Page 20 of Deal with the Devil

Knox slid in beside her, the door locked to his right with a loud click. “Thank you, Mrs. Armstrong, for keeping your side of the bargain.”

Oh, so this is...ouch.She smiled softly at her lap. “I assume then, that this is the end of our contract and you’ve already kept your side of the deal?”

“Of course,” He angled himself toward her, their knees touching in the back of the town car. It was a smaller version of the one they drove home in, less a limousine and more a car with a partition and leather seats. “That was the call Denver had metend to, ensuring all mentions of Rick, you, or your sister were cleared, and debts are paid in full. You are free of me.”

Amelia swallowed a lump in her throat. “And so, I’ll never see you again, right?”

They locked eyes for a long moment.Say no.Amelia screamed it loud enough in her mind she hoped he could hear.Say no, laugh evilly, say you’re not rid of me that easily, something...chase me, Knox.He stared through her, burning his essence into her soul. Then, with a sharp cough and clearing of his throat, he glanced away to his lap, pulling on his gloves as if to fully separate the two with one last piece of clothing. “Correct; our deal was I was to never see you again, Ms. Armstrong, and I’m a fiend of my word.”

She looked at her lap, folding her hands against her thighs.So, you won’t chase me?He would chase her down in the house and in the yard, but the real chase, he wouldn’t even consider it?Stop! Those are feelings you’re not supposed to have!Amelia flattened the jeans against her thighs.

“Unless,” he breathed and her heart skipped a beat. “Unless, of course, you’re naughty, Ms. Armstrong. For all naughty things end up at my feet one way or another.”

Amelia skin broke out in goosebumps, glancing up from her sweaty palms to his face. He gave her one stern look that she couldn’t read between the lines of, and it filled her with unending questions. A soft expression came over him as he reached across the cab and brushed the hair from her shoulders. His purple gaze lingered on the hickeys he’d so feverishly covered her in. “However, we both know how good you are, pet, so I expect to never see you again.”

Amelia hadn’t even realized they’d left the house till she saw the city coming closer through the trees. The sounds of the city were but a soft murmur that grew stronger. The road was far more solid than she remembered it.Or maybe the car is justbetter.Amelia leaned into his touch as his gloved hands lingered against her jaw.

“The contracts not quite up, pet,” he purred, capturing her jaw with his thumb pressed against her lower lip. Amelia let him guide her away from her seat and into his. In a rush of movements, he took position in the middle of the seat, her legs straddled around him. Their lips brushed, not a kiss but full of electricity. She tasted his breath as he teased her once more as he had the last time she was in the car. He pulled her into his lap.

“Is this what you want?” she panted, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.

“No, but it’s all I can have.” Knox didn’t explain and it left her reeling as he kissed her, hard. His gloves in her hair, ripping her into him till there was no air between them. When she pulled her lips away for only a moment to breathe, he snarled and pulled her back in. She inhaled sharply, tasting his scent as he engulfed her. No matter what Amelia tried, he didn’t let her leave the kiss. Her hands moved to his pants, and he snatched them away. She tried to coax his hands to her, over her breasts or along her back, he would bring her hands back to his shoulders and grab up her hair, bringing her back into a kiss.

Keeping her separate but against him all the same. Then, he slowed down, their noses brushing, lips open against each other. They gulped the others’ air, swallowing the last taste of each other as the city loomed over the car.

“What do you want, Knox?” she panted, cupping his face.

He stared up at her, an eternity passing between them as he steadily pulled her hand from his face. They both glanced down at the mark and found only a few lines left. He kissed her palm, nuzzling his face against it. Shivers ran down Amelia’s spine and she nearly begged. The words, caught in her throat, refused to spill from her mouth. He kissed her wrist as the car slowed toa stop. Precise and exact to the second, as the door was pulled open beside them, the last line on her hand faded.

“That is no longer your concern, Ms. Armstrong. Your contract is complete.” He nodded to the hand John offered her. She took it, leaving the beating heart behind as she stepped out into the evening sun. Amelia twisted toward him.This is a good thing. This is a good thing. This is a good thing.

“Have a good life, Mr. Zrazduel.”

“Have a good life, Ms. Armstrong.”

She stepped backward, away from the car as John closed the door behind them. Nothing but cold, impassive, inky windows and her own reflection staring back at her. Maybe he would chase her, maybe he wouldn’t, but it was no longer in her hands. Because at the end of the day, their relationship was a deal and if they proceeded, she would always worry how real it was.

Stepping up the driveway, she took a deep breath and found strength in her legs.It wasn’t real. This is a good thing.Coming up to the front porch, she reached up into the bottom of the peony flower box. Her extra key was where it always was and dropped into her palm. The car stayed in place.Gonna need to find a new hiding spot.Opening the front door with a heavy creak, she stepped through the front door and shut it hard behind her.

The scent of home was bizarre. It smelt normal, like trash bags that need taking out, a living room full of fresheners, dirty socks but clean coats. A one-story house, the living room, her kingdom, was exactly as she left it minus two large pieces of paper taped to the back of it. Her sheets and pillows were in the ottoman where she pulled them out at night. Her clothing was in the chest of drawers they used as a tv stand. Her whole life was here in the living room of her sister’s house.

Amelia stepped up to the couch and took the note labeled ‘Amelia’ first.

Hey, if you get home before I do, please I hope to the dragons you do or maybe I don’t, I dunno. Dragons above I’m so worried. The one goon gave me one picture and that was all the confirmation I got you’re still alive. Please be alive. If you get home before I do, there’s leftovers in a container in the fridge for you. Please be here when I get home. I called you out of work for you, quoting that you got sun poisoning and were vomiting and stuff, so just...you know, act sick? Your phones on the charger.

Amelia set her sister’s note aside and grabbed the note labeled ‘Am-crack!’ and smirked. One single line.

Aunt Am-crack, please be back soon. I miss you.

Stuffing both notes into her laptop bag that was still on the coffee table where she left it, she dropped onto the couch. Feet up on the table, hands dropped in her lap, she stared into the abyss for a long time. Her body ached. Her mind was blank. Her heart was still beating somehow.

And then she pulled out her laptop and opened a new document to start writing.She had a new idea.

Chapter seven:

Knox

...A week later...

---