Page 57 of Bloody Quarter

“Why don’t you come back to bed,” she said, and I groaned as I pushed myself away before caving into the temptation.

“I would, but you have a surprise downstairs.”

Alora pushed herself up, her eyes full of worry. “It’s not another carnival ride, is it? You’ve already ruined carousels for the rest of my life.”

Smiling, I shook my head. “No, I promise,” I said, digging around in my drawer to find her a T-shirt to put on. It was one of my favorite outfits on her. I groaned as she slipped from the bed, completely naked. Dammit, I should’ve thought this through and had Rodney come later in the day.

Taking the shirt, she pulled it on and rose on her toes to kiss my cheek. “I love it when you look at me like you’re going to eat me alive,” Alora whispered.

“Trust me, that’s all I’m thinking about.” I adjusted my thickening cock to emphasize my point. She smirked. “Come on, before I drag you to the bed.” Taking Alora’s hand, I led her downstairs, and when I spotted the pup in the same spot as if she’d never even blinked, I knew I’d made the perfect choice.

“Where is my…oh my God…Greyson, is…is….”

“Yes, she’s yours.”

“Oh my God, she’s adorable.” She ran across the room and then looked at me. “Can I pick her up?” I nodded.

“She’s yours. I’ll show you her commands, and she’ll remain in training with Rodney, but she is your puppy.” Alora scooped up the pup, and Yara licked her face. Within two seconds, I was jealous of a puppy as Alora cooed to her and held her to her chest. I could easily see her killing someone to protect Yara, and it was supposed to be the other way around. “What’s her name?”

“Yara,” I said as the pup tucked her muzzle into Alora’s neck.

“I love that.”

“It means little butterfly,” I said, and Alora froze, staring at me. “What? Did I say something wrong,” I asked as more tears spilled from her eyes. This time, the puppy licked them off her cheeks.

“No, it’s just…I was dreaming about this old memory of when my sister wanted me to take her to get a butterfly tattoo. It’s crazy…I…could it be a message? Don’t answer that. I know it’s crazy. Thank you so much. I love her,” she said before kissing me and then sitting down on the floor with the pup in her lap. “Hello, Yara, you’re so beautiful,” Alora cooed.

I stared at the instant love in Alora’s eyes and tapped my lip. Maybe this was a bad idea. I was pretty sure I just got demoted to second.

Greyson

Of all the things I thought I’d see in the back of my pickup truck, cupcakes were not on the list. The truck bed was loaded front to back with containers. Alora had been up all night making these, and they were fucking delicious. I was digging the chocolate skull topper. They were going to sell fast at the bar tonight.

It blew me away to find out Alora had never graduated high school. She’d been locked up before she had the chance but had spent her time in prison studying what she could. Enrolling her in the culinary classes she wanted to take required that she pass an equivalency test, but she seemed primed and ready for anything. My lip twitched. I’d seen this determination in her. Alora’s broken pieces just needed to be glued back together. Not with actual glue, but all that mattered was that when she looked at me, I saw the other half of my depraved soul. While I carved and whittled at her, she smoothed and warmed my hard edges.

I looked over my shoulder as Alora came out of the house with the final container in her hands while Yara dutifully walked beside her. She was fucking stunning, and my obsession with her ran as freely through my body as the blood in my veins.

I’d emerged from the shadows to claim what was mine, but even I hadn’t been ready for my doll to become the master. She might not know or understand it, but the strings were one-by-one plucked from her limbs and placed upon me. I’d kill for her and do anything to keep her. I was the marionette, and with only a look, I would dance for her forever.

The wind picked up, blowing across the back of my neck, and I glanced around as an unease settled over me. I didn’t see anything or anyone other than a lone crow on the fence nearby. The head tilted, and as the sun made its onyx eye glisten, I could see my reflected image. It cawed loudly before it flew away.

“You okay?”

I looked at Alora and then down at Yara. They stared at me with an almost identical expression.

“Yeah, it’s just that crows always bring a message, usually of death.”

She looked off in the distance and then gave me the tiniest of grins. “I didn’t know you were superstitious.”

Taking the final container from her hands, I loaded it into the back of the truck and closed the tailgate. “There are still many things you don’t know about me,” I said, wrapping my arms around her waist.

It felt strange not to be at the apartment all the time with Lennox. I did miss his crusty, bitter ass, but being out here with Alora felt right. I’d keep my room there, for us, for now, but this was home. My mother was going to shit herself. She hated this place so much. But it was time to breathe life, along with death, into this farm again.

“Is that so? What else don’t I know? And you better not say you have another doll tied up somewhere, or you’ll want to watch out the next time you eat a cupcake.” The green of jealousy in her glare was my fucking dessert. Forget the cupcakes.

“If I say yes, will you attack me right now?” Her eyes narrowed into thin slits as she leaned back and crossed her arms. “I’m teasing. There is only you.” I pulled her tighter to me. “There will only ever be you.”

She relaxed into my hold, a devious look replacing the anger. “Then, what did you mean?”