Page 41 of The Devil After Dark
I gaped at him. He couldn’t be serious. He just jerked his chin in the direction out the door and his tongue ran the length of the tips of his teeth. He no longer looked like a man. He looked like an animal. A predator. I tore out the door and across the driveway. There was a stretch of lawn between the drive and the forest. I crossed it as quickly as I could before ducking into the trees and running like my freedom depended on it—like my life depended on it.
CASSIO
Okay, I admit this deal was wildly fucked up of me. But if she wanted to try and run, I’d let her run. I really had no intention of keeping her here against her will. In fact, I was planning to actually do the right thing and stop being such a controlling asshole. That was until I sawher trying to sneak out. Then I snapped a little. She wasn’t even going to give me a chance after I saved her. Had I not answered her questions? Had I not offered to answer more of them today? Her trying to sneak away was unacceptable. Then I saw her look up at me so fucking sexy and scared and I just couldn’t help myself. I really just needed her to treat me like I wasn’t about to kill her at any moment and she would see how good we would be together.
There was an undeniable thrill coursing through my veins as I watched Liana disappear into the woods. Her ponytail was swinging as she ran and I could practically already feel it wrapped around my hand. Stalk her, fuck her, make her completely submit to the pleasure I can draw from her—make her submit to me. I am well aware of how sick this all has been and how all of my behavior has led to this climactic moment. Hell, if I had been normal, Liana probably would have denied me the chance to get close to her. She was just fighting her feelings about all of this—about us—because she was smart and overthinking everything.
This chase was really not going to be fair. It would be dark soon and I had the very distinct advantage of knowing these woods intimately. Liana didn’t even know how far she had to go to find the road—four and a half miles, but I hadn’t told her that. That distance also assumed she took a straight line through the woods and didn’t try to weave a less obvious trail or get turned around.
I turned from the door and headed upstairs, taking the steps two at a time. I needed to change before I chased my little angel.
Twenty minutes. I had given her a twenty minute head start. If she was heading straight and able to keep her pace, she was probably halfway to the road—but more than likely she had found the small but path-obstructing cliff band instead. Navigatingaround it would slow her down and provide an opportunity for her to get turned around.
I stepped into the woods and began my chase. The dark clothes, the leather gloves, and the mask I now wore were just another prop in my twisted games. I picked up Liana’s trail easily and felt my arousal already building. I enjoyed this way too much.
forty-four
LIANA
My lungs were already burningand my legs were still weak from the day before. The anticipation of Cassio catching me was keeping my body in a state hovering next to panicked. When I hit a cliff side I clearly could not climb, I nearly collapsed to cry. Instead, I cursed under my breath and turned left, hoping to find a way around it. Fucking Cassio and his games. Fucking me and liking his bullshit. Sure I was terrified, but also I knew he would catch me. There was no way he would send me into these woods thinking I would actually make it to the road—he was too calculated for that. I knew my fate as soon as I stepped out that door. Cassio would catch me, fuck me, and then I would resign to ‘giving us a chance.’ I could have just stayed and given us a chance without this bullshit, but a part of me wanted to test him too. I wanted to push him and see just how far he would go.
Cassio got off on power moves like this … and I got off on being on the receiving end. The fact that he was this crazy about me made mewant him more. I had been ready to run out that door without saying goodbye and he had fought for me—in a very sick way, but still he had fought for me. He just kept coming back, no matter what. He kept fighting to have me. That must mean something. Even if I made it to the road I would give him a chance.
I found a spot along the cliff I was certain I could climb. Without hesitating I grabbed onto the moss covered rock and began hauling myself up. I didn’t care that I was grunting with the exertion of it. I clawed at the earth as I pulled myself victoriously over the edge to lay in the dirt panting. I fucking made it up the cliff! I chanced a look over the side and my breath caught. My stomach rolled with nausea—it was higher than I thought it had been. I lifted my eyes to scan the trees, trying to ignore the height and my fear of it. But what I saw was worse.
Cassio, dressed in black, gloved, and masked, was leaning against a tree, staring right at me. It was as if he had just been waiting and watching. He slowly clapped his hands like he was applauding my effort. Flight kicked in and I scrambled back from the cliff edge and to my feet. Then I ran.
He would have to climb the cliff too. I tried to reason with myself. He would probably climb it faster, but he still had to climb it. Branches whipped at my face as I pushed through the trees, no longer caring about what path I took. There was nowhere to hide out here. It was just trees and bushes and rock, but nothing I could fling myself behind or crawl under to hide. Suddenly I heard sticks breaking and leaves rustling as footsteps gained on me—quickly. A small sob escaped my lips as I forced my legs to move faster. The sun was almost fully set and the shadows of the forest were growing darker. Not only was I running from a mad man, but soon I wouldn’t be able to see where I was going.
I chanced a glance over my shoulder towards the approaching noise and a black shadow wove through the woods, moving easily between the trees. Planting my foot and shoving my hands againstthe next tree, I quickly veered in the opposite direction. I needed to get out of his view. If I could get out of his view, then I could crawl into a bush or something.
