The Initiation (Darkness Within Duet 1)

The bruise on her face had started to fade, but it was still a reminder of the fact he’d hit her.

Entering her home, he heard music playing and laughter coming from the sitting room. Axel closed the door behind him, and he stood watching, Buck and Jett dancing with Harper.

She wore a dress, shock of all shocks. It was the kind that lifted up when she gave a little spin.

Her raven hair was bound up on top of her head, and she looked beautiful, happy.

“Look who are back,” Buck said.

“It’s about time you came back,” Jett said.

Harper stopped dancing. Jett wrapped an arm around her waist and held her against himself. He forced her to keep on moving.

Draven watched her. His friend was holding her, protecting her. It’s the way it was supposed to be. Stepping into the room, he took her hand, gave her a twirl and settled her ass against his dick.

Axel stepped forward. The song changed, going into a slow beat, one filled with seduction and promise.

“Did you miss us?” Draven asked.

“A little bit.” She wrapped her arms around Axel’s neck.

He didn’t let her go as she pulled Axel in closer.

“You look a little hungry there, Harper,” Axel said.

Draven watched as Axel cupped her cheek, his thumb stroking along her lips.

Leaning forward, he kissed her neck. This was not new to them. Harper was new because rather than use her, they wanted her to be part of them, to be exclusive to them, to accept that darkness, which curled within them, drawing them close to hell.

All four of them held the devil, a source of evil deep within their souls. Jett was raped and abused by men who should have protected him. Buck had been tossed out of his home and forced to live on the streets before he was able to come back. He and Axel were the ones that were the devil. They lived with them, thrived under their tutelage. Every single day, they had to learn more to be ready to take over, to be forced into a world that they neither chose or wanted.

Yet, Harper still held that light, but he saw the darkness festering beneath the surface begging to come out. She only had a cloud above her head, the pain of finding her mother, the death of her innocence.

She belonged to them, and they would protect her, care for her.

“What do you say to getting your second kiss?”

“Draven?” she asked.

“Axel, why don’t you kiss our girl?”

“I have to hear it from her lips first. I don’t take what is not freely given.”

Kissing her neck, he flicked his tongue across the pulse and waited. She didn’t tell him to stop or beg him to leave her alone.

Harper may think they were the ones that held the power, but she was so wrong. The only person with any power here was her. She controlled them, all of them. Harper would be the one to bind them together forever.

“Yes,” she said.

Axel cupped her cheek, and suddenly his mouth was on hers.

Draven watched as his friend stroked his tongue across her lips.

Taking hold of her hands, Draven held her still, getting her to submit to Axel. She wasn’t bold in her kisses. They were tame, unhurried, new. They would teach her all she needed to know, so long as she gave herself to them.

Seconds later, Axel broke from the kiss, and Draven recognized the lust shining back at him. He’d felt it long before this. Banding his arm around her waist, he turned toward Buck.

“It’s your turn, Buck.”

“Draven, I don’t know,” she said.

“If you don’t want to taste him, don’t. Remember, this is about you. What you want to do.” He kissed her neck again.

“Okay,” she said.

“You want Buck to kiss you?”

“Yes.”

She didn’t sound so sure, and Buck took his time getting out of his seat. “I guess it’s left to me to do this properly,” Buck said. Harper chuckled. “Be prepared to have your mind blown.”

“Already blown.”

“Well, I’ll have to do even better, won’t I?” Buck smirked, and suddenly, his hands were on her face, and his lips were on hers.

Out of all of them, Buck had the least finesse. He nibbled her lip, and Draven laughed as he pulled away.

“Mind blown,” he said.

Buck walked away, and Draven turned her toward Jett.

“I’m going to be called a slut.”

“Ignore what the whores say at school,” Jett said, getting to his feet. “They’re jealous. Given the option, they’d love to be in your place.” He didn’t rush. He leaned in close and brushed his lips against hers. “I hope you decide to come into our fold, Harper. I think you’d be surprised.”

He spun her around and had her dancing with him.

They ordered more pizza and partied in her home. All the time, Draven didn’t let her go. He needed her close to him, and releasing her was no longer in his plans.