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Randal

Goddamn it

Why a an attack of honesty?

Thewas, after we sat in silence for a while, I felt her hand on my shoulder and heard her soft voice “It sounds like he deserved it Sometimes I wish…”

Wish what?

She wouldn’t say Did she want me to kill someone for her? That father of hers? The round within a week But somehow I didn’t think that hat she meant

We finished up our food, I did all her work for her and startedthe treetops as she watched ue traced her upper lip

“Think that’s it for today” I brushedto close off this day and it felt liketorn from my chest I wanted to be there With her Always But how could II did knoas I needed soht

“I’m so thankful they sent you You work so hard”

That’s not everything that’s hard, I wanted to say, but instead I rolledto the crack of the bones before steadyingthe three steps necessary to eliminate the cavernous space between us

“How thankful are you?” I bit into ain swirled aroundme twitch and seethe with need

“What do you mean?” Her words weren’t filled with the naivete I would have expected Tothan a lack of understanding

“Let’s do this,” I started, reaching down and pulling her long braid over her shoulder, taking the loose hair on the end and tickling her chest with it while I chose ame Of sorts”

“Games are for children”

I shookmy lips as I twirled the last few inches of her braid into aames You will need to trust me, Iris Do you trust me?”

I watched her throat undulate as she sed Still holding her hair to the side, I brushed the backs ofthe tap tap tap of her quaking pulse