Page 57

“One punishment I owe you.”

She splutters. “I didn’t say I felt guilty, just that others might blame me.”

“It’s the same thing.”

“No, it’s not.”

“If you weren’t thinking like a guilty party, then the thought they might blame you would never cross your mind.”

Her mouth snaps shut. I lean close, my teeth nipping her ear. “Don’t worry, baby, I’ll help you break the habit.”

It’s loud when we make it inside. The row of chairs at the back is mostly empty, so I move us to the middle and indicate for Lil to sit before I do. “Take off your jacket.”

“What?”

If you make me ask you again, I’ll take it off myself, and I won’t stop with your jacket.”

She gulps loudly as people find their seats. She reaches to take it off, leaving her in jeans and a tank top.

“Place it over your lap and unfasten your jeans.”

She looks at me, a protest on her lips. Whatever she sees on my face stops her. Her cheeks redden as she looks around, but when she sees nobody staring at her, her eyes land back on mine.

I lean closer so only she can hear me. “You like pushing my buttons, trickster. But would you like it if I bent you over the seat in front of you, pulled down your jeans and panties, and thrust into you hard enough to make you scream for all these folks?”

“You wouldn’t,” she hisses.

“Oh, but I would.”

“What is going on with you? You’re usually much more laid back.”

“I’m tired of my woman beating herself up. I’m tired of lying awake at night because I’m so fucking terrified you’re gonna slip out and I’m going to lose you all over again. And I’m really fucking tired of knowing that if he does get his hands on you, he’ll twist everything to make it sound like it’s your fault, and you’ll believe him. I’m not gonna let him do that to you. But his voice in your head is drowning out your common sense.”

“How does you fucking me in public drown out his voice?” she snarls quietly. But I don’t miss the way she licks her lips or the feverish look in her eyes. She wants this as much as she wants to fight it.

“Because when you’re screaming my name, you ain’t hearing him.”

Her chest is heaving as she absorbs my words. For a brief moment, everything is frozen in time.

And then Havoc whistles, and everything rushes back in. “Thank you all for coming,” he starts.

I don’t tear my eyes away from Lil until she complies. Her hand slips under her jacket. I see the fabric move as she unbuttons her jeans and pulls her hand free. “There. Happy?”

I grin, leaning closer. “I think the lady doth protest too much. I think you creamed your panties at the thought of me getting you off in front of all these people. I reckon I could work you up into such a state that you’d be begging for my cock and you wouldn’t give a flying fuck who saw us.” As I speak, I slide my hand down the front of her jeans and delve inside her panties, making her gasp.

I slip two fingers inside her with ease. “Fucking soaked, just like I knew you’d be,” I growl before turning to face forward so I can listen to Havoc. I don’t move my fingers. I hold them still as Havoc talks about what happened at the high school and the shelter and his suspicions about who did it.

Lil squirms, trying to find friction, but I keep my hand steady.

“How do we know he won’t strike again?” someone asks.

Lil tenses. I slide my wet fingers free and use them to stroke her swollen clit. She whimpers softly, her hand reaching around to grab my wrist, almost knocking off the jacket that’s hiding my ministrations.

“I can’t guarantee he won’t strike again. That’s our problem and why I called this meeting in the first place. This man is proving to be very resourceful. He has lots of connections and plenty of money to aid him. The cops and the FBI are looking for him, and so far they have no leads. It’s worth noting, though, that some of those connections are in the police force. I don’t want to scare you folks unnecessarily, but you should know what you’re dealing with.”

“How can we protect ourselves if we don’t know when he might come or who he might target?” a woman shouts, panic in her voice. Many other voices join her, the room growing louder and louder as fear takes the wheel.

I stroke Lil’s clit fast, adding more pressure, keeping her off center so she can’t focus on what’s happening around us. All she can see is me. All she can feel is my fingers.