And she wants a reward. She’s spent too many nights alone, frigging her clit raw. She’s ready for something more.
And after what she said about not consummating the marriage, I’m not waiting. Her initiation into what I want from her in the bedroom starts tonight.
“Better run, Bella.” I turn my back and start counting down. “Five.”
There’s a scrambling sound as she slides down from the roof. I wince when I hear a few loose pieces of stone tumble to the ground. But she makes no sound, so maybe she’s all right.
“Four.” I pull out the gloves I stuffed into my back pocket. I found them lying beside some empty pots when she was setting up her little mushroom trap. I should’ve worn them before I tore out the hogweed. I won’t make that mistake again.
“Three.” The graveyard is quiet except for the crickets creaking. Insects make a lot of racket. The sound rises and falls in waves.
“Two.” I open my eyes. She’s not running to the house. She’s still here in the graveyard. Hiding.
“One.” I take a few heavy steps toward the wall, making sure to crunch the dried grass underfoot. Make her think I’ve left.
Then I loop around the back of the crypt.
There. In the green vines. She’s still a statue. Quiet.
Does she think I’m stupid? Or does she want to be caught?
What else is she planning?
I hesitate. I could grab her, but… I’m not sure if she’s set a trap.
I sidle up beside her. She’s looking the other way. She doesn’t hear me coming. She doesn’t know I’m beside her. She looks so happy, thinking she’s one-upped me. I take a moment to savor this moment of victory.
Then I clamp a gloved hand over her throat.
Her shriek is stifled by my flexing fingers. I’ve got her now. I hold her in place with one arm, letting her fate sink in.
“You should’ve run.”
“Back to the house? That’s where you want me. I wasn’t going to fall for that.” She licks her lips. There’s still a sheen to her lips from the tree she made out with earlier. The one that grows poison apples.
She warned me about the hogweed sap. I bet the stuff on her lips is poisonous, too.
But shouldn’t it be poisoning her?
“You’re coming home with me, little bride.” She’s not my bride, not yet, but she will be. She doesn’t like it, wants to deny it, so I’ll keep reminding her.
With my hand around her neck, I draw her forward only to push her back against the stone. The movement is slow and gentle, but the manhandling shows her that she’s at my mercy. “I’m going to teach you some manners.” I place my thumb on her lips.
Her eyes widen when she realizes I’m wearing gloves. I can touch her any way I like as long as I don’t let my skin touch hers. Not until I’ve washed the poisons off her.
“I won,” I tell her. “Fair and square. That means I get the reward. But if you’re good, I’ll let you share it with me.”
“What’s the reward?”
“You’ll see. You’ll need to be a good girl for me.” I shake her a little. “At least until morning.”
She considers this. I could choke her out right here and now, but she somehow thinks she has options. The upper hand. She’s delusional.
“One night,” she agrees.
It’s true what they say. Curiosity did kill the kitten. Tonight I’m going to devour her.
But first, I’m going to play with my food.
