Page 7

6

THE STALKER

M y eyes pop open, horror filling me as I reality seeps into my brain. I turn my head, spotting the empty space beside me in my bed, my hand stretched out as though I’m reaching for her .

Son of a bitch.

Collapsing on my pillow, I yank my hand back, disgusted with myself for my behavior. I’m fucking reaching out for her in my goddamn sleep. What the fuck?

I push my hair back from my face, an aggravated sigh leaving me. I knew it was a fucking risk, climbing into her window like that. I should have resisted the urge but was powerless, seizing the opportunity to see her up close.

I didn’t expect her to break from her grief while she was sleeping. And I sure as hell didn’t expect my reaction, watching her helplessly flounder, barely able to breathe beneath the waves dragging her under. I couldn’t watch her drown, especially when I understood. I’m empathetic to her grief because I lost the most important person to me years ago, and it altered my world forever.

My reaction to her terrifies me. I expected I would stare down at her while she slept, thinking of all the ways I could please her before ultimately hurting her, torturing and breaking her in every way possible. She’s my enemy’s daughter, after all. I figured I would be unable to resist touching her beautiful body, then crawling back through her window and leaving.

Instead, she clung to my hand, whispering that she was safe, and damned if I didn’t lose all reason.

She reached for me, clinging to my hand. I stroked her skin softly, tenderly, a lover’s caress. What the fuck is wrong with me? I’m not like that. I take what I want from the women I’ve fucked. Sure, I’m experienced and know what a woman likes, but I don’t do soft and gentle. I’m straight down to business, using foreplay as a means to get the pleasure I seek. I’ve handcuffed and whipped my share of women who were into that sort of thing, then pounded into them relentlessly until I exploded with my release.

Then I leave.

The women I’ve been with know not to contact me for anything other than a fuck, and they know when I contact them, it’s for one thing and one thing only.

I don’t do anything that remotely would imply togetherness, a relationship of some sort, because no one sleeps in my bed but me. I’m focused on my vengeance mission, which dwarfs all else in my life. But I’m also this way because of my nightmares. No fucking way do I want to explain that to anyone.

Yet, there I am, going against my own plans, seizing an opportunity to be close to her. Touching her gently, letting her hold onto my fingers like a life raft.

Giving her a false sense of security.

And now, I’m fucking reaching out for her in my own damned bed, no less.

Jesus Christ. Get your shit together, Jagger.

Yes , my monster growls, judgmental red eyes flashing from rage. What the hell were you doing last night?

Exhaling a long breath, I open my eyes, in control once again. Part of my plan . My lips curl in a malicious smile. It’s time to get on with it. My target is closer than ever .

My phone dings, a text from Jason on my screen. I don’t have the time or patience to deal with his intrusive questions, so I ignore it. Rolling out of bed, I pad across my floor to the bathroom, my dick hard from thinking about her.

Turning on the hot water, I strip my boxers from my sore body. Between beating the fuck out of that asshole police officer to extract information that leads to the next enemy on my list before attending Maddie’s father’s funeral as an uninvited guest, then climbing through her window and remaining bent over her prone form for hours, my back is killing me.

I grin as I step inside the shower. Sticking my head beneath the spray, I picture the bloody, mangled face of one of the loyal dickheads to the Ice Queen. Officer Thompson mistakenly believed she’d save him.

Pressing my hands against the wall, the water pounds on my back, a malicious smile curling my lips. I cut that asshole’s fingers off, one by one, his wails grating on my nerves. I kept asking him when the Ice Queen was going to swoop in and save him, but after a while, I got bored. As I threw his body on the wood pile and created a nice bonfire deep in the woods, I yelled over his screams, “Is she here yet?”

His body is now pieces of charred ashes, his soul going straight to hell for his sins. It’s better that way. Thompson can no longer molest the boys at the church he religiously attended every Sunday.

I grin, my body relaxing beneath the warm water. But not this Sunday.

I’m working my way through my very long list, starting with the least guilty offenders and working to the guiltiest. Which means the Ice Queen is number one on the guiltiest list.

Shutting the water off, I grab a towel, dry my hair then my body. Wrapping it around my waist, I step out, heading to the foggy mirror. Swiping a hand over it, I stare at my reflection. I’m so close to getting the vengeance I’ve craved; I can taste it.

My thoughts automatically go to Maddie. Speaking of tasting… soon, I’ll know what every fucking inch of her tastes like.

With a grin, I spin around, heading to my bedroom. After throwing on boxers, jeans, and a sweatshirt, I head to my nightstand, grabbing my cell phone. Might as well grab a coffee and some donuts before I visit Maddie.

