Page 81 of Whispers of Obsession

First, I have a date with one of her would-be suitors. Doubt he’ll be as lucky as the last guy who showed an interest in her.

36

CORA

My face feels dry when I wake in the morning, dried tears salting my skin. It’s early when I wake, but I use that to my advantage, slipping my robe on, grabbing my wash things and towel, and padding out of my room along to the bathroom for a shower.

I have the space to myself, which I’d expected given how early it is, and I wash the stress of last night away under water so hot my skin is turning pink.

I turn into the spray, facing the wall and letting the water cascade down over my face as I take deep breaths.

“Hello, Cora.”

I scream, falling into the wall and banging my head as a gloved hand is slammed over my mouth to stifle me.

I fight the panic that surges within me, my heart pounding wildly in my chest as I try to catch my breath. I can’t see who it is, but I know it’s him. The one who has been watching me, waiting for his moment to strike.

I’m so, so stupid. Last night I laid in bed, touching myself to the thought of him, but in the cold light of day, I’m terrified of him.

“What do you want?” I manage to choke out when he removes his hand from my mouth.

No answer. Just the sound of his breath against my ear. I struggle, trying to push his arm away, but he only tightens his grip, pulling me closer, away from the wall and back into the stream of water.

It pelts down on my face, and I panic, unable to catch my breath in the torrential, never-ending stream. With one hand, he reaches past me, adjusting the temperature so it’s no longer burning, but he doesn’t let me out of the rushing water.

“Please,” I choke out.

Why is he here? Why now? How did he find me? What does he want?

The water cascades down my body, numbing me, washing away the fear that has gripped me. I struggle in his grasp, but he tightens his grip, pulling me closer to him, and my body responds. Mymindresponds. It gives in, submits.

“What do you want?” I plead, my voice barely audible over the roar of the water.

He doesn’t answer. Not right away. Instead, he moves his hand to my throat and squeezes gently, like I did last night, and presses his lips to my ear, whispering a phrase that sends a shiver down my spine.

“You belong to me, Cora.”

The words echo in my mind, a cruel reminder of the darkness that has consumed me. I’m powerless against him, and I know it.

He spins me round to face him, and it’s like the last six months never happened. He’s here, in my shower stall, dressed exactly like he always did, staring at me impassively through his enigmatic mask.

With a trembling hand, but feeling emboldened, I reach up and attempt to remove his mask, desperate to see his face, to understand the monster who controls my every move. But he grabs my wrist, his grip firm and unyielding.

“No,” he growls. “You’ll see me only when I choose to let you.”

His words somehow give me hope.Somedayhe plans to reveal himself to me. But…when?

It’s an impossible cruelty that just as I’m on the brink of happiness with Slater, he reappeared to remind me why I can never be happy with someone who’s asgoodas my stepbrother.

His fingers trail a path down my neck, sending shivers coursing through my body. I struggle to break free, but his grip only tightens.

“Please,” I whimper, the desperation thick in my voice. “Let me go,” I beg, not meaning a word of it. My words should have been,please use me, remind me why I’m yours, show me that you’ve missed me too.

He leans in, raising his mask just enough to reveal his lips, and kisses me again, his lips brushing against my temple. “I’ll let you go when I decide you’ve suffered enough.”

I don’t want him to let me go though. I want him to make me his.

With that, he releases me, stepping back to let the water continue to pummel me. My heart is racing, and I can feel tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. But I can’t deny the desire that still smolders within me, even amidst the fear.

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