Where's Molly (Cat and Mouse, #2.5)

by H.D. Carlton

“That’s also new. You gonna use that on me, little ghost? I don’t mind joining you in the afterlife.”

Then, he grabs my legs and, resting them over his lap, massages my feet, all the while quoting lines from the film. The act is so thoughtless, so genuine, that tears rush to my eyes. Never have I had anyone bring me flowers, set up a movie, and rub my feet. It’s not something I even imagined for myself.

It was just one night. People don’t fall in love that quickly, and it would be insane to think otherwise.

I spent the night tracing my tongue along her Cupid's bow until I remolded her mouth to fit against mine. Because as long as I was inside her, her sadness would be powerless to my obsession. And there would be no part of her that wasn't made precisely for me.

Because staring into her eyes is the only thing I needed, to convince myself she's everything I'll ever want for as long as oxygen invades my lungs. I knew it deep in my bones the day I met her. Even back then, my soul immediately recognized hers as its other half.

A dangerous man at my back demanding to see what I'm made of. The honest answer is trauma, sadness, and scars that I can't bear to look at. But I still feel them.

“I have a feeling you shouldn’t be alive. Yet here you are.” His stare is affectionate, though it borders on obsession. “And I’m so fucking lucky that you are.”

I don't want to die, but I don't want to exist. And I wish with every ounce of my soul that I was never born. That I had never been brought into a world so cold, violent, and full of heartache.

I’m furious that she could think so little of herself. Even more furious at the people who made her feel as though she’s not a goddamn goddess walking this earth that we don’t deserve.

“I will chase away all your nightmares until they grow wary of returning. They will fear me, my little ghost. But you never will.”

“Don't be fooled, little ghost, I will own you even after you've disappeared. You may vanish, but your soul will always be mine.”

“If you're asking Him to save you, then I will nail Him onto that fucking cross again. You will be my ruin, but only I will be your savior.”

“It’s a natural reaction, baby. Most men just aren’t patient enough to wait for a woman’s pussy to invite him in,” he explains tightly.

There's no control over a natural disaster. Only allowing it to wreak havoc and bracing yourself for the outcome.

I’ve never felt so… respected. Like my feelings about what happens to my body are actually valued. Like they mean something to him.

I'm comfortable with my life. I've found my own retribution for what happened to me, and I don't need a man's love or his cock to fix me. I've already picked up every little, fucking, chipped piece of me and meticulously put them back together. I'm not broken anymore; I just don't work the same. But there's nothing wrong with being different.

And what she seems to forget is that I will never give up on her.

“You’re scared, and I get that. You’ve been alone nearly your entire life and don’t know what it feels like to have someone take care of you. Fine, we can work through that.” Then, I lower my voice, ensuring she can see just how fucking serious I am. “But what I will not do is allow you to run from me.”

My chest tightens at the sorrow in her eyes, and the burning desire to fix it is insatiable. I will never know peace for as long as Molly Devereaux is sad. “You can’t fix me,” she finishes. “I don’t want to fix you, Molly. There’s nothing to mend when you’ve already done that yourself. The only thing I will do is ensure there isn’t a single part of you that is empty. Your life, your heart, and your sweet pussy.” I lean in closer until my lips lightly rest against hers. “Filling you will never be a waste of my time.”