Page 3 of Marked by my Stalker (Inked and Possessive. Rugged Mountain Ink #1)

Kera

I drag in a deep breath and exhale hard. The air is thick with someone’s vanilla body spray and warm sweat. It’s nauseating, and I’m reminded why I hate parties.

Not really sure how I feel about Brick either.

I know I’m supposed to like guys like him.

He’s all sharp angles and sleepless eyes, like one of those vampires from that movie back in the day.

The one where they sparkle. He remembers to say please and thank you, he smiles at everyone, and he’d drop everything he’s doing to help someone in need. On paper, the guy is great.

In reality, I feel hollow around him, like he’s sucked every drop of blood in my system.

When people are watching, he says all the right things, but when it’s just us, there’s a subtle shift.

He whispers backwards compliments and watches women dance online.

And still, I laugh when he jokes, I nod when he talks, I ignore the stupid things he says…

because it’s easier than trying to understand myself.

‘You’ve got something in your teeth.’ It’s what he whispered to me before I ran off to the bathroom embarrassed.

It must have come off on my way here, because my teeth are fine as I look in the mirror. I drag in a deep breath and let it out slowly as I fix my hair and attempt another swipe at the eyeliner I’m not so great at applying.

It’s useless. My eyes are puffy, and I should probably just go home.

I’ve got two exams tomorrow, and I could use a refresher before I head to bed.

Math has always been a tough subject for me.

I mean, word problems. Like, why did Mary haul forty buckets up a hill by herself, anyway?

Where’s Paul? What’s he doing? Is he just watching from a lawn chair with iced tea?

I swing open the bathroom door, the sound of some horrid rock band playing in the background. I’m not sure who picks the music around here, but this is bad. Really, really bad. Penny was smart to skip tonight for a nap. I sort of wish I was already tucked in with the light off as well.

I’ve only taken a few steps when I slam right into a wall of thick, rough muscle. Muscle that smells like Christmas back home in Nebraska.

It’s disarming, familiar, and for some reason, a chill rushes through my entire body. I step back quickly, but not quick enough to hide the way my breath catches.

It’s the closest I’ve been to my stalker since my mother hired him. I wonder if he’s embarrassed that he’s given up his position.

“Wow,” my eyes widen, “you’re not as good at hiding tonight. Everything okay, or did my mom pay you an extra twenty to follow me into the ladies’ room?”

He doesn’t step back. He doesn’t smile. He just watches me like he’s debating how much to say.

“You alright?” His voice is very low and graveled.

I glance toward him and push away the thoughts about him being hot . He’s not hot! He’s built, and he clearly takes care of his body. That’s all! That doesn’t make him hot. He’s old. Old, built, and covered in tattoos, but definitely not hot.

I tilt my head to the side in defiance. “If I wasn’t, what would you do about it?”

His gaze doesn’t waver. No smirk, no overcorrection, just a beat of quiet sparks behind his eyes like he’s making decisions silently or maybe holding himself back. I can’t tell. The man is unreadable.

“I’d handle it,” he says, low and clear.

I straighten up. I’m not sure if it’s defiance or curiosity pulling at my spine, but I hold his stare longer than I should, noticing how dark and stormy his eyes are, how broad his shoulders are, and how thick his biceps must be to show so clearly through his shirt.

Okay, he’s hot! Can we stop with the lies, girl?

“Handle it how?” I ask, suddenly trying to compose myself.

He steps just close enough that I catch the pine scent again.

“However you need me to.”

Okay… now we’re talking.

“Well, I appreciate that, but I was just going to head back to the dorm to get some studying in before my test tomorrow morning. I’d tell you not to follow, but something tells me you’ll be a step behind.

” I brush past him, heart skipping a small, uneven rhythm like it’s catching up to something I’m not sure of yet.

On my way out, I see Brick. He’s still posted in that same corner, leaning into a girl whose eyeliner wings are sharper than mine and whose laugh sounds like it belongs on a highlight reel.

Her hand flutters up and lands on his arm, all casual and practiced, like she’s done it before, and he’s let her.

My boots scuff the entryway tile. I hesitate, just for a breath, wondering if I should say goodbye.

Be the gracious one, be chill, be mature, but I’m not sure I know what that looks like right now.

My stomach is churning in knots because I never feel quite good enough, like I’m always being compared, like there are a thousand other girls that do everything better than me.

Yeah, no way I’m dealing with his slow, syrupy, patronizing bullshit of an explanation tonight. All it does is tangle me up in ways I haven’t figured how to untangle yet.

