Page 99 of Sinner

Perhaps the strangest aspect of all was how much I missed him. Maybe I was more romantic than I’d allowed myself to believe. I bit my lip, closing my eyes briefly as I enjoyed the few naughty images floating through my mind.

Blip.

The slight noise caught my attention immediately. I spun around to face my laptop, staring at the screen from a distance. Someone had answered my question.

I was nervous and there was an easy explanation for why. I walked closer, holding my breath as I sat down in the chair.

The words weren’t flowery in any manner.

Stay away from the Obsidian Society. People disappear.

The name was certainly creative. XXX. Really?

I wasn’t going to let this go without an explanation. If a whole bunch of people had disappeared, then why hadn’t it been all over the news? People didn’t just vanish without an investigation into the incidents. Come on. I was no fool.

What do you mean?

I stared at the screen for what had to be five minutes, realizing I’d suddenly consumed half the glass. Why was I a nervous wreck? There was nothing to indicate the game would be dangerous. I nibbled in my inner cheek with enough ferocity I suddenly tasted blood.

My stomach churned as I waited.

Talk to me. I need more than that.

Maybe the jerk could read into my words that I was already losing patience. Two minutes passed.

Five.

I moved to the screen name and groaned. Whoever XXX was had logged off. Bastard.

A flush of anger washed over me and I stood, storming toward the window. The mystery guest was still out there. How would he react if I walked across the street and offered him a drink? Or perhaps a cookie? I laughed at the silly thought.

This was nuts. What was he doing?

With my arms folded, I continued staring out at the street, daring him with my mind to show himself. Of course he wouldn’t. That wasn’t his style. He preferred slinking around in the darkness in masks. As much as I’d craved the concept of fucking a man in a mask, I was beginning to wonder if my loss of sanity had been short lived.

Now I was becoming annoyed with the game. I hadn’t even touched the headset since I’d been tucked into bed on Saturday night.

I craned my neck as I’d done several times before, catching a brief glimpse of a dark figure standing across the street in front of my neighbor’s house. He appeared like a statue, not moving. What did he think he was doing?

Maybe he was waiting for all the lights to be turned off. Fuck it. I wasn’t planning on giving him the satisfaction. I guess he could cut the power for fun, adding another layer to our good times.

I snorted from the thought, but jumped by a few inches when I heard the doorbell. After another quick flash of my gaze across the street, I realized it wasn’t him. And still my heart pumped hard in my chest as I made my way to the front door.

With lights by both sides, I was able to grab a quick look through the frosted glass. Long hair gave it away; Xander wasn’t standing on my front porch. Unless he’d upped his disguise.

Unlocking it, I jerked open the door. Stephanie stood on my doorstep, seemingly shocked at my unusual response to a visitor.

“Wow. You scared me half to death,” she muttered.

“You knew I was here because my car is in the driveway.”

“I guess, but whew.” She held out her arm. “You left your jacket in my car the other night. I was kind of driving right by and thought I’d drop it off.”

“You were driving right by, huh? Liar.”

She shrugged. “Okay, I’m not going to lie. I thought you were going to call me on Sunday, but it’s Tuesday.”

I opened the door wider so she could walk in. But as soon as she passed by me, I stuck my head out the door, scanning the street for any sign of him.

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