Dead of Summer

“Maybe I should feel insulted,” he hums, leaning forward to touch his nose to mine. “Maybe I’ll take my plans and go.” I know what he means when he says go. I know what he’s less-than-implying. But I bite my lip, refusing to rise to the bait of his taunt.

At least, until he reaches up and presses his thumb against my bottom lip, or rather, just under it. “You always look so adorable when you’re confused,” he admits. “I like it when you have no idea what to do around me. When you’re second guessing everything. Would you like to know what I’m going to do with you tonight, sweetheart?”

“The fact you want to tell me instead of surprising me with it feels…suspicious,” I admit, my eyes narrowing at him. He’s so pretty in the dim light of my cabin; his wavy blond hair is up in a bun, pulled back from his sharp cheekbones and beautiful blue eyes. He really is the definition of ‘sun-kissed,’ and I can’t help but think that his looks are the apology from genetics for handing him the sociopath gene.

Not that he seems upset about that, exactly. Is it a coincidence that he’s so gorgeous? That he takes care of himself so well that there’s no way any girl wouldn’t be into him? Or is it part of his act, to make sure that no one thinks anything of him except how much they want his attention?

If it’s intentional, it’s so smart.

“You’re suspicious of me?” he taunts. “Me?”

“Every single time you open your mouth.” I’m still not convinced he won’t stab me in the throat tonight and then go on his murder spree, anyway. “Are you…surprised?” I ask, unable to help myself.

“Of yourself?” He catches on way too quickly.

I nod.

“Of the fact you’ve never told me to stop?”

I nod again, and Kayde’s grin widens.

“I don't know,” he muses. “Maybe I was in the beginning. I thought that night in the shower you’d break. I thought you would beg me to stop, and I’d get to play my game with all the kids and… Well, you know how that was going to go. But you didn’t. And you’re always so interesting, so it’s not like I’ve been bored.”

That feels like a compliment, though it’s one I’m definitely not sure how to take. My fingers twist in his shirt lightly, and he reaches one hand up to cover both of them, stopping my movements. “So, do you want to know now what I’m going to do with you tonight, baby girl?”

My heart speeds up to hammer in my chest, and I swallow around a lump in my throat before dipping my chin in a sharp nod. I do want to know. Even if it’s awful or violent or terrifying, I want to know so I can try to prepare. Or at least try to think of a plan to murder him if things go wrong.

Not that I think that’s a very valid option, given how I froze that night in the woods when I’d been the one with the knife and some kind of leverage. Well, perceived leverage, maybe.

Lost in my thoughts, I almost miss his eyes darkening. I don’t miss the way the smile falls just a touch from his face, and confusion sets in when I feel his muscles tense under my thighs. “Summer…” he purrs, and it hits me too late that there’s a threat in his voice.

Too quick for me to prepare for, Kayde rolls us over, pinning me beneath him with my legs wrapped around his hips and his hand at my throat. He grabs both of my wrists in his other hand as I gasp, surprised, and slams them to the pillows over my head.

“You’re going to give me your attention tonight,” he growls, only a few inches from my face. “I know you drift and get lost in your thoughts. But not tonight. You’re going to look at me.” His grip shifts until he’s cradling my jaw tight in his hand and I really can’t look away.

“You’re going to look at me, and you’re going to thank me when I spit in your mouth to remind you whose you are tonight. And then?” He swoops down until his lips brush my ear. “Then I’m going to fuck you like I’m your boyfriend. And you’re going to thank me for ruining you for any other man you ever even think about looking at. Understand?”

A whimper isn’t an answer, but when I open my mouth, that’s all that comes out.

Kayde doesn’t seem to be upset about it, though. His harsh grin returns as he pulls away from me, eyes searching mine. “Don’t close your eyes,” he reminds me sharply. “If I see you with them closed, or hiding your face from me—” He lunges down again, and his teeth close over my lower lip, harsh and biting.

It drags a squeal from me, as I writhe under him and try to pull away. But he has all the leverage, and all the control. His teeth sink deeper, until finally he pulls away, his lips dotted with my blood, that he licks away instantly.

“I’m sure I can find a thousand places to bite you where Kinsley won’t see tomorrow,” Kayde promises darkly. “I’m sure I can make it hurt worse than that, too. Now open your fucking mouth, baby girl. And stick out your tongue.”

I know what’s coming. It’s impossible not to, but also impossible to keep the small hitch out of my breath as my ribs contract around my heart. I hate this.

I think.

Well, I should definitely hate it. And while I hesitate for half a second before doing what he’d said, the breath I take through my open mouth has a lot less to do with hate and a lot more to do with the burning anticipation that floods between my thighs.

I really, really should hate this more than I do.

He takes his time. Instead of just spitting like he normally does, he makes a show of it, collecting saliva on his tongue and letting his tongue roll out of his mouth, heavy with it. But when he finally lets his spit drip from his tongue to mine, it’s with his grip still tight on my jaw, and not letting me close my mouth at all.

I wince as it lands on my outstretched tongue, but I can’t swallow without him letting go. I can’t do anything except lie underneath him, my wrists twisting in his grip as I whimper a wordless question.

“No, baby, you can stay like this just a little longer. You always look so embarrassed by this.” Kayde chuckles. “Don’t know why, though. All I’m doing is making sure you know what you are.”