No thanks.

Outside, the cool air hits me immediately.

I love the early fall weather. It’s my favorite time of the year.

Cool air, turning leaves, and warm cozy scents that make me want to sink into the house and do some cute little project I’ve been putting off all year. Maybe I’ll get time for that by spring.

I’ve barely made it a block when I hear my stalker’s boots behind me. We’ve done so well at keeping the fourth wall up between us… until now.

I glance back and see the tall, square-faced man not far behind. “You don’t have to walk alone.” I pause and wait for him to catch up. “It’s weird.”

“Not a stranger if I’m next to you?”

“Nah, I love it when my grandpa visits me at college. It’s so fun, ” I grin playfully, “and easy to explain, too.”

“That noticeable?”

“Yes,” I grin, “that noticeable. Everyone on campus is calling you the C-lot stalker. It’s not that catchy, but you’d be surprised how fast it spread.”

He glances down at the pavement as we walk, then up again. “Well, this is an embarrassment to everything I’ve worked for. Dozens of high-stakes missions, but I can’t properly follow a college kid. It’s sad, really.”

“Extremely sad.” I laugh, rubbing my arms as I talk. It’s a little cooler tonight than I expected, and this sweater dress isn’t as warm as I’d planned.

There’s only half a beat before the C-lot stalker is stripping off his jacket and wrapping it around my shoulders.

“You don’t have to do that,” I mutter, fingers brushing the rough collar as it settles against my throat. The coat smells like him, warm and familiar.

“Well,” he hides a grin, “you can write it up in my formal review. Maybe your mom will throw me an extra twenty.”

“Sorry,” I laugh, tucking further into his jacket, “that comment wasn’t very nice of me. I just… my mom has completely lost her marbles. Ever since my dad died, she’s been hyper-protective. And I get it, but at some point, it’s just… it’s too much.”

“Your dad was a good guy. Did two tours with him. It’s part of why I’m out here.” His voice is low and steady. “Man saved my life once, and your mom was desperate for help.”

“Oh God!” I stop in my tracks and look toward the muscled, bearded man in the dim light of the night. “You knew my dad?”

“We were best buddies for a time when we were enlisted. Lived two separate lives on the flip side, though. I knew of you, but never got the pleasure… until now.”

I blink again and again, trying to wrap my head around this man and everything he’s saying. I clear my throat and stare at him. “Maybe you should’ve opened with that.”

“No point. Shouldn’t even be talking to ya.”

I sigh and turn forward, walking again, a little slower now. I don’t know this man any more than I did twenty minutes ago, but now that I know he knew my dad, for some reason he feels like less of a stranger.

I stare up at the man next to me and feel a twinge of warmth in my stomach. “You ever do this fun college stuff?”

He shakes his head. “Not for me. I’ve spent most of my time doing the military thing. Got out last year.”

“Impressive. Dad was really proud of all his military accomplishments too. He used to say, your service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off— ”

“You carry it in your choices.” The man grins. “Yeah, I remember him saying that. He was as tough as they come. Dedicated too. I miss him.”

“Me too.” I swallow hard and lower my head as a car darts down the dead-end street, music blaring.

“He’d be proud of you.” He clears his throat. “He always talked about how proud of you he was.”

“Yeah?” I glance up and smile. “I hope so. I’m trying really hard to make everyone proud, but…”

“But what?”

“I don’t know. The city isn’t for me. I’ve been getting lost in this little town not far from here—”

“Rugged Mountain. I followed you up there a few weeks ago.”

“Of course you did.” I clear my throat, wondering how much he sees when he follows me. “Anyway… I like that area a lot. I’ve never been around mountains much, but that whole place is heaven if you ask me.”

“What about school? You like your classes?”

“Does anyone?” I shrug, tugging his oversized jacket tighter around my frame. “I don’t know. My mom is fixated on me being a lawyer, so… I’m doing all the lawyer things.”

His footsteps stay slow beside me. “Doesn’t sound like that’s what you want.”

I laugh dryly and glance down at the pavement as a cool breeze swirls around us, picking up leaves. “What I want is irrelevant.”

“You ever think about what you’d choose if no one was watching?” he asks, voice quiet enough to feel like it’s meant just for me.

My brows narrow as I glance toward him. “ Really? You want to hear about my hopes and dreams? Is this all some plan to drain me of my innermost thoughts so you can sell them to my mother at half price?”

