No, You Hang Up

by A.J. Merlin

“There was someone else talking first, right? Someone a lot less irritating than you?” God, I should hang up. I really need to hang up. “Where’d you go, other friend?” Fuck. He’s talking to me.

“I think you want attention,” the man goes on, like I hadn’t been trying to dismiss this or explain my actions away. “Is that it, little rabbit? You’re looking for the kind of attention your friends won’t give you?” “No.” I force my words to remain flat. “Honestly? I’m just looking to go to bed soon.” “Well, that’s pretty disappointing. And I don’t believe you. I’ll give you the attention you’re looking for⁠—” “Yeah, I’ll be hanging up now⁠—” “All you have to do is wait for me.”

I’m not afraid of the dark. Not really. But I think every human has some fear of the shadows, deep down. After all, aren’t we all afraid of the things we can’t see?

“How is my karma this bad, huh?” I’m still talking to myself. “Fucked over as a kid, and now the state’s most prepared serial killer is in my house. Damn it!”

“Want me to be your wolf, little bunny? I’ll gladly close my jaws around this pretty throat and remind you that you’re prey. Oh, fuck—” He thrusts hard into me again. “We’re into some dark shit, aren’t we, Kai?”

“You little fucked up thing. Drugged out of your mind and you still want this. You want me to be your predator. To ruin you, to tear out your throat with my teeth.” He leans down to click his teeth together near my face. “That’s it. Your greedy pussy grips me so good when I do that.”

I’m not sorry about the mess. See you soon, little bunny P.S. I’ll kill your neighbor if she knocks on your damn door one more time. P.P.S. Mi-da-zo-lam

“Yes, little bunny. Don’t you dare scream, because as much as I love your wit and self-pep talks…I won’t go to jail for you. Run away, little bunny. But don’t you dare make a sound.”

“I swear I’m going to write it on your hands next time. Midazolam. Say it with me. Mi. Da. Zo. Lam.” He sounds it out like I’m a toddler he’s teaching a new word, and I throw a nearby book straight at his face, which he knocks away with his hand. “Because I’m a paramedic, and I know my way around sedatives.” That brings me up short. I stop tripping around my living room, instead staring at him with a perplexed expression that causes him to stop as well. “What?” Hux asks, confusion in his voice. “Paramedic?” I repeat. “Like, an EMT? Like, rides in an ambulance, saving people?” “Uh, yeah?” He reaches up to pull the mask off of his face, dropping it to the coffee table a bit carelessly. “You got a problem with that?”

“Oh, little bunny…you have no idea how much I want to wreck you.” Without warning, he shoves me back on the bed once more, and a feral grin spreads across his lips when a gasp leaves me. “And I’m looking forward to you learning how much you’ll love it when you let me.”

“You’ll know I marked you here, and that you’re mine. No matter who else fucks you, you’ll always be mine.” As I watch, he brings the knife down, and a whimper leaves my throat, though I’m frozen under him.

“Hey, hey. Look at me.” He slaps my cheek lightly, causing me to open my eyes and glare at him indignantly. “Eyes on me, pretty girl. I want to see the face you make when you come all over my fingers.”

“You always taste so good, little bunny,” he groans. “So good for me, you know that? Fuck, maybe God finally loves me for something, or I’ve pleased the devil enough for him to have sent you to me. You were made for me, weren’t you? Made to be fucked like I own you.”

“Good girl,” I finally hear, though his words are broken up by his panting breaths. “Such a good girl for me. So perfect. So fucked up.”

Huxley gives me no room, no moment to breathe. He nips at my mouth whenever I gasp for air, and when my lips sting enough to make me writhe, his tongue darts between them once more so I can taste the blood from my lips in his mouth. But I don’t want him to stop. Not when he bites down hard enough to make me cry out. Not even when his hands grip my hips so hard I know he’ll leave bruises. How can I want him to stop when this is everything I’ve pined for since he left?

“I tried,” he says again. “I meant to, and I tried. You’re just…fuck.” He shakes his head. “I don’t know, okay? I tried, I failed. But I still wasn’t sure if I was going to approach you again. But then you just had to show up at Revival Room, didn’t you? Had to sit there with that pretty, stupid boy⁠—”

“You sat there and flirted with him. I might’ve left you alone…” he trails off, and when I glance at him, I see he’s looking thoughtful. “No, I don’t think so. I would’ve killed him at the very least, just to make myself feel better. But then you just looked so damn bored and when I texted, you just lit up. Did you know that?” I do know that, but I don’t really want to say it out loud just to stroke his ego, so I don’t say a word or give him any gesture of agreement. I just trace my fingers over the back of his hand and try not to look too pleased. “I knew right then you were mine.

“I’m going to make you regret being so fucking addicting.”

“Oh, pretty girl,” he purrs sweetly, possessively. “Darling, perfect Kai. You really are something, you know that? All you have to do is say the word, and I’ll make them so sorry for how they make you feel. I’d kill them for you.” He licks over my lower lip, before nipping. “I’d make them hurt for you. Over and over, until you were satisfied and they would never doubt you again, even in hell.” My stomach twists hard, and I swear I almost go to my knees on my floor. But he holds me up, and I grab onto his elbows to steady myself. “I’d make them burn just for you. Until they knew that you’d never lied, and they were so wrong for doubting you.”

“Would you have killed him for me?” I can’t help but ask, though I’m sure he doesn’t need a reason to murder. “No.” My stomach twists at the answer, and I open my mouth, but he speaks again before I can ask why or be more than slightly surprised. “No, I’d tear him apart and destroy him for you. Killing him is too easy. Too quick. I’d flay him out of his skin and tie it all up with his entrails while he’s still breathing and his heart still beats.” That should bother me. God, I should be so grossed out and bothered. But I wonder instead if I’ve ever been more in love in my life.

Should I tell you what you should be worried about?” My stomach twists, clenching a little at that. “Yeah,” I murmur. “Tell me what I should be worried about, Hux.” His face twists into that predatory, hunter’s grin. He shows his teeth in a feral smile, and leans forward to snarl in my ear. “Me.”

“It’s okay,” he croons in my ear. “It’s okay, little bunny. I’ve got you. And I’ve got what you need. You need me.” He bites down on my shoulder, driving into me harshly once, then again, before evening out his rhythm once more. “You’ll never have to look for someone to breed your pretty, greedy pussy ever again. You know why?” “Because—” “Because I’m going to fucking ruin every inch of you, inside and out, for anyone other than me.” There it is. That tone I haven’t really heard tonight that sends a shudder down my spine. His words take my breath away, stealing my reply until I feel like I’m just writhing under him with my eyes closed and his fingers tightening ever so slowly around my throat, vice-like and so…final.

“Fuck,” I manage to whisper, but it just makes him press down on my throat even harder. “I bet you’ve never let anyone fuck your ass, have you?” Hux hums conversationally. “I’ll ruin that too for you. Anything you could ever think of? Every filthy thing you’ve ever thought or dreamed about? I’m here to do it. I’m here to absolutely wreck you. I will make sure no one can offer you anything I haven’t already given you. I don’t care how long it takes, or how many times you need the lesson before it sticks. You’re mine, little bunny.”