Page 35 of Hunted Temptation
The collective hush that follows throughout the room should probably bother me, but it doesn’t. I know what I’m saying, what I want. I need Elodie to have whatever she could possibly have in life, even if, selfishly, it’s the exact opposite of my desires.
This kill was for me just as much as it was for her. I can do one on my own and make triple what they’re going to put into Elodie’s account, if not more. I’m not worried. Plus, with what I’ve already made over the years, I could have retired a long time ago.
“Well then,” Theron says after clearing his throat. “One puzzle solved and another one pops up.”
“No shit,” Merrick mutters.
I don’t say anything, mainly because I need to get my shit done here and head home to Elodie. It’s only been an hour or so since I’ve seen her, and I already feel the need to check in on her, to touch her… to taste her.
“I’m worn the fuck out from driving. I’m going to head home. I’ll be in the office first thing in the morning and get back to work.”
Without waiting for a response, I stand up and walk away. I’m sure that at least half of them have something to say to me, but I’m also positive it’s nothing I want to hear right now. So, instead of waiting around, I head home… to Elodie.
ELODIE
It’s beendays since I’ve had more than just a few minutes alone, and I don’t think I like it. No… IknowI don’t like it. I don’t want to be here by myself—without Vaughn. I know I’ve become far too attached to him, but I don’t think I can do this without him right here beside me.
The idea of being alone and navigating any part of life is not something I want to be part of.
My room is set up, the washer and dryer are running, and I have nothing else to do, so instead of standing at the window and watching people walk around outside without a care in the world, I make my way into the living room and take the remote control off the small side table.
I stare at the buttons, wondering how to work the thing. Sinking my teeth into my bottom lip, I touch the red power button to at least get it started and hope for the best, not that I would really know what to watch or how to work anything.
Television wasn’t really something I took much stock in at home, and I was only allowed to watch it when I was alone. Even then, it was heavily monitored. So I didn’t bother too much.
The television powers on, and I stare at the screen for a moment. There are so many streaming services to choose from that I am frozen. I don’t know what’s what. I mean, we hadNetflix, and I’d heard other people talk about different ones, but as far as going into the services and looking around, I don’t know what to do.
In this moment, I realize just how much my father kept from me. I wasn’t just under his thumb—I was deep and buried. I was so far gone that he hoped never to hear my voice again. He wanted me lost, unable to live in the world, and at his mercy. He almost got me right where he wanted me, too.
When the door opens and closes, I don’t hear it. I don’t hear Vaughn move through the house, and I don’t realize he’s sitting beside me, not until I feel his hand on my arm. Only then do my muscles stiffen and my breath hitch.
Slowly, I turn my head and look over to see that Vaughn is sitting directly beside me. “You good?” he asks.
“I didn’t hear you come in,” I murmur.
His brows snap together, his eyes searching mine for a moment before his lips curve up into a smirk. “I wasn’t quiet, and you weren’t watching anything on TV. So what’s up with this?” He tips his head toward the television.
It’s still on the home screen. “I thought I could work it, but I have no idea what half this stuff is,” I confess with a shrug of my shoulder.
I’m still holding the remote control in my hand when Vaughn reaches out and slips it from my grasp then reaches across me to set it down on the table. I don’t say a word, waiting for him to respond to the fact that I can’t even work a simple television.
“Television is overrated,” Vaughn murmurs, his eyes shifting down to my lips before they slide back up to meet my own.
“Is it?” I ask. “I was never really allowed to watch much of it,” I say, though my words come out breathlessly.
He hums while shifting forward. I feel his fingers glide up the side of my neck before they curl around the back, twisting in my hair slightly. He tugs my neck back, his eyes searching mine for along moment before he speaks, his lips so close to mine that they touch me with each word he says.
“It really fucking is,” he growls right before his lips slam against mine.
My eyes slide closed as he kisses me. His tongue slides inside me, tasting me, and my whole body melts. He keeps his fingers tangled in my hair, flexing them, tightening them. Whimpering, I lift my arms between us, pressing against his chest and feeling his warmth beneath his shirt.
He nibbles my bottom lip then breaks the kiss before he lifts his head slightly. He looks down at me, his eyes searching mine for a long moment. I think about asking him what’s going on. He’s not explaining anything to me, but maybe I don’t want to know. Maybe it’s best if he doesn’t actually say whatever it is.
Clearly, something is working behind his eyes that I can’t read. Then he smiles, and his hand releases my hair, his fingers shifting to curl around the side of my throat.
His warm, firm grasp causes my entire body to melt closer to him. “There are some things we need to discuss, but I need to taste you first.”
Yes.