He narrows his gaze playfully. “Keep talking. If I show up with something good, she promised to toss in a paid vacation.”

“Okay,” I laugh, “well, if I were choosing… I’d be a photographer. Wildlife. I mean, I could see myself getting lost up in those mountains, breathing in all that fresh air, trekking between the pines, searching all day for the perfect shot. It sounds like magic.”

I imagine that moment. Sunlight filtering through a canopy of evergreens, the crisp snap of branches underfoot, my breath misting in the chill as I wait quietly for some elusive creature to appear. Just me, my camera, and silence that feels like freedom.

He doesn’t joke or brush it off, which surprises me. Instead, he nods, like it makes perfect sense. “So then do it. I’ve got an old camera. Never used it much, and it’s nothing crazy expensive or modern, but it takes good shots.”

The offer catches me off guard, and my heart hiccups a little. “What?”

“Yeah,” he nods, scrubbing his massive, inked hand over his beard, “I’ll take you up there this weekend and we can—”

“Kera!” Brick shouts from behind, the heavy weight of his footsteps like a train barreling into the station. “You left without saying goodbye.”

I glance up at the giant beside me. He’s at least a foot taller than Brick, twice the width too. And so far, I’ve felt more heard and seen than I ever have in my entire life… but I’m not comparing or anything.

“Sorry. You looked busy with that girl, so…”

That stupid sarcastic grin Brick saves just for me makes a flashing appearance. “I wasn’t busy with anyone. I was talking. Talking isn’t illegal.”

I guess I was imagining the laughing, the flirting, the not so careful way he leaned in when she talked. “Right.” My chest tightens as Brick glances toward the giant beside me.

“This is the C-lot stalker,” he laughs, diverting the conversation away from the emotions I was having. “What’s up, guy? You’re a legend around here.”

The man nods, and I realize just now I haven’t gotten his actual name. “That’s what I hear.”

“You’re taking this one home?”

He nods again.

“Well,” Brick continues, oblivious as ever, “I’m gonna head back to the party then. You mind, babe?” He leans onto my cheek for a sloppy drunken kiss, but I pull away.

He doesn’t seem to care. Oblivious as ever, he leaves, jogging back to the house at the end of the street with music blaring out the windows into the night.

Stomach churning, and a little embarrassed, I redirect back to the man beside me. “Sorry about that. He’s… yeah.”

“I see that. How long have you two been together?”

“Oh, umm… eight months maybe. He’s… a train wreck, but my mom loves him. She thinks he walks on water.”

The giant nods slowly, pushing back the streaks of silver in his hair. “You do a lot to keep your mom happy.”

I glance down at the pebble I’m kicking along the dark sidewalk.

“She’s struggled a lot. I’m sure you know, but she and my dad were high school sweethearts.

They did everything together, and I was their only child, so…

I don’t know. I feel this weight to look after her and keep her happy, even if she drives me crazy while I do it. ”

“You should tell her what you want.”

“Oh, I do. I’m not a complete pushover. I just… I know that I’m all she has left, ya know? I don’t want her worrying about me.”

He pauses for a long moment, just watching the sidewalk ahead of us as we make our way down the street. “You busy tomorrow?”

“I have exams in the morning,” I lift my face to the breeze, “but tomorrow afternoon I’m free.”

“It’s a done deal then. I’ll pick you up at noon, and we’ll head out to the mountains, take some pictures, and see if you’ve got what it takes.”

I laugh. “Oh, this is a test now?”

“Life is a test, little girl. Get used to it.”

Little girl.

The words fall out rough and low. He clears his throat like he wants to take them back, like they didn’t sit right in his mouth. But for some reason, I kind of liked it. It made me feel small and precious, like I’m someone he wants to care for.

I guess that’s true considering my mother is paying him.

For the first time all night, there’s silence between us as we pass the lit-up windows of the library.

Students are hunched over laptops and stacks of paper, faces drawn with defeat.

I wonder how many of them are actually studying and how many are just pretending not to fall apart. I’m firmly in the second camp.

“It’s just a camera,” I say finally, voice half-lost in the hush around us. “It’s not life or death. You should learn to lighten up, C-lot stalker. You’re far too serious.” I slide his jacket off my shoulders and hand it back with a grin. “See you tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow.” His face is emotionless as he reaches for his coat. Almost like he’s being tortured by something. “Name’s Jack.”

“Jack,” I whisper under my breath as I stare toward him, a feeling crawling under my skin I’ve never felt before.

I think I like it.