Page 43 of My Masked Shadow

Basia’s eyes widen. “You told him? Voluntarily?”

Is it hot today? I mean, it’s only February…

“Shut up,” I mutter.

“What kind of fantasy?”

I stare straight ahead, refusing to make eye contact.

“Barbara,” Basia insists.

“I’m thinking of moving to a different country,” I announce.

She stops again. “Barbara.”

“Okay!” I hiss. “Fine! A chase scene.”

Basia’s mouth drops open. “Like… horror-movie chase?”

“Yes,” I admit reluctantly.

Basia doesn’t let it go. “With him chasing you?”

“Yes.”

By now, her eyes are comically large.

“And you running in… oh God… were you wearing clothes?”

“Barely!”

She covers her mouth with both hands like she’s trying not to shriek on the sidewalk.

“And he—he built the simulation? Like… custom?”

“Sort of. Modified a training exercise he made as a joke for the boys.”

“Barbara, that’s—” She flails helplessly. “—that’s the most unhinged, intimate thing I’ve ever heard in my life.”

“I know!”

“And then you two…?”

I’m mortified. “He caught me. And then he—then we—then?—”

“Nope, don’t want the visuals,” she blurts, hands up. “I’d like to remain uncorrupted.”

But then she peeks at me.

“You liked it.”

I press my lips together. Then press my thighs together.

She gasps. “You did.”

“I’m confused,” I whisper. “I’ve never… like, been with someone who… listens? Not just in the ‘yeah, babe, sure’ way. But actually listens. I mean, he was monitoring my vitals. Made sure I was okay as he was telling me just how he’s going to use me.”

Basia blushes crimson. “Okay, don’t say things like that in public. I have a heart condition now. Caleb is going to sense it through his freaky bodyguard telepathy.”