Page 41 of Untamed

There’s no maybe about this. Heistalking to me.

The camera pans in slightly, framing his masked face, those eyes growing so serious my breath catches. “A gentleman does what’s right. Plays by the rules.” He’s shaking his head, then leans in closer, the movement deliberate. I watch the veins in his neck stand out slightly as he speaks with quiet intensity. “I would break every rule, every law to keep you safe.” The pause that follows is intentional, almost cruel, the tension crackling through the screen as he holds his breath.

“I would stop at nothing. No one…”His voice drops to a lower register, rougher. “And I mean,no onewould ever harm a hair on your head.”

He doesn’t say it, but I hear his words loud and clear…

Except me.

Still, the thought of Shawn in town and all that entails reminds me how nice it would be to have exactly this.

No.

He stalked me. I don’t know him.

I can’t trust him.

For a moment, the silence lingers, heavy and charged. The video ends abruptly, leaving behind the sound of my own shallow breathing and the thunderous pounding of my heart.

With trembling fingers, I click my message as text after text comes in. I don’t want to look at those. They’re Shawn, I know it.

Instead I pull uphis.

Bratvabloodline

Morning, little queen. Did you sleep well?

I need to take back some control here, so I don’t answer and instead click the message from my friend.

Bookbabe

OMG. Ember. EMBER. This guy is so into you!

Into me or stalking me?

I can’t tell her the truth. I don’t want to. It’s… too personal, somehow.

Bookbabe

What if he’s LEGIT? What if he really is this…sexy af guy who’s super into you?

How do I break this to her?

Strange way to flirt, no?

Bookbabe

Well, not really. He knows what you’re into. You’re basically like hey, so role playing a book girl into a masked man is my thing and he’s all, lemme show you the fantasy RIGHT HERE AND I LOVE YOU

He didn’t say he loves me

Bookbabe

Pfft. Girl. He’s posting videos directed at you four times a day. Some of the thirstier girls are a little jealous that he only ever responds to YOUR comments.

I blink. Wait. What? He does?

My head pounds. I should’ve made that stupid coffee.

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