I walked through.
Might as well. I’d come this far.
He followed, then took the lead. We moved down through some underbrush, into another dense forest, then came out the other side.
I slowed and stared at the quarry.
I’d known this was back here, but I’d never seen it up close before. The cliffs were massive—we were hundreds of feet above the pit. Down below, black, still water gleamed with starlight and moon spray, the chalky liquid reflecting the heavens like a mirror.
Jarrod walked right up to the edge and stood staring out over the cliffs, down into the black.
I could push him. Shove him hard and send him tumbling. I’d already played my hand—he knew I wanted to kill someone. If he didn’t want to be a part of it, then he’d be a problem.
Or maybe he’d already had the same thought, and he’d brought me here to make sure I couldn’t do anything drastic.
I took a few steps back, but he didn’t turn to look at me.
“I’ve never killed someone before.”
His voice was matter-of-fact, almost bored. Like he was answering a question in history class.
I hesitated a few feet away. I could turn and run. I might reach the fence first and slip through.
Or he’d catch me and do whatever he wanted.
A thrill ran down my spine.
“I’ve never had sex. There’s a first time for everything.”
I couldn’t tell if he was smiling or not. It was probably the wrong time to joke.
“I should be curious why you chose to ask me, but I guess I’m not. I know what people think of me.”
“Are they wrong?”
He shook his head. Still not looking back. “No, they’re not.”
“Are you saying you’ll do this?”
“I’m saying I’m as fucked up as you think I am. I’m saying you chose the one person in this whole shitty town and absurdly privileged college that just might take a life for you. I’m trying to decide how I feel about being that person, and can I be honest with you?”
“Of course. I think we should be extremely honest with each other from here on out if we’re going to make this work.”
He glanced over his shoulder. “I don’t feel much of anything. Does that mean I’m broken?”
“I don’t know what it means.” I took a step closer, heart pounding. “I’m not sure I care.”
His lips quirked. God, he was beautiful. The moonlight bathed him in a silver glow and he looked like he was floating in the black, right there on the edge of the cliff, inches away from falling to his death.
He didn’t seem bothered by the proximity to the fall.
“You should care. If we do this, I’ll own you.”
“My virginity. That’s one night of sex. I could even argue that’s one thrust.”
“No, freak. If I do this, I fuck you. I take you, again and again, until your blood slicks my cock and you’re screaming my name.”
I blinked rapidly, trying not to let my insane heartbeat show. I must’ve been blushing like crazy, because my legs felt weak, and the image of him taking me—really taking me, not halfway, not gentle, not kind, but like the animal I knew he was—made my slit drip and buzz with desire. I was insane, I knew it, but I couldn’t help myself.
Jarrod was a specimen. A terrifying, horrible specimen, but I knew that if I let him, he could make me feel something I’d never imagined.
He could take me places I was too afraid to go.
He could ruin me, and I might love it.
“One night, as much as you want. That’s my best offer.”
“One night with the virgin freak.” His head tilted. “And all I have to do is murder a man.”
“Murder the man that molested me and my brother.”
He nodded and looked away. “Dr. Silver. I know the guy. He donated to the high school football team. He even came and gave us a demonstration of all that neck-cracking shit. Some of the guys went to him for extra work on the weekends.”
“They were probably getting touched.”
“Yeah, maybe. He seemed nice, though. Everyone liked him.”
My anger flared and my jaw clenched. I was tempted to kick Jarrod in the back and ask him if he believed he’d fall as he hung above the drop.
“Are you questioning what happened to me?”
“No, freak, I’m not. I’m saying that insidious shit’s been putting a good face out there for a long time. He’s a public figure, and a sudden disappearance is going to draw some very curious eyes.”
I calmed myself with several deep breaths. “I never said this would be easy.”
“No, you didn’t.” He gestured with one hand. “Stand next to me.”
I hesitated, chewing my lip. “I don’t like heights.”
“Get over here, freak.”
I glanced over my shoulder, back toward the fence. I could barely make it out through the thin trees and bushes. Safety back there. Escape from this stupidity.