Snare (Delirious book 1) (21 page)

Accompanying song:
“Hurricane” by Thirty Seconds To Mars

Providence, Rhode Island – April 30
th
, 2013, evening

I will make her hate me with every fiber of her being. I have to be her enemy; it’s the only way to keep us both safe. More importantly, alive. She has no clue what she’s done by following me, but I’d rather keep it that way, too. It would kill her if she knew. It would kill me, and I am not intent on dying. Not yet, anyway.

I stare at my watch, which seems to be one minute late on schedule, so I recalibrate it to be exactly on time again. I hate being late for anything in life. Nothing is going according to plan, which is unfortunate, but I’ll have to work around it.

At first I thought scaring her, making her terrified of me, would do the trick, but it seems I have to show her how truly cruel life can get before she’ll finally flee.

No, I am not a good man. In my flat-ironed suit and shiny shoes, with my slick hair tucked back and my charm, I pretend I am civilized. The opposite is the truth. At least, that’s what I tell myself. At times, I am perfectly fine with the wicked life I lead, and other times, I am willing to kill myself to change it all. Still, I have not been able to make a choice between insanity and purity. Will I choose the dark side, the side where I will live? Or will I choose the light and jump toward it, ending it all? The lies I tell blur the lines of reality until even I can’t tell them apart anymore.

Blood is on my hands. There is no turning back time. If I ever wish to make amends, I must choose right this time. I must atone for my sins. I will start with her.

I will show her the ways of darkness, the evil that resides in my heart, so I can save her from myself. One soul for another.

She is defeated—not only physically but mentally, too. I don’t need to know her to see it. In order to fix her and make her okay, I will have to break her down to the point of destruction. She won’t like it. It will make me her enemy. I will be for her what she needs—obsession to the point of murder. In the end, when this is all over, she’ll be the one to hold the knife to my throat. And when that time comes, I’ll gladly accept my punishment.

But first … she will need to pay for her defiance and learn to listen to me. It’s the only way to survive.

I gaze at the see-through door to my bathroom, watching her shower. Her naked body is as magnificent as ever, her curves a feast for the eyes. I love watching her soap herself up while she tries to hide her innocence from me. As if I didn’t already pluck that fruit she harbors. Well, there is one left … but I will not take it yet. Before I plunder her pussy, I will make her obedient. I don’t want any more mess on my hands, and to prevent it I need to train her so she’ll obey me. She needs to know who’s in charge of her life now. After all, she chose to throw herself at my feet; I am merely giving her what she needs.

Someone to dominate her. Someone to teach her how to deal with insecurities, with pain, with sorrow. Someone to make her strong. I will be that someone she can desire and hate at the same time. I will tear out her worst fears and make them my own, and then I will become the one she can’t live without. Someone to obsess about. I will become all of it.

For her.

The woman who changed the core of my very soul.

She cracked me open, tugged on my heart, and left me waning in the darkness of my own life. In a split second, she showed me how dark I have become. I know there is still hope for me. I will make it all better again; I make that promise now, not just to myself, but to her as well.

At the moment, she thinks I am the crux of her downfall.

It is exactly what I need her to think.

Because it is the truth.

As she steps out of the shower, walks into the dining area, and glances at me uncomfortably, I flash her a smile. I can’t help but notice the tiny freckles on her nose and how they match her sparkling eyes perfectly. I love the way she is delicate with the dress I chose for her as she picks it up and inspects it as if it won’t fit. Of course, it will fit. I had my housekeeper, Conchita, measure her size while she was still unconscious. It’s a beautiful white, strapless gown, the top part around her chest lined with crystals, suited for a queen.

My queen.

Yes … I see it all play out before me. The chess pieces are laid out on the field, and all I have to do is push. Pawn after pawn, I will sacrifice, until only a few are left, and then I will take them all down.

She might be able to play an important part, who knows? For now, it’s too soon to tell how she will react to it all. Only time will tell if she can cope with the horrors of this world. If she can be the queen of a murderer who betrays his kin.

When she walks out of the bathroom fully dressed, I marvel at the sight. I’m struck in awe at her beauty—this red-haired seductress who tempted me to come to the light again. Her eyes glow with fiery decisiveness, as if she would attack me at any moment and pierce me with my own knife. It only makes me want her more. Just the thought of knowing she isn’t wearing any panties makes my cock hard. I think I will definitely make her mine tonight.

She walks toward me and leans over me to grab something off the table. I’m sitting in my chair, gazing straight up at her tits, admiring the view. I don’t flinch when she moves back. I think she expected me to. Of course, I expect her to attack, but not now. I know what it looks like when a person wants to run or fight, and the look in her eyes was neither. No, this look is pure loathing, but not to the point of wanting to hurt either of us. Not yet.

Between her fingers, she holds a few toothpicks, which she sticks in her hair, making a sophisticated bun. Then she stands before me, her hands on her hips, obnoxious, as if she could make a stand. I can see her legs tremble underneath her. Such a pity she isn’t nearly strong enough yet. Time to improve that.

