48

T hey rocked in unison, bodies entangling and crying out for one another. The walls shuddered along with their breaths, the floors vibrating against her back, unnoticed. The fire danced in the mantle, kicking up higher with every moan that floated from her lips. Everything came alive at her pleasure, awake and wanting, full of excitement. But there was more than just the excitement, there was envy too.

A possessiveness older and hungrier than anyone could know. Each time his name came from her, it twisted sharper and tighter, radiating from the foundation and through the joists, surrounding them. Brief regret for allowing this to happen, brief consideration of ending it with finality immediately. Patience prevailing, the toxic covetousness settled, biding its time. Allowing the connections to continue to be forged, and strengthened.

It was still new, still interesting. She only needed time to remember who had kept her safe all these years, time to see how dangerous the outside world had always been. There would be time enough again, once they had been dealt with, to spend the rest of eternity reminding her.