Killer Rayne

by Alanna J Faison

  Oh, I know it. Selene is absolutely thorough when it comes to pleasing me. Memories flood my mind and nearly cause me to climax just thinking about her expertise. I want her in the worst way, but I try to be patient, to not give it all away. But, she knows. She always knows.

  “Take it off,” she demands.

  I stand up and start with my own top. It comes off smoothly, followed by my pants. She turns me around to unsnap my bra with a couple fingers, and then leaves me to slide my panties down on my own. I’m already wet and she knows it without even looking at the slickness developing between my thighs. I want to rush things, but I know in this round I am not the one in control. This show is Selene’s to run and I am simply at her beck and call.

  Selene turns me around so that my hands are flat on the table and my back is to her. I feel her magic gently caress my skin, leaving a line of chills to my center. Her soft lips press against my back and I lean into her, savoring her closeness and warmth. She wastes no time slipping inside me.

  I moan into her mouth as I tilt my head back to capture her lips as she begins her skilled assault on my body. Nips there, kisses here, and soon, I’m feeling pleasure from many different places. I push back against her, begging for her to go deeper, but she denies my request and paces herself. Everything is on her terms and that drives me even crazier.

  “Get on the table,” she demands, slipping out of me. Her fingers are wet with my love and she makes a show of tasting me, turning me on so much more.

  I climb onto the table as she requests, knees pressed against the wood. Her mouth replaces her fingers and I am worked into a frenzy. On my lips is her name, over and over again. I cry out for her, but she refuses to grant me the release that I long for. Seconds pass until I turn around and watch her shed herself of the rest of her clothes. In front of me is an angel and I have no doubt that this woman was made just for me. She’s so beautiful that I almost cry.

  We lock eyes and tears actually do begin to rise. I blink them away as Selene looks at me questioningly. I just shake my head and smile at her, reassuring her that everything really is okay. She smiles back and climbs on top of me on the table. With a spell prepped on her lips, I feel my tattoo glow in response to her power, my energy attempting to meet hers. We collide and gasp in unison as our lips touch. She’s inside me physically and spiritually, freeing me of any bonds but ours.

  I arch deeper into her as she pushes farther inside my entire being. My cries echo throughout the room as I pull her closer. Tears coat my face and I can’t stop their free fall. She kisses each one with delicacy and I love her even more. I don’t even feel the surface under us anymore, all I feel is her.

  “Don’t you ever leave me again,” she growls in my ear, her warm breath sending shivers up my spine.

  “I won’t,” I promise. In this moment, I would promise anything.

  Soon, we make our way to the bed where we finish the heated session. I am kissing my way down the back of her legs when she says, “I still want that massage.”

  “I’ll give you anything you want,” I tell her.

  ◊◊◊

  Once I shower in the morning, I take extra time to make my makeup look extremely well. It will be my armor today when I go to battle with the corporate types that are trying to keep me out of my father’s business. The last time I was in the building, I was a naïve little child. Oh, how much has changed.

  I re-arch my eyebrows, filling them in with a pencil, double checking to make sure they’re even. Next, I use a hint of dark blue eye shadow before going over it with glittery silver shadow. I define it enough where it brings out my eyes, but isn’t overpowering. I love makeup, but definitely in moderation. A few more touches to my face make the look complete. I’m glad that this only took me a few times. Since I’ve been gone, I haven’t really had the chance to play in makeup. I missed it, but not as much as I thought I would. I also add some clear, shimmery lip gloss to my lips.

  I put on a black, long sleeved, v-neck dress that stops mid thigh. Over that, I layer it with a dark gray vest, a long silver chain, hooped earrings, and a bracelet. Then, I put on my ankle high black leather boots. The heel is the perfect height and I turn around in the mirror satisfied. Finally, I take a few seconds to smooth out my hair. The short length doesn’t take much, but it’s definitely growing back. Running a comb through the auburn color, I decide that I am going to color my hair black with an autumn ombre’ or highlights. Maybe. My mourning phase has come to an end. It’s time to make my own identity once more.

  I step out of the bathroom to find Selene dressed in dark khaki pants with a small brown belt, a black ¾ sleeved button up tucked into her pants, and closed toe black heels. Her makeup is light. Her lips are a dark red and her eyes have a smoky look. Selene’s hair is styled in beautiful loose curls. It’s a look that she doesn’t wear often, but always looks beautiful. Her shiny, silky hair looks camera-ready.

  “You look very nice,” Selene tells me.

  I smile and give her another once over. “So do you. If all else fails, we’ll be ready for job interviews somewhere else,” I joke.

  “Very funny. As if you need the money,” Selene responds shaking her head.

  “You never know. I may need to buy an island to hide out on if we don’t kill Namen.”

  “I think hiding would be the least of our worries.”

  We stare in silence, thoughtful. I don’t want to even think of the alternative. My thoughts go to this meeting that I’m about to attend. I’m sure there will be reporters camping out outside of the building. Maybe Selene should go in separately. I doubt that she’ll agree to that though. Supernaturals need to do their best to keep a low profile. I really don’t want her image splashed all over the news if we can help it. But it’s not like it’s going to be hard to link her to me anyway.

