Page 10

CHAPTER 9

X ander

“I know, Christopher,” I said from where I was lying on the weight bench. I took in a deep breath, exhaling as I lifted the bar. I was pushing myself a little too hard in my attempt to ease my aggression. My muscles were burning, the ache exactly what I needed.

Sadly, the workout, while good for my endorphins, wasn’t doing anything for my libido. Not one damn thing.

“I’m just reminding you we need to get this going. The game is coming out in three days.”

After the incident in the office, I was surprised the fucker was wasting his time talking to me.

I dropped the two-hundred-ten-pound bar onto the steel holders, the clang likely driving the man crazy.

“What the fuck are you doing?” he asked, half laughing. We’d never be friends because I chose not to have any. Yes, he was a good member of the team, but I wasn’t the kind of man to be challenged on any decision. However, he’d also gotten us out of a few lawsuits before they’d gotten out of hand. That alone was worth the tension between us.

“Lifting weights. Try and remember with Merrick gone, the timing isn’t as much of a priority.”

“That’s some shit that man was into. Did you hear the cops found a scathing photograph of him fucking a clearly underage girl at the murder scene?”

I grinned and sat up, immediately reaching for the towel hanging off the end. “I’m not usually privy to the same things you are as an attorney, my friend.”

“This isn’t client/attorney privilege. It’s all over the gaming community.”

“Don’t believe everything you read. As to your concern. The questionnaires have already begun to trickle in. The contestants have until tomorrow around this time to return them. We’ll go from there. You’re very eager this year.”

“Good entertainment value. Along with our game, we’re standing on an icy precipice,” Christopher chortled.

“Sounds a little kinky,” I growled and rose to my feet, wiping sweat from my face.

“Very funny. I can still enjoy the festivities, you know. I’m not dead yet.”

I chuckled to myself as I grabbed a bottle of water, taking a gulp then pouring a few ounces across my bare, sweaty chest. The solid hour had been exactly what I’d needed. “If you say so.”

“Okay, I get the hint. I’ll be in the office late given a court appearance.”

“For what?”

“Just a follow-up motion on the case from last year.”

“Which one?”

“You remember,” he offered. “With that gaming company from out of state trying to use the same name as one of our established games.”

“How could I forget?” The New York-based company had all but copied the entire package. All because a single employee had slipped under the radar of security. That’s when Elizabeth had cracked down, making everyone in the design and production department not only pass a lie detector test and a background check, but also requiring their phones and emails to be gone through with a fine-toothed comb. “Is there another issue?”

“They’re trying for an appeal. Can you believe that shit?”

“Let me know if you need one of us to handle it.”

Christopher snorted. “We’re handling this one legally. Okay?”

Other than with the Obsidian Society, Christopher shouldn’t know about our extracurricular activities, although he certainly knew what we were capable of. “Whatever you want. I need to go.”

“Yeah, sure. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

There was way too much excitement in the man’s voice. I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the window, thankful I’d changed over the years. I’d once been a scrawny kid bullied beyond anyone’s imagination. After I’d started working out, I’d used my muscles to my benefit. The thought brought a smile to my face.

It was time for a shower and perhaps a moment of enjoyment.

The temptation was too sweet, too intense.

I couldn’t help but wonder what Sophie was thinking, how dark her imagination had gone with thoughts of what could happen. I’d checked on my prize, learning several aspects about her life that she obviously had a reason for hiding.

Including her real identity.

I’d easily found Jessica Waldrop’s name given who I was. Everyone used a screen name for fear of their sick minds and twisted needs being discovered.

But why was she hiding behind a fake name while applying for a job?

Oh, there were so many delicious questions. However, weren’t we all hiding behind our casual facades, our belief that we could do no wrong?

I could imagine her heartbeat thumping against my fingertips as she faced the fear that swelled deep within. I couldn’t wait to see if her cheeks flushed from excitement the moment she realized she was a captured bird.

I was also curious if she enjoyed the chase.

And mostly I couldn’t wait to hold her life in my hands after her full surrender to every one of my needs.

No matter how depraved they might be.

The woman was a decent challenge for a change, an opportunity to expand my horizons. She had no idea that finding her had rekindled my darkness.

My little lamb would soon discover the joys of filth and indecency. Even if she told herself she only craved them in an altered life.

My cock stretched to its full length as I headed up the stairs.

There was nothing I enjoyed more than the hunt.

After stripping off my shorts, I turned on the shower, but I wasn’t idle with my thoughts.

My desire for a woman I didn’t know also wasn’t striking in any way. I’d craved and enjoyed many a beautiful creature when I was forced to feed the beast of desire. However, this time was different.

She was different.

