Page 39 of Into Ruin

His low chuckle fills the room. “Go scuttle back to your room and check if you don’t believe me.”

I… I’m going to do just that. I avoid his gaze, and something on his desk catches my attention.

A single, crushed rose.

Pink, if I had to guess.

My stomach somersaults, and humiliation burns through me. It’s hot and quick, sealing my mortification. Itwashim. He took what I admitted to my brother, what we explained about the stalker, and used it to spike fear through me.

All without seeing my reaction.

Is that why he pulled that from the outside bin? Just to get another taste of my terror?

Well, he’s not going to get it now.

I pivot and flee, and I don’t stop until I’m back in the safety of my room. I grab my phone, charging on the new nightstand Royal got me, and open the WatchMe app.

Sure enough, the sole account I follow has changed its name. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but my stomach swoops at the sight.

The Voyeur.

17

CAMDEN

Editing the footage of the blow job takes time. It also makes me relive it, and before long, I’m hard again. I rewatch it once through, then post it. It’s been over an hour—what are the odds Harper went to bed?

Guess I’m about to find out.

My gaze flicks to the rose on my desk. I had grabbed it out to ask her about it, but she only cast a fleeting glance and then rushed away. Maybe the roses came from Connor or Lucas. Or Royal. It wouldn’t be the first time a girl has given a guy flowers. Sure, it’s a bit odd… The trash already went out, though, and I’d feel a little more like a creep if I questioned the guys.

Something about roses tickles at my memory, but I can’t remember the significance.

I sneak into the hall and creep down toward Harper’s room. I imagine she checked her phone for the name on the account. As promised, I erased all signs of her real name, replacing it with little things to needle her. Calling her a voyeur was just the icing on the cake. There are references to peeking into her world. In this scenario,she’snot the voyeur—her followers are.

And maybe I am, too.

Did she understand?

Her door is unlocked—another sign I take with a smile.

Is she asleep? Or perhaps she’s waiting for me?

I slip into her darkened room and pause, my back to the closed door. I was around while Royal and Lucas assembled the furniture and hefted the mattress up the staircase, but I didn’t offer to help. Even if I’m all for Harper being within easy reach, I didn’t want to give Royal any ideas about my enthusiasm.

Maybe enthusiasm is the wrong word.

I’m just… horny.

Obsessed.

Her deep breathing fills the room, and I latch on to that noise. She must’ve already been tossing and turning, because she’s flat on her stomach, one leg hiked up and exposed. The blankets are rumpled, barely covering her.

And, oh, she’s naked.

Naughty Harper.

I set up my phone to record, taking a moment to check the angle and lighting. It’ll do. I shed my clothes off-camera and approach her. My movements are slow and steady. Peel down the blankets. Expose her body.

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