Page 2 of Death Kiss

The soles still, trying so very hard not to be seen. I chuckle to myself. I paid good money for this one, and I’ll be sad to let him go so soon. But going back to work would leave him too many opportunities to find a way out.

Such a waste.

Still, the buzz of excitement already rises in me. There’s nothing in this world that hits like taking someone else out of it. Especially someone with so much life still to live. My wife’s death hadn’t brought even a glimmer of what killing usually did. She was too old. Too worthless.

Guilt has never cropped up, in the traditional sense, but I do feel anger at the monumental waste of disposing of a toy so recently procured. Especially one so lovely. And finding whoever is ruining my fun and using my anger to make him cry like a little bitch, is my top priority.

A sob sounds from beneath the bed before the phone line clicks live. ‘Ah, DS Lewis, just the woman I need. I think I can help with one of your live cases.’

The body beneath the bed wriggles and tries to scream, but the sound is well muffled. I’m rock solid, having him struggle so desperately while I’m on the phone with other officers.

A delicious taboo.

Jennifer invites me to come in for a chat today.

I slap my belt against the edge of the bed, grinning. ‘Of course, there’s just a little matter I need to take care of first.’

ONE

KAT

Abead of sweat trickles down my lower back as I fidget from foot to foot.

The line of graduates inches toward the stage in their black gowns. Mine itches like a motherfucker at my wrists. I just want the ceremony to be over. For all I care, they can shove my degree where the sun doesn’t shine. I have zero intentions of using it.

There’s no degree required for going on a killing spree to rid the world of the scum who scarred my man.

As of yet, a Bachelor’s in Revenge doesn’t exist.

Pity.

The woodlined hall is packed with people. Some eagerly try to catch their graduate’s eye to wave; others look utterly bored from the three hours of speeches and handing over of degree papers. It didn’t take me long to locate my mother and father among the hubbub of faces. My mother’s mouth turns downwards in disgust at the tightly packed seats that force her hip-to-hip with the toddler-filled lap of another lady, while my dad stands near the back with a handful of older men. Not talking, all actively avoiding being seated with the masses.

The guy behind me nudges me forward when I don’t fill the gap left by the woman in front of me.

‘Keep your panties on,’ I whisper. ‘It’s not like you’re going to get there any faster.’

‘Pay attention then.’

Urgh. The sooner I’m away from all these business bros, the better. Some of them are so utterly insufferable. Walking away from my degree six months ago was a near constant temptation. All I wanted was to hole up in bed with Liam, my former child friend come stalker come lover. Hell, he is more than a lover; he’s my god damned obsession. I can’t get enough of him.

Completing my degree had come with many nights of reward fucking after I finished a part of an essay or a revision session. Liam would watch me study, then devour me for getting through it. The ravishing made the work tolerable, but truthfully I’m still a little afraid of what my parents will say when they meet him. Dropping out of my university course would have had them over me like a heat rash on a sunny day.

No, thank you.

I can’t see Liam among the sea of faces; I’d recognise him in a heartbeat. From his inky dark eyes, rimmed with the thickest of lashes, to the scars that litter his face. God, I’ve spent so many hours tracing each scar with my lips and my tongue, breathing acceptance into the man who’s had it torn from him his whole life.

Another step forward, and still no sign of him.

He wouldn’t miss my graduation.

He doesn’t miss anything.

Being obsessed over should make me wary. It would have been suffocating from anyone else, but with Liam? I feed on his possessiveness. I long for it.

Nothing pleases me more than those eyes of his darkening before he pins me to the nearest hard surface and makes me forget my bloody name.

Knowing the danger we’re about to face, we haven’t let a moment go by without relishing in the now. There’s a very good chance the future will bring injury, imprisonment, or death.