Page 29 of Chasing Hope

But oh my God, that kiss was something else. It felt like she was riding a comet. Being sucked into his orbit. Hope shook her head, tossing away the dangerous thought. It was Ethan for crying out loud! She couldn’t afford to make any emotional connection with him. Nothing good would come out of it. For that matter, nothing good could come out of her relationship with MM either. For God’s sake, she hadn’t even seen the man’s face. Her life was at a crossroads. Hope sighed. When did things get so messy?

‘Looks like Ethan was right. Himesh isn’t going to make a move anytime soon. Nevertheless, I will be here every night till he finally does,’ she said in a resolute tone.

‘And I’ll be right here with you. For however long it takes,’ he promised.

Another swift chilly breeze swirled around them and MM snuggled closer to her. Hope closed her eyes, breathing him in as he tenderly pressed his lips to her temple. ‘Patience is a virtue. Which, sweetcheeks, you clearly lack.’ Goosebumps pranced over her skin at the deep rumble of his chuckle. Hope relished the feel of his stubble grazing the side of her face.

‘Sweetcheeks, huh? Is that the endearment you are going with?’

‘Suits you perfectly. Don’t you think?’ To prove his point, he ran his knuckles along her plump cheeks. Hope’s stomach flipped and desire weaved its way between her thighs. It had been a little over two weeks since they started working together, but Hope had no qualms about sharing stuff with him. He understood her need to save the world in any way she possibly could. Her emails to him were more like a personal journal. On the other hand, he remained guarded and reticent about his personal life. Despite her hounding, he refused to reveal his identity.

‘If you get to know who I am, it will change everything between us. I like where we are at. Trust me, it’s better this way,’ he had said, shutting that particular door firmly. Leaving her no room for negotiation. Hope sighed and gazed at the pallid rays of the moon dancing in sync with the smooth waves.

‘Hope, it’s past two. We should head back. I’m certain they aren’t going to show up today.’

‘Let’s wait a little longer.’ She hoped he would comply. A fraction later he sighed and drew her closer to his hard form. As though he did not want to part ways yet either. For reasons unknown, Hope felt safer with him beside her. Call her crazy, but despite him being a stranger to her there was this uncanny tie between them. He was like that precious secret one never shared in order not to jinx it. Good thing she hadn’t mentioned to her friends her nightly rituals with MM. Knowing how they would react, shit would have not just hit the roof, it would have blown past it. Falling in love with a stranger didn’t speak too highly of her senses. Her lips loosened in a furtive smile.

‘MM?’

‘Hmm…’

Hope’s eyes fluttered closed as his breath fanned her neck. This feltsogood. Dedicated to her career, whatever time she had outside of the office she spent with her friends. On one-off occasions, boyfriends came but left no lasting impression. The word “clueless” summed up her current relationship status.

‘Why did you choose to become a vigilante?’ The second the question left her mouth, Hope regretted it. Every muscle in his body went rigid. The beatific air surrounding them lifted, replaced by a cloud of gloom. Hope unclasped his hold and made a failed attempt to turn around to face him. His arms barricaded her tight against his rapidly beating heart.

Hope lamented at her lack of proper introspection. ‘I’m sorry. I know this is personal and you had made it abundantly clear you—’

‘My mother,’ he said, his voice so soft Hope almost didn't hear him. Hope held her breath as she felt his throat move but no sound left his mouth. A ragged breath hobbled from his chest. ‘I was fourteen when my mother died… she was murdered.’ Hope gasped and an icy fist banded around her heart. His voice faltered as he picked up his words. ‘We were on our way back from church. My mother was the epitome of honesty, kindness and good grace. Things she said she learnt from hergod.’ Bitterness crept into his tone, alarming Hope. ‘Funny thing her god wasn’t around when she was stabbed to death outside his home. A home where his worshipers seek shelter.’ He barked a harsh laugh.

