Page 9 of Stalker Santa

“Oh my god!” I collapse onto the floor, and then I suddenly remember I'm naked. I grab my sweater and pull it over my head, not even bothering with my bra.

“Zoe.” Alex drops to his knees before me and grabs my hands.

I yank them from his grasp as if I've been burned.

“Don't touch me!”

His eyes are pleading, and it tears at my heart.

“This changes nothing,” he says adamantly. “I meant everything I said to you last night. I'm consumed with you, Zoe. You're the only thing I care about in this entire world.”

I shake my head as reality comes crashing down on me. “I don't even know you.”

“Yes, you do,” he insists. “Last night was real. I know you felt this thing between us. Otherwise, you wouldn't have givenyourself to me because I know you. You're careful. You don't make spur-of-the-moment decisions like that. You felt it too. We're meant to be together.”

My entire body is shaking as I pull on my pants and grab my phone before I start heading through the door, my only thought to get out of there.

My stomach feels like lead weights have been dropped into it, and I don't know what to believe.

Alex is right. I know the way I felt last night, but this morning has changed everything. He's been stalking me, invading my privacy for over a year.

I feel deceived, yet at the same time, I can still feel his kisses on my skin. Anger and fear and the desire to fling myself into his arms and sob this all out against his chest war for dominance in my head.

Confusion overtakes me, and I just need time to think—away from him.

“Zoe, wait!” he calls after me, and I turn to see his bare-chested form barreling toward me. He’s pulled on a pair of joggers, and he looks just as sexy as he did last night and this morning.

Something about that causes panic to flare in my chest, and I take off running. I just know that if he touches me, I’ll burst up in flames.

I fly through his front door, and then I'm running toward the stairs, my heart pounding a staccato rhythm in my chest as I try to flee him.

“Zoe!” he calls my name again, and I chance another look back to see how close he is to me.

As I do, I feel myself stumble, and then I'm falling backward.

I scream as my arms flail.

“Zoe!” I hear Alex's panicked voice call again.

And then nothing.

Seven

Alex

I drop my head onto Zoe's hand, unable to take the sight of her unmoving form lying in the hospital bed any longer.

I’m a wreck. My soul is torn in two seeing my little angel like this.

This is all my fault. I scared her away with my intensity. I should have never approached her. I should have just kept admiring her from afar. This is what I was afraid of all along, that my obsession would end up hurting her.

It’s been twelve hours, but she still hasn't woken up, and I'm panicking. If she doesn't wake up, I don't know what I'll do. I can't eat. I can't sleep. I should die for what I've done to her.

I gather her fragile hand into both of mine and kiss her knuckles gently as I plead with her once again, “Come on, Zoe. Please wake up. I'm so sorry, princess. I never meant to hurt you. I would never harm a hair on your head. I love you, Zoe. God, I can't survive in a world without you in it, and if that means I have to let you go and live without you, then somehow, I'll do it. Just wake up, sweet girl. I’ll leave you alone if that's what youwant. Just come back to me. Just open your eyes. Please.” My voice cracks as tears stream down my cheeks.

I can't remember the last time I cried, but my heart's been gutted. Seeing the love of my life like this has me shaken beyond measure. I mean what I say. I'll do whatever she wants if she'll just wake up and be okay.

“Alex.”

---