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SHILOH

A trembling hand lands on my shoulder. I shove my laptop into my bag, turning to Eddy. “Miss—Miss Talbot?”

Strange. He never calls me Miss Talbot. Always by my first name. Even when he took over for Dempsey earlier in class today, a little over two hours ago.

Always Shiloh.

What’s he doing here, anyway? Class is over. I want him gone.

I’m so ready to go home. To Kaleb.

I mean, he’s here, on the campus grounds, no question about it.

I’ve felt his eyes on me for the past hour or so.

Goosebumps have pricked my skin. The back of my neck has been burning up.

It’s thrilling.

My worries about getting caught are gone.

We’re basically safe .

I did that. I made sure we would be, that no one was out there searching for Kaleb.

First, I managed to sound cool and collected when I gave my version of events to the police. I lied through my teeth about the short man who killed my professor. Forced tears out when I got to the hard parts.

Dad’s lawyers argued with the detectives, but eventually, I was promised that this would be my last interview about the subject. They also informed me that he was on a short trip with Kaleb’s mom. He’d be back home on Halloween. That was why he couldn’t be there.

Talk about strange timing. It’s as if Kaleb had a hand in getting them back here on the date he wants to kill them.

Which is impossible. I think.

They handed me back my phone while I smiled on the inside, happy that Kaleb would get his wish, killing our parents on that day. Then I did some more damage control and calmed Val for the hundredth time.

At college, no one suspected I had anything to do with Dempsey’s death. On the contrary. My classmates and teachers were compassionate. Soft smiles. A pat on my shoulder.

It must have been awful.

Yes, yes, it was. Poor Professor Dempsey.

They consoled me while excitement buzzed under my skin.

Kaleb. The future that awaits us. The fact that I can keep him safe. Free.

When I get home, he’ll still be there to mark my skin again. Claim my three holes. Yes .

Soon. Once Eddy is out of the way.

“Miss Talbot.” His voice breaks, face pales.

My hackles rise. Swear to God, this better not be another conversation about Kaleb.

He better not be threatening me to expose Kaleb. Asking for my permission to report him.

It takes all of my concentration to sling my bag over my shoulder instead of bashing it into Eddy’s head. “What do you want?”

Terrified, light gray eyes stare at me. His body trembles beneath his red and black plaid sweater.

“Eddy.” My pulse skyrockets. “What have you done?”

Before he gets to answer, I curl my fingers around the collar of his sweater. I could snap his neck so. Fucking. Easily.

We’re the only two people left in the room. No one else ishere to stop me.

“N-n-n?—”

“You ratted him out?”

“No,” he blurts out. His trembling intensifies. “I came to tell you that y-y-you’ve got to stay today.”

“Stay for what?” I pull my lips in, pushing the worst-case scenarios out of my head. This has nothing to do with Kaleb. He’s just scared of me. I think.

“S-someone—” He’s grown a shade paler, almost translucent now. “For the clinical practice hours. Well. One hour. Just one. A volunteer has asked specifically for you.”

Eddy stares at me. I stare back.

The information sinks in.

A volunteer .

“Fuck.” I release Eddy.

The force of my frustration makes him stumble back. I pinch the bridge of my nose and suck in a deep breath.

I can’t say that I hate it. I can’t deny that I’m wet for it.

A game.

A sex game.

I’m sick for thinking this would be a good idea.

Even sicker for being okay with him risking his freedom over this.

“Fuck.” I lower my voice, hissing. “I—He?—”

“He? I have no idea who this person is,” Eddy screeches. He’s a terrible liar. Worse than I am.

“Eddy.” Tremors rack his body the longer I stare him down. “Repeat what you just said. Make it believable.”

His eyes lose focus, eyebrows lowering in confusion. “I’m sorry?”

“Who’s the volunteer? Who’s been asking for me?” Each word is delivered in a low, menacing voice.

“Oh.” He blinks, nodding frantically as the meaning behind my question registers. “Of course.” He clears his throat and stands an inch taller. “No idea who’s in there. A stranger who emailed Professor Dempsey. Jakob White. That’s his name. That’s all I know. We had someone walk him out of campus after the clinical practice last night, so there’s no way he could’ve killed?—”

“Enough,” I snap at him. His lips slam together. “Too much detail is just as incriminating. Short and to the point, okay? Again. ”

“You’re absolutely right.” He rolls his shoulders. Fixes his features into a neutral expression. But he still looks like a coward to me. “No idea who’s in there. All I have is a name. Jakob White. A volunteer.”

“Good.” It’ll have to do.

“You gave them another description, right?” When my nostrils flare, Eddy staggers back another few steps, his back hitting the wall. “Don’t—don’t come any closer. I’m just saying it’ll help. Knowing what they’re looking for.”

“Short and stocky. Couldn’t remember anything else.” I sneer as I stride past him. “If you’ll excuse me, my patient is waiting for me.”

Our second and last session.

Our version of exhibitionism.

He’ll be okay. I trust him.

I repeat that to myself as I cross the hall to the clinic. Electricity pulses through me, short, thrilling jolts that make breathing hard.

