I fist her wet hair, wrapping it around my wrist so tightly she winces. “Open.”

When her lips part, I shove my cock between them.

“You like the taste of that?”

She chokes and gags as I hit the back of her throat, her makeup-smudged eyes welling with tears as my balls slap her neck. The sight alone nearly makes me bust a nut all over her pretty face.

I thrust harder, so hard I know I’m pushing her past her breaking point. But she relaxes her throat and takes my cock like the good girl she is.

So fucking perfect.

I pull out and she tries to take me in her mouth again, but I yank her hair.

“Kiss it.”

Pouting her lips, she gently presses them to my tip. I groan when she edges back slightly, causing a string of my pre-cum to appear between us.

Tugging her back to her feet, I bend her over the sink and spread her cheeks, exposing all of her.

She moans as I lick and suck her pussy, her breaths coming out in short, quick pants.

Her pussy clenches in that vise-grip way it does before she comes, so I change directions, teasing her little puckered hole with my tongue instead.

Tilting her head over her shoulder, she looks down the length of her body at me, a red flush breaking out over her skin.

I hold her gaze as I continue tonguing her, and that only makes her blush deepen.

She hisses when I replace my tongue with my finger, stopping when I reach my knuckle.

“Knox.” She utters my name like a warning and a plea.

Standing up, I work my cock inside her pussy while I finger her tight little asshole. “How does it feel?”

“Full.” Her teeth saw along her lip as she closes her eyes. “I can feel you everywhere.”

Good.

Pumping my finger, I thrust deeper.

The walls of her pretty cunt squeeze around me, milking my dick as I give it to her harder.

But it’s not enough.

I need the control that comes from holding her life in the palm of my hand.

I need to feel her fear.

Removing my finger from her ass, I wrap my hand around her throat.

Her pussy pulses, her cum dripping down my balls as she orgasms.

I constrict my grip, fucking her so hard she’s going to feel the ache between her legs for days.

I glance in the mirror. Her green eyes are filled with panic as I deplete the air from her lungs, like she’s afraid I might not let go in time.

White-hot pleasure sizzles up my dick and I come so fucking hard my head spins.

I let go of her throat, sagging against her.

“I’d never kill you,” I rasp as she trembles beneath me.

Fuck knows I’ve thought about it plenty of times, but I could never go through with it.

Aspen’s in my system. Pumping through my veins like sweet poison and surrounding the empty spaces of my cold, black heart.

She’s in my head—like a whisper in the dark I can’t ignore.

She’s in my soul—like a siren I can’t run away from.

She’s the feeling in my chest I’ve never experienced before, but would kill to hold on to forever.

She’s the home I never had.

Chapter 51

Aspen

“Can we get you anything to drink?” Detective Phillips—or is it Detective Avery?—asks.

I shake my head. “No, thank you.”

They’ve already grilled me relentlessly about my whereabouts after they showed up at the house three days ago, but apparently, they aren’t quite through with me just yet.

“I know this isn’t easy for you, Aspen, but we have a few more questions for you.”

“Okay.”

“What was your relationship like with your mother?”

I force myself to remain calm. “Well, Detective Phillips—”

“Avery,” he corrects.

Fuck.

“Sorry.”

He takes a sip of his coffee. “Please continue.”

“We had our fights like every teenage daughter and mother do.” I look down at the table as I process Detective Avery’s question. Knox told me to stay as close to the truth as possible, but it’s a lot harder than I thought. “We weren’t close. But the older I get, the more I realize we’re a lot more alike than I thought.”

Detective Phillips leans in. “How so?”

“Well, I pride myself on getting good grades and doing well in school. And my mother…she was—” I close my eyes. “I’m sorry. Talking about her in the past tense like this… it just…hurts.”

Actually, it doesn’t because she’s always been a past-tense presence in my life.

Detective Avery gives me a sympathetic smile. “Understandable. But please, go on.”

“My mother was a people pleaser. She always cared what others thought about her, always wanted to impress everyone.” I shrug. “I guess I inherited a little of that from her.”

They both exchange a glance.

Detective Phillips clears his throat. “Did you know your mother was having an affair?”

I shake my head. “No. Although, my uncle Leo—” I pause for dramatic effect as my stomach knots with anger. “I’m sorry. Leo was my dad’s best friend, and I’ve known him since I was a child. I’ve always referred to him as my uncle.”

They nod.

Phillips taps his pen against his notepad, growing impatient. “As you were saying?”

“After my dad died, Leo and my mother grew closer. I thought nothing of it. Especially since she married his brother.”

“How was your relationship with your stepfather?” Detective Avery cuts in.

“Complicated,” I settle on because Knox told me to stay as close to the truth as possible.

Avery raises a brow. “How so?”

“Well,” I begin, looking them in the eyes. “She married Trent shortly after my father died. I guess you could say there was a little resentment on my part.” Swallowing, I look down at the table again. “As far as Trent goes, he was a little…cold. I figured it was because he was a cop.” I quickly glance up, as though I accidentally misspoke. “No offense.”

Avery’s lips twitch a little as he and his partner exchange an amused look. “None taken.”

I take a breath, hating the next words out of my mouth. “But he was protective, and he was a provider. He offered numerous times to get me a car, but I declined.”