Page 89 of A Murderous Crow
“Oh!” It was warm, the spice of his cologne pleasant as he said, “If we were half as sneaky as you, this would be over by now,” he said. “You’re giving us a fairly decent run for our money, beautiful.”
I craned my neck back and said to Haint, “Well, it’s definitely almost over now.”
He chuckled and said, “Panties or watch?”
“Watch isn’t goinganywhere,” I murmured.
“You got earrings on?”
“Yes,” I said with a slight titter of laughter.
“I’ll take those. Those panties come off, I can’t guarantee I won’t want a taste. Becausedamn, mm-mm-mm, you look like you taste divine.”
I took my earrings out and he palmed them, but before I could step away, he said, “Just a minute more,” and kissed my temple. “Let’s get you warmed up.”
“Whoa, can I get in on this cuddle sesh?”
“Sheesh!” I rolled my eyes as Shade appeared out of the dark.
“Absolutely, bro. I’m sure she’d love to be the ham in this man sammich.”
Shade chuckled and opened up his jacket and I found myself pressed between them.
“Watch or panties?” Revenant asked me again, and I laughed.
“Looks like Shade’s the lucky winner of my last piece of lingerie,” I said with all sarcasm intended.
He chuckled and dipped down to his knees, ghosting my panties down my legs, almost too careful not to touch me with his fingertips.
“Fuck, that’s nice,” he praised, standing after I’d stepped out of them. He dipped his head and kissed me, and I felt an electric jolt from it. Not necessarily one ofpleasure,but more one of something akin to guilt. It feltnaughty,wrong somehow, and I wondered if Corvus was somewhere out there watching.
He pulled back, and said, “Corvus is a lucky one.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, uncertainly.
They let me go, and I wandered carefully, grateful for the time to warm up, but alsoverydetermined to see this through. The shadow of being hooked to the fence had passed, and the lighthearted fun was back and I was grateful for that, too.
The only men I hadn’t seen yet were Requiem and Corvus himself, which I found more than a little convenient. I mean, it was all a little too contrived that I had encountered everyonebutthem and I felt like they were talking me up and, well, gaslighting me into believing that I was doing well at hiding from them.
I also found it strange that I didn’t run into anyone twice, had they left like Revenant, after catching me? Honestly, though, I was glad for that in the case of Specter and Death. I didn’t feel so bad about Death thanks to Revenant’s explanation about his history with Corvus, but Specter I definitely didn’t want to run into twice out here.
I breathed out, and struck out in another direction, listening, ears straining, and I made it to one of the main drags through the cemetery again. I closed my eyes and listened, the sand gritty beneath my feet, and I heard movement somewhere up the way toward the gate. I went the opposite way, back toward the river.
I saw him standing out in the parking lot, looking out over the water. The sliver of moon had reappeared from behind the clouds and cast its white-blue hue across the rippling river and it was a picturesque scene.
It wasn’t Corvus, so it had to be Requiem.
I stilled and watched and he called out softly, “I got a bum knee, don’t make me chase you.”
I stilled and he turned to look at me.
I gave him an impertinent smile and called back softly, “That’s the game.”
He growled and took off like a shot and I bolted, running up the way, back past Jesus and following the curve of the man drag.
My feet were tender, and he had on boots, so it wasn’t long before he overtook me, catching me up and intentionally spiraling with me in his arms. We went down, but he took the brunt of the fall, landing on his back, me on top of him, protecting me from the ground.
“Oh, shit! I’m sorry!” I cried and he laughed.
