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TWO MONTHS LATER
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STANDING AT THE OUTSKIRTS of Ajay's and Emms' ten-acre lot, Emms pointed the Beretta 9mm gun. Five empty cans were set on fence posts twenty yards away. Standing behind her, Ajay helped her aim.
She pulled the trigger. The can on the middle post leapt into the air.
"I did it!" She looked back at him. "When do I get to try the Glock?"
He took the gun. "Let's call it a day." With his arm draped over her shoulders, he pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. He gave her a swat on the ass. "You go ahead. I'll grab the rest of the cans."
Nodding, she jogged across the mostly dirt lawn and flung open the squeaky screen door and went inside.
Ajay walked to the rickety barn. He walked past the first two horse stalls and into the third which had been used for a storage shed by the previous owners. A thick scraggly rope hung on the wall. On the shelf was a bucket of miscellaneous sized nails and screws. Tucked behind a half empty can of beige paint was his cigarettes.
Emms' voice resounded from the doorway of the house. "You're not smoking, are you?"
He lit one and returned the pack behind the half-empty can of paint. "No babe. I quit. Remember?"
He strode from the barn, the lit cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth. Standing at twice the distance that Emms had stood, he aimed.
And fired four shots.
One by one, the remaining cans jumped into the air.
Ajay pinched the end of the lit cigarette and extinguished it.
When he got inside, he set the gun on the coffee table. "Emms?"
He rounded the corner toward the kitchen and glanced up the staircase. She was a few steps from the top, her back to him.
He watched her ascend, take a step up, stretching her Daisy Dukes tight, framing that fine, sweet, heart-shaped ass. His focus drifted down her tan thighs and calves.
She glanced over her shoulder. When their eyes met, she stuck out her tongue.
Ajay leaned against the railing. Hanging his head, he laughed.
The first time he'd met her, she promised to teach him new games. She'd been fucking with him ever since. And he loved it!
She continued her ascent, pulling her black tank over her head. Twirling it around her finger, she flung it over her head. It landed on the banister beside Ajay. He put it to his nose. The subtle scent of sweat mixed with her coconut lotion went straight to his groin.
Emms took the next step. Her fingers worked the clasp of her lacy white bra. Dropped to the carpeted stair. In mock aghast, she covered her mouth. "Oops."
She put her hands on her hips and did her best prissy stance before shoving her shorts down. Silky white panties barely covered her ass cheeks.
Turning around, she gave him a glimpse of her perfect B cups and winked.
Then ran.
So tonight the game was cat and mouse. Game on, Ajay thought.
A door slammed.
"Shit!"
Chase. Yes.
Hard to get. Oh hell no!
Leapt up the stairs in three strides. Heard water running behind the closed bathroom door.
Tried the handle.
Locked.
Ajay banged. "Open up, sweetheart."
"I'm indecent."
He certainly hoped so. "Honey, don't fuck with me. I'm not playing." He slammed his fist against the sturdy wooden door.
In the bedroom, on his bureau was his ringing cell phone. He ignored it and banged again. "Emms."
She didn't answer.
"I swear I'll kick this door down if—"
The door opened. Emms stuck out her tongue and closed the door. But she wasn't quick enough. He pushed through with ease.
She stood naked as steam billowed from the shower stall. He could almost taste the sweet fragrance of her bald pussy in the steamy air. In the last month, her scent had changed. Her taste had changed. Not better. Not worse. Just different.
But still delicious.
His arms under hers, he lifted her into the stand-up shower. Fully dressed, he pushed her against the tiled wall before lifting his tee over his head. The dripping fabric smacked clumsily against the cloudy mirror.
Emms crouched and tugged on his jeans. Not so easily, the soaked jeans inched down his legs, one frustrating tug at a time, until he was finally able to step out of them.
Steam shrouded their naked bodies. Beads of water slipped down Emms' shoulder blades and down her breasts.
The tip of his cock pushed into the flesh of her belly. When she ground herself against him, his palms slapped against the tile on either side of her head. Body dwarfing hers, he lowered his head.
Emms' arms came around him, her hands gripped his ass and he nearly came. Groaning, he kissed her, tongue fucking her sweet, hot mouth.
She leaned into him, greedy for more.
Hands gripping her ass, he lifted her until her pussy was level with his cock then promptly slammed into her tight, little cunt.
Emms gasped.
Warm water circled their joined lips.
Emms' fingers clawed at his back, while her lips moved from his mouth, down his neck, nibbling, sucking.
"Fuck, baby, I love you."
