Echoes (Dance With My Demons, #2)

by Steph Macca

What an unhinged good fucking reader you are. I knew you'd be gagging for the monsters under the bed… Begging them to drag you down to hell and rearrange your insides. Welcome home.

can't help but wonder what my viewers think of me too. I feel like a circus animal, chained and put out for show. Come one, come all. Hear the echoes of my hauntings.

I'll paint the hallways red and string Christmas lights up made of intestines."

"No security?" I mock. "Tsk. Didn't you hear? There's a killer on the loose."

Oh, please try me. Please, please… push me over the edge. I'm begging you.

Out of sight, out of mind they say. But that's just bullshit. Now that I know she's in the same building as me again, the tether between us pulls. And I'm going to take that tether and wrap it around her soft body—whether that's to fuck her or kill her, I don't know yet.

"I would have killed him. I would have gutted him without hesitation. But that would have meant leaving you. And I'm not prepared to do that. Besides, if I was going to do that, I wouldn't be masquerading it as suicide. I would proudly wear his blood. I'd wear it like a medal."

Theo looks away, smiling. "Don't get all mushy on me. Besides, you're avoiding the real question here. Why are you avoiding me?"

Then I bury my face into my new home, lips sealing around her clit.

If anyone lays a single finger on her, bruising her perfect skin, I'll soak them in gasoline and make a bonfire.

"You're not going to avoid me any longer, Avery. I don't care the reason why. Whatever it is, I promise that I'm the bigger threat."

It seems fitting anyway, since she already has my heart. She might as well take my body and soul too.

I'm fucking possessive. I'm dangerous. I'll fucking kill for what's mine. And that extends to her.

If I can't have her, then maybe I'll just torture her. Just like she tortures me.

He smiles. "In fact, the most powerful piece on the chess board is the queen."

"I can't watch you be with someone else, little killer. It makes me want to kill him."

I was so close. I know it in my soul. The invisible string tightened again for the briefest moment, and I'm positive he felt it too. I'm going to chase you, Grey. I'm not letting you go that easily.

"Who do you think killed Hallman, little killer? He didn't take his own life. No—I ended it. I ended that sad, pathetic excuse of a man because he touched you. He tried to hurt what's mine."

"Of course I did. Now do you understand? We didn't frame you. I killed for you. So, yes—I guess Damon is right. You do have a hold on me."

"But you were so mad at me," I murmur quietly in disbelief. "You told me we were done and that you didn't love me anymore. You told me to let you go." He nods slowly. "I know. You hurt me badly. I want you all to myself and that was taken away from me. And on top of that, you let Ashwood mark you."

"Little killer, I already knew all that about you. I just wanted to hear it from you. I wanted you to open up to me, to trust me."

And disbelief. He knew everything about me… and still wanted me. Me. Flaws and all. Murder charges, trauma, suicide attempt… everything.

"But you're the only one I want to be balls deep in, Avery. The only one I'd kill for." "You'd kill for Damon," I point out confidently. He nods. "Yes, but that's because of the bigger picture. I'd kill just to make you smile."

"He marked you in his own way," Grey murmurs. "Now, I'm going to mark you in mine."

"You're fucking mine, Avery," he growls into my mouth. "This lifetime and the next one too."

I want her to scream so loud that her vocal chords are hoarse and husky tomorrow. If she has to be in that cunt's office, I want him to connect the dots—realizing that I've fucked her harder than he's ever fucked anyone in his entire life with his pin-dick.

How dare he try to keep her away from me?

"Who. Do. You. Belong. To?" I ask her between thrusts. "You," she breathes out. "You, Grey."

I give a stern nod, holding my hand out for her. She takes it, squeezing my lacerated palm before giving Damon a quick smile of appreciation. It's surreal to witness, but I understand. No doubt he'll have some words for me when I get back, but to her, what he did means something.

Some might say I'm a masochist. And I guess they would be correct.

obvious. "I'm not sure why they wanted you to come, but let's just roll with it." Theo looks at me, eyes flashing. "You, Avery. It's because of you." "I…" Pausing, I shake my head. "I'm sure that's not the only reason." "You're the reason, Avery. For all of us."

"You're my only reason for anything. And I think you're theirs, as well."

"Feel that, little killer? It should be familiar. You've taken that dick before."

"He's in your cunt right now. But remember who made you wet. Remember who made you drip down your legs."

Grey growls, tapping his fingers rhythmically against my neck as he squeezes. "I'm not going to let you forget me." "I would never forget you," I breathe out. "I couldn't. I wouldn't. Not now, not ever."

"When you go to heaven one day, I'll drag you back down to hell to join me. Because I'm never leaving you, Avery."

"Promise. Now, I want you to explode on your other boyfriend's cock while looking at me."

He shrugs. "I gave you a flower. Girls like that shit." "Oh, that's the part you are focusing on," I scold playfully. "Here's the finger of your enemy… it's in a rose though." "I'm nothing if not unique," he smiles.

"She committed suicide," he finally says in a dark, low voice. "Because she fell in love with two people." "Oh," I mutter. I'm completely caught off-guard, torn between feeling heartbroken for him, and realizing that perhaps this is the reason I've been trying to pull out of him. "I'm so sorry." Theo looks over at me, resting his head on a faded green book. "Don't be. They tried to make her choose and it broke her. So, I slaughtered them without an ounce of remorse."

"What's wrong, little killer? Scared of the two big bad men?"

"Give me your orgasm, Avery," Grey demands huskily. "I want everything. You're mine." "Ours," Theo shoots back hastily against my clit, pulling it between his teeth.

"Who do you belong to?" Grey asks, the sound of our hips meeting together. "You," I breathe out loudly with a cry. "Both of you."

"If anyone can handle two men, it's you," Theo teases.

Grey leans down, kissing me. "I hope you do get used to it. Because we're going to have so much fun breaking you in, little killer."

If he's the best… then I'll fuck a cactus because this guy is horrible. At least Dr. Smith pretends to give a shit… makes an effort somewhat.

And before I can stop myself or realize it's happening, I do the unthinkable. I kiss her.

Is she trying to protect our friendship? I love Damon like a brother but Avery is my everything—my life, my death, my destruction.

"We're bonded by this blood. Together, the King and Queen of the Unhinged."

Mine. No one is going to take that away from me. I'll kill every last person until we're the last two left. And then we'll burn the world down together.