Page 31 of Look My Way (Bloody Desires #1)

Liam

I shield my eyes as the morning’s harsh light invades my room. My body’s heavy as I lift my back from the bed, and my skin’s raw in some areas, but I’m not as sore as I expected to be.

Did he show up? I left my water where he could find it, showering long enough to give him time to slip inside my kitchen to lace it. If he’s been watching me as closely as I hope he is, then he’d have known exactly when the right opportunity came along.

This is all crazy. I can’t believe I’m acting like this is okay.

A man is stalking me and I’m encouraging him to continue while inviting him into my house to drug me.

No telling what could have happened to me while I was out.

There’s a serial killer on the loose, killing men who match my description, and here I am being careless, trusting just anyone.

Zaiver is a stranger. A stranger who has this dangerous vibe about him, but I’m never scared of being alone with him. And I’ve wanted everything we’ve done so far.

“Everything you think you’ve done,” an ugly voice nudges in my ears.

Rolling down the blanket, I examine my body, licking my lips as I trace the dry white trail leading to my belly button. My eyes bounce between the purple and pink blotches on my thighs and between my pecs, and my heart beats fast.

Leave evidence behind that you were here .

My heart leaps, stomach flipping when I shove my fingers between my ass cheeks and they’re covered in cum.

Reaching for the scratchy skin on my back, I find more sticky residue above my crack and all around it.

My mood picks up and I’m all smiles, as I bring my fingers to my lips and taste the same saltiness I did in the corner of my mouth when first waking.

I run a hand down my cock and balls, noticing more bruising in between my legs. He left me evidence alright. It’s all over. So much of my skin tells me someone was here last night, and a giddiness comes over me. He was here. He showed up and did what I asked.

He could have gone anywhere last night and spent it with anyone, but he chose me. Daniel no longer chooses me, but Zavier does. He’s reading over my latest work, checking the doc religiously for when I need him to be here, and he’s delaying his work on the planter boxes to stay with me longer.

He’s real. We’re real. My stomach flutters and I touch more of his bite marks, spinning around in front of my closet mirror.

Too much of him is all over my body for him not to be.

But what if he doesn’t stay? What if this all goes away the minute I fully give in and bring everything between us into the light.

My chest tightens. I’ve never worried about losing Daniel, and I used to think that was a good thing.

I’m starting to see otherwise. It was never a thought in my mind because I didn’t ever really care whether I did or not.

It wasn’t until I was running low on my medicine and my health was in jeopardy that I thought about needing to keep him around.

But I can figure out another solution. I have to.

I have to, because what’s the good of being healthy if I’m not happy where I’m at.

My phone goes off and I frown at the message.

Z: Hey, there’s been a family emergency, so I won’t be able to work today and will have to pick up where I left off tomorrow.

Me: Okay. That’s fine.

Minutes later an email notification has my phone going off again, and the hair on the back of my neck stands up as I read added text in the doc.

Are you sure you’re okay?

After thinking it over some I leave a response on his comment.

Yes. I’ll see you tomorrow.

It’s only seconds later that he writes back.

Just because I can’t come during the day doesn’t mean I won’t show up if you need me tonight.

A thrill zaps through me and I type a response, deleting it before finally submitting one word.

Okay.

My heart stutters and I look out the window, staring so hard I think my sharp gaze will break the glass at any minute. No one is there, no matter how long I look. Setting down my phone, I fill my kettle and place it on the stove, letting the water heat while slipping on some comfortable clothes.

The kettle whistles and I check for any movement out the window—for a pair of black boots, leather gloves, or two dark eyes staring my way.

There’s nothing. I open the back door and hang halfway outside, circling my gaze around the shed, and then my eyes land on a piece of white paper sticking out of my cilantro plant.

Pulse dancing under my skin, I saunter toward it and unfold the note as soon as it touches my fingers. My eyes move up and down the paper as I read over the two sentences.

Paint me something pretty, carino. I just know whatever you leave behind for me will make me smile.

Sitting on top of the dirt where I found the note is a blank stone. I lift it up and blow a breath over the other side until it’s clean. The surface is smooth and wide, with so much space for me to work with. The shape looks similar to . . . to . . . Can it be?

Clutching the stone between my fingers, I rush back inside and head straight for my office.

