Page 21

21

RYKER

I cut through the rope binding Kira to my trap, my knife slicing through the fibers with practiced ease. Her body collapses forward, and I catch her against my chest, dropping the knife to cradle her properly. Her sobs vibrate against my skin, each tremor sending unexpected waves of emotion through me.

“Shh, I’ve got you.” I lowered us both to the forest floor. The leaves crunch beneath us as I position her in my lap, her tear-streaked face nestled against my shoulder.

Her body is wracked with each sob, making an instinctive part of me ache. This isn’t part of the original plan—these feelings weren’t calculated into the algorithm of our relationship. I stroke her hair, matted with sweat and forest debris, and press my lips to her forehead.

“You’re safe now. I wouldn’t let anything truly harm you.” The words sound hollow even to me. Aren’t I the one who put her in danger? The contradiction doesn’t matter. In this moment, I am her captor and savior—at least in my mind.

Kira’s hands push weakly against my chest. “Stop,” she chokes out between sobs. “This—isn’t… right. None—of this is—right.”

I ignore her protests, continuing to stroke her hair, her back, wiping tears from her cheeks with my thumbs. Her body remains soft against mine despite her words. I know her better than she knows herself—her body tells me truths her mind refuses to accept.

“Your mind is fighting what your body already understands,” I murmur, kissing her temple, cheek, and corner of her mouth. Each kiss leaves a mark invisible to the eye but imprinted on her soul. “We’re connected, Mischief. You feel it, too.”

“P-pl-ea-se,” she begs, her voice breaking. “Stop.”

But I don’t. I can’t. This moment of vulnerability is too precious, too real. I continue holding her, rocking slightly, my hands moving in soothing patterns across her skin. I kiss away each tear as it falls, tasting the saltiness.

“Let me take care of you,” I breathe against her ear. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”

She’s caught between resistance and the urge to relinquish her power. I hold her tighter, unwilling to let this moment end.

I freeze as Kira’s sobbing gradually quiets against my chest. Her breathing steadies, and I expect her to pull away, to remember who I am, what I’ve done. Instead, she lifts her face to mine, eyes glistening with tears.

I close the distance, needing the connection, the forest around us disappearing for me.

This kiss isn’t desperate or hungry like in the clearing. It’s soft, questioning, almost innocent—a stark contradiction to the woman who screamed my name in release just minutes ago.

“I don’t understand,” she murmurs against my mouth.

Neither do I. This tenderness wasn’t factored into my calculations. The game I constructed for us didn’t include this variable—her seeking comfort from her captor, me melting under her touch. I’ve mapped every square inch of these woods, every possible escape route, every contingency. But I never plotted this course.

Her hand slides behind my neck, pulling me closer as she deepens the kiss. My synapses fire warnings—red flags and alerts—but for once, I silence them. Let the protocol fail. Let the carefully constructed walls crumble.

I cradle her face between my palms, thumbs brushing tears from her cheeks. Our lips move together in a rhythm unlike the frenzied pace we set before. This is discovery, not conquest.

“Ryker,” she breathes my name.

A lump forms in my throat. No one has ever said my name that way—like it’s worth saying, like I’m worth knowing. The databases, surveillance feeds, and lines of code that have defined my existence fade against this singular moment of connection.

I press my forehead to hers, our breaths mingling. “This isn’t part of the plan,” I admit as confusion sets in, the truth torn from somewhere deep inside me.

Her fingers thread through my hair. “Good.” is all she can manage as she releases a shuddering breath.

I pull back slightly, Kira’s warmth still pressed against me as my mind races to recalculate. Tenderness wasn’t part of the algorithm—it wasn’t part of any scenario I designed. Something unscripted is happening between us that terrifies and exhilarates me simultaneously.

“Do you want to continue the game?” The question falls from my lips before I can stop it.

I’ve never intended to give her a choice. Not once in all my planning did I consider offering her an out. The rooms, the levels, the progression—all designed with absolute dominion in mind. This question undermines everything I’ve built, everything I am.

Kira’s eyes search mine, probing depths I’ve never allowed anyone to explore. I resist the urge to look away, to shield myself from her scrutiny. Her gaze strips away layers I’ve spent years constructing.

“Yes,” she whispers, her voice stronger than I expect. “I want to continue.”

My breath catches.

“Despite your fucked up methods.” She traces my jaw with her fingertip, hesitating. “This game is a fantasy come true.”

Her admission sparks satisfaction. This is what I wanted—her acknowledging the seamlessness of my design and the rightness of our connection. But her next words throw me off balance again.

“Except...” she hesitates, “you’re not wearing the mask.”

The Ghost mask. My alter ego. The persona she first connected with.

She doesn’t just want the game—she wants the fantasy intact. The line between captor and lover, between reality and role-play, blurs further in my mind.

I reach into my pocket where I’ve kept the mask, always prepared. The familiar texture grounds me as I pull it out. Kira’s eyes widen, a flash of desire unmistakable in their depths.

I slide the mask over my face, becoming Ghost once more. The transformation is immediate—her breathing quickens, her pupils dilate.

“You can have another twenty-minute head start,” I say, my voice deeper behind the mask.

Kira’s fingers find the edge of my mask, hesitating momentarily. Her eyes lock with mine through the eyeholes, searching for permission or reassurance. I remain still, giving her this small measure of control. She lifts the mask enough to expose my lips, the cool forest air kissing my skin before she does.

This isn’t the tentative kiss from moments ago—this is a declaration. Her lips move against mine with newfound confidence, her tongue teasing the seam of my mouth before slipping inside. I taste her curiosity and defiance—all tangled together in a cocktail more intoxicating than any drug.

My hands find her waist, pulling her closer as she deepens the kiss. She bites my lower lip, reminding me she’s not just prey in this game. The slight pain sends a blaze of pleasure down my spine. God, she’s outstanding. My perfect match. My fingers dig into her hips, wanting to hold her here forever.

But she pulls away, her eyes hooded and dark with desire. The mask falls back into place as she steps backward, creating distance between us. Her chest rises and falls with quickened breath, her lips swollen from our kiss.

“Twenty minutes,” she whispers, turning from me and walking, not running, into the trees.

I’m mesmerized by the sway of her hips and her stride’s confidence. She glances back once, a half-smile playing at the corner of her mouth before disappearing into the forest’s green shadows.

My watch beeps. The countdown begins.

My blood rushes hot through my veins as I imagine finding her again, claiming her, teaching her the next level of our game. She’s learning faster than I anticipated, adapting to each challenge with a natural grace that surprises and delights me.

Everything is falling into place. Better than my simulations predicted. Better than my most elaborate fantasies.