Chapter 11

The last time Frank was at a carnival like this, it was with his family. He still remembered their faces clearly, looking up at him—his kids smiling and laughing. They were good kids, strong, smart, funny. He was a lucky father. A lucky husband.

He heard Karen's voice now besides him as she bought tickets, with cash, for the rides and games.

He felt that same, old familiar feeling whenever he was with her. The same feeling he had for wife and his kids. He knew exactly what it was. But he wouldn't acknowledge. Couldn't. It wasn't a betrayal of his past life with his wife and kids. He knew that now. It was the fear. Fear of loosing something he couldn't live without that scared him to his very core. And loosing someone like her—his Karen, was unthinkable.

He heard kids laughing behind him and glanced towards the fairish wheel, which sparkled with brilliant colored lights as families stood in line for it. He saw himself in that line, with his kids. Yet… he was different now. It was as if his own memories felt like a ghost into a world he didn't belong anymore. He knew Maria wouldn't have accepted the man he became. She would have taken the kids and left, after all the killing he'd done. She wouldn't have recognized the Frank Castle he was today.

Despite the change, the violence, the brutality of what his life had become—he somehow managed to ensnare an angel along the way. He glanced back to her. Her long red blond hair was braided down her side, tossed over her shoulder. A few loose strands of hair were tucked back by her fingers as she smiled kindly at the man in the ticket booth. Sometimes he wondered if she were conscious of those fingers moving over her skin. He was. Every time. Wishing and wanting it to be his fingers that did that.

Karen walked away from the booth, her shorts were a little longer, which he wasn't sure if he liked still. According to her they were beach shorts with the unraveled look to them. Her blouse was a pretty red that hung off her shoulders, exposing the skin above her breasts and neck. She wore different sandals too, sturdier than the flip-flops he had picked up for her at the Goodwill. There hadn't been any makeup in her box, so her skin was bare and beautiful. He didn't understand makeup at times—feeling that every woman was beautiful in their own unique way without all that face paint to what- conceal themselves? Karen didn't need that junk.

She caught him looking at him and smiled softly, her face pinking in that gorgeous damned blush she did. His own expression soften and he smiled back at her like a smitten fool. "So what did my money get us?"

"20 whole tickets." She said in mock amazement. "Enough for probably a few rides and two games."

"Sounds like highway robbery."

"Welcome to carnivals," she replied drily but with her same smile. "Did you know that almost half of the games here are impossible to win just by physics."

"Why am I not surprised?" He turned down the isle of carnival games. He saw basketball games, darts, ring tosses and… shooting. "What about that one?" He motioned her to look at the air gun game with the targets lined up against a moving backdrop.

"Probably rigged somehow. But I've got 20 tickets burning a hole in my pocket. Let's go."

They headed over to the air gun booth. He had been surprised when they arrived earlier how busy the carnival had been. Sometimes the last nights at local fairs like these meant less people. Not this town. Kids and families came out in droves, lined up for junk food and cotton candy, rides that flipped people upside down, while some people were waiting for the band to begin out by the outdoor stage area.

By the time they had arrived, after showers, clean clothes and a couple sandwiches—him a few beers and Karen a very full glass of wine, the sun was setting and the carnival lights were burning bright. Frank had debated on bringing a gun but decided against it, even thought about stashing it in Karen's purse which she said came in her box. He glanced down to her brown leather purse that was slung across her body.

"What do you need a purse for?" He had asked when he saw her walk out of the house with it. "You don't have a phone or wallet…"

"Force of habit. Besides, we're going to a carnival I might win something I can put in this lovely new bag." She mockingly gave it an airy gesture with her hands as if she were advertising it on a game show.

Frank was smiling by the time they reached the shooting booth. They arrived in time to witness a disappointed teenager walk away empty handed with his date. Frank noted the prizes were stuffed unicorns. The teen kicked angrily at the dirt and slung a limp arm over his pretty blond date, who reassured him that the game was 'rigged' anyway as they headed for the rides. Frank smirked at that. Karen handed the man operating the booth the tickets. He didn't smile as he simply handed them two, bright yellow air guns. They were lighter than the real thing.

"Win the big prize if you hit all the targets." He said unenthusiastically. "First round you, second round the lady."

Frank glanced at Karen, "Hope you want a giant unicorn."

She chuckled, "You could be fulfilling a very real childhood dream of mine, Frank."

