soft as she rakes her nails across my scalp. “You care about them,” she whispers, chewing on her bottom lip. “I know you do. Remy is still your best friend.”
I unzip my jeans and release my erection, moving her hand to it. “Grab it,” I demand, clawing at her jeans. “I’m going to fuck you again, firefly. I’m not waiting a goddamn second longer.”
Suddenly, a light shines in my eyes, nearly blinding me.
Fuck.
I pull my hand off Didi and run it along the back of my neck, playing it off like it’s no big deal, and Didi doesn’t move even though she was just rubbing herself on me.
Bax waves a flashlight, shining it right in my eyes. His long hair flows over his shoulders as he stumbles into the cave, and Remy is right next to him.
Didi is right; I am relieved to see them. Love em’ or hate em’, they are my family.
“Remy,” she squeaks and jumps off me and right into his arms. “I thought something happened to you.”
“Jesus fucking Christ, Tommy,” he bursts out.
I wave my arm, not bothering to get up and slowly zip up my jeans. “What are you talking about, man?”
He runs his hands up and down Didi’s arms. “Are you okay, Didi?”
She nods eagerly. “Yeah, I think so.”
He kisses her, pointedly ignoring the fact that he just saw me with her. He then glares at me and points rather aggressively. “You’re a stupid motherfucker.”
I bolt to my feet, and everyone stares at me. “What the hell did I do?
Bax breaks the tension. “Hey, man. Remy’s pissed. You went to the wrong cave.”
I glance around. Everything is as it should be.
Rocks and dirt. I shrug when I realize he’s right.
It’s not the actual meeting spot, but very similar.
I stare up at him like it’s no big deal, only to be met with the beam of the flashlight.
“Do you mind not shining that fucking thing right in my eyes, Bax. We got lost, it’s dark as shit out here. ”
He shuffles, clearly uncomfortable. “My bad, man.” Then, he aims the light at Talia, who’s watching me as Remy and Diana make out. “Did you see that jerk go up in flames? The guy was standing in the perfect place.”
“Did anyone see you?” Remy asks after they finally come up for air, tilting his head at her, staring down at Diana and ignoring all of us. “Why did you take your mask off?”
His voice is different…something’s off with him. He keeps glancing in my direction. There is no way Remy is jealous of me right now. First off, Remy is never jealous. Second, Didi was mine first, so what gives?
Didi nods slowly. “I…I think so. A few of them were pointing. I’m so sorry.”
Remy flicks his eyes in my direction, but I keep my gaze fixed on Talia, though her silk eyes hide in the darkness. He’s trying to tell me something, but I have no goddamn clue what it is.
“What’s your deal, man?” I ask.
Talia takes a step forward, grabbing Didi’s hands and pulling her away from Remy. “It’s fine that they saw you,” she says, her voice soft. “Let them see the one who will bring about their ruin.” She turns and glances at me. “Did anyone see you, Tommy?”
“Yeah, at the end. But I was wearing my mask. No way anyone knew it was me.”
She tilts her head. “It’s time everyone in this town knew about us and exactly what we stand for.
” Her voice hardens. “I want everyone to fall asleep at night and dream of the masked men in the shadows and the white-haired girl coming for them. I want to spread fear across this entire campus until everyone is trembling on their knees for us.”
I forgot how cute Talia is when she’s being evil.
“Damn,” Bax mumbles. “That’s like…some really deep and messed-up shit.”
Poor Bax. He wasn’t made for this, and neither was I. Remy is grinning for once, and Talia’s words are even getting me fired up.
Talia slides a hand over Didi’s face. “Now whenever anyone sees his burned skin, they will think about us.”
“Will he be okay?” she asks, and my heart melts at her innocence.
She grabs Didi’s face, forcing her to look at her. “You gave him a gift, Diana. He will cherish his life now…that is, if he survives the night. Either way, he is closer to his god because of you.”
“So, do I get to stay?”
Talia smiles. “Yes, sweet girl. You get to stay…at least, for now.”
Talia waves her hand. “We have to get back into town so people can see us. There is another party tonight, and we need to make an appearance.”
Remy slings his arm over Didi and pulls her out of the cave. “Come on. Let’s get you somewhere warm.” The two of them walk out of the cavern, and Talia walks directly over to me, stopping me before I can follow them.
I stare at her in silence, waiting for either my punishment or praise. My dick is still hard from a few minutes ago.
Talia stares up at me, then presses her lips to mine, kissing me softly.
Praise, then.
“When we are at that party tonight, I need you by my side. Everyone needs to see you with me. Then you can go be with her.”
My eyes narrow, and my hands draw to her hips. I don’t want her to think for one second that she doesn’t turn me on, too. I’m just not in love with her.
“When you and Remy are finished with her, you both need to understand something.”
“What’s that?” I ask, trying to contain my excitement.
She leans in close, her lips brushing my ear. “Ultimately, Diana belongs to me.”
She spins on her heels, prancing out with her bell-bottoms, leaving me speechless and horny as hell.