Page 39 of Shadowed Obsession

But enough of that. Let’s not be a downer when the night is still young.

I escape the crowd and climb atop a barstool, suddenly overcome with the feeling that I’m being watched. A feeling I’ve grown familiar with, but tonight he feels more present. As if he’s in the building right now.

What if he is?

My heart rate picks up at the thought of him watching me in plain sight. My curiosity piques as I swivel on the stool to search the crowded room for a similar build but come up short. If I can’t even get a day off from being stalked on mybirthday, I will be livid. There’snoway he’d risk being seen without his mask.

Or would he?

Of course I wonder what he looks like beneath his mask, even going as far as wondering what’s underneath his clothes. I won’t pretend that I haven’t dreamt about him or what those muscles would feel like on top of me. Because I have,manytimes since the break-in.

His gruff voice in my ear, pained and desperately encouraging me to let go, is a frequent thought, which I’m not ashamed to admit…to myself. I’ll attribute that to my recent audio erotica and audiobook interests. Adding in the fact that it’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed any type of attention from a man, and it’s a recipe for lusting after my stalker.

Toys are amazing, but sometimes you just need rough, calloused hands on your body and piercing eyes staring into your soul as you succumb to their every grip, lick, and thrust.

Whew. These are not thoughts I should be having here or about him.

A melodic drawl yanks me from my fantasy as the bartender speaks, sliding a tumbler across the counter to me.

“A cherry smash. For you, ma’am.”

“Huh?” I ask with knitted brows. I’ve been drinking amaretto sours all night.

I didn’t order anything. Did I?

“From the gentleman over there,” she adds, pointing to a now empty stool to her left. “Oh, well, hewasthere a moment ago.”

She chews on her lip as she eyes me and leans in close, as if she means to tell me a secret. “Between you and I, that man was fine as hell. A face I’ll never forget.”

I stifle a laugh at her enthusiasm before responding, “If he was fine like that, I hope I see him too.”

“You’ll know when you do. Enjoy yourself, hun! Holler if you run into any trouble.”

“Will do. Thank you,” I add with a smile, returning to my friends gathered around a cocktail table.

“Girl. That man has been looking at you all night,” Alora says into my ear, tilting her head toward a group of men seated in a VIP section.

Back in Brooklyn, when I’d go out with my girls, I wasn’t usually the center of attention. However, since I’ve moved to Texas, my full curves are greatly admired and appreciated. It’s taking some getting used to, though, not that I mind it.

“Who?” I ask, whipping my head in that direction.

“Don’t make it obvious, shit. Ol’ boy over there.” Skye jerks her head, looking even more obvious than I did.

When we lock eyes, he flashes a devious grin, and to make matters worse, he has dimples. Heisfine, but I can tell by his build that he’s not Scar, which leaves me slightly disappointed. He’s tall and broad, but Scar is larger in stature and without a question could toss me around.

Nope. Let’s unpack that later.

Another thought crosses my mind, a dangerous one. But it could be fun. If Scarishere tonight, a dance with this guy couldbring him out of hiding, giving me a chance to see the man behind the mask.

Confidence swells in my chest, causing me to crook a finger and invite him over. I’m not sure where the bravery came from, but I’ll blame it on dark liquor.

His brows shoot up, and his grin widens. My heart is racing in my chest as the velvet rope lifts and he starts toward me. My skin heats, likely from the alcohol or from the possibility oftwosets of eyes on me.

As he makes his way across the dance floor, the girls squeal in unison, and I stifle a laugh because they’re so damn silly. He greets me with a mischievous grin, closing the distance, and suddenly my phone vibrates in my clutch bag.

Could it be?

I ignore it, keeping my focus on him as he introduces himself.

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