He smirked and gripped his gun the way he would the real thing and aimed it at the targets. The operate counted down from 3 and began rotating the targets on a crank. Frank responded after only watching the sequenced pattern of the movements for a second and began firing. There were ten targets in all. It was over in less than 5 seconds—every target was down.

Karen applauded unimpressively. "Wow, didn't see that coming."

He smirked and handed the gun back, waiting to get the giant unicorn that was promised.

The man shook his head, "Lady has to knock down all ten targets too. You're shooting as a team."

"What? You didn't say that earlier." He retorted, feeling robbed of his victory.

The man shrugged, "Carnival rules."

"Yeah, whatever man." Frank turned back to Karen, who was glaring at him through narrowed eyes. "What?"

"You don't think I can hit all those targets, do you?" She challenged.

He liked this part of Karen, all fiery and full of righteous indignation. It reminded him of when she was on his legal team, defending him. "I didn't say that…"

"Uh-huh," she brushed past him to the front of the booth, a line beginning to form behind them. All wanting the elusive prize and bragging rights.

The operate began his countdown, Karen raised her gun. He thought of a few times Karen had pointed a gun, a few times at him too. He crossed his arms over his chest, ready to see his girl in action.

"3…2…1…"

The targets sprang up from their fallen deaths and began rotating in a completely new pattern than the one Frank fired to. He watched in amazement as Karen methodically hit every target. She may have taken longer due to her concentration, but it didn't matter—she hit all the damned targets. He laughed in genuine surprise as she lowered her gun, looking obscenely proud of herself.

"Alright, Rambo- you win." He commented, impressed, as she shot him a dazzling grin. The operator, looking shocked shook his head and walked behind the curtain and returned with a massive stuffed unicorn.

Frank let out a puff of breath, "Unless Mary Poppins sent her you a bag, I don't think that thing is gonna fit in your purse."

Karen snorted at the sight of the human sized stuff animal and shook her head. "Is it okay if I get something smaller?" She asked politely to the booth operator.

Relief spread over the man's face by her request and nodded happily. He pulled out a stuffed unicorn keychain. She took it with a thank you. The people in the line behind her gaped in shock at her denying the unicorn but she didn't seem to notice, clipping her keychain onto her purse.

"So is there any other games you wanna surprise the hell outta me with?" He asked her.

She rolled her eyes at him, "You know I carry a gun—so you must know I go to the shooting range."

"How often? Those were great shots."

"Thank you, well considering I live and work in one of the most notoriously dangerous cities on the planet, I go to the firing range a lot." She glanced proudly down at her keychain, "The most over-priced keychain, right here."

"Oh yeah, how many tickets was that booth?"
She snorted, "10."

He chuckled. "Maybe we should've taken the giant unicorn."

They walked through the crowds, enjoying the sights and taking in the fun, lively vibe in the atmosphere. The stopped occasionally to watch a couple brave kids make their attempts at the games before walking towards the stage. The band was southern blues rock and was beginning to rev up the crowd with the guitar. Frank asked to watch a few songs, Karen agreed wholeheartedly. During one of the songs, she motioned she would be going to the bar tent a few yards away. He simply nodded and kept his eyes glued to her as she stood in line. The person checking IDs seemed to be giving her a hard time for not having one on her. She shrugged and said something Frank couldn't quite make out. The younger man glanced around to see if his supervisor was watching and stamped the top of her hand and let her inside. She grinned gratefully and slipped inside the white tent.

Frank's heart accelerated. He didn't like not being able to see her, yet knew she was fine. The band's song ended and the crowd roared in approval. Frank was too tense to clap. Finally, after what felt like the longest few minutes of his life, she reappeared at the exit side of the tent, two plastic cups full of cold beer and walked back to him.

She handed him a cup, "This band is fantastic!" She said to him as they began playing again.

He nodded in agreement and thanked her for the beer. But it was so loud she didn't hear him, stepping closer. He took this open opportunity of her naive innocence and slipped his free arm around her, dragging her up against his side and said huskily into her ear, "Thank you for the beer."