Maybe I should sneak into her bedroom and wake her up? My dick twitches at the thought, picturing her lying on her back in her childhood bed. I’d crawl into bed with her, my body straddling her petite warm body. Her eyes would fly open, then widen from the fear coursing through her. Putting my hand over her mouth, I’d whisper, “Shh, baby girl. Just relax and let me make you feel good.”

And God, I’d make her feel good. I’m a quick learner because I observe what others miss. But I wouldn’t miss a damn thing about her. Every sigh, twitch, groan, flicker in her eye… all of it would be noticed by me. The urge to make her come all over my fingers, face, and dick has my dick so hard it’s like concrete inside my pants, straining against the denim.

Fuck, knock it off, Jagger.

Glancing out the window at the early morning rays of dawn kissing woods, I spring into action. Combing my hair with my fingers, I grab my phone and keys, running down the stairs to the front door of my cabin. Disabling my alarm, I step outside, locking and resetting it as I hurry to my truck.

Jumping into my truck, I start the ignition, then put it in gear, and head down the long, bumpy mountain road, my thoughts on coffee and food, then checking in on my baby girl.

My lips curl up in a smile. I’ll bet Maddie would be pissed about me referring to her as baby girl. I’ll find out soon enough.

The drive to town seems to take forever, even though there’s hardly any traffic this time of the morning. I head to the coffee shop, the smell of donuts making my stomach growl while the scent of coffee beans rejuvenates me.

Devouring the donut as I drive satiates my hunger. I wash it down with hot coffee, then reach for another donut.

By the time I’m parked in the same spot as yesterday, I’ve polished off the food and coffee and practically inhaled my cigarette, anxious to see Maddie.

Once I’ve finished my cigarette, I dispose of it in the container inside my truck, then jog down the alley to the woods.

My breathing is heavy as I return to the spot by the tree, the early morning sun enhancing the shades of red on the maple tree. I look up at Madison’s window, sucking in a breath when she appears, moving closer. Sticking to the shadows, I automatically move toward her, desperate to see her again. More importantly, I want her to get a glimpse of me .

She looks well rested, her cheeks pink instead of the milky white they’ve been for the past week. Her arms go overhead, stretching above her head, as she gazes around.

Then her eyes land on me.

Honey eyes widen and darken into a deeper shade of brown as she stares at me. Her breathing accelerates while her face goes pale.

Oh, baby girl. I could restore color to your face.

I hold her gaze, watching hers roam over my body, her expression full of fear and disbelief. Her hands press against the windowsill as she shifts her weight to one leg, moving closer to the glass.

Mimicking her movements, I step closer, shifting my weight to the same leg. I tilt my head so she can see the smile on my face, knowing the hoodie and the angle of the sun where I’m standing prevents her from getting a good look at my face.

Her reaction is immediate, stirring a need deep within me.

I’m positive she’d be embarrassed if she could see what I see on her face. The hunger in her eyes, her pupils dilating, her chest rising and falling like she’s running in the woods. She barely blinks as she drinks me in with her gaze.

Is there any unconscious awareness that you clung to me while I was in your room last night, baby girl? Something stirring within your unconscious, a familiarity, although you were asleep.

Her lips parted as she stared at me, the longing on her face palpable.

My nerves fire like missiles all at once as I focus all my attention solely on her. My obsession .

Madison’s face contorts from horror, and I could practically hear her admonishing herself for revealing so much to me. When her gaze locked on mine, she was completely unguarded and vulnerable, and I took advantage of it, soaking her in while analyzing her.

She closes her eyes, and I stealthily move out of her view, hiding against the shrubs along her house.

I’m sure she’s doubting herself, feeling like she’s crazy right now.

That’s what I want. It’s part of my plan. I’m going to knock her off balance, her world spinning, as she obsesses over me the way I’ve been over her. I’ll infiltrate her thoughts, just like I’ve infiltrated her senses, making her hyper-aware of me. She’ll desire me, crave me, like I do her.

I wait for several minutes, then move slightly, gaze locked on her window.

She’s gone, just like I figured she’d be.

Moving around the house, I look up at the bathroom window, seeing the light in the window. She must be taking a shower.

I keep moving, trying not to think about her naked, water beading off her skin. Fuck, Jagger, get your shit together.

Continuing around the house, I peer into the kitchen window. The Ice Queen stands at the stove, her back to me. She hums to herself as she cooks.

Her phone beeps, and she plucks it from the counter beside her. Then she turns toward the stairs, craning her neck before pressing some buttons on her phone, and lifts it to her ear.

I strain my ears, my heart rate accelerating, holding my breath as she answers.

“I can’t talk long. Maddie’s here,” she says in a low tone to whomever answers.

Her face clouds from whatever the person on the other end of the phone says. She listens without interruption for a few beats, her face growing red, her hand clenching the phone so hard her knuckles turn white.

