Page 32 of Immersed
“There you are,” the stranger whispered, his breath warm against Levi’s face. “Now we can have some real fun.”
Levi bucked upward, struggling to dislodge the weight pressing him into the floor. The stranger laughed and rose to his feet in an instant, retrieving the knife with a casual flick of his wrist.
“You’ve gotten bolder,” he observed, circling Levi as he scrambled upright. “I like it. Shows initiative.”
Levi backed toward the doorway, gaze fixed on the weapon. The filing cabinet and chair blocked his escape, trapping him in the small office. His back bumped against the desk, momentarily throwing him off-balance.
“Nowhere to run this time,” the stranger said. “Just you and me in this cozy little room.”
The stranger lunged forward, closing the distance between them with frightening speed. Levi darted sideways, avoiding the outstretched hand that grabbed at his shirt. His hip collided with the desk corner, sending a jolt of pain through his already exhausted body.
“You’re quick,” the stranger noted with approval, adjusting his grip on the knife. “But this room is very small, and I know every inch of it.”
They circled each other in the confined space, a deadly dance of predator and prey. Levi’s gaze darted, searching for anything he could use as a weapon. A letter opener on the desk. A heavy paperweight. A brass lamp with a substantial base. All just out of reach while the stranger controlled the center of the room.
“What’s your rush?” The stranger’s voice dropped to a purr as he feinted left, forcing Levi to stumble rightward. “You went to so much trouble to find me. To find Riverbend.” He gestured with the knife toward the walls around them. “Aren’t you curious why I’m here?”
Levi’s shoulder bumped against the filing cabinet, momentarily distracting him. The stranger pounced, seizing the opportunity. But instead of going for the kill, he herded Levi toward the corner, using the threat of the blade to control his movement.
“I’ve been exploring,” the stranger continued. “This town has such interesting history. Would you like to hear about it?”
Levi feinted toward the desk, hoping to grab the brass lamp. The stranger anticipated the move, sliding between him and his target with fluid grace. The knife swept in a wide arc, not to wound but to discourage, forcing Levi back against the wall.
“The mine collapse of 1952,” the stranger said, pressing his advantage. “Twelve men trapped underground. The town tried to dig them out, but the deeper they went, the more unstable the groundbecame.” His gaze never left Levi’s face, even as he maneuvered with spatial awareness. “They had to choose between saving the trapped men or saving the town.”
Levi tried to duck under the stranger’s arm, but found his path blocked by the extended blade. Sweat dripped down his face as exhaustion and terror combined to sap his remaining strength.
“They chose the town,” the stranger finished, backing Levi into the corner where wall met filing cabinet. “Sealed the mine. Left those men to die in the dark.
With nowhere left to retreat, Levi made a desperate grab for the stranger’s wrist, trying to control the knife. For a moment, they grappled, Levi’s fingers wrapped around the stranger’s forearm, feeling the surprising warmth of his skin and the corded muscle beneath.
The stranger allowed the struggle to continue for several heartbeats, seeming to enjoy the contact. Then, with almost casual strength, he twisted free and slammed Levi back against the wall. The knife pressed against Levi’s throat, the cold metal a familiar sensation against his skin.
“There we go,” the stranger whispered, his face inches from Levi’s. “Isn’t this better? More intimate?”
Levi’s chest heaved with rapid, shallow breaths. The stranger’s body pressed against his, bare skin radiating heat through Levi’s thin t-shirt. The knife pricked his throat, a pinpoint of pain that threatened to become catastrophic with the slightest pressure.
“What do you w-want?” Levi managed, voice cracking.
The stranger’s lips curved into a smile that didn’t reach his mismatched eyes. “A real kiss this time.” His free hand came up to cradle Levi’s jaw with disturbing tenderness. “Not that frightened little thing by the river. Something you mean.”
Horror flooded Levi’s system as the stranger’s intention became clear. “N-no—”
The stranger pressed the knife more firmly against his throat, the sharp edge drawing a thin line of blood. “You owe me. I let you find me, after all. I’ve been very patient.” The hand on Levi’s jaw tightened, forcing his face upward. “If you bite me, I’ll cut out your tongue. And then we’ll start over. Understand?”
Levi’s throat worked as he swallowed against the pressure of the blade. A small nod was all he could manage.
“Good boy,” the stranger murmured, voice warming with approval.
The knife eased slightly as the stranger leaned in, his lips brushing against Levi’s with unexpected gentleness. The kiss started soft, almost hesitant—nothing like the violence Levi expected. The stranger’s thumb stroked Levi’s cheekbone with something that felt disturbingly like affection.
Levi stood frozen, eyes wide open, watching the stranger’s face blur with proximity. The knife remained at his throat, a constant reminder of the threat beneath the tenderness. The stranger’s tongue traced the seam of his lips, seeking entry with patient persistence.
Bile rose in Levi’s throat as he forced himself to comply, parting his lips slightly. The stranger made a sound of approval—a low rumble that vibrated through his chest—and deepened the kiss. His hand moved from Levi’s jaw to the back of his neck, fingers tangling in his hair.
It lasted an eternity—gentle yet commanding, tender yet threatening. Despite everything, despite the knife and the terror and the knowledge of what this man was capable of, Levi’s body began to respond. Heat spread through his chest, his heart rate increased forreasons that had nothing to do with fear, and shame burned hotter than the arousal as his body betrayed his mind.
When the stranger finally pulled back, his mismatched eyes were dark with something that made Levi’s stomach twist. The stranger’s breathing had roughened, his pupils dilated.