“So, what now?” she asks, tapping her feet. “I’ve showered. What do you want from me? Do you want me to pretend this is all normal? Have dinner with you like this is just some random date?” She sounds irritated, and it makes me smile. I would love to see more of her feistiness.

“No,” I say as I scoot my chair back to my place at the table. “I want you to sit down at the end of the table and eat.”

She takes a deep breath and sighs, grinding her teeth before walking to her seat and stubbornly sitting down. Crossing her legs and arms, she stares at me as I snap my finger and my housekeeper steps into the room with two plates of delicious crab. Her eyes target Conchita like a hound. “She knows that I’m abducted? Hey, lady, do you not at all care I’m a prisoner against my will? This man has a tape of me, which he won’t give to me. He’s extorting me. This is illegal. It’s against the
law
.”

Her rambling is cute to hear.

When she notices my housekeeper does not respond while setting the plates down, she makes a face at me. “Why isn’t she responding? Is she deaf or have you done something to her, too?”

“Conchita does not talk unless I ask her something. Her job is to serve me at all times. That is all.”

“Like a slave,” she scoffs.

“No, Miss Carrigan, a slave would not get paid.”

“I bet you pay her a lot to keep her mouth shut then.”

“Indeed, I do. Now eat up,” I say as I grab my fork and knife.

She gapes at me, dropping her hands beside her.

“Well, don’t be so surprised,” I say. “It’s not like you didn’t know what money could buy.”

“I’m not. I’m merely surprised at how evil you truly are. Extortionist.”

“I would call it a good incentive.” I smile. “Now, let’s eat, before it gets cold.”

“No.”

I look up, annoyed at her refusal to dine with me. “You will eat.”

“No. You can’t force me.”

Anger boils inside me. How dare she provoke me again. She’ll soon learn not to defy me.

I slam my fist on the table. “Eat. Now.”

“Or else? What are you planning on doing? I don’t suppose this could get any worse.”

“Oh … Miss Carrigan, it’s there that you are mistaken. It can get much worse. You see, this crab is not nearly enough to still my cravings. I’m dying for something else to eat. Something soft … and wet. And I would not stop until you would beg me. And you know what else? I would do it after every meal—so often, so hard, and so long—that you would not even be able to speak, let alone stand. So tell me, Miss Carrigan, do you dare resist me, so that I can punish you? Because I am so looking forward to it, and trust me, I would do so much more than just eat. My hands are itching to see more of that luscious red skin you glowed the other day. And my teeth … hmmm … they are sharp, you know.”

I flash a grin as her eyes widen. She’s completely silenced for a moment, and I love the sight. Depravity is easily achieved with me. Slowly, she grabs her fork, her eyes on me at all times when she starts prying at her crab. I know she’s hungry; I could hear her stomach growl when she leaned over me to reach the toothpicks. However, she seems reluctant to eat.

“Go ahead, it’s safe to eat. I’m not trying to poison you,” I say.

“No drugs stuffed inside? Lucky me.”

I smile at her comment, which is kind of endearing. But then she raises her fork and throws it at me.

Within a fraction of a second, she’s up from her chair. Her feet are quick as she runs toward to the door. I can’t even catch her by lunging forward. I scramble up and rush after her.

“Open, goddammit!” she screams at the door, banging it.

Before she has a chance to slam it again, I wrap both my arms around her arms and waist, trapping her. “Didn’t I tell you? I am the key.” She struggles in my arms as I push her up against the door.

“No!”

“Yes,” I whisper. “There’s no way out. It’s useless.”

“Let me go!”

“You had your chance to get away from me. It’s too late now.” I grin against her neck. I can hear her every gasp, feel her body shake, her lungs inhaling air. The closeness makes my cock throb. “All you can do now is hope for mercy. Beg me to go easy on you. And you know what? I’m finding it really hard to control myself right now …” I lick the rim of her ear. “I can’t wait to sink my teeth into your flesh.”

“Stop it! Stop it!” she cries out. “Where is the Sebastian I knew? Who are you?”

Her desperate pleas won’t help anymore. “He never existed. It was all in your head.” My hands tighten around her body as she fights me for control. I won’t give it up, ever. Just as submission is in her blood, domination is in mine. Never has the urge to control a woman for my own pleasure been this strong.

“I don’t believe it.”

“Oh … I’ll show you what I do to women such as yourself. With my tongue. My fingers. My cock. Oh yes, I’ll make you beg for it all,” I grunt, planting a kiss right below her ear.

“Don’t touch me …” she says, sniffing.

“You begged me before …” I whisper, nibbling on her earlobe. “I can make you do it again.”

She gasps. “I shouldn’t have come after you.”

“Finally, you realize it was a mistake to follow me.” Her arms become limber by the second as I still have her pinned against my front door. “Do you give in?”