“I’ll handle it,” she snaps into the phone. “Since my daughter’s here, I’ll go to work after breakfast.” She looks toward the stairs again, then whispers, “I’ve gotta go. Maddie’s coming.” She hangs up, shoving her phone in the pocket of the khaki pants she’s wearing, then turns back to the stove.

What the hell is the Ice Queen up to?

As Maddie walks into the room, golden hair bouncing behind her in a high ponytail, she greets her mom.

I listen intently to their conversation, raising my brows when Maddie asks where Ben and Chloe are.

I’m intent on Maddie’s reaction as the Ice Queen answers, anger and hope surging inside me. Maddie goes completely still at those words, her shoulders slumping. Her eyebrows furrow before her mood shifts, her lips pinching together from her anger.

But she masks her expression, heading to the refrigerator, her posture still and her muscles rigid. Maddie pretends to be fine, but it’s clear she’s anything but. She’s managing her emotions, knowing the Ice Queen can’t handle it.

“I haven’t checked my messages yet.” Maddie waves her hand dismissively, then opens her bottle of water, taking a long swig. I chuckle at the guilty look on her face. She was too distracted by me to check her phone.

When her mom tells Maddie she’s going to work for a few hours after breakfast, the crestfallen expression on Maddie’s face nearly makes me want to barge inside that house right the fuck now. My fingers grip the windowsill so tightly they turn white.

Maddie forces a smile to her face, her tone even. “It’s fine, Mom. Don’t change your plans. I have some things I can do here…”

Bullshit. It’s not fine. How the fuck is the Ice Queen so blind when it comes to her daughter?

The Ice Queen gives her a big smile. “Oh, and Maddie… I know the reading of your father’s will isn’t for a few days, but he’s leaving you his Mustang.” She nods in the direction of the garage. “If you need to go anywhere…”

Maddie looks like she’s about to cry as she takes a drink, her back to her mom. Lowering the water bottle, she says, “I’m gonna grab my cell. I’ll be right back.”

Frowning, I move around the house to the shade of the maple tree. I don’t have a good view since it’s daylight, but I can see her grab something off her nightstand, probably her phone, and then she turns her back to me, sitting on the bed. I can’t see anything else from this vantage point, so I head back to my earlier spot to observe her and the Ice Queen when Maddie returns for breakfast.

When Maddie returns, sliding into the chair, the Ice Queen slides a plate of food in front of her. “Now you can finally get rid of that car you’ve been driving.” She makes a disgusted face.

“Mom.” Maddie’s voice is stern. Reaching a hand up, she rubs her forehead as though she wishes they weren’t having this conversation. “My car is fine. Sure, it isn’t new like Dad’s, but it gets me where I need to go.” Her shoulders shake from her barely constrained emotions that seem seconds from pouring out of her.

The Ice Queen pauses, her fork to her mouth. “I thought you’d be happier that you’re getting your dad’s car. Why are you crying?”

What the fuck? Insensitive, cold-hearted bitch.

Maddie’s shoulders tense, and she glares at her mother’s back. “They are happy tears, mom.” She takes a calming breath, letting it out. “I’m grateful Dad left me his Mustang.”

“Good. I’ve never understood crying when you’re happy. That must come from your father because you certainly didn’t inherit that from me.”

Seriously, Maddie. Hit that fucking bitch.

Although Maddie is tense as fuck, the words that leave her mouth make me proud. “What can I say? I inherited my best qualities from Dad.”

Oh, sick burn.

The Ice Queen’s spine stiffens. Her knuckles are white around her coffee mug as she lifts it to her lips. Silence descends over the two as they eat breakfast, Maddie focusing on her phone while the Ice Queen silently stews in her anger across from her.

When the Ice Queen heads to the garage to leave for work, Maddie gathers up her dishes. Loading them into the dishwasher, she slams it closed, then heads up the stairs. After checking to ensure the Ice Queen is gone, I move around to the backyard, heading for the spot by the tree to observe Maddie. Squinting, I watch her shadow as it moves around the room. Then she heads to her closet, her body in front of the window.

Fuck. She’s changing her clothes. Damn it, I wish I could get a better view.

Several minutes later, she hurries around the house to the backyard, wearing running attire. She puts earbuds in her ears, then messes with her phone. I shake my head, disappointed in her. She doesn’t glance around even though she saw me earlier.

And then she takes off running, heading for the trail in the woods. I wait until she’s a good distance ahead before following.

Temptation is right in front of me. The opportunity to grab her and whisk her away from all this bullshit. But it’s too much of a risk right now, in broad daylight.

Stick to the plan , I repeat to myself over and over again.

Soon, Maddie will belong to me, I reassure myself.

Then, I’ll begin the process of finally getting my long-awaited revenge.