Page 24

CHAPTER 24

“ L iving with fear stops us taking risks and if you don’t go out on the branch, you’re never going to get the best fruit.”

—Sarah Parish

Sara

“Tick tock, Wild Kitty. It’s time to wake up.”

Mmm… Exhaling, I tried to swim up from the sweet dream as a rush of images flooded my mind.

“Come sit on my cock, my beautiful girl. Right here. Right now.”

His command enthralled me, my pulse rapid as I took a single step closer. I was naked, only the silver collar he’d gifted me adorning my skin. As I approached, he took several deep breaths, his eyes hooded as he gazed down the length of my body.

When I was within a few inches, he reached out and took my arms, caressing my skin with his thumbs. “Amazing. And all mine. I need to fill you. Now.”

Trembling, I straddled his lap, my fingers nimble as I unfastened his belt, every few seconds darting a look into his eyes. His chest rose and fell from heightened anticipation as I slowly unzipped his fly.

As soon as I wrapped my hand around his cock, he gripped my hips. A man like the Seducer wasn’t patient. He took what he wanted when the time was right.

And tonight, there was nothing to hold back our passion.

The moment he jerked me down, impaling me with his thick shaft, I threw my head back and moaned.

“Oh, God.” My moan reverberated in my ears, my eyes suddenly opening wide. Wetness slickened my inner thighs, heat rising on my face. I’d been dreaming. This was it. The end. I should have heeded the warnings. I tried to move, but my body refused to comply.

“Calm down. You’re safe now.”

Realization settled in, a wildfire of strange sensations that I seemed to have no control over.

“Safe?” I croaked. “From you? You were… chasing me.”

He chuckled. “This is exactly what you wanted. However, I was attempting to keep you from being attacked.”

“I… don’t understand.” In my fuzzy mind, I could only see the Seducer chasing me. But… No, that wasn’t right. The asshole from the bar. There’d been someone else.

Something else had occurred, but I couldn’t figure out what. Oh, why was my head so damn fuzzy?

“You probably can’t right now,” he said in his deep, comforting voice.

“Then where am I?” This had to be a strange, ugly dream. I’d been drugged. I was certain of it. I’d felt the tiny prick against my neck. Go back to sleep. When you wake up, it’ll all be over.

Nothing was making any sense. I still couldn’t open my eyes. My head ached, so much so I was nauseated.

Even as a swell of need and emotions slammed against whatever normal thoughts I should be having.

“As I said, you’re safe. You were whispering in your sleep, Wild Kitty. There’s no need to panic.”

His voice was a whisper, a quiet and peaceful sound that dragged me away from the sensual images.

Only the noise wasn’t a dream. Wait. Was this part of the game? That would make sense. I’d figured out almost everything else, certain of what and how he’d move next. He was disarming me, acting polite and sweet.

Darkness.

Fear.

Need.

A longing too intense to ignore.

The combination forced me fully awake, blinking furiously even as the pain behind my eyes created a nauseating swarm of butterflies in my stomach. My thoughts were a blur, but I sensed his presence only inches away.

Him.

It was him. My seducer. The man I’d craved as I had for no other. The man who’d saved me. I hadn’t been dreaming.

Oh, God.

The dream… or maybe I should believe the nightmare had come true.

Events of the night were muddled in my mind. Was it even night any longer? I tried to open my eyes, but they were so heavy, more so than if I’d just gone to sleep on my own.

Yearning crested deep inside, my core on fire. He’d won. Damn it. He’d won. No, he hadn’t won since he made the rules. I’d simply lost. I’d allowed him to capture me.

The driver and the near hit and run had been a ploy. Right? Would he do that?

A slight tickling sensation wafted across my nose. Words floated into my mind, sweet echoes that penetrated a portion of my brain. The moment I moved, a dull ache forced a moan to rise up from my chest.

“That’s it, my beautiful Sara. Open your pretty violet eyes. I need to make certain you’re alright.” His voice was just as velvety as before, the tone almost as attractive as the monster. This was still part of the game. Right?

Run. You need to run.

I tried to sit up, willing my muscles to move.

They refused.

I wiggled my arms, certain I’d been shackled. I could move them easily.

“You aren’t my prisoner, Sara. You’re my guest.”

“I don’t believe you.” My mouth was filled with cotton. I tried to turn away, but felt drawn to him.

He chuckled and I flinched when he rolled his fingers under my jaw.

“Don’t touch me.”