  “Selene, are you okay with being all over the papers and stuff? It may seem like the right thing to do now because you want to be there with me, but what about later on down the line? All this stuff is going to be out there forever,” I warn.

  Selene laughs and grabs my hand. “If we’re going to make an attempt at making this work, we have to actually be together, supporting each other. I can handle some cameras in my face. I’ll deal with the rest of the stuff as it comes okay,” she assures me.

  The doorbell rings and I know that it’s Pierce from his energy leaking into the house. Selene opens the door for the half demon lawyer. He strolls in with an air of confidence and it touches me, strengthening my own resolve. Pierce is wearing a black designer, fitted suit with a white shirt underneath. Three of the buttons are undone on the button up, giving him a rugged look. His shoes are shined to perfection as well as his bald head. He gives us both a look of approval and a nod.

  “Are you ready?” he asks, popping a stick of gum in his mouth and then offering us one. We both take a piece as I nod. “Well, let’s get to it then, shall we. You have an empire to claim.”

  Chapter Twenty Five

  We pull onto Carner Street, where Whitmore Industries Headquarters resides. The building sits on just the edge of downtown, having its own small park area with a fountain in the back and a large parking garage adjacent to it. Headquarters is not nearly the largest building in the downtown area, but at twenty stories high, still finds a way to be impressive. It’s ahead of the curve in energy sustainability and its attractive design draws the eye easily. Some of the floors even have balconies for employees to hang out on, with reinforced concrete and high railings so the people don’t trip and fall over the sides.

  I stare up at the place my father built from hard work and persistence and immediately can’t wait to get inside. It’s been too long. Why did I say that I wanted nothing to do with this? Outside, the front is buzzing with activity and as I figured, reporters have camped out to hear my statement. Selene squeezes my shoulder and smiles gently.

  “Do you want to go through the security entrance Ms. Whitmore?” Pierce asks.

  “Nope.
They want to see me looking optimistic about coming back to this place. I’m going to sell it. Selene, are you sure?” I ask her, continuing our conversation from earlier.

  “My place is at your side. I said that already,” she replies once more.

  We pull up in front of the building where a man in a suit comes to meet us. He opens our door and helps us out of the car with a hand. Pierce then gives him the keys. He hops inside and pulls off to park it in the garage. Damien must have told him to prepare for our arrival. Good. I grab Selene’s soft hand firmly and stride forward into the crowd of sharks, er- reporters.

  “Ms. Whitmore, may I have a word?” the first reporter asks, dressed in a tan blazer and black pants.

  “Sure,” I respond, still holding on to Selene who is still smiling.

  “What do you hope to accomplish here today and if it doesn’t go according to plan, what will you do next?”

  I take a deep breath in contemplation. Word choice is everything. “I just want to do my best to live up to my father’s expectations. His dream was for me to push Whitmore Industries into the future, by his side. I want to bring something new to the fold. I don’t plan to fail, so there is no next step.”

  “They may try to fight your return through the courts. There’s word that this uncertainty has caused Whitmore’s stock to plummet. What do you have to say about that?” a woman asks.

  “If I can survive all that I have in the past two years, I’m sure I can hold my own in a legal battle. I was taught how to make smart financial decisions. I won’t fail. My father has made it his mission to take care of his people. They owe him their loyalty. They will do the right thing. Jason Whitmore surrounded himself with men and women that needed second and even third chances. All I’m asking for is one.”

  “Speaking of second chances, the story is that you couldn’t bear being apart from your girlfriend for another day. How was your reunion?”

  “It was something out of a dream,” I say, turning to Selene and smiling at our small reunion that we actually just had. “She couldn’t believe that I was alive and that I risked so much to get back to her. We held each other and cried for so long. I was afraid that she had found someone else,” I say going for the tears.

  “And what about you, Ms,”

  “Marquez. The heavens brought us back together. I left town for a while, searching for something to fill the void left by her absence. But only she could fill it,” Selene says, gazing lovingly into my eyes.

  “Do we hear wedding bells in the future?” someone asks from the back.

  “When the time comes, you’ll be the first to know. First, Rayne has to claim what is hers. I will be by her side every step of the way. Now, please excuse us. Rayne shouldn’t be late,” Selene says politely.

  We continue to walk into the building with Pierce whispering about a job well done. Duh. Actor friends, remember. I touch the front doors to the headquarters that my mother’s architecture firm designed and smile. Jasmine definitely got her artistic side from mom. Without hesitation, I open the large doors and am greeted to smiles and some applause among the bright lights.

  The first level is security, information desks, and various meeting rooms and offices available to the public. Welcoming yellow tones with Whitmore Industries signage adorn the walls. The floor is white and pristine with circular yellow designs. There are comfortable cream and white seats with yellow throw pillows in the waiting lounge as well as many flat screens each showing different stations. The bold lighting hangs around areas that have lower ceilings such as above the security desk. Lights also shine brightly from the walls.

