Chapter Twenty-one

What are you up to tonight?

Istare at my phone, wondering how to respond. On one hand, Gauge is a welcome distraction from my breakup with Matt and Kyson's constant taunting and mixed signals. One second, he's sweet and the next he's the world's biggest dickhead. I don't understand him or the stupid games he plays.

It's like he gets off on giving me whiplash with his back-and-forth personality swaps. If only he were capable of being the version of himself I know is buried deep down under all the bullshit. I don't get why he has this desire to not only punish himself but everyone around him. I can't keep worrying about him or when he'll make his next move or find something else to hold over me like telling Matt how I cheated on him when I first came here. Not that it should matter at this juncture now that we're not even on speaking terms.

I've survived my first month at my new school and at Uncle John's house. I've survived my first month living with Kyson.

Barely.

I should be settled in by now, but not where Kyson Allen is concerned. He torments me at every turn. Him and his friends, the wolf pack, excluding Gauge. Even Lauren, who I thought would make a good ally, is obsessed with them and belonging to their crew more now than ever since Ray dumped her, but she's all I have. I've been waiting for her to come over. We're supposed to make cupcakes, handout candy, and watch scary movies for Halloween. Uncle John and Helen are gone all weekend to some retreat for her work. I've been here for weeks and still feel as if I've barely seen her since the day she took me shopping. The woman is always at her job when I'm here or sleeping.

My uncle is always off doing whatever it is he does behind his wife's back.

No wonder Kyson runs around like a psychopath doing whatever the hell he wants. I overheard him making plans to go camping with his jerk friends this weekend since they won their last game and this is their way to celebrate going to state. Apparently their coach is treating the team to the trip.

I'm not worried about him being around to annoy me every five seconds stressing me out with his stupid threats to show everyone that stupid picture he has on his phone. I tried to steal his phone to delete it, but of course, I needed facial recognition to unlock it. Besides knowing him, he's got backup copies on his computer or something.

I elatedly watched him load his car up with some camping gear and drive off about ten minutes ago.

I fire off a text to Gauge even though my heart isn't really into this dance we've been doing the past few weeks.

The usual. Being kidnapped by vampires and fairies.

As long as they bring you back…

I laugh at that but don't engage him further.

I haven't heard from Matt at all. I know we're broken up, but I was hoping when he called to tell me that he's dating, it meant that maybe we'd at least stay friends. I've tried calling and texting him but received zero response. I guess I can't blame him for avoiding me. Glancing at my phone for the millionth time due it going off again with another notification I sigh when I see it's a text from Lauren to say she's not going to make it, but she might stop by for a few minutes with her siblings. She has to take them trick or treating because her mom's sick. I can handle some cupcakes and trick or treaters on my own. It's not a big deal and I really wasn't looking forward to hearing her beat herself up because things with Ray didn't work out.

I'm excited to have the house to myself for a few days.

I finish getting the batter mixed and into the tray. The preheat timer on the oven sounds and I slide them in. While they are baking, I can get my costume on. Matt and I always dressed up together. This year, we were going to be Little Red Riding Hood and The Big Bad Wolf.

I put on my white slip of a dress paired with my red hooded cape and black ankle boots. I styled my hair in two braids to keep it out of the way of the cupcakes. The finishing touch is my favorite red lipstick. By the time I go back downstairs, it's time to cool the cupcakes. While I'm waiting, I scroll through my social media accounts on my phone, seeing what all my friends from home are up to.

My pulse speeds up.

Matt posted a new picture five minutes ago. He's with that same chick from before who is dressed up in a sexy devil costume. My heart squeezes tight and sinks to my feet, observing his matching horns and the grip he has on her hip. I shouldn't be upset but seeing him with someone who isn't me stings. Falling down the rabbit hole, I scroll through all his posts and photos, wondering if they were already together behind my back.

I need to get a grip and stop wondering what ifs. I have cupcakes to decorate, and it's growing dark outside. The trick or treaters should start ringing the doorbell any minute now. Shuffling my playlist to Halloween classics, I get started on the icing and sprinkles. Monster Mash plays as I dance around the kitchen, licking frosting from my spatula. A door slamming upstairs freezes me in my tracks. Uncle John or Helen could have forgotten something, but I thought they were long gone. Glancing out the living room window, I don't see any cars in the driveway. I'm likely hearing things.

