Page 15

CHAPTER 14

J essica

There were no masked men hiding in my closet.

There was nothing out of place or any indication someone had gone through my things. I’d even brought out the baseball bat I’d purchased for protection the day I moved into the house, keeping it close.

At least I didn’t have as much of the creepy crawlies tonight.

No, I felt alive with energy, awash with gaming ideas, but I’d decided to take the entire night off. To refresh my mind. If only it wouldn’t continue wandering to the man dressed in black. Although it did suit his dark personality far too well.

Damn it. I hated the man.

Except he was far too charming, too polished, and too seductive to be able to do so easily. He was also even more intelligent than he’d been portrayed as being. I could listen to him talking about his world and the build process for hours.

I’d spent almost three hours with the man. It hadn’t seemed possible I’d be able to stand his heavy line of questioning that long. I’d found myself more engaged in sharing aspects of my life, including hopes and dreams, than I’d intended.

In turn, he’d asked me about the games I’d created.

For some reason, after coming home and changing into my nightgown, I’d sat in the dark with a glass of wine. No game. No television. I’d even avoided music. Xander Blackwell had consumed three hours of my time and I’d found myself enjoying it.

Now that was truly twisted.

I laughed softly to myself as I thought about what it would be like to kiss such a powerful man all over again. I was certainly not going to find out, but fantasizing wouldn’t do me any harm. Besides, I had the feeling I wouldn’t be called to join in the last test, whatever it might be. I’d been too vocal, too opinionated. That was my personality to a T. My father had at least taught me that during his throes of sadness.

With work in the morning, I needed to try to get some sleep, even if I wasn’t certain I’d have any success doing so. I left the last few sips of wine in the glass on the coffee table, checking one last time the front and back doors were locked before heading into my bedroom. I flicked on the lamp on my nightstand, once again sweeping the room with my eyes as I’d already done twice before.

Damn it. I hated being skittish in my own home. That’s what the masked bastard had reduced me to.

It was chilly in the room or maybe I was still unnerved from my reaction to the game. Sindom had yet to move into the world of artificial intelligence. While mentioned a few times, it would add another dimension that would take careful planning and design, let alone the money required to do it right.

Blackwell Group certainly didn’t need to worry about that. It seemed they had more money than God. I headed into the bathroom, flicking on the light and immediately grimaced the moment I glanced into the mirror. I looked as exhausted as I felt. Burning the candle at both ends was certainly taking a toll. I brushed my teeth like a good little girl before heading to bed.

A strange taste remained in my mouth as if I’d been sucking on a copper penny.

I tugged down my sheets, easing down on the bed. The taste lingered, even filling my nostrils with a putrid odor. Not strong, but enough that it left a bad taste nestled in my throat. Water. I’d forgotten my usual bottle of water.

As soon as I walked into the kitchen, I realized in my haste to snuggle under the soft throw on the couch I’d forgotten to close the blinds. The slender sliver of moonlight filtered through the slats, the glow reminding me of the initial screen before playing Dark Nights. I couldn’t help myself, standing directly in front of it, tilting the blind closest to my eyes just enough I had a full view of the street in front of my home.

It was late enough that I only noticed a few lights on in houses close to me, and almost no traffic. Maybe I’d expected to see him standing outside in full view. Maybe even I’d wanted to catch a quick glimpse of his x’d out eyes, the grin that projected malicious intent. But there was only the darkened street and trees lining the sidewalks.

Sighing, I turned around, wishing I could get the masked man from my torrid thoughts. I felt lost in the shadowy chaos that consumed my mind every night, feasting on my nightmares for energy just to return again and again.

There was no one there. No one waiting to consume every inch of my soul. Just a dark night full of creatures of darkness. I had to break the strange cycle and return to real life.

Whatever that was.

At least I could still smile at my silliness. I walked toward the refrigerator, still feeling the intense chill from moments before. Now the quiet in the house was unnerving. I opened the door, reaching inside.

And felt him.

There was no warning, no strange sounds or heavy breathing.

But I knew.

He was there and as always, he was waiting.

Wanting.

Wanting.

“Hello, little lamb. Did you miss me?”

I took a fortifying breath and lifted my head, allowing my fingers to tighten around the thin plastic. How the hell had the freak gotten inside without me knowing? I’d checked everything. Every closet. Every room. Even under the bed.

“What do you want?” I managed, although my voice sounded weak.

“Isn’t that obvious? You.” His voice was deep and husky as it had been the first night, but I knew it to be electronically disguised. If only I could see his face.

