Page 98 of Stalker

“He shared that video with his friends. He also watched it almost daily. So I took what was most precious to him.” As my heart stopped beating completely, he let out a sigh. “He’ll never see you again. He’ll never get to watch your pain and get pleasure from it, ever again.”

“Thank you.” I whispered, meaning it fully. “Thank you.”

He didn’t respond immediately, as if he wasn’t prepared for the gratitude I expressed for such a heinous act. “You’re welcome.”

I swallowed and took a deep breath, feeling lighter with the truth coming out between us, so there were no more secrets. “I hate Florida.” Admitting it made me sad, because it made me long for him again that much more.

“Come home to me then.” He demanded passionately. “Come back.”

“I don’t even know what to call you.” I reminded him. “I don’t know how to just pick up my life and trust in someone else to carry it for me.”

He held my stare and took a deep breath, “Then I guess we keep doing this.” He nodded at the phone. “I guess we get to know each other the right way. Once you feel comfortable enough to trust me again, I’ll diligently gather every shattered fragment of your heart. The ones that are sharp, fragmented, and disintegrating, I’ll pick them all up every single day that you’re struggling to keep them all together. And only then will you know you’re safe. And loved. And mine.”

Tears fell again, but not in sadness this time, instead they fell for hope. Hope was more terrifying than anything else. But I still wanted to trust in it.

“Okay.” I smiled through the tears and nodded to him. “My name is Peyton Everett.” I wiped at my cheeks and braved on. “I’m a little dark and twisted on the inside, but I don’t know how to embrace it on the outside.”

He grinned wolfishly at me and then perfected his face like he was all business, “Peyton. My name is Lincoln Dane Bryce. And I’m a whole lot of dark and twisted on the inside and out. And I’ll teach you how to love all of that darkness inside of you.”

Chapter 35 – Lincoln

Igrowled as I took another drink and cracked my neck angrily.

She was ignoring me.

My pretty fucking Puppet was tempting the monster in me with every minute she stayed dark on me. The urge to fly my private jet down to Miami to kidnap her and make her come back to Hartington was quickly becoming one I couldn’t keep restrained. I was going to do something stupid if she kept it up.

She was at work today, a place that couldn’t keep staff and constantly forced her to work doubles. And going sixteen hours straight with limited interactions from her after just getting her back in my life, even digitally, a few days ago, was making my darkness grow. She didn’t need to work; I could easily take care of her for the rest of her life. But she was stubborn simply because she believed she should be.

I needed to hear her voice and see her face to calm my demons. She was the only salve for the noises and constant chaos that tried to rip apart my psyche.

“Fuck!” I roared, throwing the bottle at the wall of my office as I lost the hold of my darkness. Before I could lift the chair and add it to the pile of broken glass, an alarm sounded through the system, drawing my attention.

Perimeter Breech Alarm – Guest House – Ten seconds ago.

I grinned as I moved over to my computer, knowing somebody had chosen the wrong fucking day to mess with me. I pulled up the security footage for the guest house and the backyard, but both had gone black.

Cut connection.

Someone had gotten through my other alarms and disabled the ones near my home.

“Game on, fucker.” I growled, sliding my gun into my waistband. My fingertips itched to feel the recoil of my pistol as I pumped iron into some piece of shit.

I didn’t recognize any bit of Lincoln in my body as I tore through the house to the backyard. Dane completely overpowered me.

And instead of fighting it, I let that power take control of me.

Fucking have at it,I grinned sadistically as I left the main house onto the patio deck. As soon as my feet touched the cold stone, though, I froze. Fucking solid.

“Puppet.” I whispered in disbelief as her head turned to me and a glassy eyed, sweet smile transformed her face. Her head tipped back, and a moan fell from her lips as she gripped the edge of the hot tub.

My pretty fucking Puppet was right in front of me, but I shook my head and blinked. Afraid she’d vanish like a mirage if I looked away too quickly. But she was still there when my vision cleared again. Peyton was recreating the first time we met, and she was naked in my hot tub, pleasuring herself on the jets.

I set my gun down on a sun chair in a pile of snow, uncaring as I slowly walked across the wet patio to her. The intense rush of adrenaline and primal hunger surged through my body as I continued to approach her, all while moving at a relaxed and unhurried pace.

I was stalking my prey.

Her eyes opened as she bit her lip and looked up at me as I came to a stop right above her. “Mr. Bryce,” she moaned in a breathy voice, rocking forward on the jet that I figured was aimed directly at her clit as I came to a stop right above her. “What are you doing home, Sir?”

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