Page 17 of Carnival Nightmare

My heart sinks as the door shuts behind him. Now I’m alone with the stalker. I take Gareth’s plate and slowly walk back behind the counter, feeling his eyes tracking my every move. What does he want from me? I wish someone, anyone else would come into the diner right now. But for the moment, it’s just me and him.

I keep my back turned, busy wiping down the counters, though they’re already clean. The weight of his stare makes my skin crawl. After several agonizing minutes of silence, I finally summon the nerve to turn and face him. His eyes instantly lock onto mine, his expression unreadable. I quickly avert my gaze, my heart pounding.

“Can I get you anything?”I ask shakily, unable to stand the tension.

He doesn’t respond. The silence stretches on. I risk a glance back at him. He hasn’t moved, continuing to stare at me intently. And I’m a rabbit caught in the eyes of a wolf. Trapped. Helpless. Prey.

12

CADE

My naughty angel has been talking to another man. A man I’m toying with killing despite their conversation being rather mundane. She’s mine, and no one should get to talk to her except me.

I sit silently, letting the tension build between us. Her fear is palpable while she avoids my gaze, busying herself with menial tasks. Knowing I’ve gotten under her skin,I love having this effect on her.

After a few minutes of toying with her, I slide out of my booth and slowly approach the counter where she stands. Her eyes widen and she takes a few steps back, but I continue my advance. I back her into a corner step by step until she has nowhere to go. I place my hands on the counter on either side of her, caging her in.

“Where have you been hiding, baby?” I ask in a low voice, leaning so close to her I can smell that unique scent of strawberries and peppermint that’s hers and hers alone.

She licks her bottom lip, perhaps out of nerves or because she’s turned on. Either way, it draws my eyes to them.

“I’ve missed you so damn much, angel.” Her breath quickens, making my cock impossibly hard. “Did you miss me, baby?”

She shakes her head rapidly, unable to form words.

I lean in close, inhaling her scent again. “No need to lie. I know you’ve been thinking about me ever since the carnival,” I murmur.

She trembles against the counter, trapped between it. I brush a strand of hair from her face, and she flinches at my touch. “We’ve got an undeniable connection, you and I. Don’t you feel it?”

“No, you’re a fucking psycho.”

Her declaration snaps my resolve, and I grab her throat with my hand and move my lips to within an inch of hers. “Is that right, baby?”

I press my lips to hers, unable to resist any longer. At first, she freezes, clearly shocked by my bold move. But as my mouth claims hers, she soon melts against me. Her body goes pliant and her lips part ever so slightly.

I take it as an invitation, sliding my tongue between her lips to deepen the kiss. She lets out a soft moan that sends desire coursing through my veins. Her hands come up to grasp at my shirt, pulling me closer. I wrap one arm around her waist, eliminating the space between us.

My other hand slides from her throat into her hair, tangling in her soft locks. I angle her head to kiss her more thoroughly, our tongues dancing together. She tastes even better than I imagined. I can’t get enough, kissing her with unrestrained passion.

This is even better than all the times I imagined it. The reality of her supple lips molding to mine has me drunk on lust. I press her harder into the counter, feeling every curve of her body align with mine. Another moan escapes her, and I swallow it greedily.

I break the kiss only when the need for air becomes necessary, both of us panting. But I’m not done yet; I move my lips tomy angel’sneck, planting hot, open-mouth kisses onherskin.

My hard cock is pressed firmly against her stomach, and she can feel it as she arches into me.

I continue trailing kisses down Lily’s neck, unable to get enough of her sweet scent and soft skin. She lets out soft whimpers and gasps that only spur me on, making me crave more of her.

“I’ve been dreaming about this, about having you all to myself,” I whisper hotly against her neck. My hands grip her hips, pulling her tightly against me.

“No one else gets to see you like this, feel you, taste you.” I accentuate each point with a nip or lick of her delicate skin. Lily trembles under my touch, caught between fear and desire.

“You’re mine now. I’m going to take care of you, protect you.” My hands slide under her shirt, caressing the silky skin of her lower back. I press a series of kisses along her jawline as she pants softly.

“Who will protect me from you?” She whimpers.

I smirk. “No one because you’re mine, and I’m your sweetest fucking nightmare, baby.” Moving my hands gently up her creamy, thick thighs, I part them and hitch up her skirt, groaning when I see how wet she is. The string of her thong is completely soaked. “I own these perfect, pretty little tits,” I murmur, moving my lips to suck on her hard nipples visible through the fabric of her shirt.

Lily moans, back arching.

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