Page 5 of The Hand that Frays

He hisses, panting as his eyes grow heady. “Fuck, stupid girl. Hurry.”

His needy energy leaks into me, and I turn on Ed Johnson and stalk closer.

Ed continues his screaming as I climb on the table and straddle his stomach.

A disgruntled snarl comes from Neo, and I grin.

“Hear that, Ed? I don’t think he’s too keen on me touching you.”

Tears wash out the man’s eyes, trickling down into his ears.

“Don’t worry. He won’t hurt you.” I lean down, whispering into his ear, “It’s me you should worry about, Ed. See, I have a knack for sensing the truth of things. And I know you’re fucking lying.”

He sobs as I sit back straight over his stomach, placing my blade over his throat.

I watch the last beats of his heart with my deranged eyes as I press firmly, dragging it from ear to ear.

“That’s why they’re calling you the Ripper, love,” Neo says, leaning over Ed’s head.

Ed gurgles, thrashing against his restraints as I look down and watch the life drain from his putrid eyes.

“They know nothing,” I say, twisting my blade over Ed’s cheek.

“I didn’t say they were smart; I only said that’s why they’re giving you a name.”

My eyes flick up to Neo’s, and I catch the Butcher looking back at me.

“Stupid. Fucking. Girl. You’re more than I ever thought you’d be.”

I lick my lips and realize I’m covered in arterial spray.

I smile, knowing Ed’s blood coats my teeth.

“Am I?”

He growls like a feral animal. “Come here.”

He straightens, still standing near the head of the table.

I crawl over Ed’s body, my knees straddling his head as I listen to the Butcher’s command.

His hand slides down the front of my pants, and I sitback a bit to give him space to work. My ass smashes into Ed’s face as I arch.

“You’re so fucking perfect that it makes me want to kill you myself.”

“And wouldn’t that be fitting?” I breathe. “The Butcher ending his creation.”

He leans over as his fingers slide inside me. “I did create you, didn’t I?”

I moan incoherently as the adrenaline left in my system from killing entwines with the heat he’s creating with his fingers.

“You did,” I breathe, barely able to get it out as he grinds the heel of his palm into my clit, working me higher.

His kiss seers my lips as I part for him, flicking my tongue against his as we fight for dominance with our mouths.

“Do you regret it?” I ask him breathlessly, body undulating on his hand as he brings me to climax just as quickly as he does any other time.

He scoffs in disgust. “Never.”