Page 10 of Don't Look Back
The evil little doll smiles and says, “We need chloroform and walkie-talkies!”
9
AVERY
Ikind of thought I misheard when Edith mentioned chloroform and walkie-talkies. But no. There’s no mistake. Three hours later, we leave the parking lot of our local superstore with two carts full of highly suspicious items. Duct tape, a hammer, and some other basic tools, several feet of chains, a saw, a shovel, etc. Though no one so much as bats an eye… Not one damn person.
Another thirty minutes later, and we know how to mix up our little sleepy time gas with the household chemicals I keep under the kitchen sink. It was easy. So. Damn. Easy.
I should be worried. Or nervous….but I'm not. If anything, I’mexcited. A concept still foreign to me, but one I’m learning to embrace. Is this what normal people go through on a day-to-day basis? Constantlyfeeling thingsall the time? The mere thoughtis overwhelming, and I find myself almost looking forward to when Edith possesses me again in hopes it’ll calm all the chaos in my head right now.
We drive in silence for a while, both of us trying to process all the recent events and developments. Allie is driving while I hold Edith in my lap so she can look out the window. By the time we get closer to the neighborhood, we are all exhausted. Not quite ready to be back in the house or risk running into my father just yet, I tell my little Alliecat to keep driving. She gives a quick but knowing look to me before heading back to the lakeside. She knows. She knows I love the scent of the lake and trees floating on the wind. She knows that the sounds of small animals running about and water splashing are a balm to my soul. She knows all of this without me ever having to say a single word. And it just makes me fall harder for her.
Allie pulls in through the entrance and past several empty spaces, making me think she's done this a time or two before and has a specific destination in mind. Once the big white panel van is parked in one of the long-term parking gravel slots, she cracks the front windows and proceeds to crawl into the back, immediately lowering what looks like blackout window shades. Light streams in through the front windshield, giving us just enough light to avoid stepping on any of our newly purchased toys as we lie down onto the mattress. Her setup here is surprisingly nice, and it makes me wonder if this is where she went during the times my cameras couldn't find her.
We lay side by side, facing each other, curled up in what might be the softest blanket known to mankind. Or rather, womankind, because fuck men with their meat swords. Most of them don’t even wash it! Ew. At least….
My thoughts are suddenly cut off by the sweetest little laugh I’ve ever heard. Allie immediately has my full attention as I wonder what drew such a beautiful sound from her lips. She gently reaches up to smooth away the forehead crease I seem to have formed during my anti-man rant.
Relaxing into her touch, she whispers, “You seemed absolutely horrified by whatever you were thinking about just now.” She’s smiling as if there were some inside joke I was not privy to.
And…well, fuck. She’s right.
I go to respond only to realize just how close our mouths are, and my brain comes to a screeching halt.
“It was.. I… Uh….”
Suddenly she's there, kissing me so quickly I almost miss it. Allie pulls back so fast it takes every bit of self-restraint I have not to reach out and pull her back to me.
“I’m sorry,” she stammers. “I date men… Or did. I mean… I’ve never…”
Confusion mars her features before a blush takes over her cheeks, warm and brighter than the last as it slithers down her neck. Fuck butterflies, this woman makes me feel like there is an entire goddamn colony of terrified bats stuck inside my diaphragm.
I can't help the smirk that escapes me as I arch an eyebrow at her. Oh, I know exactly who she's dated in the past. There’s a reason things ended for them. Every. Single. Time. It's me, I’m the reason. Allie is all mine - something those overgrown neanderthals learned real fucking quick.
Reaching up, I gently tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. My sweet little AllieCat has no idea about all the utterly depraved things I want to do to her body. The danger she’s in. I want to hurt her. Hear her scream over and over again in ways only I can ever draw out. She should be afraid, but instead her pulse flutters wildly with excitement as a shiver runs through her. I haven't even touched her yet, but I would bet anything that if I slid my hand between her legs right now, she’d already be soaked.
“It’s okay,” I whisper reassuringly, pulling her eyes up to mine. “You’re in control here. We take this at your speed. No rush, no expectations.”
Her lashes flutter as I trace her jaw with my thumb. She needs to understand this, though. What I’m saying is important. With me, there will never be pressure, not where this is concerned. It will, however, require trust, something that needs to be earned, which is exactly what I intend to do. My wants and needs can wait; her feeling safe and secure will always be the priority. I may be the one calling the shots, but she’s the one who holds all the true power here. Gripping her chin, I gently tug her attention back to the moment.
“I mean it, kitten. You say stop, and everything stops. I can stop touching you and go to sleep right now if that’s what you would prefer. No hard feelings, I promise.”
“Don’t –”
I quickly pull away and give her space so I don’t overwhelm her. Admittedly, I expected to feel a pang of disappointment at her rejection; however, there’s only understanding and acceptance. In fact, I’m so proud of her for speaking up about what shewants. To my surprise, though, she reaches out and grabs hold of my hips, pulling me back toward her.
“Don’t stop. Please. I… I need…”
She looks at me, begging me to understand some unanswered questions swimming around in her mind. And I do. But I still want to hear her say it first.
“Tell me what you want, kitten.”
“You. I… I want you to kiss me,” she says, puffing up her chest and looking expectantly at me. It's sexy as fuck. Leaning in to her once more, I kiss her slowly and steadily, letting her set the pace. “More,” she pants.
“Good girl, that’s it.”
I praise her before returning to kiss her, this time running my tongue along the seam of her lips; gently asking permission. Her lips part, and she kisses me back with fervor as her hands begin to explore my arms, shoulders, and then my waist, all the way up to my chest. When she tries to remove my shirt, I pin both her wrists above her head and shift over top of her.
