Page 22 of Obsessive Cravings

She shrugged. “I enjoy adding piercings and tats every now and then. I’m not sure I like this one, but I’m giving it a test run.”

There were times I envied Ava. She was so free-spirited, braver than I saw myself. Mason would have called her reckless, but I admired her ability to be who she was without worrying about the constraints that held me back. I’d never even gotten a tattoo, and considering how many my brother had, that was saying something.

“It’s cute,” I said, retrieving the bracelet from where it had fallen and returning it to the table. “But I like the stud in your nose better.”

“Yeah, that one’s my favorite.”

I turned back to her. “You have more than those two…and your ears?” I tried not to gape at her, but it was hard not to, especially when she said, “The clit was painful but so worth it.”

My eyes grew so wide, I swear I looked like a cartoon character. Ava laughed hard enough that she had to hold on to the door.

“I love shocking you, Riley. You’re so easy.”

“So, you don’t have one?”

“Oh, I definitely have one and the guys love it. But then, I prefer it when they have piercings, too.”

The thought made my cheeks burn because, as much as I loved a bad boy, I’d never been with one who’d braved that.

“All right, you need to share details,” I said.

“Done. How about we order takeout and watch a movie at my place?”

The tension slid from my shoulders and with a relieved sigh, I said, “Sounds perfect.”

I didn’t want to be in my apartment, the reminders of my stranger were too prominent. And I didn’t want to be alone with memories of Greyson’s touch on my skin, either.

“Let me get changed and I’ll be down in a few.” I kicked my shoes off but before she left, I stopped her, saying, “And I want you to tell me what you know about the Christmas party Greyson Tides throws every year.”

Now it was time for her eyes to go wide. “Oh, I forgot about that! You’re one of his employees, so you get to go!” Her excitement was palpable, and she looked about to jump up and down.

“I don’t think I will. Christmas parties aren’t really my thing.”

“Are you kidding me? I hate those things, too, but I’d die for a chance to go to that one. It’s always the talk of the town. He spares no expense and each year the theme is different. They throw it in that fancy hotel we passed when we were shopping. You know, the one that looks like it costs a fortune to stay at.”

I remembered that hotel. It was extravagant and looked like someplace Mason would have picked to stay. There was a red carpet leading to the doors and two well-dressed doormen in uniform. I could only imagine what the inside looked like. Mason had taken me to an island resort when I was younger. His best friend, Tyson, had gone with us. Tyson was like my second big brother, and he was a player. He’d hooked up with women most of the trip, leaving me and Mason to joke about his flavor of the day. The hotel where we’d stayed was breathtaking and had a pool that overlooked the ocean, workers who catered to your every need, and everything set up to perfection. It had been a wonderful trip that was now tarnished by the knowledge that Mason owned the resort. Yet another lie that had surfaced when the truth came out.

The hotel Ava and I had passed by reminded me of that resort. For a moment, my mind wondered if the rooms were just as beautiful, the beds soft and plush enough to surround me as Greyson’s body pushed me into it.

Shaking my head to free the image from my mind, I said, “I don’t know. Apparently I’m expected to go but…” How did I tell her I would be a mess without Mason the closer the holidays came, or that I was craving Greyson Tides like my body craved food, or that I was having a bizarre affair with a stranger who snuck into my room at night and tongued me until I fell apart. “I’ll probably stay home.”

“You’re insane,” she grumbled. “Get changed and get your ass down to my apartment so I can talk you into going. No one in their right mind would miss that party.”

She was still complaining about my decision as the door shut behind her. My eyes fell back to the bracelet, and I picked it up, my fingers lingering on the beautiful gems. Maybe I needed to go, if anything, just to break the routine that was setting in and the complacency that was building around a situation that should have had me worried.

Changing quickly, I grabbed a bottle of wine and headed down the hall to Ava’s determined to leave my thoughts of Greyson Tides, my stranger, and soul shattering orgasms behind.

My stranger didn’t return the next two nights and if he hadn’t surprised me each morning with coffee and a treat, I would have been worried. It didn’t seem normal that a stranger who regularly broke into my apartment could make me happy, but he did, and with each passing day, a part of me missed his touch. This morning, another bracelet appeared, this one not as flashy. A simple silver chain with tiny pink and white peony charms attached to it. I’d worn it to work, fingering the tiny flowers and wondering where he was and who he was. The nagging thoughts in the back of my mind kept telling me I was missing something, but every time I tried to focus on it, I encountered an interruption.

Ready to kick my heels off and snuggle in for the night, I unlocked my door. My stomach knotted, and I bit my lip to hold back the excited cry. The blindfold sat on my table in the middle of the scarves. Alongside it was a container of takeout soup from the local deli. Ignoring the soup, I picked up the note.

Wear this and nothing else.

My heart thumped uncontrollably, and I chewed my lip, wondering if heeding his request would give him the okay for more. I didn’t know that I wanted more. Something about that seemed wrong.

“Shit, Riley. Everything about this seems wrong,” I muttered.

I dropped the blindfold and picked up the soup, my mind whirring. I wanted to feel his touch again, but anything more seemed like too much. Changing into my sleeping shirt and a pair of shorts, I scrolled through the news on my phone, ignoring the blindfold and my jumble of confused thoughts while I slurped my soup.

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