He watched the blush stain her cheeks once more. She shot him a quick glance, her bright blue eyes wide and her lips slightly parted. Memorized by her, he saw her tongue dart out quickly and wet her lips, her chest rising in a breath. Unable to help himself, Frank dipped in close and took those wet lips into his mouth, demandingly opening her mouth with his and kissing her right there, in the middle of the concert, good music rushing over them and people dancing and talking all around them. None of it mattered to him, nothing but her and this moment. Frank felt happy. He hadn't felt happiness like this in so, so long. A part of him ripped open as he realized this. A part of him that needed this—needed her, like he needed his next breath.

He felt his blood begin to overheat and his desire for her fill his cock. He really didn't want to have a hard on in this crowd. But damn he wanted her. Wanted her here and now. Wanted her tonight. And every night. He pulled, reluctantly, away from their incredible kiss and he took a big drink of his beer, practically gulping it down. Karen tried to move away, but he wouldn't let her, keeping his arm firm around her waist and close to his body. She shot him a hard look, her lips bruised red with his kiss. Jesus he couldn't wait to finally take her. He would, he promised himself that. And he would wait for when she was ready. But that didn't mean he didn't get to steal a kiss here or there.

"That was some thank you," she muttered next to him.

He simply smirked and sipped his beer, letting out a hum of approval. "I wouldn't mind spending all day thanking you, Karen."

Cue the bright pink blush. "And all night," he added. Her face now a hot red. He watched as she nervously chewed on her lower lip, sighing into her beer before taking a pretty hardy drink herself.

He was getting to her. It was only a matter of time before she snapped. And she was his. She already was. She just hadn't accepted it yet.

He tapped his foot to the beat of the music and cheered along with the crowd.

They ended up staying for a good portion of the show, enjoying the band too much to leave right away. They both seemed to like people watching as well, saying very little during the show, letting their eyes wonder and ears listen to the music. Karen had to get used to Frank holding her too, his arm seemingly glued around her waist. At first she kinda liked it, then he kissed her—sending her head spinning and her heart jumping out of her chest. After that, it was hard to be so close to him without wanting to claw his clothes from his muscle bond body and kiss the hell outta him. She spent the rest of the show attempting to still her racing heart. She drank her beer quickly which helped take the edge off.

Frank meanwhile seemed all too pleased with himself, as if he had purposefully done this to her—pushing her out of her comfort zone and making her squirm. He smirked the entire damned show, the bastard, she thought.

Taking a deep breath, she glanced towards the rides and saw a horror themed fun house. She had heard about these scary rides, where people pop out of hidden walls to jump scare the patrons. She nudged Frank in the side and indicated towards the rides. He nodded simply and they headed out, finally his hand falling away from her body, giving her a moment to breathe again without feeling like a butterfly pinned down by a dragon.

Frank wasn't a dragon to her—but her sexual desire for him, well that was. She had desired him so long that she burned whenever he touched her now. She burnt hot and red, her thighs warming, her stomach tensing and her womanhood literally wetting at the mere sound of his husky voice. She wouldn't give—wouldn't cave. And deciding she rather be scared than sexually aroused, headed straight for the horror fun house.

Frank hesitated when they approached. It had the clown It, from Stephen King's horror book, on the face of the ride, grinning down at them from a height with his massive, snarling teeth. No one was in line for the ride and yet she could hear screaming from inside the black door and the hooded figure sitting outside of it.

"I don't think so," Frank grabbed her arm and began leading her away.

"Oh totally," Karen retorted and slipped out of his grasp into the empty line.

"Karen, c'mon."

"What, is the big bad Frank…" she glanced at the hooded line attendant and hesitated, deciding it wouldn't be a great idea to say his last name. "Afraid of a kid's ride?"

"I'm not going in there." He looked exasperated and yet serious.

"Fine, I'll see you at the exit."

His jaw muscle flexed, "You ain't going in there alone, either."

She folded her arms over her chest, jutting her hips out, waiting. "Well…?"

He rolled his eyes and with pure frustration on his face, got into line with her. Grinning, feeling like she'd won this round of whatever game they had been playing all night, handed the tickets over to the hooded form and he accepted them. With a push of the button, the door creaked open. Excitement raced through her as she was about to step inside first, Frank stopped her and protectively took the lead. She sighed, rolling her eyes. It was just a stupid kid's ride, she thought, nothing to fear but costumed teens and creepy music.

As the door closed behind them, the hooded operator of the door pulled out his phone and texted. "They're inside the horror fun house."

The text messenger responded: "Lock the doors. Leave. Payment is in your car."

TBC