In my mind, she could be the one, the single creature capable of handling the proclivities set forth by my toxic upbringing. Some said evil could be managed, even manipulated by drugs or incarceration, yet not when one was born into the need.

That much I instinctively knew about my parents. There was malicious intent running through my blood.

As soon as I stepped into the shower, I moved under the thick, scalding spray of water. If only the intense heat was capable of cleansing my tarnished soul. I’d learned a long time ago that wasn’t possible.

I threw my head back, but I wasn’t praying, unless my filthy thoughts could be considered summoning the demon lurking inside. As water splashed down the length of my body, I rolled my palms down my chest, fisting the base of my cock.

Images of her face, the terror imbedded in her eyes would never leave me. She’d fought the fear, facing an uncertain reality with more verve than any other lamb facing possible slaughter. She’d remained defiant, even argumentative, and my cock had swelled to more than its normal size.

As I fisted my cock, squeezing until it became painful, I allowed thoughts of what I could and would do to her to fuel the continued longing.

The pain in my balls heightened my senses. As I pulled my dick to full length, I continuously envisioned the way her lips would look surrounding my cock.

I’d almost forced her to her knees in the forest, commanding her to suck me. Hindsight wasn’t necessarily a virtue.

It was the first thing she’d do once I had her as my possession.

Gritting my teeth, I allowed my actions to become rough, brutality the only way I could feel much of anything. I pumped hard and fast as the hunger for her increased.

She needed to want me, not just to feel my power.

I would require her to fight for everything, all the darkness she craved before being allowed to share in the joy of receivership.

Yes, I would make her work for every pleasure.

She’d tried so hard to act terrified of me, but her body’s reaction had been the exact opposite. She’d wanted me to take her right there, in the dark of night and in the midst of the stench of blood.

In a way I’d failed her. That wasn’t going to happen again.

She’d known Sinner before. How long before I allowed her to know Xander?

As the pain shifted into agony, my muscles tensed. I shifted my other hand between my legs, squeezing both balls as a testament to everything I would promise her.

Most of all freedom.

Groaning, I steadied myself as the eruption came, hot cum spurting over my hands. Soon it would be covering her voluptuous body instead. The joyous feeling was short-lived, just like always. There was only brief pleasure in the release, nothing more.

There wouldn’t be until I’d marked her porcelain skin before fucking her like she deserved.

Like the true princess of pain she would learn to be.

Soon…

Adventures were meant to start on pitch black nights.

They were endless, capable of sucking a man’s soul right out of him. They had a way of fulfilling the urge to delve deep into the darkness of one’s mind. They also provided opportunities considered unacceptable to respectable people.

I wasn’t one of them.

To me, they were comforting, allowing for further anonymity while seeking entertainment. Some would call one of my preferred activities stalking. To me, it was all about gathering information, creating a chapter in a book where details could be discovered and recorded. While I was also gifted with extreme pleasure, every move I made was perfectly calculated.

In taking the time, I was afforded clarity and certainty.

Tonight I’d worn a different mask, a carefully crafted molding of a man with a half smile, half frown. It was a representation of being joyful in my ability to spend time with her while also feeling saddened I couldn’t taste every inch. Yet she would never see this one. Too bad. It suited me.

I stared down at her answers on the computer, enjoying every one of them. She’d answered honestly, which hadn’t surprised me. So many lied on their applications, fearful of retribution.

Not my girl.

She’d owned up to her kinky desires even if only for this exercise and while hiding behind a computer screen. Soon she’d feel free to expose the woman under the polished and practiced coat she’d attempted to keep secured around her. Perhaps she’d even shout to the world that she was born of sin and had been kept in the shadows, but would accept punishment for her cravings no longer.

I scrolled through her answers. There was almost nothing she hadn’t accepted as tolerable.

That left the playing field wide open. Every adventure awaited her.

I backed away from the computer, allowing my eyes to become accustomed to the darkness. I’d learned every inch of her home, appreciating the way she kept everything in perfect condition, completely organized and clean. I’d gone through her things, touching her clothes. Her pictures.

Her lingerie.

That had allowed me to form a perfect picture of her I would carry with me after leaving here tonight. I’d need to play this out as planned, even if my hunger had reached a pinnacle.

Being able to walk freely in her home was a gift. It was also a risk, but one I’d been willing to accept. She was too important to screw this up.

As soon as I walked into her room, I took a deep whiff. Her perfume lingered, a spicier representation of the woman hiding behind jeans and sweaters most of the time. I longed to see her shapely figure in a body-fitting dress. Call me sexist, but I preferred when beautiful women allowed their bodies to be seen, and later to be unwrapped as the perfect gift.