She was so small, delicate. He loved that about her. But she was also wild. As the weeks passed his little sweet Emms dared him to do more and do it harder and faster. And he was too happy to oblige.
Fucking wasn't about crossing the finish line. It was about which road to take to get to that finish line. And every road with her was unpredictable and fun.
Sometimes. Hard to get.
Sometimes. Hide and Seek.
Sometimes. A pitcher of water to the head.
Sometimes. Coy.
And Sometimes. Slut.
Emms' body tensed. Her sex clenched around his cock as her pussy constricted, pulsing, milking him with cute feminine tugs.
He braced himself against the wall and let himself explode inside her.
Ajay lowered her to her feet. He shut the water off and led her from the steamy bathroom. As they crossed the threshold of their bedroom, he pressed her face-first against the wall.
Kicked at her ankles. "Spread your legs."
When he got aggressive, dominating, sometimes she laughed.
Sometimes she told him to go to hell.
And sometimes she played the good little sub and did exactly what he asked.
He jammed a finger in her ass and whispered in her ear. "I said spread your fucking legs."
Wordlessly, she widened her stance.
Tonight she was game. Life was good.
Maybe, if he was lucky, she'd even get loud. "Make some noise like a good little slut."
She nodded. "Ah huh."
Like a puppet master, he placed her palms high on the wall. He sat between her legs, his back against the wall.
Palmed her ass. Breathed on her bald pussy, short warm bursts.
She tilted her hips, inching her sex closer to his mouth, but he slapped her ass. "Patience, sweetheart."
He licked her outer lips, gliding up and above her clit but not over it.
Not yet.
With two fingers, he spread her swollen labia. With long, thick strokes of his tongue he licked her inner lips, teased and flicked.
His sweet Emms whined a long, drawn out moan.
He pulled her against his face, swiveling her pussy, painting his eyes, forehead and cheeks with her delicious cum. Sucked her clit, swirling, teasing and tongue fucking her cunt until he felt her legs tremble . . . her body convulse.
Emms was close but he wanted to her get a whole lot louder.
"Not yet, honey." He pushed off the wall and climbed to his feet. Ajay led her to the bed. Gently, he positioned her on her hands and knees. From behind, his body cocooned hers. His cock thrust inside.
Hard.
Fast.
His fingers knotted in her hair. He yanked her head back and took her mouth in a punishing kiss.
His free hand slipped under their joined bodies and found her slick pussy. With small circles, he teased and flicked, steering her back to orgasm.
When he felt her body tense, he flipped her to her back, draped her legs over his shoulders and drove into her.
Furious.
Ruthless.
Thrusts.
Her breath came in pants as the bed rocked against the wall.
This orgasm he didn't see coming.
It slammed into her.
He plunged inside her, balls deep and reveled in the feel of her convulsing pussy. Grinding against her, he rode out her orgasm.
With a gentle, teasing kiss, he climaxed. His cock pulsed in a rhythmic, blissful, seemingly endless stream of cum.
Rolling off her, his head swimming from post-orgasmic bliss, he collapsed to his back and let out a dramatic breath. She crawled under his arm, her head on his chest.
His phone rang, vibrating on top of his bureau.
"Dammit," Ajay muttered.
"Don't answer it," Emms said, kissing his shoulder and chest.
"It's the second time it's rang. Might be the station."
Gently, he moved from beneath her. Naked, he strode across the room. He glanced at the caller ID. "Shit." He answered, "What?"
"Need you to come in," Detective Felton said, "Meth lab bust."
Ajay looked at Emms.
She nodded.
He said, "I'll be right there."
Ajay hung up and went back to the bed. Sitting beside her head, he said, "You're going to pick up a shift then?"
"I'll be fine here."
The rule was that if he worked a shift at the station, she worked a shift at the restaurant. No exceptions. "I'm not leaving you alone."
"I'm not afraid."
"That's what worries me."
She grimaced. "I'll lock the doors and keep the gun close."
Ajay stood. He walked to his bureau. "I don't know."
Emms came from behind and hugged his waist. "The last two victims were in Dallas and that was more than six months ago. The news said he may have gotten spooked by all the publicity and moved out of the area. Besides, he kills women in their cars. I'll be here. I'll be safe."
Ajay turned to face her. He brushed a lock of hair from her face.
"Don't give him power over our lives."
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INSIDE THE TRAILER, reading Catcher in the Rye, Kipp sat at the kitchen table. Rane sat on the sofa watching a reality show on haunted houses across America. The police scanner went off.
"Hey 205. What's your twenty?"
"En route."
