Page 31 of In His Veins

She pulls out my copy ofThe Roadby Cormac McCarthy and looks at me suspiciously. “I love this book.” I feel a thrill to have something so simple in common. I shrug.

“I do, too. It’s one of my favorites, actually.” She reshelves it and continues scanning my collection. With her back to me, I take my time surveying her figure. Her dark wash jeans cling to her legs and her ass, making me debate peeling them off as she goes through my books. I put my hands into my pockets instead. Ava lets out a sharp laugh, startling me.

“Rilke? I didn’t take you as one for poetry, let alone a German modernist fan.” She flips through the pages and pauses when she sees my annotations. Ava gawks at me over the top of the book.

“Who are you?” When I don’t answer, she drops the book on a nearby table.

“I’ll be back for that,” she adds, pointing to the anthology. Noticing the stairwell, she starts to walk up. I’m close behind her. The stairs open into a large living room with a sectional couch and TV. She strides to the couch and flops down, sinking into the cushions. She giggles, the sound nearly bringing me to my knees.

“This is cozy,” she calls to me. Her face is relaxed, and the expression is the only invitation I need. I sit next to her head before she sits up and scoots closer to me. She readjusts, laying her head on my lap. My mouth parts as I run my hands through the hair that’s spread over my legs.

“So, you’re obsessed with me,” she begins. My head tilts back as I laugh, and she gives me a toothy smile.

“Something like that.”

“Oh, no, I’m going to need more than that lame-ass response.” I purse my lips.

“You’ve got a bit of a mouth, don’t you?” She’s smug as she snuggles deeper into the couch.

“So I’ve been told.” Her amber eyes are warm. I can hardly believe she’s really in my home, lying on my couch, with her head in my lap. I study her as I respond slowly.

“You’re the first thing I think about when I wake up, and it’s your face on my mind when I can’t sleep at night. I try to work my cases, but I can’t focus on anything else if I don’t know where you are. The unknowing haunts me, even if it’s the little things about your day.”

“You can’t feel those things. You barely know me,” she whispers warily. I shake my head.

“I know enough.” She lurches up and twists to plant her lips on mine. My arm automatically circles her waist, pulling her closer. A little moan slips from her soft, full lips, effectively making my control slip.

In one movement, I use my hold on her waist to flip her onto her back. Her legs automatically latch around my hips, and I kiss her deeper. She breaks the kiss with a gasp, placing her hands on my chest.

“Hold on, I still have questions.” I sit up, straddling her hips. I keep the majority of my weight off of her as she takes in rapid breaths.

“Are they urgent?” I’m breathing quickly as well and fight to steady myself. She nods, covering her eyes with a hand.

“Last night. When I was about to use my vibrator. How did you know?” Her hand drops from her face, her expression defiant. She already knows but she wants to hear my confirmation.

“Come on, Viper. You already know.” She squints her eyes and clenches her jaw.

“I want to hear you say it.” My mouth tips up but I remain silent. The fire is growing in her eyes; her chest rises and falls for an entirely different reason now.

“Fucking coward. Admit you’ve been watching me.” She tries to wound my ego in an attempt to goad me. “Where did you put the camera? I thought at first you were maybe creeping outside my windows. I have a habit of leaving them open, but that night my blinds were closed.”

“Cameras.” I say. She tilts her head, confused. “You said camera,” I clarify.

Her eyes widen in understanding. “You fucking freak. How many? Where did you put them? How long have they been there?” I put my full weight onto her hips, and she stills.

“So many questions, but don’t you want to know what I saw?” Her cheeks flush crimson at the insinuation as she chokes out a response.

“That’s violating.”

“And you love it.” She doesn’t deny it. “You’ve loved every moment I’ve touched you, chased you, fucked you, and hurt you. You may not have known it was me, but I know you thought of me every time you used your vibrator all alone in your bedroom. Tell me I’m wrong.” She scowls at me in silence, and I know I’ve won.

“You can pretend you don’t want me, that you don’t want this, but why deny yourself the pleasure that you know I can only give you.” I’m trying to provoke her, amazed she’s still resisting the urge to talk back.

“You can go home and take down the cameras. I’ll install new ones. You can change the locks again. I’ll make a new key. You can adjust your work schedule. I’ll still come get a cup of black coffee. Do whatever you want, Ava, but I will always find you, and you will always belong to me.” I lift my hips to see what she’ll do. She raises her eyebrows in surprise when I swing off of her entirely. She sits up cautiously, and I see the intent in her eyes a moment before she bolts.

I chase her down the stairs and she takes a winding path around my living room in an attempt to buy time. I’m at a full sprint as I grip the back of the couch, scaling it with ease. The leap carries me to Ava. I grip the back of her head before tackling her, twisting our bodies so that I land on my back and take the full force of our fall. Using our momentum, I roll on top of her again, bracing my hands on either side of her head, my grin predatory.

“That was a good attempt, sweetheart. Care to try again?” She spits in my face and I press my lips to hers. Wrapping her arms around me, her mouth and tongue move against mine. I push her shirt up as I bite down on her lip and the noise she makes leaves me carnal.

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