But he would surely kill me if I dared rip off his mask. While I’d yet to turn around, I knew instinctively he was coming closer. “You can’t have me.”

“Why is that?”

“Because you’re a monster.” Maybe taunting him wasn’t a good idea, but I had to buy time to figure out how to get out of the house. The trouble was he was in my way of being able to do so.

His laugh was just like before, sending tiny prickles of fear and excitement into me. The haze that I’d felt before threatened to return. If it did, I’d succumb to moments of his madness and that couldn’t happen.

“Yes, I am.” He sounded proud of it.

“Sinner,” I hissed.

“Did you enjoy our game, little lamb?”

“How?”

“You know I’ve been watching you, protecting you. I’m very good at what I do, including being able to hack into any system.”

He’d fucking read my mail. He’d seen the invitation. My God. The lengths the bastard would go to. “What the fuck do you want?”

“Every time you ask, my answer will be the same.”

I couldn’t take the sick game any longer. Turning abruptly, the glow from the x’s for eyes made a perfect target. I pitched the water bottle, using every ounce of force possible. Smack in the eye.

He roared, his body pitching backward and against the edge of the counter. I didn’t hesitate, bolting toward the entrance. If I could get outside, my screams were likely easily heard by a couple of neighbors. They had to be. I’d never be free of him if he wasn’t arrested.

I made it all the way to the door before a hand was wrapped around my hair, jerking me back. With a gloved hand over my mouth, he held me close to his body, his heavy breathing an indication of his fury.

“That wasn’t very nice of you.” He dragged me backward into the kitchen. My struggles were useless.

He was wearing all black as before, only a pair of sweatpants and a heavy shirt. Yet the mask was the same, the glow even brighter than in the forest. I threw my arms back to try to pull it off, but he was too quick for me, jerking one arm down and the other, using one strong hold to continue holding both as well as my body against his.

At least the fucker had needed to release his grip on my mouth. “You fuck. Get out of my house.”

“I don’t think you want me to leave. I know you don’t. You’ve been hungering for me since we first met.”

“God, no. I hate you.”

“Mmm…” He nuzzled against my neck, his hot breath skittering through me like another series of bottle rockets.

Goosebumps appeared on every inch of my skin and I was keenly aware I was only wearing a light, almost see-through nightie with no panties underneath. I felt more vulnerable than being in the woods alone.

And I was able to gather a whiff of my crazy, fucked-up desire. That meant Sinner could as well. I was mortified, fighting both tears and anger.

“You smell divine, little lamb. I’ve come for another taste of you and if you’re a very good girl, you’ll receive a nice reward.”

“Please.”

He pulled me closer to the kitchen table and I tried to think of anything I could use as a weapon. I twisted and pulled to no avail.

“Please what? Fuck you? Maybe soon.” Every time he laughed it was as if he knew he was getting the upper hand. He rolled his other hand down my arm and I shuddered, biting back a moan. The sensations tingling every muscle and nerve ending should horrify me. So why was I so aroused, my nipples hard as rocks? And why was I wet, juice trickling down both inner thighs?

They were questions I honestly didn’t want to learn the answers to. Sinner seemed to know me all too well. I gasped for air to keep from whimpering as he slid his hand from my arm to my breast. He was gentle with his actions, rolling the tip of a single finger around my taut nipple.

“Fully aroused just like you were before. You are so beautiful, Desdemona. So perfect in every way.”

“Just leave me alone.”

He squeezed my breast until I yelped. “I told you, don’t lie to me.”

“I’m not. I’m just…” I was just finding it very hard to express my feelings. They were all over the place.

“You’re just embarrassed. I get it. I am a monster. But even monsters can provide ecstasy.” He pitched me onto the kitchen table, immediately yanking my gown up. The material ripped, the sound floating in the room. I should be terrified of him and what he was about to do.

But I wasn’t.

I was enthralled, studying the mask as he brushed his fingers along my shins as he lifted both legs, bending them at the knee.

“I’ve been looking forward to this, little lamb. Have you?” Sinner spread them wide open and I turned my head to the side.

But I wasn’t telling him no. I wasn’t shouting it to the world as any sane person would. I was lying still, wet with anticipation as my nipples ached and my pussy continued throbbing. What was wrong with me?

He was tender, stroking the inside of my legs and he bent down, lifting his mask to uncover his mouth. As he blew across my skin, I arched my back, still keeping my head on the table.

“Very sensitive. I like that,” he muttered and pressed kisses against one thigh then the other.

Fight him. Scream. Do something.