I go back to the kitchen and Kyson is leaning against the counter, eating one of my cupcakes. "Thought you went camping?"

"Plans changed. Mom didn't feel right leaving you here alone all weekend."

"Well, I don't need you to stick around. You can go do whatever you want."

He grabs my phone off the counter and skips through a few songs. Little Red Riding Hood by Sam The Sham The Pharos plays. Kyson smirks at me and licks his fingers, looking very much like a bad wolf. "C'mere, lil' doll."

"Why?" I take a step back as he takes a step forward.

"Because I said so, that's why."

"I don't take orders from you."

"Heard from Matt lately?" He picks up a cupcake and licks the frosting.

"What are you doing?"

Kyson runs his tongue over his lips, getting the excess orange frosting. "Could be that I sent him that photo."

"You did what?"

"If you want me to tell him it was fake, it'll cost you." He flashes his teeth at me with a wolfish grin.

"I'm not playing these games with you. If Matt wants to believe your lies, then I don't care."

"No?"

"No." I grind my teeth. "What's wrong with you?"

"I told you. I always get what I want. I read up on you at your old school. You were the president of the purity club. You walked around flashing your ring, bragging about how you and Matt were saving yourselves for marriage. But that's not true, is it, Dahlia?"

"Shut up."

Pinching my chin with his fingers, he tilts my head, forcing me to look him in the eyes. "Tell me, lil' doll. How long did you make him wait before you gave it up to him?"

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"Did you think no one would find out? That Matt wouldn't go bragging? That he loved you? That you were special? I know why you wear that ring, but I want you to say it."

"I told you that my dad gave it to me."

"You're a filthy little liar, Dahlia." He holds up his left hand to show me the gold band that matches my ring. I was going to give it to Matt, but my dad told me I needed to wait to give it to the right guy.

"Where did you get that?"

"You know where."

"No. Did you take it from my room?"

"You know better than that. Think, Dahlia. I know you know."

"I don't know where you got your information, but whoever you've been talking to lied to you."

"You're a fraud. Pretending to be a good girl. You really should keep your diary in a safer place."

My face pales. "You read my diary?"

"Some of it. I especially liked the part you wrote about how you couldn't stop thinking about me. How you touch yourself whispering my name on your filthy liar lips."

"I hate you."

"Hate is a strong word." I try to back away, but Kyson corners me against the counter next to the fridge. "Tell me. In the spirit of Halloween, which do you want first? A trick or a treat?"

"I think you're crazy."

"How about a trick? I can make two of my fingers disappear." His hand slides up my thigh, inching toward my panties.

My breath catches in my throat, and I hate myself for enjoying his touch.

"Wanna see them disappear?" His lips meet mine, and he pushes two fingers inside me. I gasp at the intrusion, but I don't tell him no. I hate him, but love the way he feels. I don't know what that says about me. In this moment I don't care. I return the kiss as he continues to pump his fingers in and out like a piston.

My cupcakes go sailing off the counter and land upside down on the floor. Kyson lifts me, placing my butt in the space he just vacated my baked goods from, continuing to torture me with his taunting touches and hungry kisses. I wrap my legs around his waist and surrender to the attraction tethering us together.

"Tell me you don't want me, lil' doll. Tell me you haven't been thinking about me since you first discovered your clit."

I should be embarrassed that he's read some of my deepest and darkest thoughts, but he's not wrong. I've always thought about him and imagined how things would be when we met again. I never thought it'd be like this.

Intense.

Hot.

Explosive.

Kyson drops his pants to his ankles. His lips trail along my jaw and down my throat as he fumbles with the strings on my red silken cape. "Screw it." Turning his attention elsewhere, he prods between my thighs, pulling the crotch of my panties aside and rubbing the head of his cock against the one place I promised to protect from bad boys like Kyson Allen, who are only after one thing.

I give it to him freely.

Teeth sinking into my bottom lip, I cry out as he pushes further in. I know I'm being stupid. But once he gets what he wants, we can both move on. We can stop this messed up complicated game he loves to play. He wins. I'm his. Fingers digging into my hips, he drives into me repeatedly. The back of my head beats against the kitchen cabinets. Body shivering and quaking, I scratch my nails down his back.

"You feel so damn good," he grits the words against my lips like a prayer. "Too damn good. I'm already about to come," he confesses, and it turns me on, edging me closer to getting off. "But the only way we come is together."

