Page 60 of Terror Tuesday

“For your laugh.” I tap my temple with a finger. “I’m keeping that one locked up here for later. On repeat…”

A smile pulls at her lips as we fall into step again, silence drifting comfortably between us, lighter now. Her fingers stay tangled with mine, a tentative acceptance.

After a moment, she peers at me from beneath thick lashes, curiosity playing at her lips. Moonlight shines on her face like diamonds. “Do you ever take off the mask?”

I chuckle. “Only in very special circumstances.”

“Like…showering?”

“Now you’re imagining me in the shower?” My voice lifts with unexpected playfulness. “Careful, Monarch. You’ll give me ideas.”

She scoffs, nudging my shoulder. “Maybe I’m just trying to decide if you’re human under there. For all I know, you sleep in that thing.”

“Who says I sleep?” I retort smoothly. “Maybe I stand in dark corners brooding all night.”

Her laugh is soft, melodic, warming something inside me I didn’t realize was cold. “Yes. I believe you do. In my room. You have that vibe.”

“What vibe?” I prod, drawing closer so my arm brushes against hers. Every touch sends a spark of electricity down my spine.

“You know, dark and mysterious. Gothic romance hero meets…” She pauses, teasingly thoughtful, “psychopathic stalker?”

Genuine amusement fills my belly as I release another chuckle and bump her side gently. “You sound as if you’re starting to enjoy it.”

“Maybe a little.” She shrugs, shyly biting her lip. But then her expression turns serious as she adds quietly, “I must be as twisted as you.”

My thumb brushes over the back of her hand. “I highly doubt that, queen.”

With a wave of her palm, she showcases the serene waters now in front of us. “Oh? I just sucked your dick surrounded by corpses,” she whispers. “I think we passed the twisted test a while back.”

The bold humor from her makes me grin underneath my mask. “You’ve got a point there.” Maybe it’s because I’m always cautious when I take action, but I’m more at ease around my goddess. Gently, I allow my arm to drape across her shoulders, then pull her into me. “But maybe that’s why I like you so much.”

Bubbling of water fills the comfortable lull in our conversation as we near the sorority house, its familiar shapeemerging from the fog. My pulse quickens subtly, already regretting our inevitable separation.

When we approach, she turns toward the back doors of her house. “Vanq?” Her voice softens, sincerity threading through. “Thank you.”

I stop, turning to face her beneath the pale-yellow glow of a porch light. “For?”

Quiet vulnerability flashes across her green eyes as they find mine. “For keeping your promise. For getting me home safe.”

With the tenderness of stroking a bird, I brush her hair back behind her ear, savoring the moment. “Of course.”

She shivers again in my sweatshirt and attempts to take it off, but I stop her. “It’s yours now.”

Lingering to prolong our last seconds together, my eyes dart to her plump lips. No matter what she said, thisisn’ta date. It’s a battle plan.

“What if… What if Iwantyou to come inside my room sometimes?”

I smirk. “Because you’retwisted?”

“That video… What you did?” She hesitates with an audible swallow. “I liked it. Not because it made sense, but because it let mereleasesomething. Like you were holding all the weight—and I didn’t have to. For once, I could, justbe.” Her voice drops to a whisper. “What if I want that again?”

My cock throbs, and despite just getting sucked off, it feels as if I could go another round. With a deep breath, I calm myself and tell her, “You don’t need to explain what you want with me. But don’t underestimate what you’re asking for. If there’s a next time…I won’t stop where I did on that video. I’ll go deeper. And you won’t crawl out the same.”

As if she’s turned reticent, she lowers her face, then looks at me through her lashes. “I understand. But I still want it…” To avoid any further comments, she bounces once, twice on hertoes, and waves at me with her hand just up at chest height. “Okay, bye.”

The air stretches awkwardly between us as she scurries to the door. I shove my hands in my pockets and wait until she’s inside, but she pauses to check if I’m still there. Her shoulders relax as she gives me a final nod.

I take off in a sprint toward her balcony, my form shrouded in darkness. Scaling the latticework, I leap over the banister just as she enters, then I press my back against the wall outside as she flips on her light. Holding my breath, I move carefully so she doesn’t see. So I can watch.