Page 18 of The Eraser

"I know you're there," she says softly as I take a seat behind her. "Why are you following me, Stephen?"

"Dunno what you're talking about," I reply, unable to keep the smirk from my face.

"Every week you watch me. I'm not stupid. I know you have been following me. What I don't understand is why." Her voice is soft but there's a slight tremor in it.

"How long have you known?" I ask, surprised she's known that I've been watching her.

"Since Mam's funeral," she replies. "But that doesn't answer the question. Why have you been watching me?"

I chuckle. "I like watching you. Is there a law that says I can't?"

She turns so that she's facing me. "No, but surely you have better things to do than stalk me?"

I lean forward, our faces close, too fucking close. It takes everything I have not to kiss her. "There's nothing better than watching you."

Her eyes flash with heat and wariness. "You're crazy."

I grin. "Little Dancer, I've heard that more times than not. I'm more than fucking crazy, but lucky for you, I'm reining in that craziness."

She raises her brow. "Oh, and why's that?"

"If I didn't, I'd drag you from here and take you home."

I watch as she pulls in a ragged breath. "What?"

I get to my feet. I need to leave, because if I don't, I'll end up doing exactly as I said I would. My cock is thick as I watch the way her cheeks flush with heat and her eyes flash with need. My little dancer is so fucking beautiful.

"Where are you going?" she asks, her tongue swiping along her bottom lip.

I inwardly groan. She's fucking killing me. "I need to go," I say through gritted teeth. If I don't, I'm going to drag her out of here.

She gets to her feet and nods. "Okay," she says as she starts toward the door. "I'm finished here anyway," she says softly.

As we leave the church, she looks up at me. Her eyes are wide and her breathing choppy.

Fuck, I can't deny that pleading look on her face.

I slam my lips down against hers, our kiss hard, passionate, and everything I fucking knew it would be and more. If I thought I was obsessed before, it’s got nothing on what I feel right now.

Her lips are soft but demanding, pulling me in deeper. The world fades away as we stand there in the dim light of the church entrance, lost in each other. I can feel her heart racing against mine, the electricity between us palpable. I shouldn’t have kissed her. I should have stayed away. But I can’t. Jessica is my drug, and I’m fucking addicted to her.

I pull back. It’s time to go. I need to get away from her before I take things further than she’s ready for.

Her lips are parted, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Jessica's eyes search mine, a mix of confusion, desire, and fear swirling within them. She's so fucking beautiful, so damned sweet and innocent.

I reach out to touch her cheek, my thumb grazing her soft skin. "I... I shouldn't have done that," I finally manage to say, my voice rough with emotion. Kissing her was the most stupid, yet best decision, I've ever made.

Jessica's gaze softens, and she places her hand on top of mine, holding it against her cheek. "I wanted it," she whispers, her voice barely audible above the rustle of the leaves in the nearby trees.

“Happy birthday, Little Dancer,” I say with a grin as I release my hand from her cheek and turn away.

I have a feeling that it won't be long until I see her again.

ChapterSeven

STEPHEN

"Any wordon what this meeting's about?" Freddie asks as we enter Jerry's headquarters. It's the house that used to belong to his parents. As both of his sisters didn't want it, he took it over and this is where we hold our meetings, if they're needed.

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