Page 5 of Deadly Obsession

THREE

JAMES

Once I had Sera unhooked from the tree, I untied her wrists and retrieved my tomahawk. Putting her over my shoulder before I started back towards the cabin.

After we’d both gotten off, she’d passed out from what I could only assume to be the adrenaline crash, the release of so much sexual tension and extreme exhaustion— it’d be early morning where she was from right now.

Once inside, I locked the front door behind me and took her upstairs to the main bedroom initially reserved for her and one of the other girls—a change I’d already arranged with Lyndsey, our designated travel planner.

When I’d first found out Sera would be arriving early, I’d started putting the entire plan together.

I’d known from the start that her best friend in the Discord, Danielle, would likely offer to arrive early as well so that Sera wouldn’t be alone.

So, naturally, I’d had to fill Danielle in on my idea so that she wouldn’t show up and spoil things.

She couldn’t have been more pleased to assist; though I don’t think she was too thrilled about giving up the main suite.

Oh well.

Placing Sera down across the bed gently, I paused for a moment, unable to pull my eyes away from her elegant form.

The woman I’d begun falling for months ago, from a different time zone, was right here in front of me.

Her black hair lying loosely on the bed over her shoulders, her exposed breasts even more amazing in person than I had dreamed.

Every inch of her was better than I’d imagined.

Were she awake right now and able to hear my thoughts, surely she’d argue about her hair or claim that the faint tiger stripes she’d earned from becoming a mother made her less than perfect. And to that, I’d tell her she was mad.

Smirking, I shook my head at the fake conversation I’d just played out in my mind and stepped off towards the bathroom.

I’d already been at the house for hours, setting a few things up before I saw Sera’s Uber come down the road. I’d hidden my truck off near the tree line by the large stream, knowing it wouldn’t be seen from the driveway especially in the night.

Stepping over to the large copper freestanding tub, I ran the water and dropped in a bath bomb before turning to move back to the bedroom.

I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and paused.

I was dressed head to toe in black tactical gear with a mask that looked as if it came right out of one of her favorite books.

It wasn’t terribly different from the aesthetic I’d put on my own TikTok videos, but it was certainly more military. More intimidating too.

Pulling the mask off my head, I turned it in my hands, taking in the paint job I’d given it to make it more unique, more terrifying, while leaving my eyes the focus.

I set it on the bathroom counter, crossed back into the bedroom, and stripped down to my briefs, dropping my clothing into the dirty clothes hamper.

Then I walked towards the bed and smiled down at Sera as I carefully removed what remained of her pajamas, scooped her up into my tattooed arms, and carried her into the bathroom.

Stopping just before the tub when our joint reflection in the mirror caught my eye this time, and I paused to take in the sight .

It was almost poetic. She looked so small and delicate. Her fair, slightly sun-kissed skin decorated with the occasional fine-line tattoo, an elegant contrast to my fur-covered chest, the majority of my body forever marked with a mix of scars and ink.

Looking at her, my mind drifted back to how it all began in December of last year.

I’d been at the social media thing for a little over a year by then, built up a decent following, and made a handful of good friends.

After a long day outside mending fences and tending to the herd, I was worn down to the core.

By the time I’d stumbled into my own one-bedroom home on my family’s ranch, it was a wonder I’d had the energy to even rinse off in the shower before getting in bed.

Pulling a Budweiser from the mini-fridge that doubled as a nightstand, I popped the top, letting the cap fall to the floor, and grabbed my laptop. My family had no idea about my secret online life as “Mustang.” They wouldn’t understand it one bit.

My parents were very old-school, southern-Baptist ranchers, just like their parents before them, and theirs before that, and so on and so on.

I was their pride and joy. A high school football star, Marine war hero (in their eyes), and the future of Sunrise Ranch.

There was no chance of them understanding or approving of my persona: “Mustang” the dark romance reader and masktoker.

And they certainly wouldn’t approve of me writing things like my current passion project, a dark romance book of my own making.

