Page 14 of Done Waiting

My gaze drops to her sleeping form.It’s unfortunate Maddie is the Ice Queen’s daughter. From all that I’ve learned about her and continue to learn, she could be the perfect woman for me.

But that’s not our destiny.

I stealthily climb out her window onto the tree branch, closing it behind me. I allow myself one final glance before climbing down the tree.

Once my feet are on the ground, I tilt my head to her window again.Don’t worry, baby girl. I’ll be back.

Turning, I head toward the woods to get to my truck.

6

THE STALKER

My eyes pop open, horror filling me as I reality seeps into my brain. I turn my head, spotting the empty space beside me in my bed, my hand stretched out as though I’m reaching forher.

Son of a bitch.

Collapsing on my pillow, I yank my hand back, disgusted with myself for my behavior.I’m fucking reaching out for her in my goddamn sleep. What the fuck?

I push my hair back from my face, an aggravated sigh leaving me. I knew it was a fucking risk, climbing into her window like that. I should have resisted the urge but was powerless, seizing the opportunity to see her up close.

I didn’t expect her to break from her grief while she was sleeping. And I sure as hell didn’t expect my reaction, watching her helplessly flounder, barely able to breathe beneath the waves dragging her under. I couldn’t watch her drown, especially when I understood. I’m empathetic to her grief because I lost the most important person to me years ago, and it altered my world forever.

My reaction to her terrifies me. I expected I would stare down at her while she slept, thinking of all the ways I could please her before ultimately hurting her, torturing and breaking her in every way possible. She’s my enemy’s daughter, after all. I figured I would be unable to resist touching her beautiful body, then crawling back through her window and leaving.

Instead, she clung to my hand, whispering that she was safe, and damned if I didn’t lose all reason.

She reached for me, clinging to my hand. I stroked her skin softly, tenderly, a lover’s caress.What the fuck is wrong with me?I’m not like that. I take what I want from the women I’ve fucked. Sure, I’m experienced and know what a woman likes, but I don’t do soft and gentle. I’m straight down to business, using foreplay as a means to get the pleasure I seek. I’ve handcuffed and whipped my share of women who were into that sort of thing, then pounded into them relentlessly until I exploded with my release.

Then I leave.

The women I’ve been with know not to contact me for anything other than a fuck, and they know when I contact them, it’s for one thing and one thing only.

I don’t do anything that remotely would imply togetherness, a relationship of some sort, becausenoonesleeps in my bed but me. I’m focused on my vengeance mission, which dwarfs all else in my life. But I’m also this way because of my nightmares.No fucking way do I want to explain that to anyone.

Yet, there I am, going against my own plans, seizing an opportunity to be close to her. Touching her gently, letting her hold onto my fingers like a life raft.

Giving her a false sense of security.

And now, I’m fucking reaching out for her in my own damned bed, no less.

Jesus Christ.Get your shit together, Jagger.

Yes, my monster growls, judgmental red eyes flashing from rage.What the hell were you doing last night?

Exhaling a long breath, I open my eyes, in control once again.Part of my plan. My lips curl in a malicious smile.It’s time to get on with it. My target is closer than ever.

My phone dings, a text from Jason on my screen. I don’t have the time or patience to deal with his intrusive questions, so I ignore it. Rolling out of bed, I pad across my floor to the bathroom, my dick hard from thinking about her.

Turning on the hot water, I strip my boxers from my sore body. Between beating the fuck out of that asshole police officer to extract information that leads to the next enemy on my list before attending Maddie’s father’s funeral as an uninvited guest, then climbing through her window and remaining bent over her prone form for hours, my back is killing me.

I grin as I step inside the shower. Sticking my head beneath the spray, I picture the bloody, mangled face of one of the loyal dickheads to the Ice Queen. Officer Thompson mistakenly believed she’d save him.

Pressing my hands against the wall, the water pounds on my back, a malicious smile curling my lips. I cut that asshole’s fingers off, one by one, his wails grating on my nerves. I kept asking him when the Ice Queen was going to swoop in and save him, but after a while, I got bored. As I threw his body on the wood pile and created a nice bonfire deep in the woods, I yelled over his screams, “Is she here yet?”

His body is now pieces of charred ashes, his soul going straight to hell for his sins. It’s better that way. Thompson can no longer molest the boys at the church he religiously attended every Sunday.

I grin, my body relaxing beneath the warm water.But not this Sunday.

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