Page 15 of Within Shadows

Knox

Cutting her security cameras is so easy that it’s almost painful when I finally slip into her house.

Maeve is softly humming from the bathroom, the sound of water running confirms what I already know.

She’s showering, and I tell myself that this crosses a line, as if I didn’t cross a dozen already.

I stare at the hoodie I sent here that sits next to the mug, and I already know she liked them.

Who has she assumed sent the gifts? I pull a thick envelope from my pocket and lay it on the hoodie, folding it slightly over my next gift.

More tickets to our next concert. My feet move on their own, dragging me forward until I’m standing in the doorway and dangerously out in the open.

Part of me longs to shed my clothes and mask, to step into the shower and show Maeve the truth of who I am.

A soft nudge at my leg breaks my trance, and I glance down to see her cat rubbing against me.

Maeve stills from the corner of my eye, and I dart away just as she gasps.

Atticus follows me, a ball of furry excitement, and I hold my breath.

His loud chatter is accompanied by Maeve in the next room as she stumbles around, muttering under her breath.

Moving quickly, I slide under her bed and anxiously watch the doorway.

Her feet pad into the room as she turns off the light, hesitating right next to me.

I could reach out, grab her ankle, and drag her down to me.

My hands ache from how tightly I fist them, barely resisting the urge to touch her.

“There’s no monster lurking in the shadows, Maeve.

You just need sleep. And to stop talking to yourself,” Maeve huffs, finally giving up, and flops onto the bed.

If only she knew what was here, hiding and ready to strike at any moment.

Her disgruntled groans and the creak of the bed fill the quiet of the room.

She’s tossing and turning, so I reach into my pocket and pull out a cell phone, silently typing out a message.

The chime of her phone comes only a moment later, and she nearly dives for it.

“ Go to bed, Maeve,” she mocks Garrett’s voice, and I have to bite my lip to hold back the laughter.

Her message lights up my screen, and I can nearly hear the attitude in her words.

My sassy little vixen is so brave when she talks to him , I wonder how bold she would be speaking to me?

If she only knew how close that pretty little ass is to carrying my handprint.

I shift slowly, risking poking my head out until I see her arm swing over the side of the bed as she fumbles around her nightstand.

It’s just dark enough to conceal what she grabs, but there’s no mistaking the sound.

Her breath comes out in a hitched whine as a loud vibration fills the room and blood pounds through my body.

I grip my aching erection through my pants and shift again, the floor creaking beneath me as I move and still.

Maeve doesn’t stop, her breath coming in faster pants, and I free my cock, stroking it as I imagine her wrapped around me.

Her perfect body welcoming me, begging me to break down every barrier between us.

I nearly lose myself and crawl from my hiding when I hear a name amidst her sounds of pleasure.

It’s my name. My fist tightens and I pump faster, pressing the back of my head against the floor until pain crawls across my scalp.

Maeve cries out, my name sharp and loud in the night, and I rip my hand away before I can spill on my own chest. My breath comes in tight pants as I lie completely still with racing thoughts that blur my sanity.

She wants me, wants the man behind the mask.

But does she know what that entails? The depravity I crave from her body, mind, and soul? She will soon enough.

Minutes tick past until finally, I hear that first soft snore and drag myself out from beneath her bed.

There she is, blankets tangled around her with her hair spilling over the pillow as she sleeps.

Maeve is so peaceful, unaware, in a way that makes my chest ache.

I can’t stop myself as I reach out, brushing a strand of hair from her face as my knuckles scrape over her soft skin.

Maeve hums, and I still as she shifts, reaching out for me before her hand falls to the bed and I know I should leave.

My inner voice tells me I shouldn’t have been here in the first place, but that little voice doesn’t see what I do.

My muse, vulnerable and defenseless. She needs me as I need her.

My steps are hurried as I head towards the door, forcing my body to leave until I slip outside and turn the lock into place.

The sound of tires on pavement has my head whipping around, and rage burns through me, erasing the joy I had felt in her presence as a red car speeds away from Maeve’s house.

That fucker is getting on my last nerve, and I know I won’t be getting any sleep now.

Oliver is more than a nuisance; he’s dangerous and getting bolder with every day that passes.

I don’t bother chasing him down, and I’m confident my presence alone is enough to scare him away for the night, but I keep Maeve’s security footage on my phone as I drive home.

Garrett’s phone is heavy in my pocket as I drum my fingers on the steering wheel.

How long until she realizes what’s happening?

Her ability to blindly trust him so easily shows her lack of self-preservation.

Or maybe Garrett is just that good at being deceitful.

I almost believe the persona that he embodies, the gentle and kind giant.

My breath comes out in a snort as I park in front of my house and climb out, gaze still locked on my screen while I flick through the different cameras.

“So many eyes are on you, little muse. You’ve got nowhere to hide,” I mutter as the door swings open. Al is on the couch and startles awake as I kick the door shut behind me.

“Scared the shit outta me,” he snaps, rubbing a hand over his disheveled hair as I shrug, walking past him.

“Then sleep in your bed like a normal person.”

“Jess kicked me out. She’s pissed.” He sounds so defeated that I almost feel bad for him, so I sit on the arm of the couch and wait for him to get it off his chest.

“She knows there’s something going on between you and Garrett.” He grits the words out, and a chill crawls up my spine.

“What did you say, Al?” My voice is low, but there’s a sharp tilt to my words, and he knows how pissed I am. Al jumps up and throws his arms wide, looking ridiculous in just boxers and a shirt.

“I didn’t say shit, man. But they’re smart, and one of them will realize what’s happening soon enough, or somebody will slip up.” There’s hurt in his voice and I deflate, feeling like the dick that I am. I pinch the bridge of my nose as I try to come up with a solution.

“I just need more time.” I drop onto the couch, and he blows out a breath.

“You’ve been my brother from the day we met in high school.

I have had your back, without question. But time is something we don’t get an unlimited amount of.

That girl in there is important to me, Knox.

” Al runs a hand through his hair, tugging on the ends as he blows out a huff.

Guilt nips at my heels, and I hang my head.

He loves Jess the way I do Maeve. I’d be pissed if he caught me up in something like this, but I knew it would work out in the end.

“Tell me you know what you’re doing.” he asks.

“Give me more credit than that, man.” I smile up at him with more confidence than I feel.

“If this blows up in your face, Jess won’t forgive me easily.” I can hear the fear in his voice. He’s genuinely afraid of losing her. Before I can say anything, I’m interrupted by the sound of a door opening and Jess’ voice.

“Al? Can you come to bed?” Her voice is thick, like she’s been crying, and guilt eats deeper in my consciousness. I put a hand on Al’s shoulder as I stand, stopping him as he looks at me.

“You can tell her… soon.” He nods once, shrugging me off with his careless smile back in place as he hurries towards his room.

That fool is in deep. I glance back down at my phone as I walk into my room and shut the door behind me.

And I’m a hypocrite, watching Maeve’s security cameras as she sleeps, completely oblivious to me.

She deserves the truth, but I have some things to settle first.

Maeve’s safety was the most important thing to me, and juggling everything is slowly catching up to me, but I won’t just give up.