Page 19 of Carnal

I grit my teeth and race out of the neighborhood and down the street to where my truck is parked. I quickly put it in drive and speed away, taking off my mask before I reach the main road. It’s only when I’m parked down the street from my flower’s house again that I realize my dick is still out and laying flaccidly on my thigh.

My head falls back tiredly against the headrest, and now I'm dripping with sweat. I shove myself back into my pants and decide to go home instead of sneaking inside Essence’s house again; it’s not a good idea for me to go in there right now with the way I'm feeling.

Sighing, I leave her street and go home.

CHAPTER 14

ESSENCE

ME:

Can you come back?

I’ve been chewingon the inside of my cheeks for the past two hours as I wait for his response.

Is that too desperate of me? Am I being clingy?

Sighing, I toss my phone onto my bed and lie down. Lunchbox whimpers from the floor, but I'm too tired to get up and get him.

My interaction with the masked man replays in my mind over and over no matter how hard I try to get him out of my head, which is why I texted him. My body still desperately craves him, and I need a reprieve. Also, I need him here with me to fill the void that Evan’s left.

I don’t want him to come home. I just want to be done with him, but every time the thought crosses my mind, I dismiss it.

I’m a coward—I'm afraid of what Evan might do to me when I do finally break up with him. At least I have my stalker to protect me.

Did I really just think that?

Now I know that I've officially lost my mind.

When my phone buzzes, I scramble to pick it up. I grin stupidly when I see that it’s a text from him, but it falls when I read what he’s written.

UNKNOWN:

I can’t.

It’s okay. Rejection is a natural part of life, or whatever it was that self-proclaimed “relationship guru” said in her latest video on social media.

That doesn’t stop the sinking feeling in my stomach or the embarrassed blush on my face.

My thumbs hover over my phone’s keyboard as my mind races with everything I want to say, but before I can type out a response, he beats me to it.

UNKNOWN:

I’m sorry, little flower. I’ll see you tomorrow.

ME:

When?

The three gray dots pop up and disappear several times before they finally stop altogether. What was he going to say? Did something happen tonight?

Now I’m worried, and I want to text him again, but I also don’t want to be pushy.

I sigh and turn my screen off, deciding to just leave him alone for the night. Lunchbox’s whines start to grate on my nerves, so I pick him up and let him lay next to me.

“You know Evan doesn’t like it when you sleep on the bed,” I warn him, but he just looks at me with those adorable eyes and licks my nose. I smile and snuggle him against me, settling in for the night.

The fire roars behind me as I run through the house in search of an exit.