Page 9 of Silent Stalker

Sweet, innocent Clara. Playing with fire, unaware that she's already been marked for consumption. Soon, she'll know what it's like to surrender to a real monster.

But patience. Control. I must maintain the facade a little longer. Let her think she has a choice in what's coming.

"That depends entirely on what you're willing to explore." I give her my practiced smile, the one that's lured countless others to their doom. But Clara—Clara is different. She's not prey. She's my fucking destiny. The goddess to sit beside me for all eternity.

I guide Clara to my car, pressing my hand against the small of her back. Every touch, every casual brush of skin feels electric. Her perfume intoxicates me—vanilla with something else, amber maybe—just like her.

"I had a wonderful time," she says, her voice breathy.

I open the passenger door, watching her slide into the leather seat. The hem of her dress rides up her thigh, and my cock stirs at the flash of skin. Closing the door, I take a deep breath. Control. Restraint. Not yet.

When I settle into the driver's seat, Clara's hand finds my thigh. The touch ignites a fire in my blood. I turn to face her, and she leans in, pressing her lips against mine.

Fuck. The taste of her—wine and desire and something uniquely Clara. My hands thread through her hair, gripping tight enough to make her gasp. The sound echoes through my mind like a prayer.

"Fuck, you're perfect," I growl against her mouth. And she is. My perfect creation, my destiny.

Clara climbs into my lap, straddling me. Her dress bunches around her waist as she grinds against my erection. My hands slide up her thighs, finding the lace of her panties. She moans into my mouth, and I devour the sound.

This is what I've waited for. Watched for. The moment she gives herself over to the darkness inside her. To me. Her true savior.

I break the kiss to bite her neck, marking her as mine. She throws her head back, offering herself to me like a sacrifice. My cock throbs painfully against my zipper as she rocks against me.

"Please," she whimpers.

The word sends a surge of power through me. Yes, beg. Show me how much you need this—need me. I'm the only one who can give you what you crave. The only one who sees the real you.

My fingers dig into her hips hard enough to bruise. Mine. Mine. Mine. Each rock of her body against mine is a symphony of surrender.

I break away from the kiss, every cell in my body screaming in protest. Clara's lips are swollen, her chest heaving against mine. The scent of her arousal fills the car, making my cock twitch. But no. Not yet. Everything has to happen as planned.

"I should get you home." My voice comes out rougher than intended.

Clara blinks, awareness creeping into her lust-filled eyes. A delicious blush spreads across her cheeks as she scrambles off my lap, nearly hitting her head on the car's roof.

"Oh God." She smooths her dress down, avoiding my gaze. "I'm so sorry. I don't normally... I mean, I've never..."

I adjust myself in my pants, hiding my smirk as her eyes dart to the movement. "Don't apologize. You're magnificent."

She settles back into her seat, fidgeting with the hem of her dress. The silence stretches between us as I start the car, thick with unspoken desire. Clara keeps her thighs pressed tightly together, and I know she's soaked through her panties.

"I feel like such an idiot," she whispers. "Throwing myself at you like that."

I reach over and squeeze her thigh. "Trust me, Clara. We'd still be kissing if I didn't have an early meeting tomorrow."

The lie slides easily off my tongue. I want to drag this out, making her desperate for me. When I finally take her, she'll be begging for it.

She relaxes slightly at my words, but her embarrassment lingers in how she holds herself. Perfect. Let her think she's the one who lost control. Let her wonder what I think of her.

I drive through the snowy streets, my body thrumming with satisfaction. Everything is proceeding as planned.

7

CLARA

Istare at my phone for the hundredth time today, willing it to buzz with a message from Silas. The memory of last night burns my cheeks because I threw myself at him like some desperate teenager.

God, what was I thinking?

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