Page 15 of Within Shadows
“What do you think will happen when she finds out the truth about Garrett?” he asks, and I pull my ski mask over my face before I cross my arms and tilt my head.
“She won’t want him once I finally get my hands on her. Maeve doesn’t want the gentle and polite little fucker as bad as she thinks. It’ll get boring, and when she finds out the truth, my little muse will realize I did everything for her,” I say confidently. Al is skeptical, but he lets the conversation drop as he pulls on his own mask.
There isn’t a way this ends without Maeve by my side. Her incessant use of her middle name is almost funny, as if she is two different people like me. Maeve is the sweet college girl who just wants to keep her head down and get through life in peace. But my Thalia is a spitfire who welcomes my touch, lets me pull her into my lap so I can breathe in her sweet scent. The one who will wrap her body around mine and beg me to give her everything she needs.
“You better be imagining fucking Maeve and not hard at the idea of tossing this guy into the woods.” Al turns his head away and I glance down at my aching cock, adjusting it to sit more comfortably behind my jeans. I pop the trunk open, and Steven does exactly what I expect him to. He screams and tries to crawl away. Al has to brace a hand on the bumper as he doubles over with uncontrollable laughter while I groan and rub my forehead.
“That’s so embarrassing for you, man,” Al says as he catches his breath and straightens up. Steven is still curled in the fetalposition but slowly looks back up and scrunches his face in confusion.
“Wait, is this just some stupid prank?” he croaks out, leaning closer to us, and I pinch the bridge of my nose to hold off the urge to snap his neck and drop his body right here.
“Was it a stupid prank when you beat your ex-girlfriend, or drugged all those innocent girls at the bar? The very same fucking bar where you put your hands all over my girl last night,” I snap and he shrinks away, shaking his head and holding his hands up in defense.
“Nah, man, those charges didn’t stick! You gotta believe me, I was trying to have fun. They were basically throwing themselves at me-” he blubbers, only stopping when I lurch forward and slam my fist into his jaw. Steven’s face scrunches as he sobs, rolling away to clutch at his face.
“Oh, fuck’s sake, did he just try the whole‘she was asking for it’bullshit? There goes my patience, grab his legs,” Al grumbles, all amusement bleeding out as he drags Steven out by his wrists. The idiot has enough sense to try to struggle and fight as I grab his ankles and we trudge through the dark woods. Steven switches between pleading to bribery to even trying to threaten us more than once, but Al and I continue to talk over him, deciding how far we should go.
Finally finding a good spot amongst the dense trees, we drop him, and Steven whimpers on the ground.
“You should probably start running.” Al reaches down into his waistband and pulls out a knife, flicking the blade open as he inspects it beneath the moonlight. Steven struggles to get to his feet, and I realize he’s only wearing one shoe. I point my own knife at his foot, waving as he finally gets up and scrambles away, looking over his shoulder as he trips and stumbles deeper into the woods.
“You’re doing great, bud!” Al calls, and Steven lets out an echoed whimper of fear. He pulls his arm back and over his head, swinging forward as he lets the blade sail through the air. It sinks into the back of his neck with a softthunk. A cold, wet droplet lands on my hand, and I frown at it. I don’t bother following after the guy or giving him a second thought. These woods are full of wildlife, and they’re hungry. His body will be picked clean by morning.
“Time to go. I don’t wanna get soaked.” I nudge Al to head back towards the car.
Al is glaring daggers at me as we both shiver in the car, even with the heat cranked all the way up. “I don’t wanna get soaked,”Al mocks my voice and motions to where we’re both drenched. “Famous last fucking words,” he yells, and I shrug as I pull up to the front of the house and motion to the door.
“Quit bitching, go inside and whine to your girlfriend.” I wave him off, and Al gets out, giving me his middle finger before jogging for the door in the pouring rain. The drive back to Garrett’s house is nearly silent as I contemplate what to do next. I want to see her again, but this time I want her to see me and reach out for me—as Knox.
I decide to make a stop at Maeve’s house and let myself in after taking my shoes off at the front door. Her house is too quiet, but it still smells like her, and I bask in it for a moment before heading to her kitchen. I pull out the tickets and backstage passes, wrapped with a pretty bow, as I set them on the counter.
I smirk at the sight and wonder who she will assume left them. The smile drops when Garrett is the first to come to mind, buthe won’t have any idea what she’s talking about. The idea of him getting the credit irritates me. I take my time as I clean up the wet droplets I’ve left on her floors before I lock up as I leave. Sitting in my car at the curb, I pull my phone out and power the security system back on before switching to the cameras outside Garrett’s home. Everything is silent, except for one fucking problem.
Oliver's car is across the street, and it’s too dark for me to see much else.
“Son of a bitch.” I drop my phone and throw the car into drive, squealing the tires as I speed down the street. If he tries anything and I’m not there, I’ll never forgive myself.
“I’m coming, Muse.” I turn onto the street, my headlights light up Oliver’s car, and he shrinks down in his seat a second too late. Pulling on my mask a split second before I stop next to his car, I slam the brakes and stare through the window. In the dark I can’t make out his exact features, but I can feel his fear and see him shrink back the slightest bit.
I roll down my window and lean close, motioning for him to do the same. Oliver might be a piece of shit, but he’s smart to only crack the window.
“You can leave, or your father can spend the next year tracking your body parts down all across the fucking country, Oliver.” I smile behind the fabric covering my face and force myself to use a calm tone.
“Fuck you,” Oliver spits the words, but starts his car and quickly drives away as I roll my eyes.Pussy. Pulling up next to the driveway, I stretch my legs and groan at the sound of the joints popping. Being damp sucks, and these jeans are chafing in the worst places as I struggle to get comfortable. I give up and climb out of the car, confidently strolling right to the front door.
“Little muse, little muse, let me in,” I sing under my breath, chuckling as I unlock the door and silently shut it behind me.I frown at the pile of blankets on the couch and peer down the hallway to where Maeve is loudly snoring. I wonder if she’ll be disappointed when she wakes up to realize she’s alone in bed. Her little friend didn’t sleep next to her after all. What a shame.
The first night we sleep together will be the last night she sleeps alone. If Maeve were in my bed at my house, nothing could tear me away from her embrace. Every step is slow and quiet, bringing me closer to her until I’m standing at the foot of the bed and watching her.
Her hair is tousled and wrapped around her face. With one arm slung over the top of her head as she snores, drool pooling on her cheek.
“You are fucking stunning, Thalia,” I whisper, coming around the side of the bed. I nearly trip when my feet tangle in a pair of discarded sweats, and Maeve shifts in the bed. I watch as she kicks the blankets off and rolls onto her side, giving me a full view of her perfect ass that’s framed by a pair of purple lace panties.
My entire body is frozen as I stare, my mouth watering at the idea of biting down and leaving a claiming mark on her pretty skin. She whimpers, shifting and curling inwards as I lean forward to brush the hair away from her face.
“You’re okay, I’m here,” I whisper, putting my lips next to her ear. Maeve’s entire body relaxes beneath my touch. Her body shifts again, and she clenches her legs together while moaning a name, sending a shock through my entire body.
“My delicious muse, when you say my name, I want to devour you.” I groan, brushing my nose over the shell of her ear as she whimpers and reaches towards me. Moving slowly so as to not wake her, I lay her hand down and pull the blanket back over her, tucking her in as she frowns. A single tear reflects the moonlight as it rolls down her cheek, and I use the pad of my thumb to smear it away.
