Page 9 of Stained In Sin (The Twisted Trilogy #1)

Evelyn

The week has been flying by. I have been on time to all of my classes, spending time catching up on my reality TV shows, and reading my favorite thriller books.

Psychological thrillers are my favorite.

I have always wondered what it would feel like to have that kind of fear and panic swarm around me.

When I read books, I can escape into another world.

I can feel the rush from the thrill, without actually being in danger.

I have always wondered about the feelings, but now I know what they are.

Now, as I read my book curled up on my cozy chair, I feel my skin grow hot as the girl gets abducted.

My body reacts in a foreign way. My mind wanders to him.

Luckily, it’s been a few days since he has sent me any unwanted messages, but I still catch myself checking my phone and glancing over my shoulder everywhere I go. I know he will be back.

The last text I sent to him sends a shiver down my spine.

I told him that I was thinking about him— in a very sarcastic way, but it was the truth.

I was trying to relax in my bathtub to unwind, but he infiltrated my thoughts.

The way his presence swallowed me whole in the alley, the way he drew me into him in the club, and the way he caressed my neck.

I clench my legs at the reminder. I don’t understand why my body reacts the way it does, but I can’t give in. I’m not supposed to.

I know that he was watching me in the tub.

Why else would he ask me who I was thinking about?

I have searched my entire room for cameras and can’t find anything.

Wherever they are, they are hidden well.

The uncomfortable thing about it is that I didn’t wholly want to find them.

I felt my face flush when I realized he was watching me, and it turned me on.

I wanted him to watch me. To look at what he can’t have.

A part of me wouldn’t mind doing that again.

I have always looked at people who do wild things for fun.

Things like skydiving, base jumping, sleeping around, Hell, even doing drugs.

I always imagine what it would be like to do those things, but I never act on the thought.

I would never do any of that. It goes against my moral compass.

I know I shouldn’t, so I won’t— but the thought lingers. Maybe I should try something new?

I slam my book closed, tossing it to the wooden table beside me.

I need to clear my head. I decided to make a journey to one of the local trails.

It is one of my favorites— secluded, quiet, and breathtaking.

It’s only 4 P.M., so I have more than enough time to complete the 2-hour hike before nightfall.

You shouldn’t go out alone. He’s out there. I run my fingers through my hair to stop the voice of reason. I’m not scared of him. If he wanted to hurt me, he would have already done it.

I dash to my closet to put on my favorite hiking outfit—my hunter green leggings and a cream-colored sports bra.

I also decided to throw on a cream colored pullover.

The air has been cool lately, and I don’t want to catch a cold.

I grab my hiking pack and stuff my wallet, keys, headphones, bear spray, and water bottle inside.

While I have never encountered a bear, I don’t want to.

This time of year, they are crawling all over the place.

They have to stock up on enough food for the winter months, and I don’t plan on being their next meal.

I slip on my hiking boots, taking one last look around my room. Everything is locked, and I am ready to hike. I let out a deep breath before heading down to my car.

I walk down the stairs outside the front of my house, taking in a breath of the crisp air surrounding me. I make it to my car and see a piece of paper under my wiper blade. How original of him. I swiftly grab the note, rolling my eyes at the desperation.

“The innocence is intoxicating,

I feel it in my veins,

A sweetness meant for breaking,

A pleasure laced with pain.

You tremble, but you crave it—

The ruin, raw and true,

So run, or stay and taste it…

Either way, I’ll swallow you.

—D”

I crumble up the note and toss it onto the floorboard of my car.

He doesn’t know what I crave. He doesn’t even know me.

Or does he? Stop. He doesn’t know. He thinks he knows.

I’ll never give him what he wants. I shut myself into the car and start driving to the trail.

I know I shouldn’t go, but I really don’t give a fuck. He can fuck off.

* * *

The scent of pine trees swarms my senses as I continue up the mountain.

The hike up is short, just an hour. I am about 45 minutes in, and I feel good.

