Page 9 of Grave Obsession

“Unfortunately for you there was none left, so I brought you the next best thing. Peach,” she replies, clearly pleased with her move in this game of innuendo chess we’re engaged in.

“I’ll eat peach just as voraciously as I’ll eat cherry. Don’t you worry about that, sweetheart. Any pie you bring me is worth devouring.” Her jaw drops and for added effect I scoop up a forkful of pie and slip it past my lips. Exaggerating every delicious sound I make as I slowly pull the fork from my mouth. She watches my mouth with burning intensity, and I hear her gulp as our eyes meet again. Checkmate.

“Can I get you anything else, Officer?” she croaks, her voice seems to have abandoned her. I long to ask for a taste of her delicious mouth to wash down this pie, but it’s too soon for her.

“No, that’s all for now, Mallory, thank you,” I reply. She’s lingering and I’m tickled pink with the knowledge that she doesn’t want to leave me. Edward and Ryan choose this moment to vacate their table and make their way to the exit. Shit. I need to get out of here and follow them. Torn on what to do as my eyes follow them through the restaurant, I see Edward blow Mallory a kiss and wink. Fucking pig, that’s a threat if I’ve ever seen one. Looking back at Mal, she’s gone deathly pale, clearly seeing the vulgar gestures Edward directed at her. The door closes and she’s withdrawn into herself again. Damn it.

“Hey.” She looks to me, searching my face like I hold the answers to all her life’s problems. Little does she know that I do. I’ll do anything to make her happy and keep her safe. “I’m going to be here when you get off work, and then I’m going to escort you home. If you want, I’ll sweep your property again. I’ll sit in my car all night if it makes you feel safe. Nothing is going to happen to you Mallory. I promise.”

“But-” she protests, but I’m not having it right now.

“No, it’s my job, Mal. I’m on shift until 7 am and I can switch with the guy who’s working over on the outskirts right now. He hates the woods anyway so he’ll be overjoyed to get back to highway patrol.” She nods, knowing this is the best thing right now. Men like that will keep escalating their threats and aggressive behaviours. If they haven’t already been to her house, they will be soon. They want what they are owed from Mallory’s shit-bag parents and they will kill Mal to get it. Not if I get you first, fuckers.

The rest of the night is uneventful. Edward and Ryan don’t pop up again and I use the necessary means to gather essential information on them. Edward lives in a shithole just outside of town, which will be perfect for quick and efficient elimination and disposal. I actually do my job while waiting for my little siren to finish her shift. She’s calm and collected now, all traces of her earlier arousal are gone. She never replied to my text, but given tonight’s events I’m not going to push her. The little glimpse I got of her fire is enough for now. It’s more strength than she’s shown in months and I’m proud of her.

She comes out of work looking like a zombie. Her face is vacant and I can’t understand why the hell she works herself into the ground like this. Maybe I’ll talk to Rita, it would be easy to convince her that Mallory needs a break. Not even time off really, just days when her shifts off line up.

She drags her feet the entire way over to her car, pulls out her keys to unlock the door, then drops them. She manages to hit her head on the side mirror as she goes to pick them up and then curses under her breath. I don’t know what’s happening but this clumsy fool has my heart in a chokehold.

As quietly as I can manage, I creep up behind her. “Excuse me, ma'am, how much have you had to drink tonight?” I boom, my voice carrying across the parking lot. She screams bloody murder and whirls around. I’ve got my massive flashlight pointed right at her face so she doesn’t know it’s me. A poor idea on my part. I can see her fist coming right at my face but instead of dodging or blocking it, I choose to take the hit. Maybe she will play nurse to make it up to me.

Her fist connects with my cheek and I’ll admit it throws me off balance a bit. I didn’t expect her to be this strong. Lowering my flashlight, I can see her face morph from fear to shock and then settle on anger. Oops.

“What the fuck, Nox! I could have stabbed you in the eye with my keys or something!” she yells at me, grabbing my face and inspecting my cheek that’s surely started to swell. It’s hot and throbbing, just like my cock. I need to back away from her before she thinks I’m some fucking pervert.

“Sorry Mallory, just doing my job. You stumble bumming over to your car and dropping shit doesn’t look too good. I needed to make sure that you’re sober and alert for the long drive home.” I’m using my policeman voice again. She backs away from me and I hate it. Gone is the flirty banter from earlier. She shrinks inside herself because of my response, because of me, and I hate that too.

“Yes, of course. Sorry. I’m sober, Officer Graves, just extremely tired. Thank you for offering to escort me home,” she meekly responds. Turning back to her car, she tries again to unlock the door. I’ve fucked up. Shit. I need to get us back to where we were.

“You know, Mallory, it’s a criminal offence to assault a police officer. What do you suppose we should do about that?” The moment it’s out of my mouth I realize how colossally I’ve fucked up. I just keep digging myself a deeper hole. What was supposed to be a flirty comment probably came off as me implying I want a sexual favour in return for my silence on the matter. Her whole body tenses and I’m nauseous at the fact it’s because of me.

“Excuse me?” she says without even turning around to look at me. She’s glaring at me through the reflection in the driver's side window. I can tell she’s debating on whether to get in the car and run, or turn and fight. Please turn and fight, baby. Make me regret what I just said. I’ll beg for your forgiveness until my knees bleed, baby. Just stay.

Chapter Nine

Mallory

It’s been four days and I’m still pissed at Lennox for that fucking comment. I’m aware he doesn’t know anything from my past, but still, you shouldn’t make a comment like that to any woman. “I’m going home”, is all I said before I got in my car and peeled out of the parking lot. He started to say my name before I cut him off with the slamming of my car door. I knew if I heard my name fall from his sinful lips I’d be putty in his hands. “Mal-,” the sound of his defeated voice haunts me. I was really quite rude. But, for the first time in my life I somewhat stood up for myself and that feels good. I’ll make that asshat grovel for my forgiveness, and maybe I won’t even give it to him.

Officer Graves still escorted me home that night despite my silent treatment. When we arrived, he got out of his cruiser and called after me. I tuned him the fuck out and stormed into my house, still fuming, and slammed the door behind me. I could see him raking his hands through his hair, clearly frustrated with himself for being such a blatant tool. Good. I don’t want to be that weak bitch anymore. He quickly surveyed my yard with his flashlight then got back in his car and 'whoop whooped' the sirens at me as he pulled out of the driveway. Yeah, 'whoop whoop' to you too, motherfucker.

I don’t know what has me acting like this today. It’s been a good few days aside from my spat with Lennox. I’m ecstatic I didn’t get a speeding ticket the other day when I was rushing back to work from getting myself some necessities, like coffee and tampons. I was let off with a warning this time and told “If I catch you again, I won’t be so nice about it.” He called me ‘darlin'. It was gross, he was gross, but I didn’t get a ticket so I’m not going to complain. It could also be all the praise I’m getting from my masked man. It’s empowering. I haven’t seen him again, but he’s been messaging me occasionally these past few days. I haven’t replied but his words are building me up inside.

Unknown number:

Get rid of him.

That’s my good little siren.

Don’t ever let anyone speak to you like that again.

You decimate them with that fire you have burning

inside of you.

Or I will.

I’m so proud of you for sticking up for yourself.

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