Page 148 of Brainwashed

Okay,boyfriendis probably a stretch, Felix. He’s just a doctor who’s been studying you, who occasionally likes to kiss and fuck you. It doesn’t mean you’re getting married. Manage your expectations.

“Your fingers are wiggling,” Dr. Love rumbles.

“And my hands are sweaty,” I sigh. “I know. I’m sorry. I’m just so excited to be outside again. This little patch of woods is…” I pause to look around, sucking in a long inhale of ocean air. Glancing up at the dark sky, I spot a few stars twinkling between the trees, and hum, “Breathtaking.”

He stops walking, which in turn stops me, since we’re handcuffed together. I peek at him, gulping instinctively at his dark, domineering presence, amber eyes alit with something mischievous and sexy and sort of scary. It turns me the fuck on.

“Come,” he demands softly, yanking me to him by our cuffed wrists.

I stumble into him and he grabs me by the throat, gripping it gently yet rough enough to cut off just a little oxygen. Our eyes meld together, and I wish like hell I could hear what he’s thinking. He’s such a mystery to me.

The only thing I know in this moment is that this isnew, for both of us.

“If you weren’t cuffed right now… what would you do?” he asks softly, the severity in his gaze giving me chills.

“I would still be standing right here,” I murmur truthfully. “I just… I want to be near you.”

Something flashes over his face, his forehead lining for just a moment. I witness his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat before he pulls a key out of his pocket.

“I have an idea.” He unlocks the cuffs, dropping them onto the forest floor.

Then he turns and walks away.

“Wait…” I mumble, following after him. “Where are you going??”

He peers at me over his shoulder, giving me a knowing sort of look, but doesn’t say a word. Just continues walking. I stop for a second.

He wants me to… follow him?

No.He wants me tochasehim.

A chill of excitement rushes through me. I haven’t stalked in so long… I’m not sure if I’ll even remember how.

Slinking around a tree, I watch him stomping along the beaten path. I observe him while tiptoeing as quietly as possible to the next tree, keeping myself hidden. And it comes back to me, like muscle memory.

Keeping my steps light, I follow him. Holding my breath to stay silent.The way my pulse pumps steadily, in control, enlivens me. The adrenaline working up my zeal, while also keeping me in line.

I allow Dr. Love to stay about twenty feet ahead of me while I trail him, loving the shit out of this game so much my fingers are twitching. He’s really acting like I’m not here, and it’s making my dick so hard, I have to flip it up into the waistband of my pants.

We reach this old crumbling rock wall and Dr. Love walks toward it, taking a couple of small steps inside an alcove that gives me creepySecret Gardenvibes, especially at night. I’m obsessed with it.

I would live out here if I could.

There are plants everywhere, some alive, some dead. But even amongst the ruin of whatever this is, there are spots of vibrant color. Early summer sprinkles brightening up the gloom. A patch of yellow Dahlias catches my eye, and I have to remind myself I’m supposed to bestalking, not stopping to smell the flowers.

We pass a large building that looks like a house of some kind. And then we approach a sort of greenhouse structure, and to my surprise, Dr. Love opens the door and walks inside. Of course I follow him.

There are even more interesting flowers in here. The smell is fantastic. A heady combination of ocean and floral, herbs and wet soil. I’m inheaven. I never thought I would get to smell the outdoors again, and here I am with my favorite fragrance filling my nostrils. Not to mention that I’m close enough to Dr. Love to smell him, and his scent is just the most delicious thing ever, especially when mixed with the woodsy aroma.

I’m so distracted that I don’t even notice he’s dipped in a different direction. I seem to have lost him, my head flinging left and right as I look around frantically.Dammit.

Wandering carefully in between the rows of plants and flowers, shrubberies and small trees, I check for any sign of him. I listen closely, but it’s completely silent. The only thing I can hear is my heartbeat rapping inside me.

Suddenly, I’m ripped left by a firm grip on my wrist.

Dr. Love shoves me up against a beam in between a bunch of flowers. Petals flutter around us while I breathe a gasp of surprise. He presses himself into me, his lips going to my ear.

“And you’re supposed to be the dangerous one?” His large body traps me, draping me in his warmth. “I’m not impressed.”