  Above us, there is a gap where the second floor is missing. The third floor is an open walk way area that leads to the daycare center and cafeteria with six different food choices. My father always said that if you spend the extra money to treat your employees well and offer them things that other places don’t, they will reward you with loyalty and better production. There is also a large fitness center and mini theater that plays old movies three times a week. The movie theater was a donation from a prestigious client.

  Every other floor has a different color scheme and is home to a different department. Spread throughout are other security offices or small security desks that employees and visitors must check in to. Human resources is purple, upper management is either brown and gold, or silver and black, marketing is blue, etc. The designated colors are reflected in the floor tile, colored signage or accent wall.

  I nod and smile to as many people as I can as we are escorted past security, into the elevator, and up the upper management wing. Selene gives me another squeeze on the shoulder and Pierce gives me a sly look. I steel my face to do what I need to do. Neither of them know exactly what I’ve come to say. I’m sure this will be extremely entertaining. They’ll play the game correctly though, I know it.

  The man escorting us stops at a large brown door. He turns to me and smiles. “It’s good to finally meet you Ms. Whitmore. Many of us are grateful that you are alive. Your father was a kind man that tried to know all of our names. We appreciated him. Just so you know.”

  I smile back and touch his shoulder. “What is your name?”

  “Taylor. Taylor Martin.”

  “Okay, Taylor. I will do my best to remember that. When I have time, we will talk and you’ll tell me what you do and share some memories of my father, if that’s okay with you.”

  “I’d like that, Ms. Whitmore. Now, knock ‘em dead,” he whispers to me.

  I nod. Oh, that’s just what I plan to do. I open the door to find five people sitting at a large table. Damien is standing and closes the distance to hug me when I step inside. He sits and motions for us to do the same. I make no move to do so and Pierce and Selene follow my lead. The six of them in the room look at me in astonishment.

  I begin before they get a chance to open their mouths. I had thought of being diplomatic with the group originally, but I don’t feel like pretending that that is what I even want to do. No, we’ll do it this way. Besides, it’s much more fun.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, I do truly appreciate you taking the time to clear your busy schedules to meet with me. Don’t worry; I’ll get to the point rather quickly. I don’t need any introductions. I don’t really care what your roles here are. What you need to know is that I have every intention in claiming my place. If you try to stop me, I will not be so generous when it comes to preserving your lifestyles. In fact, if you oppose me, I will ruin you.”

  Gasps fill the air as Pierce and Selene both work their magic. Selene calms the room as Pierce pushes his persuasion upon them. Even Damien’s eyes become large as he falls under the thrall.

  “I plan to be a fair and even leader, but on this, there is no compromise. Do not stand in my way. I have friends who will be more than happy to clear up any loose ends. If you choose to accept me, I will protect you as much as I can. You few know a little bit about what the world is truly like, but you still have no idea the extent to which you are humorously uninformed. You don’t want to know, so let me do my job. I’m going to run this city and if you oppose me, you will no longer be allowed in it.”

  A few nod and I motion to Selene who steps forward. She whispers something and suddenly all of them remove their hands from the table, blowing them as if they were burning. Her favorite trick.

  “This is Selene. She is my girlfriend. She will also get access to any and everything that she asks for. Promptly. No arguments. Treat her with as much respect as you will treat me. Now, I want this arranged quickly. Remember, if I don’t get what I want, you will all be removed. Have a nice day and speak upon this to no one or there will be consequences,” I smile and head back out of the door. Pierce drops his magic and it snaps back into place like a rubber band. The door shuts behind me and I hear arguing from inside the room.

  ◊◊◊

  “Damn girl,” Pierce begins, laughing and dropping all professionalism. “That was unexpected. You plan to claim this city huh? So what�
�s your next plan?”

  “I was thinking on the way here that Namen has far too many human allies and resources. They need to be dried up as much as possible and the people that run this city need to know what’s in store for them. I think it will work if I play it right. That precinct that is working with Namen, shit most of the force needs to go. I want names and addresses. It’s time to send my own message. I need to meet with the mayor.”

  I walk purposefully out of the building with my thoughtful companions. The news stations are still outside awaiting another statement. I can hear them speculating about the very short meeting. I watch as our car pulls around. Someone in security must have told someone that we were coming out. Good. They are already preparing for my return. I step on the noisy sidewalk as cars honk going past on the street leaving the smell of exhaust blowing in the wind.

  Before anyone can ask me any questions, I smile again and say, “A representative of Whitmore Industries will make a statement within an hour, please be patient. I have no further comment.” With that, I take Selene’s hand, knowing that that message will be relayed to the higher ups in the corporation. They have one hour or I will be adding names to my list.

  We slide smoothly into the vehicle as I think about how much my morals have changed over the past couple of years. Here I am already plotting my next move, of who needs to die first. I’m not just a cold-blooded killer though. At least, that’s what I want to believe for now. I need to do this. Kill a few to save millions.

  I have to do this.

  Maybe, maybe I am just like my father.

  Chapter Twenty Six

  Damien drops a stack of papers on my table and then hands me a pen. He gives me a look that you give a child that has done something bad and clever at the same time. I pretend that I don’t see the stare that he’s giving me; instead, I just click the pen and sign all the highlighted portions.