I wanted to. I really did. I continued to tell myself I would be complicit in everything if I didn’t. But the ugly truth was that a part of me didn’t want to. This was like so many games I’d played, uninhibited and full of electricity, so much so I was jolted as if struck by lightning.

“So wet for me, Desdemona. So pretty in pink.” He stretched out one arm, sliding his fingers under my nightgown, flicking the tip back and forth across my hardened bud.

I bit back a cry because it was one of pleasure.

But I sensed he’d heard me. He knew. He knew all my most intimate secrets, my kinky longings leading him to me. I couldn’t watch him. I couldn’t stand to face the fact I was enjoying what he was doing.

He pinched my nipple and the pain was just enough I couldn’t hold back, the cry one of desire.

“Pleasuring you will be one of my greatest joys,” he said and darted his tongue around my clit.

“Why? Why do you want me?”

“Because you’re the best representation of myself. We’re just alike, you and I.”

I wanted to argue with him, but how could I? While I had no intention of killing anyone in real life, what I did while hiding my true self inside a headset in another world was entirely up to me. I felt a nervous laugh bubbling to the surface, but it was halted when he took my clit into his mouth, sucking with enough force the tiny nub was instantly on fire.

“Oh, God.” I tossed my head back and forth, only then realizing he hadn’t bothered to tie me down. Because he’d known how I’d react.

A wave of heat swept to my face as he used his thumbs to split my pussy lips wide open. I’d never felt so exposed, the vulnerability I was facing adding to the tremendous excitement. The rush was unlike anything I’d ever experienced.

I was taking shallow breaths, lightheaded as the pleasure already began to build. He knew exactly what turned me on, using my words and brief yet very open conversations against me. I dug my heels into the table, lifting my pelvis off it.

“My naughty little lamb,” he chuckled just before burying his face into my wetness. “I’ll be the only man to provide you with what you need. And what you deserve. Rest easy, little lamb. This is just the beginning of a beautiful relationship.”

The beginning. That meant he would never let me go. If only I hadn’t opened myself up in the gaming world. If only I hadn’t found freedom in being someone else without fear of retribution.

If only I hadn’t been lured into the need to feel something out of my control.

If only…

Now it was too late.

It was at that moment I realized how much we complemented each other. The thought was more ridiculous than any I’d had before. The frightened unknown of where this would lead mixed with the sheer indulgence of passion that I was allowing to play out.

Only I had no choice. None. He would do whatever he wanted with me regardless of what I asked or wanted.

There was suddenly a charged silence between us, the only sound that of him licking my pussy feverishly. The noise he made should disgust me as much as everything else. Yet it lulled me into a sweet peace, a heightened state of mind where only the rapture he was providing mattered.

He dragged his tongue up and down the length of my pussy, taking his time to savor every drop. When he shifted his hands so he could thrust several fingers alongside his tongue, I was certain I’d go blind.

My body reacted involuntarily, jerking up from the table. I turned my head and stared out through the cracks in the blinds, wondering why I lived on such a normal street with perfectly sane individuals while I was anything but.

Panting, every muscle tensed, the searing of every nerve ending keeping me right on the edge. He was masterful, forcing me so close to nirvana and pulling back.

I dared look down at him, forced to stare into those neon glowing eyes. The most exciting aspect of all was that I had no clue about his identity. And it thrilled me.

“Good girl,” he whispered as another moan slipped past my lips.

I wanted desperately to prove him wrong, to act as if what he was doing did nothing to me.

But it would just be another lie.

A slight spasm in my lower body was a clear indication of how much pleasure he was capable of bringing me. I fought to keep from reacting, but it was no use.

No man had ever managed to make me come this way.

Only a monster had.

I rose up from the table as I’d done before, opening my mouth to a silent scream as the orgasm tickled my toes. His actions became rougher, his grunts turning into growls.

Unable to make a single sound, the wave of sheer ecstasy rolled through me, keeping my pulse ticking. Sinner refused to stop, enjoying every moment of defiling me just as he’d promised.

As the climax begun to ebb, I thumped down on the table, blinking rapidly. He stood to his full height and for a few seconds, I marveled just how tall he was.

He stood quietly without moving for a full minute. He’d left his gloves on. How careful of him. In the dim lighting of the moon, I locked my gaze onto his lips, the only thing I could see since the rest of his body was covered completely. They were full and, in my mind, the perfect shade of rose meant for kissing.

After tilting his head, he slowly pulled the mask over his mouth.

And I knew the nightmare full of passion and pain was far from being over.