She was lying peacefully, the only light from a small hummingbird-shaped nightlight. Her long hair was splayed out across her pillows and she was breathing easily. She looked so innocent when she was asleep, as if a princess waiting for her prince to kiss her soft lips.

The idea was tempting, but I’d consider it forbidden for tonight. At least I’d enjoyed a single taste of her. Soon there would be more.

I moved closer, remaining as silent as I’d been the entire time I’d been inside her house. As I peered down at her, I felt a sense of protectiveness, a need to keep her from harm’s way.

Some would say given my raging desires that should include protection from the man standing in her room like a vulture. No one understood my intentions.

I glanced around the room, noticing a mostly empty wine bottle on a small table. Moving forward, I decided to make myself at home. Watching her brought great joy.

I sat in the comfy chair in the corner of a darkened room, enjoying a moment of peace while studying the beautiful copper-haired girl as she succumbed to sleep. I took a deep breath, holding in the incredible sweet fragrance of her lush body.

A single, muted moan slipped past her full lips as she rolled over, kicking one leg from under the covers. My cock remained at full attention as I studied the long line of her bare leg. Wearing only a tee shirt and panties, the shirt had been pushed up past her waist, exposing the blush pink of lace covering her pussy.

If I were truly an evil man, I would touch her in her most intimate place, but that would wait. The anticipation was worth me keeping a sense of patience. Not that I was very good at doing so.

I casually pulled the glass of wine to my lips, taking a swallow. While the vintage was cheap, at least the deep cabernet afforded me another clue about her. After placing the glass on her tiny table she had dressed up in lace, I leaned back. Thankfully, the chair was comfortable, soft in all the right places.

With my eyes closed, I was better able to envision her naked body writhing underneath mine. Only then would I hear and enjoy her subtle yet powerful moans as I fucked her long and hard.

Which is exactly what I intended on doing.

Soon, my sweet Desdemona.

The memories of the night shared were delicious, but not nearly satisfying enough. Fate had intervened. Perhaps timing. I’d been in the right place at the right time. I’d smelled the bastard’s intentions.

Kidnap. Torture. Kill.

A man cut from the same cloth yet sloppy in his methods. Now he didn’t need to worry about it.

I’d been waiting for her, for the sweet Desdemona who fantasized about bad men stalking and hunting her, capturing her to serve their perverted needs. I’d seen her eyes fill with hate, yet she’d fed off the rage and desire coursing through her vein. Had murder been in her list of hungers? Not necessarily, but even online I’d witnessed a need as complex and damaged as my own.

She’d wanted me to find her, forcing her to beg for what she wanted. That couldn’t come soon enough.

After all this time, she thought I had no clue about her, no understanding of who she was or any aspect of her day-to-day life.

But she was wrong.

The moment Desdemona had captured my attention I’d sought to learn more about her, to discover exactly what made her tick.

Besides the intense longing for a masked man to free her soul.

Jessica lived a careful life, a studious one as well. She worked long hours on perfecting her craft. She had few friends, but they were close, tight enough to tell each other everything.

Well, almost everything. I allowed myself a slow, deep growl from the thought.

No one knew of Jessica’s inner thoughts. But me. I felt special in a way I never had before.

In a way, she’d been tempting every man in every vile game she’d conquered. She was excellent, using every attribute in winning the game.

The males had eaten it up as if hand fed.

But they had no right to her. Not under any circumstances.

Why?

Because I’d laid claim. No other man had attempted to locate her in real life because no one was capable of what I could do. No man had the courage or strength, let alone the savvy.

Hearing a rustling sound, I opened my eyes, peering at her with all the longing I’d experienced before.

I stood, keeping my distance until she settled down before approaching. This time I allowed myself a single touch, brushing the tips of my gloved fingers down the length of her arm. Being able to stroke her soft skin was a true gift. She was in REM sleep, her eyes drifting back and forth under her closed eyelids. Was she thinking about me? Was she dreaming about the other night and how it could have gone?

Was she wishing she’d begged me to fuck her?

Jessica kicked at her covers, twisting her body until her legs were free. With no moonlight, I wasn’t gifted with seeing if her panties were damp, but I didn’t need the light. I was able to smell her desire. How I longed to drive my fingers through the thin material, providing her with a mere taste of pleasure.

I brushed my knuckles across her cheek and backed away into the shadows just as her eyelids fluttered open. There was nothing to see, no glowing light of a masked man who’d ignited her senses. There was only darkness as well as a prevailing feeling that someone was watching her.

Waiting.

Wanting.

Turning slowly, I walked toward the door, rewarded with the sound of her intense moan.

My sweet… sweet Desdemona.