The thought of it is nearly enough to finish me off, but Kyson toys with me, drawing out quickly only to push back inside me at a tortuously slow pace.

"See that? How perfect our bodies fit?" He angles my hips and draws back enough that I can watch as our bodies connect.

"I see it."

His mouth comes down hard on mine, his tongue warring with mine.

"Tell my you're my pretty little doll."

"I'm yours. All yours."

"Mine to do whatever I want with."

"Mmm," I agree. I think I'd say anything to keep him doing what's he's currently doing to me as he massages my sweet spot with the pad of his finger.

I've never wanted anything more than this. Than to belong to Kyson.

"So good, Dahlia. Fucking tight. Perfect, baby. You're so damn perfect for me."

Brushing his lips over mine, he strokes my cheek with his fingertip as he gazes deeply into my eyes with this soft expression.

I place a palm to his chest, wanting to feel his erratic heartbeat as his movements cease. He holds utterly still as though he's trying to convey something wordlessly. There's this burning intensity in his eyes that takes my breath away, he's so achingly beautiful, I almost can't believe this is really happening.

The boy I've vowed to hate is having his way with me in the kitchen.

"Why did you stop?"

He smiles at me, showing off those dimples I love. "Burning this image to my mind for later," he states oddly, but I don't question it because he's doing that thing I like with his fingers.

Kyson resumes moving inside me harder and faster as we both pant into each other's mouths.

"I'm going to come," he warns.

"You've gotta pull out," I tell him, pushing against his shoulders. "Kyson," I plead but he either doesn't hear me or doesn't care.

He hooks his arms under my knees, keeping me at angle that I'm unable to do anything but take his brutal thrusts as he comes at me harder and deeper going faster and faster until he goes rigid, and he jerks inside me, proving love can be ruthless.

Savage even.

But there's a poetic beauty in all of it and the stupid games we play.

"Told you. I always get what I want."

"And what is it that you want?"

"You." He smirks, and I guess it's lucky for me we want the same thing. Maybe I'm in over my head. Maybe I'm crazy too. Because I want him. I want to belong to Kyson Allen. I want him to belong to me. He claims he's the king around here, and I'm going to teach him that even the greatest of kings still bow to a queen.

I cup his jaws between my hands. His gaze meets mine. There's lust swirling in his eyes, but there's also something else. I think just maybe the jerk might love me.

Maybe he always has, and that's why he also hates me.

Because guys like him aren't supposed to love anything or anyone but themselves. But Kyson Allen isn't most guys. He's mine.

"You didn't pull out."

"I know." He rests his forehead against mine.

"Are you insane?"

"Thought you knew that by now."

Closing my eyes, I try not to freak out.

He brushes his lips against mine, sweet and reassuring. "Hey, Dahlia," he croons. "Look at me."

"Yeah?" I reply in a breathy pant, trying to recover from the past fifteen minutes.

His expression softens and I wonder if he's going to admit that he loves me. "I…" he starts then stops.

"I know. You don't have to say it."

"Say what?"

"That you love me. I know you do."

"You think I love you?" He laughs.

"I hate you."

"You don't but you will. Smile pretty for the camera." He twists my head to the kitchen window where I see not only Remy but Gauge recording us.

I'm going to be sick. Tears hit my cheeks steady as summer rain as bile burns its way up throat. "I hate you." I shove against his shoulders as he pulls his pants up.

"Don't worry. They can't hear us. I won't tell them your filthy little secret the same as you won't tell them none of mine. Be nice and maybe I'll spilt the money with you."

"Money?" I croak.

"Thanks to you, I just won a bet. We've been playing my favorite game. F. M. K."

Those letters are familiar, but I don't know why. "What?"

"Fuck. Marry. Kill," he explains. "I've just fucked you, lil' doll. But don't look so sad, sweetheart. We're just getting started. You're my three. Next comes marriage. Then comes death." He smirks as my hand whips across his face. He touches his lip and smiles as the blood on his finger. "May the best man or woman win."

"Win what?"

"I'm going to play with you like your father did with your mother and my mother played with my father."

"Not if I kill you first," I seethe.

"We'll see who falls first and makes the sacrifice," he states like I'm supposed to know what that means. "Good luck, dolly." He kisses my forehead and walks out the back door leaving me to wonder what any of this means.