Page 5 of Stalked By the X-Ray Tech

"Everything's great," I lie smoothly, my grip on my glass so tight it might shatter. "Just enjoying the view."

And I am—the view of her, not him. But I make no move, say no word. After all, the best x-ray tech knows when to wait for the right moment to see beneath the surface.

The fucking trainer finally beat it, but he put a damper on the perfect date I’d planned for Bella.

It’s already over, and there was not enough time with her.

"Let's stay in touch," Bella says as start to pack up, a spark lighting up her brown eyes. She digs through her bag and pulls out her phone. "What's your number?"

I hesitate just a hair too long. It's an act, all of it. The number I've memorized from the forms at the clinic rests heavy in my thoughts, but she doesn't need to know that. Not yet. Instead, I pretend to type her number into my phone even though it’s already there, and then I rattle off my own digits, watching her thumbs dance over her screen.

"Got it," she beams, and there's something about that smile that hits me right in the gut—warm, like sunshine breaking through clouds.

"Shoot me a text so we can make sure we’re solid," I say, keeping my voice steady despite the electric hum that buzzes under my skin.

"Done." My phone chimes almost immediately in my pocket, and I can't help the grin that spreads across my face. It's like some kind of victory, even though I'm playing a game she doesn't even know we're in.

"Expect a message from me soon," I tell her, and I mean it. I'll craft every word carefully, toeing the line between keen and casual. I'm good at that—waiting, watching, making sure every move is precise.

"Looking forward to it," she replies, oblivious to the storm of thoughts whirling inside me.

I watch her stand, stretching her athletic limbs, and my eyes trace the contours of her body with a hunger that's hard to mask. The air between us crackles with something raw, something primal, and it takes every ounce of my self-control not to pull her back down and show her just how much I've been paying attention.

But patience is a virtue, or so they say. And me? Well, I’m nothing if not meticulous.

CHAPTER

FOUR

Jacob

I'm hiding in the shadows of the parking lot, my heart hammering like it's trying to bust out of my chest. Every time Bella laughs at something her trainer says, a surge of possessiveness claws through me.

I watch them, her lithe body moving with an athlete's grace on the court, and him, with his hands way too eager, guiding her swings. "Adjust your grip like this," he says, but all I hear is "I want you" in every goddamn touch.

It's killing me. The way he looks at her, like she's some prize to be won—it's obvious he wants to fuck her.

And the thought alone ignites a wildfire in my veins. I'm the only one who’s supposed to touch her. She’s mine dammit!

"Nice serve, Bella!" he shouts, and she beams, pride lighting up her face. My Bella. She doesn't see the danger, doesn't feel my eyes on her, or sense the storm brewing inside me.

Fuck this. I can't take another second of watching another man lay his hands on what's mine. I slide back into my car, my mind racing as fast as my pulse. There's only one way to keep the fire at bay—to watch over her, always.

I wait until darkness blankets the city, then slip into Bella's apartment. It's silent, serene, and so fucking Bella with its neatness and the faint scent of lavender in the air.

I move with a precision born of obsession, placing tiny cameras in corners where they blend into the shadows. Each click as they power on is a promise—I'll see everything, know everything. No more surprises, no more unwanted touches.

The meticulous part of me double-checks every angle, ensuring I won't miss a single moment. By the time I'm done, there's a network of electronic eyes ready to feed my hunger for control. I'll watch her anytime I want, keep her safe from creeps that can't see past her beautiful exterior to the amazing woman underneath.

With the cameras set, I sneak out as silently as I came in. The night wraps around me like a dark cloak, hiding my sins. But in my twisted world, it's not about right or wrong—it's about Bella.

It's always been about Bella.

CHAPTER

FIVE

Jacob

---