Page 38 of Depraved Truths

“I don’t know you.”

Well, shit. She’s not wrong, I suppose.

I try to reach for her, but she holds me at arm’s length.

“No. Please don’t touch me.”

Stepping back, I stare into her steel grey eyes. “I’ll never hurt you.”

She holds my gaze for several moments before looking away, her eyes searching for my truck. “We’re going to your house. I’ll follow you.” She draws in a deep, audible breath. “And don’t try anything stupid.”

Nodding, I head towards my truck, climb in, and crank the ignition. I pull out and wait until I see her headlights behind me before heading towards my house.

My heart races, adrenaline pumping as I try to process everything that happened. Fuck. Nothing in the background search I did of her indicated anything nefarious. I’ve encountered stone-cold killers during my time in the Navy. I’ve killed people.It’s not something I’ve ever felt guilty about—they were bad people. It was my job, my duty, and I was following orders.

My mind flashes back to images of Tessa, starting from when I first saw her walking by the Cunningham house. Wait. The Johnson’s house. It was ruled an accident but could she have had something to do with the fire that took Conrad’s life? Images of her in the coffee shop, wading in the lake, putting a knife to my throat at the bar, her eyes as I made her come with my tongue and my cock. I never would have thought her capable of murder, but it’s all beginning to make sense. A feeling of foreboding and dread churns in my gut. She is not a psychopath, and that much is clear. She saves lives. But apparently, she takes them as well. One thing is for sure: she’s been hurt before. Someone hurt my girl.

Parked in the driveway, I wait for Tessa to grab her things from the trunk. I open the truck door as she nears with the duffle bag slung over her shoulder and the rolled tarp in hand. The downpour that was so intense just thirty minutes ago has subsided to a light drizzle.

“Do you have a fire pit?”

“Yeah, I’ll show you.”

Leading her around back, I grab a couple of logs and tinder for kindling to start the fire. As soon as the flames rage, Tessa tosses the tarp in and watches it until it’s completely consumed. She removes the ball cap and brown wig, throwing them into the fire as well. Transfixed, I can only stare as she peels off the black tee and throws it into the pit. She’s wearing a thin, lacy black bra that accentuatesher full breasts, and the light breeze hardens her perfect nipples. I stifle a groan as I readjust myself. Her eyes follow my movements, and her tongue snakes out to moisten her lips. She pulls out my phone and the Glock, placing them on the bench beside the fire. Unbuttoning her jeans, she kicks off her shoes and slides them down, keeping her eyes fixed on mine as she stands before me in just her matching bra and panties. She throws the discarded garments into the fire.

Leaning over and grabbing something from her duffle, she slowly heads toward me. I know we need to talk. We have a lot to discuss, but I can’t find the words. She’s never looked more beautiful than she does at this moment, her long blonde hair cascading over her shoulders, and her dilated pupils gleam with a mixture of desire and pure adrenaline.

Reaching for me, she grabs the back of my head, entwining her fingers in my hair and pulling my face down to hers. Her lips meet mine in heated passion, our tongues clashing, dueling together in a frenzy. I slide my left hand down to cup her ass, but I hear the metal click as it tightens around my wrist.

She pushes me back against the pine tree, pulling her lips from mine. “Hands behind the tree.”

I swear my cock has never been harder as she handcuffs my hands behind the tree, leaving me entirely at her mercy. A knife appears out of nowhere.Where the hell was she hiding that thing?

Sliding the edge of the blade to my throat, she presses just hard enough for me to feel the sting without nicking the skin. She pulls back, drinking me in while dragging the tip of the blade down my chest to my abdomen, shredding my shirt in the process. She sinks to her knees.Sweet Jesus.

I feel the sharp prick of the knife as she makes a small puncture just above my belly button. Her eyes gleam as she looks up at me before running her tongue over the small wound, lapping up the drop of blood. It’s all I can do not to come on the spot when she presses a light kiss over the cut before sliding my shorts and boxers down to my ankles. My swollen cock jerks to attention, nearly slapping her in the face as she tossed the knife aside to smile up at me. Her tongue flicks over the head of my penis, licking up the pre-cum. Her movements become more frantic as she takes me deep into her throat.

I can’t stop the guttural moan that escapes me. “Fuck, baby.”

She’s a sight to behold, with her plump pink lips wrapped around me, tears running down her cheeks. Holding my dick in one hand as she sucks me deeper, the wet warmth of her mouth drawing me closer to the edge. Her other hand slides down beneath her panties, stroking circles around her clit. Her eyes flutter up at me, and her movements hasten. Just as she reaches orgasm, coming on her own fingers, my balls tighten, and I shoot ropes of cum down her throat. She greedily swallows before sliding her lips off my cock with a loud pop.

I drag in deep breaths as she wipes the tears from her face. She stands, pulls up my shorts, and tucks in my semi-hard length. Picking up her knife, she steps away from me and searches through her bag until she finds a change of clothes. I see the conflict playing out in her eyes as they lock on mine.

Slipping on a white tank, jeans, and flip-flops, she settles back on the bench to stare at me with an expression of indecision. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with you.”

Chapter 26

Fuck. What am I supposed to do now? This is why I avoid relationships. I knew better than to get involved with Eli. His military background makes him more attentive to detail than most people. I knew the risks going in, and I should’ve been more careful. But somewhere between it being just sex and letting my guard down, I allowed him to creep his way into my heart. Does he hate me? Is he completely horrified by what he’s discovered about me? What if he turns me in to the police? I can’t go to jail, but I don’t think I have it in me to hurt him.

I feel his stare before I see it. When I finally meet his eyes, they’re stormy blue, filled with a depth I can’t quite decipher. I study them, trying to figure out what he’s thinking.

“Well, first of all, as incredible as that was, and as much as I enjoy these handcuffs—” He smirks, desire flickering in his eyes. “Not to mention that the memory of this tree will be imprinted in my head forever—do you think you could release me? We can go inside to talk.”

His voice is low, teasing, but there’s an edge to it that puts me on alert.

I keep the pocketknife in hand as I grab the key, unlocking the cuffs with a reluctant flick. He rubs his wrists, still watching me with an intensity that unnerves me. Honestly, I’m shocked he’s still standing here. He could’ve tackled me and turned the tables at any moment. Why didn’t he? I would have, if the situation had been reversed.

He reaches for my hand, his grip firm yet somehow reassuring, and leads me inside. We enter the living room, but I’m still on edge, unsure of what’s coming next. Something inside me trusts him, though. I don’t know why, but I do.

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