The stones Zavier brought me the other day are next to my computer where I last left them, with one missing.

Did I miscount? He was here. You already know he was.

You didn’t imagine it all. He wasn’t a hallucination, and neither is the heavy rock in your hand.

The notes in my drawer where I put the new addition aren’t either. One even leaves a paper cut on one of my fingers as I read them over. The words don’t change. Wouldn’t they if I was seeing things?

Tucking the folded papers back in my secret place, I close the drawer and walk back to the kitchen to grab a mug. The water’s still hot when I pour it out, and I let it sit a while before adding an orange-spice tea bag

The sweet, spicy scent hits my nose as I lift my mug to my lips, and the hot drink slides down my throat. Not even seconds go by before I find myself gazing out the window again—still no one there.

Why would he be when he said he wouldn’t be able to stop by around this time?

Why do I need him to be? Maybe because what we have at night is no longer enough for me.

I crave it this morning too, and hours later I crave it in the afternoon.

When dinner time rolls around, I’m finishing up my first read through as Daniel enters my office.

“Hey, baby.”

“Hey.” My eyes stay on my computer screen, and I push my glasses up my nose. “You actually came like you said for once.”

“Hey now, sweet thing. Don’t be like that. You know I’m here when I can be. I’m doing my best here.” His hands rest on my shoulder as he gets closer, his fingers pressing into my tense muscles.

“Yeah. I know.” I let out a small breath, turning to face him. “How about I cook you something tonight? Your favorite.”

“Sure. You remember what that is?” He cocks his head. “It has been a while.”

“Of course.” My lips press into a plastic smile. “Shrimp fettuccine.”

“Yup.” Kneeling down a little, he pecks my lips, and as much as I want to wipe it away as soon as he straightens his back, I don’t, still forcing a smile.

“I thought you’d stop by for lunch today.”

“Yeah. I wanted to but today was a shitshow.”

“Yeah?” I swish my chair from side to side, lifting my head higher. “Anything you’re allowed to talk about?”

“I mean, you’ll hear about it soon anyway. Just don’t go saying anything until it’s aired on the news.”

“What is it?” I sit up taller, pressing my palms to the arms of my chair.

“Another missing guy.” His expression is flat, eyes emotionless.

Like no one’s there when he’s saying it and it’s coming from some automated message.

“You should know so you can be more cautious when you have to leave the house. This whole thing has officially crossed into our precinct and the guy’s live-in boyfriend reported him missing this morning. ”

“Red hair and blue eyes?” My chest heaves as he nods.

“I really think it’s best you stay home this week and not leave the house unless you really have to. I’m not so sure about Zack coming over anymore either . . . at least not while this monster remains at large.”

“Zaiver,” I say with a sneer. “And the man is harmless.”

“You don’t know that. These victims might have thought the same thing.”

“Look, he’s been here like three times already and had plenty of opportunities to shove me into his trunk if he wanted to.” Excitement shoots up my spine at the thought of Zavier shoving me into his car while I’m asleep, but I squash it. Not now, Liam, you weirdo.

What the hell is wrong with me? Do I really want that?

Daniel is right, I don’t know what Zavier’s capable of. What if he’s waiting for the right moment? He stalks me but I also ask him to. I ask him to do these things, so if this all makes him some deranged serial killer, then what am I?

“Baby?” Daniel tugs at my chin, snapping me out of my stupor.

“Yeah?”

“Just tell him to finish up next week. That you’re going out of town to visit your family or something.”

I jump in my seat. “Are we?”

“Well . . . no.” His face falls. “It’s just something you can tell him. He won’t know.”

“Oh.” My face dips and he tugs at it again.

“You know . . . if you really want to, we can drop by your sisters for a surprise visit when I get some time off work.”

“Really?” I beam.

“Really.” His lips bunch together and he presses them to my forehead, leaving behind a slight sting.

It feels so wrong. It went from strange to nothing to wrong.

His fingers slide down my arm and he pulls me up by my hand.

My body isn’t a fan of that either, my stomach turning when he drags me close enough to wrap an arm around my waist. His hand palms my ass and my teeth clamp down as we enter the kitchen together.

“You have a nice day today?” He looks down at me, brushing hair from my face, but it isn’t supposed to be him doing that.