A heavy warm and hard weight hit me and my feet were no longer touching the ground. Air expelled from my lungs with force as all I could smell was leaf and dirt and organic matter. We tumbled together, a strong hand protecting my head from hitting the earth. Cassio had fucking tackled me. I squirmed in my panic, thrashing and kicking and managed to roll away from him. I was still trying to suck air back into my lungs as I paused on all fours, staring right at him. I couldn’t force my body to stand or even move as he gracefully stood back to his full height to look down at me. It wasn’t until his head cocked to the side slightly that my body snapped out of being frozen and flight took over again. I was up and weaving through the trees in a heartbeat.
My escape only lasted a few seconds before hands and arms encased me. Cassio at least braced his arms so I didn’t smack headfirst into the tree he now pressed my body against. I pushed at the bark, trying to get some room to slip away, but he didn’t budge. I clawed at his arms and tried to jab my elbow back into him, but I was met with a breathy low chuckle instead. “I’m impressed, Angel, you made it almost halfway to the road,” Cassio whispered in my ear.
Halfway. I only made it halfway. I stilled under his hold. We hadn’t set the parameters of when the chase was actually over and I wasn’t about to give up. His body loosened slightly around mine and I took the opportunity to slowly turn my body so I was facing him. I looked up into the terrifying mask that had haunted and blessed my nights. Just as his body relaxed, I shoved him with everything I had. To my surprise, Cassio actually stumbled backwards. Before he gained his balance, I took off again. Dark laughter filled the forest as I ran. Cassio was laughing at my attempt to get away. It made my blood chill.
This time I screamed as Cassio tackled me to the ground. Hiships pressed into my backside as he pinned me beneath him and I could feel the thick hard length of him through both of our clothes. I clawed at the dirt and Cassio yanked one of my arms behind my back. I let out another strangled scream—this one sounded like defeat. Cassio didn’t say anything as his hips lifted and he tore my pants and underwear down below my ass. I tried to struggle beneath him, but only succeeded in my arm being jerked and pain being sent through my shoulder. He released my arm as I felt the tip of his hard cock press into my entrance.
A moment later, my head was yanked back by my ponytail and I was on my hands and knees. Cassio’s glove covered hand grabbed my jaw, forcing my mouth open and me to look at him. His mask was pulled up, exposing his own mouth. His tip still rested inside of me and I could feel the tension of him holding back. “Chase over, Angel,” he growled. I could only whimper in response, my jaw hurting under his grasp. The forest was getting darker and I couldn’t see more than a few paces behind him. “Look at me,” he whispered, his hand releasing my hair and slowly pulling his mask off. I was staring into his ice blue eyes and could not mistake the pure animalistic intent behind them.
Cassio leaned closer and spit into my mouth. I flinched at the shock of it, but was still held at his mercy. Then his mouth dipped to mine and his hand gently released my jaw, sliding down to my neck as he kissed me. It was the most degrading and hottest thing I had ever experienced. My body instantly relaxed and I cried out into his mouth as he slammed his cock deep inside of me in one thrust. His teeth biting my lip made my pussy tighten around him. Every ounce of fear inside of me turned to pure lust and need. Pure untamed animalistic need of him. I sucked his tongue into my mouth and his hips started pumping into me. He wasn’t being gentle as he fucked me and explored my mouth with his. And he certainly wasn’t being gentle when he pressed my face and chest into the dirt with one handand slammed deep inside of me with unrelenting thrusts. I was moaning and screaming and my body was completely surrendering to the violent orgasms he was drawing from me.
forty-five
CASSIO
The noises Lianawas making as I pounded her were only turning me into more of an animal. She was completely surrendering her body to my use and I was loving every second of it. Her pussy was spasming and choking my cock as she came again and again and it was doing nothing but raising my ego. I reached down and tore the shirt she was wearing down the front. Then I yanked back her bra, letting her breasts bounce wildly as I continued to pound her. A tight pinch of her nipple had her cumming again as she cried out and her back arched. Fuck. Her back arching let my cock sink even deeper into her. Her muscles squeezed and I could no longer hold back. My own release exploded from me and my cum filled her so full it was leaking out of her around my dick. It was a beautiful sight—her pussy swollen from how hard I’d used it and it pulsing and spasming with my cum soaked cock stuck in her.
Liana let out the smallest whimper, followed by an unmistakable sigh that told me how completely satisfied and exhausted she was. I caressed her perfect round ass as I slowly slid out of her, watchingmore cum spill out of her perfect pussy. I couldn’t help myself as I used my fingers to wipe it off her and press it back inside. It only made her moan for me. “Come here, baby,” I coaxed as I pulled her limp body into my lap and sat on the forest floor. There was dirt and leaves and sticks in her hair and on her face and clothes and she never looked so beautiful. Her tongue nervously licked her swollen bottom lip as she looked up at me with big wide eyes. “Are you okay?” I found myself whispering. What an odd thing for me to ask, but I was overwhelmed with the need to make sure she was okay. I needed to know she wasn’t hurt or scared or pissed.
“I’m perfect,” she breathed back.
“Yes, you are,” I responded as I smiled down at her. I just chased her through the woods and manhandled the shit out of her, and in her words, she was ‘perfect.’ We really were meant for each other. It was like she had been made just for me. I carefully picked some of the organic matter from her hair and tossed it back to the forest. “When I let you go, are you going to try and run again? Or are you accepting part two of our deal?”
“I’m not going to run,” she sighed.
“Good. Let’s get you home and cleaned up.” She only nodded.
