Picture Perfect

Chapter 34

The woman laughs uproariously, her voice echoing through the scarcely furnished cabin that has been her home these past weeks. Her new lover looks at her fondly, his lips curving into a smile as she gasps for breath. His twitching fingers stop tickling her sides as he removes himself from his perch atop her thighs, allowing her body the freedom to move from her position on the wooden floor. The man offers his hand, assisting the woman to her feet before pulling her against his bare chest. As she snuggles into him, she sighs contentedly, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"I checked in on Cora Dalton today," the man says, twirling his index finger in a tendril of his lover's hair.

The woman freezes in her spot, her breathing ceasing and her heart practically stopping in her chest. A wave of true and utter disgust washes over her immediately upon hearing the name, then quickly transforms into untamable hatred. "I don't want to hear that name," she mutters into the man's bare chest, her lips sending a thrilling vibration through him as they brush against his skin. While his flesh muffles the harshness of her words, he doesn't need to hear the woman speak to know that her voice is filled with combined malice and betrayal. He had expected it before bringing up the topic yet chose to mention it anyway.

He hums in response before adding, "It appears that she had a bit of a mental breakdown yesterday."

This statement instantly piques the woman's interest, and her gaze snaps up to meet her lover's. The clearly displayed curiosity held within her eyes greatly amuses him, and he can't stifle the chuckle that works its way into his throat. "Go on," she insists impatiently, her eagerness only encouraging his entertained reaction. However, when she narrows her eyes at him, he immediately clamps his mouth shut.

Clearing his throat, he suppresses the urge to continue laughing. Instead, he composes himself and proceeds with his story, "I believe there was a full-blown panic attack, complete with hyperventilation; it was quite the peculiar and thoroughly pleasing sight. I didn't stay long, but I can ensure you that Cora Dalton is finally breaking."

The smile that suddenly takes over the woman's face is almost bright enough to shame the rising morning sun. The man can practically see the wheels turning inside her head, and he understands that she likely wishes she could have witnessed Cora Dalton's mental break. Or perhaps she's fantasizing about the other woman's ultimate demise.

Either is likely.

"You know," says the man, gaining his lover's attention once more, "as much fun as it's been to watch her suffer, I believe it's time to proceed to more exciting things than simply observing her." He watches as something flashes in the woman's eyes; the sheer joy overtaking her face urges him on. He continues, "While that idiot husband of hers has already subjected her to an infinite amount of pain, it's time to drive Cora Dalton irreversibly mad. I believe now would be the best time to frighten the life right out of her."

Squealing in delight, the woman tightly squeezes the man close to her, receiving another hearty chuckle in return. "Perhaps even literally," she replies excitedly. "Although, that wouldn't be nearly as entertaining as finishing the job ourselves."

"You're right," affirms the man, giving a slight nod. "Then, before the dust can settle upon her grave, we can skip town," he says, hope sparkling in his eyes as the fantasy plays out in his mind. "Since money is obviously no object, we could go anywhere you want. We can go to some tropical island or something and start a new life, just the two of us. No one will know who we are or what we've done. We can be happy somewhere out there without having to hide or constantly look over our shoulders. "

"And live as extravagantly as we wish?" the woman inquires, already tired of living in such a secluded and sparse way as she has in the cabin; she'd trade this meager lifestyle for something much more luxurious and worthy of her in a heartbeat.

Nodding again, he answers, "Anything you want, my love."

With her blinding smile returning, the two set aside their hopes for their dream lives, unflinchingly concentrating on how to further progress Cora's instability. They plot how to increase the destruction of her life until the time comes to get rid of her entirely. They quickly fall into a rhythm, the ideas of ways to torture Cora apparently abundant. The woman finds the discussion wholly intoxicating, transmitting her into an unusual and entirely arousing state of bliss. As the conversation goes on, the woman's excitement proliferates, the pitch of her voice increasing as her hands gesture wildly while she speaks.

She feels much like a child at Christmastime right now, and killing Cora Dalton is the best gift she could ever receive.

"So?" the man asks. "What do you say?"

Dreamily, as if lost in a state somewhere between sleeping and waking, the woman smiles softly, her gaze locking upon his. Several emotions dance within her eyes; an insatiable hunger seems to prevail the most, bringing a smile to her lover's face. "I think I love you," she whispers.

It's his turn to beam brightly now, his heart almost bursting with the overwhelming rush of happiness he's currently feeling. "I love you, too," he says, sweeping her into his arms and kissing her passionately.

While she returns the kiss with equal fervor, she isn't wholly certain that those words were meant for him. In fact, she's almost confident that she had said them more to herself. Or possibly, to the realization that her greatest wish is about to be fulfilled.

Instead of admitting the miscommunication aloud, the woman succumbs to the desire overtaking her body. She allows it to consume her as she surrenders herself to the pleasure currently radiating through her.

Perhaps it isn't the most essential article to clarify; it won't kill him to believe she feels something more than unbridled lust for him.

Well, not today, anyway.