Laughing to myself, I took a sip from the beer and set it down before opening my laptop, TikTok already popping up on my screen.

I clicked the refresh button, and my notifications appeared, more than I had the energy to go through.

I did, however, like to respond and “liked” most comments to keep engagement.

It was then that a comment on one of my recent videos caught my eye.

The video was filmed in one of the barns on the property, the camera aimed at a small flatbed trailer parked inside.

The song “Jekyll and Hyde” by Five Finger Death Punch played and as the music dipped, a body fell from out of the camera’s view, landing with a thud that shook the trailer.

A moment later, I dropped down beside it—dressed in a black muscle tee, black denim jeans, and boots with my face painted black beneath my cowboy hat and skull-face mask.

The video played on repeat as I focused on not so much the comment itself but the display photo and username of the account.

It was a close-up of a pair of beautiful brown eyes, while an elegant and feminine skull mask covered her from the nose down.

I screenshotted the display picture and zoomed in on the eyes.

Found you.

Clicking on her username “MorphineKiss,” I was brought to her profile and began sifting through it.

“Thirty-three-year-old masktoker, UK… Well, hello.”

Over the next few hours, I went through and watched every one of her videos, getting to know her.

I knew her favorite book series was the Vicious Lost Boys by Nikki St. Crow, and her favorite male main character so far was Vayne, The Dark One .

I’d read the books already. I would have to make some themed content tomorrow to help bait her attention even more.

Her choice in books and favorite character told me quite a bit about her as well. She likely had a shadow daddy kink that went along with being chased, consensual non-consent, and other triggers and kinks of that nature— perfect.

The only frustrating piece of information I learned going through her profile was that she likely lived in (or very close to) a city called Leeds in the United Kingdom, based on the fact she’d tagged it as her location in at least ten videos.

Adjusting my position on my bed, I shook my head. I would have to teach her to be more careful with how much information she put out there. Deciding to subtly initiate things, I clicked the “follow back” button and shut my laptop, setting it on the fridge and going to sleep.

The next day, I’d woken up to a wave emoji, a compliment on my content, and a “thanks for the follow!” After that, we’d messaged one another consistently throughout the entirety of the day.

On the nights she didn’t work, she’d stay up late so that I could message her or sneak calls to her between chores on the ranch.

Some days, I’d saddle up one of the horses and FaceTime her through the entire ride, promising that one day I’d have her on a horse right beside me—once I taught her how to ride, of course.

Lost in the memories, a shifting in my arms pulled my attention back down to the angel beside me. Her eyes fluttered open before closing again. “James, it is you.” Sera smiled.

Chuckling softly, I moved back to the tub and carefully eased her into the warm water. “Yes, it’s me, Harps. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

My arms sank below the surface as I eased her body into the warm, scented water.

My hand had barely enough time to reach up and cut off the tap when her eyes shot open again with far more awareness this time.

She sat upright, splashing water over the side.

And then I was trapped in a very wet and surprisingly strong hug as Sera threatened to pull me into the tub with her as my balance was put off.

“Oh my fates! I can’t believe you’re here in person! Wait—” Her excitement washed away in what I suspected was a mix of shock, embarrassment, and confusion.

Pulling back, Sera crossed her arms over her breasts, her eyes moving side to side as she took in the room and then locked her eyes on me. Allowing her the moment, I moved back on my knees, adjusting a few times at the discomfort caused by my now-drenched briefs.

“The mask… that was you… James!” she exclaimed, her jaw dropping. But soon after, the smile I’d been staring at through my phone’s screen for the better half of a year emerged .

All I could do at that moment was nod my head. “Yeah, princess. Hope I didn’t scare you too bad,” I said with a smirk.

“You ass! Fuck that! That was hot.” Her hand reached out for me once more, and I leaned forward, mimicking the gesture.

With each of us cupping the back of the other’s head, our lips crashed together in repeated assaults, my teeth instinctively biting at her bottom lip. The rhythm broke, however, when she pulled back. And before I knew it, my cheek was stinging from a swift slap.