Ajay's number.
Rane looked over his shoulder, into the kitchen. "Thought you said she wasn't working tonight?"
Thanks to hair bleach, tinted glasses and a short beard, Kipp had been able to frequent Copper Creek again without Maggie recognizing him. He'd been there almost every day this week.
He looked up from his book. "She's . . . she's not supposed to."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Rane looked at the unopened carton of cupcakes on the counter.
And smiled.
––––––––
A BOWL OF POPCORN ON her lap, Emily sat on the sofa watching a reality show about haunted houses across America. Her cell rang. She put down the bowl and grabbed the phone from the coffee table. "Hello?"
"It's Maggie. Can you pick up tonight?"
Tonight was the first time in months she had a night to herself thanks to Ajay's paranoia. "Really?"
"Short three servers."
Grimacing, she said, "I'll be right there."
"Thanks. You're a life saver."
––––––––
RANE'S PULSE RACED as he drove down Highway 105. His hard dick pushed painfully against his crotch thinking about Ajay's one.
Home.
Alone.
Waiting for him.
He'd limited his hunting to anywhere but the Houston area, letting the drama blow over. Just in the last few months, media coverage of the cupcake killer had finally died down.
Rane's restraint and patience would finally pay off.
Tonight.
He rolled his car off the remote dirt road. And grabbed the carton of cupcakes. He walked the mile or so to their long driveway. Their quaint, dark house came into view. No truck. No jeep.
Temper flaring, his careful walk turned into a jog.
Circling the house, he peered into the windows.
The bitch wasn't home!
He turned to leave, but hesitated.
Waited long enough.
No more being patient.
No more planning.
Ajay's one was his.
Tonight.
Even if it cost him his life, he would make every effort to fuck Ajay's one before turning her over to Kipp.
Turned back toward the house. Sprinted and kicked the front door but the locks held. Another roundhouse kick splintered the wooden door, leaving it dangling by one hinge.
Hurled the TV through the floor-to-ceiling living room window.
Pulled out drawers and dumped silverware, dish rags and Tupperware.
One by one, he yanked the refrigerator shelves out.
Milk spilled.
Egg yolk dribbled.
Ketchup splattered.
Rane jogged upstairs. He stood at the foot of the bed, let his mind wander, imagined what Ajay's one looked like naked, how much would she fight him. God, he loved it when the fought back. Such a fucking high.
Rane unzipped his jeans, pulled out his dick and began jerking on it.
He couldn't be sure how long it took to cum—time seemed to have stopped as he pulled on his cock.
And pulled.
Imagined Ajay's one with her mouth around his cock.
Her eyes filled with tears.
With a grunt, Rane spewed across the brown comforter.
Opened a top drawer.
Fingered the silk and lace panties.
Moaned.
Slid the silky fabric down his cheek.
He set the cupcakes on the bureau and took one out. Then dipped his finger in the chocolate frosting and drew on the mirror over the bureau.
Using romantic, cursive lettering, he wrote,
M y S w e e t
––––––––
"HE'S BEEN HERE EVERY day this week, always sitting in your section," Maggie said, "He creeps me out."
"He's harmless." Emily grabbed a pot of coffee and carried it to the table where the creepy man sat.
"More coffee Kevin?"
He looked up from his book and slid his glasses back up his nose. "No, thank you."
"What are you reading today?" She cocked her head, trying to see under the cover. "Catcher in the Rye?"
Nodding, he dug a peanut butter cup from the breast pocket of his button-down shirt and began unwrapping it.
"I'll be right back with your check."
Maggie stood in front of the coffee station, her hands on her hips. "I don't like him."
"There are not many people you do like." Emily reached around Maggie to place the pot back on the burner.
"That's true, but I love you and I've had it with this guy." She grabbed the same pot of coffee that Emily just set down. "He and I are going to have a little chat."
Emily tried to protest but Maggie waved her off.
She knocked twice on the table to get his attention. "You have a taste for our coffee. Or is there something else that draws you here every night?"
"What?" He leaned forward.
Maggie followed his gaze to Emily. Subtle.
"She's married."
"Pardon?"
"She's married."
He looked down at his book, fidgeting with his glasses, pushing them back into place. "You misunderstand."
"I think there is nothing amiss about my understanding." She leaned down and whispered, "Don't come in here again? It could be dangerous. You never know what type of scum roams this parking lot, especially this time of night. I wouldn't want you to get hurt." She slapped him on the back. "Do we have an understanding?"
"Yes. Yes, of course. Can . . . can . . . I have . . . have my check?"