I breathe, anyway. I’m alive. Awake. In my most primal state.

The level-headed version of me would’ve turned around and left. Stormed outside of campus grounds.

She would’ve waited for Kaleb to realize she wasn’t coming. Stayed home until he broke in and took her there. Behind a locked door. In the privacy of her home, where it’s safe.

I’m way past being level headed. Past being civilized.

I want him.

I’m taking him .

Plain and fucking simple.

Eddy drags his feet behind me. He only appears next to me when we get to the viewing area.

Hushed murmurs filter through the viewing room, getting louder when I open the door.

Seriously? Again with this?

Professor Dempsey is gone. It should be obvious to everyone that I’m not here because I slept with him.

It should be, yet here they are, huddled together. Shutting up as soon as they notice me.

Fuck them. I don’t care what they think about me. I glower at the three of them.

The two men, dressed in classic pants and button-down shirts, aren’t familiar. I do remember the woman.

She was here yesterday. Tall, her slender figure swallowed up under her large, white, wool sweatshirt and oversized jeans. Her long, slick black hair falls down her back.

Her brown eyes shoot daggers at me.

Accusing me of Professor Dempsey’s death.

Let her , a voice inside me that sounds a lot like Kaleb says. She can’t do anything about it. There’s no proof.

The voice is right.

Whatever, my gaze answers her as I stroll past her.

None of these people matter. The only person who does isn’t in this room.

He’s in the guest waiting area.

Expecting me.

Butterflies assault my stomach as I open the door to the clinic. I hear Eddy gathering the students, his voice less shaky than it was before. Thank fuck. It gives me hope that he won’t mess up if and when he’s ever questioned again.

One less thing to worry about.

The door clicks shut behind me, and I forget about everything. My heart flutters in my chest. Desire and excitement make me heady.

On the outside, I’m the picture of calm, putting my bag on the side table. Shrugging off my coat.

On the inside, I’m two seconds from screaming with excitement. Sexual energy runs through my body.

I thought I wanted the practice hours to be better equipped to help Kaleb and me. I was wrong.

We don’t need anyone.

We’re perfect the way we are.

Kinky and fucked-up and us.

I just have to make sure neither Kaleb nor I slip up today.

As long as his identity remains a secret, we’re good.

My gait is long and confident as I cross the room. Hand on the door handle. I press it.

Holy shit. This is really happening.

I pull it open. “Mr. White.”

He’s arresting. There’s no other word to describe him. Tall and intimidating, filling up the doorframe. His hoodie and jeans accentuate his lean muscles.

The clothes aren’t anything special. This isn’t even the first time I’ve seen him today.

He steals my breath away, regardless.

It’s him. And the mask .

God, he’s gorgeous. I stare at him beneath my lashes. At the black pools of his eyes.

I’m drawn to them. I’m getting lost in them.

He says nothing, sticking to his act.

His piercing glare and ominous silence get me hotter. Needier.

What are you doing, being quiet like that?

Right.

“Please, come in.” I step back, allowing him to enter the room.

“Hmm.” He heads straight to the chair he occupied the day before.

He sits there, hands on his knees, shoulders pulled back.

His demeanor betrays nothing. No flicker of regret or apprehension for what he’d done to Professor Dempsey shows on him. It’s admirable. I could look at him for hours.

But this isn’t a game if I’m not playing.

I lower myself into my seat, crossing my legs. A new legal pad and pen were left for me on the second side table, and I pick them up. Click on the pen. Affix my gaze to Kaleb.

“Mr.—”

“Jakob.”

No formalities, then, just like last time. I roll the pen between my fingers, working through the jitters. The excitement of the unknown.

“Jakob.” Even his fake name tastes sweet on my tongue. Decadent.

Tempting .

Is he as turned on as I am? I let my eyes wander down the length of his body, biting my bottom lip the lower my gaze goes. His cock must be hard in his jeans, and I’m dying to see it. My mouth waters for it.

But I don’t get as low as I would’ve liked.

A bump in the pocket of his hoodie grabs my attention.

He’s brought something to our session.

Before I let my curiosity get the better of me—before I ruin this game—I return to stare at his mask.

I clear my throat that’s filled with emotions. With need. “First, I’d like to apologize for yesterday.”

He shakes his head. Once.

It was the wrong thing to say.

He doesn’t need my apology.

I’m hyper-aware of the one-way mirror. Of other people watching us.

What comes out of my mouth next matters. Not for school purposes. Not for their approval.

It’s so I can stretch this out for Kaleb and me for as long as possible.

Turn this charade into something delicious.

I couldn’t appreciate what Kaleb did the first time he stepped inside this clinic. I can now.

We’ll reminisce about itfor the rest of our lives.

Our long, carefree lives.

We’ll have it. We will.

“Something wrong, Jakob?”

He tilts his head. I swear I hear their bones shaking on the other side of this room .

“No apology.” Two words that spread heat through my body.

It’s impossible to stop my thighs from clenching.

“Okay.” I suck in a breath, my chest heating. My panties are ruined. I’ll do anything for him. For this game. Anything he asks. “What then?”

“Start over.”