The Bad Guy

by Celia Aaron

But every fairy tale has a villain, someone waiting in the wings to rip it all down. A scoundrel who will set the world on fire if that means he gets what he wants. That’s me. I’m the bad guy.

Inhaling her scent, citrus and floral, ignited an even stronger buzz inside me. Like bees building a hive in my brain, each of them humming for me to take my queen.

Her smile worked to unravel the black wire that wrapped around my heart. The sensation of falling and soaring melded into one. How could the slight upturn of her mouth create so much chaos? I wanted more.

Her skin would be even softer, my fingers leaving red marks along the pale flesh. My teeth would bruise her, my marks lasting for days until I made fresh ones. But I was jumping ahead, which was unlike me.

Father had to keep me occupied somehow, to make sure I didn’t end up in an institution. Little did he know that psychopaths made the best CEOs.

Pink highlighted her cheeks, and I couldn’t miss the sparkle in her eyes. She was exquisite, a treasure hidden in plain sight. One that I wanted for myself.

I’d heard about love at first sight, though I couldn’t claim that emotion. The need to possess her was what fired through my veins, not the sentimental nonsense of hearts and flowers.

Right before I lost sight of her, she turned and smiled at me, as if sending me a spark of hope. The spark lit an inferno. It blazed up and promised destruction for anything that got between us. She was mine. Even if I had to steal her.

Her touch was just what I needed. The devil inside me roared to life, greedy for more contact from the angel standing in front of me.

Was it wrong? Yes. Did I give a shit? No.

She was made for me, just as I’d been fashioned from the darkest materials for her. Her light would temper my shadow.

Smile when they smile. It’ll take you miles. When in doubt, wait it out. Emotions will always show what they’re about.

The fair maiden wanted the monster more than she needed the knight.

The fear that welled in her was sweeter than anything I’d ever tasted. It filled me, reminded me why I needed her. She made me feel, gave me life. I wanted to take every sensation from her, sample each one until I’d gorged myself on emotion.

“You aren’t the first to call me that, though I prefer high-functioning psychopath.”

“Not a pet. But you’re mine. I can feel it.” He sat back and took my hand in his, pressing it over his heart. “In here. Where there’s nothing. When I saw you, something happened. And now I can feel, but only for you.”

“Yes. You and me. The end.”

“For the longest time, I actually thought I was suffering from acid reflux. Every time I saw you and had to let you go, I felt it. Like a pit of lava that was burning me from the inside out. No amount of meds could stop the ache. Only one thing did—you. Just being near you. The feeling is gone and something else lives there, something that fills me up and leaves me needing more of you. Always more.”

Nature, not nurture, had created my monster.

I started off just stealing glances, but when I’d realized she was engulfed in her book, I’d stared.

“Where you’re concerned, I’ll be as creepy as necessary to make you happy.”

His gaze didn’t leave mine. “I’d do anything for you. Except let you go.”

“Love?” He followed me again, refusing to give me any distance. “I don’t know what that means.” His eyes darted to my lips, and a hungry glint flashed in his eyes. “I just know you’re mine.”

The more she tried to fly away, the harder I wanted to clip her wings. She was the most precious thing I’d ever found.

“I think about your lips quite a bit, actually. How soft they are. The way you taste. How your tongue is almost as curious as my own.”

I lifted my arm toward the sky and extended my middle finger. His laughter rolled through the rays of sun. “Soon.”

I’m drawn to your spark of darkness the same way you’re drawn to the ocean of mine. We aren’t magnets pulled together by a weak force; we create our own gravity for each other.”

A sting erupted along my pec, the pain intensifying until I relaxed my hand on her back. She’d bitten me. Hard. My semi turned into the hardest erection I’d had in my life. “Do that again, and I’ll be forced to bury my face in your cunt until you learn how to behave.” Please do it again.

I relished the reverberating pain of her teeth marks. “Next time, draw blood.” “Psycho.” I kissed her hair again and relaxed into my pillow. “Your psycho.”

You had a white knight, but you were waiting for your monster. Here I am.”

“Every bad guy is the hero of his own tale.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever rendered a man speechless before, especially not a psychopath.”

There was no other option with Camille. Wherever she went, I would go too. We were forever.

“This is amazing.” “I want to amaze you every day, if you’ll let me.”

I could drown myself in good bourbon and thoughts of her for the rest of my life. It would be more fulfilling than trying to function without her.