Page 149 of Bake the Town Red

Who died pretty fast after that.

Goddammit.

“I could tell she wouldn’t last.” I shake my head. “Other side, Ty. We have a couple of minutes at best.”

“Can I just say—” he starts. A distinct smell permeates the air. Puke, she’s definitely puking. “It looks so much better up close. Even with the stench and everything.”

When I look at Ty, I find the strong man I remember. He’s also awed at what we’re doing.

The moment Al became Ian’s and my guardian, life turned to shit. Even with the fucker gone, he continued to terrorize us from the grave. He scarred Tyler, Ian, and me both mentally and physically.

But those scars aren’t all bad. Those scars bind Tyler and me together. For eternity.

I can’t complain. Won’t complain. We’re fucking magic together.

“It is, isn’t it?” I elbow him playfully.

“Yes, Dahl.” He leans in to kiss my temple.

I sneak a glance at the bowl he’s holding. Though Rita’s eyes are covered in chocolate, leftovers remain in the bowl. I did it on purpose. Wanted to use them for later. I don’t think I would anymore.

No time.

“The liquid nitrogen.” I glide my fingernails from his forearm to his elbow, my voice both seductive and mocking. “Please, Daddy. Sir.”

“Brat.” He lets out a low, husky laugh.

Tyler’s large, able body moves effortlessly in my little space. He puts down the silver bowl, carries the tank, brings it close, and stops next to Rita. He’s eyeing me, eyebrows raised.

“Speech, right.” I wink at him. Next, I address the woman who’s not moving anymore. So still that her heart doesn’t beat. But I have things to say, and I will. “Miss Rita. I’m clamping your eyes shut. No more flirting with what’s mine.”

No more flirting with anyone, period, but why get into semantics in such a poetic moment?

Tyler takes my silence as his cue, tilting the tank on top of her eyes. White vapor cascades out of it, circles Rita’s face like a soft summer cloud. There are soft clicking sounds as the liquid chocolate freezes on her closed eyes.

“Would you look at that?” My smile reaches my eyes, no doubt. Tyler’s does the same. “She’s dead.”

“She is,” he says, his voice strained. Tyler discards the liquid nitrogen tank. “Enough of her.”

“And now we—”

“Shut up, Dahlia, just shut up.” He grips either side of my throat. “God. Fuck. I need you, can’t you see? Need to be inside you. You’re going to shut up and you’re going to let me.”

His lips maul mine. His tongue is warm and possessive. Tyler’s feral groans send jolts of pleasure through my body.

Except—

“I have to skin her, while she’s warm.” I’m wet and needy and a fucking mess. And dammit, I wish I could give him what he’s asking for. I will. Later. “It’ll be a bitch to strip it off her when she’s cold. It’ll take forever.”

“No.” His hands choke me. Command me. “You’ve been teasing me since the moment I got in here, D. You don’t…” A low curse is nothing but a hiss from his mouth. “You don’t understand. I have to have you. Have to shove my dick in—”

I gasp when his hand magically appears at my waist. When he pulls me flush against his cock like he has the right to manhandle me like that.

Oh, wait. He does.

“—here. Deep inside your pretty little cunt. Feel you come all over me.” His eyebrows furl. Ty concentrates. It’s an effort for him to get the words out. That’s how much he needs me. “Be a good girl, little savage. Turn around and bend over the table. You’re either going to let me fuck you or I’m going to take it. There’s no other option.”

“Please, Tyler.” He’s the one who doesn’t understand. “I don’t want to stay here all night.”

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