“That’s not what you want. Besides, Wild Kitty. I’ve already done much more than just touch you. If I remember correctly, you screamed out my name from the burning passion we shared.”

“That was before I…”

“Before…”

He knew I wouldn’t finish the sentence and neither did he on purpose. There was no need. He’d won. He’d bested me. I couldn’t think clearly.

“What did you do to me?”

“I kept you from hurting yourself, Sara. There were dangers that I couldn’t control.”

Dangers. Another player in the game? Groaning, I closed my eyes, squeezing them shut in hopes of blocking out the horrific, evocative visions.

Of the passion we shared.

The game we’d played.

The longing we’d shared.

A part of me pushed that I had to fight to get away. A part of me wanted to escape, to fight the strong urges soaring through me. But how? He hadn’t just captured my body.

He’d manipulated my soul.

My heart was next. I was certain of it.

I’d fallen hard for the two sides of the man. The professional one and the Seducer, the nickname from the game suiting him perfectly. He’d seduced me more than once.

“You kept me from being killed,” I said absently, although I wasn’t certain what to believe.

“I did what was necessary.”

I shuddered from the thought. He was capable of killing. “Why? Because of our connection?”

“Yes. Can you feel it, my sweet kitten?”

“What?”

“The sweet release of pain, the rapture of peace. We are each other’s salvation, meant to be together.” His laugh was tinged with such extreme darkness, anger, and bitterness.

“Did you hire someone to kill me only to save me as part of the game?”

He took a deep breath. When he spoke again, his tone had changed. “No, Sara. I don’t play the game that way. But we need to talk. Only after you’ve rested. You’re safe now.”

Safe. He’d used the word more than once. The other side of that meant I’d been in danger.

Talk. I was trying to comprehend what we could have to talk about. “What’s going on?”

“That’s what you need to tell me. Not now. Rest.”

“I don’t know anything. Is this all the game still? Are you testing me in another way?” I managed, although the sound of my voice was unfamiliar. Had I even spoken? I struggled to open my eyes, fighting a wave of fear instantly permeating every inch of my body and mind. Where the hell was I? As I fought to make any sense of what I was dealing with, my senses sharpened, suddenly hearing every noise no matter how slight.

“Not at this point. Have I pushed you by initiating you into a portion of my world? Yes. But not right now.”

I sensed his anger and heard the concern in his voice. What in God’s name was going on?

There was a slight ticking noise as if coming from a clock only a few feet away. I could hear heavy, masculine breathing, sighs of excitement that instantly repulsed me. “Then just go. I can’t think straight.”

“I’m not going anywhere, but the truth is you don’t really want me to. Now, do you?”

His question was a challenge, one I could easily answer.

I lunged up by a few inches, prepared to spew words of utter hatred.

Or I thought I could.

Words stuck in my throat and my seducer, my captor instantly recognized my inability to tell a lie.

His laugh was dark, laced with subtle tones of evil.

As well as desire.

After blinking several times, my eyes became accustomed to the shadows. “Where’s your mask? That’s right. You don’t need one, do you, Zach?”

His chuckle was even deeper than before. “Does that really matter to you? The mask?”

“You were in the bar. I kept seeing you, but there were others dressed just like you.”

“I was there, but wearing a different mask than the ones you thought I was hiding behind.”

“You were chasing me.” I don’t know why I was making the statements other than to jog my memory.

“Not at first. I was watching you.”

His admittance took me by surprise. Then again, there was no reason for him to lie to me. “Then who was this other person if not someone you control?” I thought about my own question. “A man in a sedan. He wore a Purge mask. I thought it was you.”

He laughed. “I assure you the person who almost ran you down is not anyone I would ever employ. If he were in my world, he’d be dead by now. The game includes several dangerous aspects, but nothing that would end your life. That I can promise you. There was an unknown man pretending to be me.”

“My God. You killed him! Didn’t you? Don’t try and tell me otherwise. I heard the gunshot.”

“No, I did not. I was concerned about saving you first and foremost. There are some unknown forces at work. But they won’t get to you behind these walls.”

Confusion wrapped around my mind. “An enemy of yours?”

“I don’t think the attempt on your life had anything to do with me. But I think you have an idea of who it might be. Your car was tampered with the other night.” Zach sounded frustrated. Well, so was I.

“What? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I didn’t want to worry you in case the reason was about me or my company.”

“Were you outside my apartment tonight?” I kept throwing questions at him, but I had to learn the truth.

“I had a meeting, so the answer is no.”

