Page 32 of Lust

“Is it really you, Aaron?” The words drift from my lips as he steps closer. Muscles coat his once skinny, gangly frame, and his broad shoulders block out the light as he nears me.

“I think a better question,” he says, raspy voice tickling my spine, “is who the fuck is Carol?” He grabs my wrist and my pulse pounds into the place where his fingers dig into my flesh. “And what the fuck did she do with my Ruby?”

My Ruby.

My once shy, introverted friend stares at me steadily from under hooded eyes, and a thrill runs through my body. It isn’t a question. He has simply and inevitably claimed me, without hesitation.

MY Ruby.

“Well?” Aaron leans in and speaks directly against my ear, his voice vibrating my skin, making each little hair stand on end. “Are you going to invite me in?”

Shivering in the chilly December evening, I lead him down the walkway toward the front door, clutching my robe around my middle. As we pass the giant slice of pumpkin pie, a loud ‘hissssss’ sounds, and I turn just in time to see a glint of moonlight on steel as Aaron tucks something into his pocket. The vinyl pie wobbles and starts to tilt. A smile tugs at my lips as I open the front door. I guess Aaron liked that ugly thing just as much as I did.

There’s no light on in the entryway. Only the faint glow from outside illuminates the hallway. As I reach for the switch, a hand grabs my arm.

“Wait.” Aaron steps inside and closes the door behind him, plunging us both into darkness and closing out the outside world along with all rational thought and reason.

“Do you trust me, Ruby?” His hand moves slowly up my arm.

I nod, then remember that he can’t see me.

“Yes, Aaron. I always trusted you.”

His fingers tangle in my hair, and he tugs me toward him. His breath pours hotly onto my neck, raising goosebumps over my exposed skin.

“I’ve been watching you,” he whispers.

“I know.” I turn toward him, and his other hand finds my waist and snakes around my body.

“I could see you, but I couldn’t smell you.” He pulls my head close to his. Lips brush against my earlobe. His nose traces a line along my neck and the sound of his inhale sends a shiver along my spine.

“You’re wearing your present,” he murmurs against my skin. “You smell perfect. Just the way I remembered you every day since I last saw you.”

Here, in the darkness, with this man holding me immobilized, I know I should feel afraid. And a tiny tendril of something winds up from my belly, like a warning signal that says, ‘the safe life you once knew has ended’.

Fuck yeah, it has. And I’m all for whatever comes next. And whoever comes after that.

“You murdered my pumpkin pie out there.” I laugh softly.

His grip tightens on my waist.

“I created a special blade,” he purrs, “for each person who ever did you wrong. Those knives get hungry. The pie was just collateral damage.”

“And do you think you’ll get to use them?” My heart thumps against my ribs.

He doesn’t answer, just brushes his lips across mine.

“Ruby.” My name is a hiss of air that wreaths around me, and my bones turn to rubber. Aaron’s grip tightens, pulling me even closer. Something long and hard presses against my stomach and for an instant I think it’s a gun, but then I feel it twitch and he thrusts against me.

“Fuck, Ruby.” His hand slides down from my waist, and he grabs a handful of ass. He presses his forehead against mine. “I’m going to lose control.” His fingers in my hair massage the back of my head, then tighten again, grasping a thick handful. He moves forward, pressing me against a side table in the hallway. Something falls to the ground with a crash. My head jerks in that direction.

“I’ll buy a new one.” He grabs my chin, holding my face still.

“You don’t even know what it was.” I laugh.

“Doesn’t matter.” He moves me clear of the small table, pressing me hard against the wall. His fingers glide along my body, twisting and turning in the fabric of my robe.

“What are you wearing under this robe?” His voice sounds husky.

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