"On the house. Get out."
Keeping his eyes on the floor, he scooted from the stool and scurried out the door.
Emily glared at Maggie. "What did you—?"
"Shut it," Maggie said, "I did it for your own good." She grabbed the keys from her pocket and locked the front door. "Let's get this place cleaned up so we can go home."
"We're closing early?"
"I own this place. I can do whatever the hell I want."
"What would Cam say?"
Maggie began stocking glassware on the shelf above the soda station.
Emily wiped the stainless-steel counters. "How you tamed him, I'll never know."
"Probably, much the same way you tamed his brother."
"Hardly," Emily muttered.
"Nonsense. That boy all but purrs when you so much as look at him."
"Well, you weren't there the other night when we argued about Poppy again," Emily said, "He wasn't purring, more like growling."
"Why don't you let him get you a newer vehicle for driving to work and running errands and still keep the truck for cruising?"
"What good is having Poppy if I never get to drive him?"
"Well, there's something to say for reliability. Poppy will leave you stranded on the side of the road one of these days."
"Poppy has never left me stranded." Emily counted her money and stacked the bills neatly behind her credit card slips. "I don't want to talk about Poppy anymore." Emily pointed her stack at Maggie. "I'm going to go break down the expo line."
"Just put everything in the walk-in. We'll let the day shift restock tomorrow."
Emily glanced at the digital clock on the wire rack shelf. "It is tomorrow. It's almost 12:30."
Maggie yelled across the dining room. "Karl! You ready?"
He strolled from the back of the kitchen and toward her. "Yes ma'am"
Maggie set the alarm and they all rushed out the door, racing the thirty second timer.
The three of them walked across the well-lit parking lot. After walking Maggie to her car, Karl and Emily headed for Poppy.
"So you were in the Army with Ajay?" Emily asked.
"Not exactly," Karl said, "But we're brothers just the same." He slid a cigarette from his shirt pocket and lit it. "Speaking of the big guy, where is he? Doesn't he usually pick you up?"
"Had to work."
Ajay had texted twice during the night to check on her but they were so busy, she could only respond with "I'm okay."
Karl nodded, taking another drag of his cigarette.
When they reached Poppy. She unlocked the door and slid behind the wheel. He waited for the engine to turn over before walking toward his car two spots away.
Slumped in the passenger seat was C-3PO. She straightened him, strapping the seat belt across him.
Emily put Poppy into gear.
It stalled.
She shifted to park and started it again.
Holding her breath, she shifted to drive.
Stalled again. "No. No. No." She tried one more time; to no avail. Fishing her phone from her brown leather purse, she dialed Ajay.
He picked up on the first ring. "Hey babe."
Emily could barely hear him over the commotion in the background. "You off work?"'
"Just stopped for a quick drink with Cam and a couple of the guys from the force. But I'm on my way home now."
Emily hunched her shoulders preparing for the worst. "I need a ride home."
"Why would you need a ride home when you're supposed to be home?"
"Maggie called me in. I thought you'd be happy I went to work."
"You drove Poppy!"
She cringed, pulling the phone a few inches from her ear.
"You should have called me! Where are you? Poppy break down?" The noise from the bar quieted. She guessed he was already in the parking lot walking toward his Jeep.
"I'm still at work. Poppy never made it out of the parking lot. He keeps stalling."
"We're getting rid of the truck." The hum of the Jeep's engine traveled through the phone, a sound that should comfort her, but instead jumped her pulse. She had one long night of arguing ahead of her.
"Are you alone?"
Karl had started his car and was driving toward her. She rolled down her window and waved him closer. "Karl's here and for the millionth time, I'm not getting rid of Poppy."
"I'll light it with a match."
"You wouldn't!"
"I'll be there in ten." Ajay hung up.
Karl parked and got out of his Nissan. "You need a ride?"
Before she could respond, his mouth dropped open.
He gasped.
His body crumpled to the ground, revealing the man behind him.
Tall.
Blond.
In one hand, he held a bloody knife. In the other, a chocolate cupcake.
A robotic voice resounded from C-3PO. There'll be no escape for the princess this time.
––––––––
FOURTEEN MILES ACROSS town, at that precise moment, Jags sat up in bed.
Star patted his forearm. Her eyes closed, she mumbled, "Go back to sleep." She wasn't expecting an argument, since he'd barely spoken in months. At least he wasn't violent anymore. No sign of David. At all. What a ridiculous relief.
And she'd know if David was back.
Because she'd sense it.
Jags turned to her.
And spoke. "My sweet."