My lungs are slightly burning from the exercise, but it’s a good kind of burn.

My headphones are on playing “That’s So True ” by Gracie Abrams. They have a feature that pauses the music.

It uses a microphone to pick up the sounds around me, allowing me to hear everything and stay aware of my surroundings.

The path is clear of mud, as we have been lucky not to have had any rain lately, and leaves lie scattered among the dense woods. I walk for another fifteen minutes before I reach the clearing at the peak of the mountain. I walk up to the bench and take off my bag, removing my water.

I gulp the cool liquid as it soothes my burning throat. I place the water back in my bag and turn to look at the mountain. It’s beautiful. The tree tops swaying in the breeze. This is what I live for— right here in this moment. No stress. No people. Just existing without owing anyone anything.

I do some light stretching in the clearing for about 10 minutes before deciding it’s time to head back. I don’t want to be caught in the dark on the mountain. I swoop up my bag, stuffing my headphones inside so I can enjoy the quiet, and fasten it in place, turning to walk back down the path.

I hear the cracking of a stick to the right of me, startling me, and I stop to turn. I’m always careful not to run, in case it is a bear. I really should carry the bear spray in my hand while hiking. What good is it going to do me if I have to stop to fumble through my bag?

I scan the woods, but I don’t see anything unusual.

I continue to walk, trying to convince myself that I am just paranoid right now.

Then I hear it again. This time coming from the left.

It sounded like something hit the ground.

I wait a few more seconds before peeling my eyes back to the path in front of me, ensuring that I am alone.

When my eyes meet the forest in front of me, I freeze. I blink rapidly, trying to confirm that I am not hallucinating right now. The goosebumps erupt across my flesh as the impending doom creeps closer.

“You told me I’d have to catch you first.” The tone of his low, raspy voice sends a rush of heat to my core.

I take a step back, unsure of his intentions.

“It… It was a joke.” I nearly choke on the words as they jump out of my mouth.

He shakes his head slowly as he approaches. His black mask leaves no room to judge his thoughts or emotions.

“You and I both know it wasn’t a joke,” he steps closer as he continues, “You wanted me to catch you.”

“No, I didn’t,” my tone is barely audible over the rustling of the trees. I swallow the lump in my throat as pressure builds behind my eyes.

“Oh, but you did. You have been checking your phone religiously. You have been looking over your shoulder constantly, watching. Waiting for me to find you.”

The pressure behind my eyes becomes too much. I don’t know what his intentions are. I shouldn’t have come here. Why am I so fucking prideful.

My body might betray me, but he has never once told me what he meant by ruining me. In my mind, right now, he wants to kill me. Well, rape me, and then kill me. In no particular order.

“Why are you doing this?”

He chuckles beneath the mask, alerting the hairs on my body to stand on end.

“Remember when you let that piece of shit grab you?”

I nod my head.

“I told you— I get to decide what you learn from that.”

I take another step back, slipping on the pile of leaves beneath my foot. I fall back, landing on my hands, trying to back away, without turning my back to the Devil in front of me.

“I decided that I am going to show you just how much you crave me, and how impatient I am becoming.”

I quickly rise to my feet and take off into the woods. I am off trail, but anywhere is better than being with him. I keep running, hearing the danger gaining on me. Suddenly, my ponytail is grabbed. Pain blossomed on my scalp. The sting is sharp, and fresh tears meet my eyes. He caught me.

He pulls me back to him by my hair, my back pressing into his front.

He pins one hand around my waist and the other one grips my throat as he tilts my head to the side.

I feel his warm breath seeping from beneath his mask down onto my neck.

I am breathing hard, my body stiff. The adrenaline coursing through my veins.

You like it. I squeeze my eyes shut to ignore the way my body wants to react.

“You can’t escape me, princess. I have to admit. I liked the chase.”

He grinds his erection into my back, tightening his grip around my waist. I clench my legs together, trying to ignore the ache between my legs.

“I know you like it too,” his words linger in my mind, as I try to calm down. What the fuck is happening.

