Page 32 of Anathema
Pulling out my keys as I approached my unit, I unlocked the door and slipped inside; it had to be no later than two in the morning. I didn’t bother checking my phone to confirm; it didn’t matter. Instead, I tossed it on the kitchen counter before heading into the bathroom to take a long, soothing shower.
As carefully as possible, I removed the layers of dark clothing I had worn: a tank top, leggings, and underwear. Wearing black, you couldn’t see the blood that had soaked into the fabric. Turning the handle, I stepped through the frosted curtain, not allowing the water to warm before touching my skin.
The ice-cold water sent a shiver throughout my body and caused my skin to pebble, yet it soothed the tiny cuts that decorated it. Standing under the stream, my hands braced against the cold tile, I breathed deeply, in and out—repeating the slow breaths as if in meditation.
What I wouldn’t give to have something—someone—to take my mind away from here, from my loud and consuming thoughts. As if hearing them out loud, I turned my head to seehimstanding on the other side of the shower curtain. With the water already cold, I didn’t know how long I stood there before he chose to show up. It could have been minutes, an hour. Time was lost to me as I drowned in all my thoughts and questions from the night.
Straightening myself from my arched position, I bit the inside of my cheek and softly chuckled, the running water hitting the tiles drowning out the sound. I knew Derek would show up here tonight. He couldn’t stay away from me, no matter how hard he tried. At least he was persistent, I’ll give him that.
The man was obsessed; his need to be near me consumed and controlled him.I controlled him.
I tilted my head back under the cold water, running my fingers through my soaked strands, taking my time to test his patience. Myhair wasn’t the only thing soaked at the thought of making Derek wait. I could feel the heat burning between my thighs.
“Breaking and entering is a criminal offense,” I murmured, the water cascading down my face, taming the flush in my cheeks as I thought of all the things I wanted to do to him. What I wanted him to do to me.
“Tell me more about the law, pretty viper, and how you enjoy breaking it every chance you get.” Derek’s voice was smooth, seductive. There was a low rumble to it that gave me butterflies in my stomach, my lower belly aching for his touch.
“Didn’t anyone ever tell you? I’m above it.” Abruptly shutting off the water, I ripped open the curtain, naked and fully displayed before him, the remaining droplets of water sliding down my skin as he stared at me. His warm eyes roved across my body and down, searing into me as they moved.
I should be modest, nervous to be standing here exposed before him. But I wasn’t. I was still riding the high of murder, and it felt so fucking good.
“I’ve got something else you can be above, Lex.” Derek breathed as he took a single step toward me right before I launched myself at him like a bitch in heat.
My fingers speared into his hair, tugging his head back as my lips trailed along his neck. His hands gripped my waist just as the force of my want and need knocked him off balance.
I wanted to use him, just as he would use me. All I needed was a release and escape from the shackles I so willingly putmyself into.
Derek groaned as I sucked on his neck, marking him as my plaything, and I’d do so much more to him before this night was over. I could be cold and heartless. I could be just like every other man that walked this goddamn earth.
Rising up on my toes, I tugged on his ear with my teeth.
“Get on the fucking bed, Derek, so that I can have my way with you,” I growled, digging my nails into his shoulders hard enough to leave half-moons imprinted in his skin. Derek thinks he knows me, that he could have me crawling and begging for his cock when he wants me to. That’s where he would be sorely mistaken. I don’t beg; I take.
He backed us into the bedroom, not letting go of my waist, his hands gripping me tighter as he fell back on the mattress, and I climbed over him, straddling his hips. I licked my lips, pushing his chest down until his back pressed into the bed, and then trailed my fingers down his hard-cut abs, savoring them as he tensed beneath me.
I traced every line of his body, admiring just how gorgeous he was, before stopping at the waistband of his jeans.
Looking up at him through my dark lashes, I couldn’t help the feral smirk that pulled at the sides of my mouth. Sliding my legs back from under me, I bent down, my lips and tongue dragging along his delicious, deep V that flexed under my touch. I could feel his cock growing even harder under my chest, my breasts pressing into his thighs.
Derek sucked in a breath, his fists tightening on the duvet as I toyed with and teased him. Biting my bottom lip, I kept my eyeson his as I used my teeth to unbutton his jeans and pull down his fly.
“You’re so responsive, Derek. How many women have had the pleasure of tasting you? Or rode you so hard thatyousaw stars?” I raised a dark brow as I pulled myself up, gripping the hem of his jeans and slowly dragging them down his ass and thighs. He lifted his hips slightly to help me before pressing them back down onto the mattress.
His thick, hard cock stood at attention like a good little soldier—little being a complete understatement to the considerable beast before me. Derek was anything but little, and all I wanted to do right then and there was take him for a long and wild ride.
I loved how the tables had turned between us and that I was now completely in control. It drove my heart to pound against my chest and the apex of my thighs to burn with desire. Power turned me on more than anything when it came to sex.
Derek released a hand from the sheets and leaned up and forward, gripping my chin tightly between his fingers, his abs flexing with the position and causing me to gasp in awe of them.
“Enjoy this while you can, pretty viper.” He softly murmured, his warm brown eyes searing into mine. “Take what you need and use me because once it's my turn, I plan on taming every feral part of you—mind, body, and soul. You won’t be able to run from or resist me much longer. I will be everything you need, everything you crave. You’re going to need me like the air you breathe.” I tried to pull away but found myself like a moth drawn to a flame,captured by his gaze, unable to release myself from its hold. “We’re a lot more alike than you think, Lex.”
I bit back the urge to growl my annoyance. I was nothing like him; I would never see him as more than an easy weeknight fuck.
“What I need, Derek, is for you to stop talking and let mesuck your cock.” I breathed, needing to taste him.
Dismissing his words, I slid my hand up his thigh, moving to grip him in my palm. His cock was so big it made my hand and fingers look dainty and petite in comparison. As I began stroking him from tip to base, he dropped back onto the bed, his hand releasing my chin and returning to fist the sheets.
"Fffuuuccckkkk." I heard him hiss with a deep moan. I had Derek right where I wanted him. Not waiting any longer, I leaned down, licking and parting my hungry lips, as a bead of pre-cum glistened from the tip of his cock like the north star in the night sky. I dragged my tongue over the tip and savored the salty taste that was all Derek. I wanted more of him, a craveable late-night snack.