‘My God, I’m so sorry—’

His breathing slowed and he continued to speak, immersed in the secrets of the past. ‘The man who I once called my father is the reason why my mother is buried deep in the ground.’ Unknowingly his arms bound her with painful strength and biting sentences flew about. ‘The bastard was a police inspector. A corrupt one at that. He did unspeakable things out of greed for money and power. He carried on his unscrupulous deeds for several years before his luck finally ran out. Better late than never, huh?’ he said, in the spirit of indulgent irony. ‘Soon he came under the scanner and cut back on his evil deeds waiting for the investigation on him to die down. Grief-stricken and humiliated, my mother was miserable and she took to the church to find solace. Too bad she sought the wrong source.’ His voice lacked any emotion. A quiver of disbelief spurted up her spine. ‘While the investigation was ongoing he received threats from a don to complete a task he had paid him to do. The bastard chose to defy the don and denied delivering his bit. Events took a dreadful turn and my mother ended up paying the price. It took four men to hold me down while I agonisingly watched as they stabbed my mother over and over again leaving her to bleed to death.’ Lapsed in profound and chilling solitude, his body quivered with restrained grief. ‘I erased any link I ever had to him. I took my grandfather’s name. I wanted nothing to do with the bastard. Nothing to ever remind me of him.’ On a sudden uncontrollable outburst of emotions, Hope tore out of his grasp and spun around to face him. A great pang gripped her heart. Drenched in darkness, his features remained hidden from her. Nervously anxious to console him, Hope’s breath trembled as her hands touched his wet cheeks. With his eye patch off, he was completely devoid of any covering.

‘I’m sorry… you had to go through such a horrific episode. Fate has been so cruel to you….’ Her throat closed up as tears tumbled down her cheeks. It all seemed intolerably tragic. Even though she’d known him for a mere two weeks, her heart exhibited an unfathomable link to him. A great shuddering seized him and he lifted her on his lap. Hope embraced him and they submitted themselves to the poignant silence. Clouds floated above them, sheathing the moonlight. Their entwined bodies caught the full strength of the rising winds.

‘All the magic and joy of youth was sucked out of my life…’ A faint tremor shadowed his voice. ‘Somehow I could never let go of the past. After an eternity of resolutions, doubts and indecisions, I plunged into this new life. An alter ego that allowed me to avenge the haunting truth that I was incapable of saving my mother.’

‘You were just a boy! What happened to your mother was gruesome. But the tragedy was not your doing.’ An acute note of distress swam in her voice. ‘Over the years, you have rescued so many people from danger. Ask your survivors how grateful they are to you for saving their lives. You are not alone in this quest. Your mother has angels watching over you.’

‘Hope… I…’ Hope drew forward and captured his sign. Her hands threaded in his hair, reeling him in as her lips parted in keen expectancy. That strong body collided against hers and her heart tripped over its next few beats. She wrapped her legs around him and the space between them shattered to nothingness. Her lips moved over his with a desperate need to make him forget who or what had brought them here. Even if it was momentarily. In that moment, nothing else mattered except making his pain go away.

Swept away by the current of longing and drowning in his strength, in a matter of seconds the tender kiss grew eager and passionate. On a primal growl he gripped her waist and crushed her to his heaving chest. He kissed her like a starved man. Like she was the reason his heart beated. As if he craved her like no other. One hand stayed buried in her hair while the other progressed to trace the swell of her breast. Her nipples hardened as his thumb grazed over the fabric of her top. The friction of his erection between her thigh caused her to drown in a pool of desire. Yearning fired up her insides and she rocked her hips. He hissed as if in pain.

‘Hope, why do I feel like you are my salvation?’ He placed his mouth in the crook of her neck and his heated breath slid along her flesh like liquid honey. Unyielding, he captured her mouth for another round of sweet torment. His tongue slipped past her lips to tempt, taste and tease. Nothing had ever felt this good—

‘Ethan!’

All at once a myriad of emotions exploded within her. Hope gasped and her eyes shot open. Her blood turned to ice. An inexpressible favour of familiarity plagued her. She remembered the shape of his mouth. The firmness and fullness of his lips. The feel of his body was rooted in her brain and refused to let go. Her mind plunged in a pit of disbelief. Conflicting emotions raced through her. Anger, hurt… relief. Her heart broke into a stupendous roar upon discovering the truth.

Masked Man was none other than Ethan.

Ethan and Masked Man were one and the same.

Her Masked Man was Ethan.

Her limbs ran to marble. Whichever way she spun it around, it all boiled down to an undisputed conclusion.

She was totally, completely and utterly screwed.

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