His hand tightens on my throat. His hand around my waist lifts to the band of my leggings.

“No.. please.. don’t…” My words flow from my mouth in a shaky, quiet tone.

“Why shouldn’t I?”

A flush creeps onto my skin at his words. His tone is low and daring.

“Please,” my voice sounding breathy, and I almost don’t recognize myself.

He slips his hand into the front of my leggings. His touch is warm, leaving a trail of fire in its wake. I squirm beneath his touch, trying to stop him, but his grip on my throat remains a threat. I can barely breathe.

He slides his hand down onto my most sensitive area, coating his fingers in my arousal, spreading it up and down my folds gently. His touch is the opposite of what I imagined. I thought he would be ruthless. Instead, he touches me like I am made of glass.

“You’re so fucking wet.” He breathes against my skin.

My body reacts on its own, softening into his back. He continues to tease me, never slipping his fingers inside, and my arousal only grows. I don’t understand why, but in this moment, I don’t want him to stop. His touch feels forbidden, yet I want it.

A soft moan escapes me as I am lost in feelings of pleasure and not thoughts. He lets out a low chuckle. He slowly withdraws his fingers, bringing them out in front of us, letting them glisten in the light that breaks through the trees.

He brings his fingers to his mouth beneath the mask and I hear him sucking them. He pops his fingers free and loosens his grip on my throat.

“So fucking sweet.”

My body shudders at his words. How can a man be so hot and so cold? I feel like my brain is a tangled mess. I hate what he says to me, but I love how he touches me. I actually feel slightly pissed off that he chased me down to fucking tease me. Asshole.

He lets go of my neck, my body feeling a sudden chill from the absence of his presence. I turn to face him, and he stands confidently, looking down at me through the mask. His eyes are cold and dark.

He steps into me and I don’t back down.

“Don’t run from me again, princess. I will hunt you down, and I will be the only one to ever touch you. Do you understand?”

I stare at him, unable to give him an answer. He doesn’t get to decide that, I do. Even though my body wants it to be him, my mind still knows it’s wrong. This is a game, and I will get my heart broken.

He grazes my cheek with his fingers and rubs his thumb over my bottom lip. I keep my eyes fixed on his as he speaks.

“Just know that if you let another man touch you, it’ll be the last thing he does.”

A tremble swims through my body from his chilling threat. He will kill someone. For me.

I nod, acknowledging his threat, and he steps aside to let me leave. I hesitate slightly, but decide to start walking. I make it to the main trail quickly, but I don’t miss the sound of footsteps behind me.

Oh, right. He has to hike down the trail too.

I cross my arms in front of my chest as I walk down the path.

My thoughts are scattered. Guilt is taking over.

I should never have come here. I should have fought harder.

What the fuck is wrong with me? Then the voice inside my head, which I fight to suppress, grows louder.

You like him. You crave the danger. Just give in. He is different. Fucking Hell.

We walk in silence for the entire hour, just before the darkness takes over the sky.

I get into my car and lock my doors as if that would stop him.

I look out into the deserted lot and see him getting onto his bike.

Of all things, he would ride a Ducati. I roll my eyes and slide my bag onto the floor, but something lies in the seat next to me—a small package, wrapped in matte black paper.

I open up the package to reveal a velvet case. I carefully open the case, and inside it rests a dainty gold necklace with diamonds spaced apart every inch or so. It’s beautiful. There was no note, but I can only assume it is from him.

I slip the necklace out and fasten it around my neck.

I don’t even know why I am wearing it. It’s not like he is being nice to me.

He is trying to love bomb me or something.

I’ll accept it only because he fucking owes me.

The necklace sits almost snugly, leaving little room for my fingers to slip between the metal and my flesh—It’s damn near a choker.

I shouldn’t be surprised. I start my car and begin my journey home.

I am drowning in a sea of danger, and the only person I want to save me is the Devil— because the Devil knows how to make me feel good. Even if it’s only temporary, maybe it’s worth a shot.