“Someone was there. Just like I knew they were following me earlier.”

I could feel him bristling. “Also not me.”

I took several shallow breaths, keeping my head lolled to the side until I was able to focus. The room wasn’t entirely dark, a single warm glow forcing me to wince. I expected to find myself locked away in a cage. Yet softness enshrouded me, warmth coming from something covering me. I slid my arm down by a few inches, attempting to understand what I was feeling.

Sheets.

Soft sheets.

I cinched my eyes shut, trying to drown out the ugly nagging in my mind.

“But as I asked before. You suspect who might be stalking you, don’t you, Sara?”

Sitting all the way up, I opened my eyes again, holding my breath the moment I captured the intensity of his expression.

Him.

My seducer.

A slight rustling brought another moan.

He was incredible, a vision of inexplicable masculinity. He was a god of men. So tall. So broad.

Every feature aristocratic, every muscle carved from the finest granite. He personified all things powerful and dominating, the attraction to the man undeniable.

Even though I’d fought the lingering desire.

“I have no clue what you’re talking about.” But I did. My instincts screamed all the hiding I’d done in ten years had ended.

“Then as I said before, we’ll talk later.” The statement had an ominous quality, as if he knew something I didn’t know.

As if he would indeed spill blood to keep me safe.

“Why continue the game if that’s what this is? I thought I wouldn’t qualify. I can’t play Dark Nights. At least not well.” I laughed bitterly.

“It’s not all about conquering the game, Sara. Besides, receiving an invitation is what you wanted. Had I known this was going to happen, that would have been put on hold.”

“You selected me early on. You knew what I hungered for. How?”

His laugh sent another wave of vibrations all the way to my toes. “You are correct and I felt it as you feel me when we’re close. It’s as simple as that.”

He placed his hands on either side of me, leaning over. There was something so enthralling about seeing his face, eyes that bored into mine. He was truly beautiful in every way, the dark cloak of anonymity no longer keeping him hidden from the world.

The game had been played and I’d lost.

Or had I?

Had I wanted to be captured and this was simply another test?

Had I truly craved the darkness only he could provide?

I couldn’t lie to myself or pretend this wasn’t exactly what I’d craved.

Sick. Twisted. Repulsed.

I should be, but instead I felt euphoric.

He cocked his head, the strange flicker of the lamp creating shadows across his face. I pulled my hand from under the covers, reaching out and brushing the tips of my fingers across his cheek. The slight stubble tickled my fingers. I laughed nervously, doing everything I could to understand the strong attraction.

Zach shifted his head again, capturing my hand with his. As he pressed kisses against my palm, I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. Electric vibrations danced down the length of my spine, my toes curling from the intensity of our connection. How could I feel this way about a man who’d just kidnapped me?

It was easy.

We were meant to be together. My pulse raced, my entire body ripped from the licking flames jetting through every vein.

“So beautiful. So perfect.”

“Nothing about me is perfect,” I managed.

“That’s where you’re wrong, Wild Kitty.” He dropped his head, first planting a kiss on my forehead. My sigh brought a slight growl from his throat. He took a deep breath, slowly rubbing his lips down the bridge of my nose to my lips. When he tickled my lips with his tongue, I arched my back, slowly sliding my arm around his shoulder.

Freedom grasped my heart and soul as the kiss became a powerful gesture of want and need.

And one of utter control.

He’d captured his prey.

There was no chance he was letting me go.

I sensed his desire increasing by the way he fisted my tangled strands of hair. As if holding me in place. As if reminding me I was where I belonged. He thrust his tongue inside, tasting me as if for the first time.

It wasn’t.

But this moment was entirely different, both our masks removed, our deepest inhibitions revealed. He tasted of bourbon and peppermint, the moment of intimacy building to the type of yearning that couldn’t be denied. My pussy throbbed, clenching and releasing, leaving me wet and hot.

I’d never wanted anything or anyone the way I wanted him.

And I hated myself for it.

As soon as he backed away, I opened my eyes. There was a hint of malevolence in his, a stark reminder that this wasn’t normal.

He backed further away into the shadows, his chest rising and falling. “You’ll find appropriate clothes in the closet, everything else you’ll need in the adjoining bathroom. I do hope you’ll join me for a drink. I promise to answer all your questions as you will mine.”

He backed further away, his eyes never leaving me. They weren’t imploring. They were filled with a knowing. With a smile crooking the corners of his mouth, he walked out the door.

And he didn’t proceed to lock me inside.