Page 91 of Wretched Soul

A featherlight touch runs down my spine. He’s behind me. “Looks that way.”

I steady my breath. “Well, you’ve been caught Mason,” I say smugly, excitement pulsing through my veins.

“Is that what you think?” he asks, his voice low and menacing. “You got in here, but only I can let you out.” The direction of his voice moves. He’s circling me. “And I’m not going to do that. I did warn you.”

I hadn’t realized I’d been harboring a fear that he might be the one to reject me until relief floods me, quickly followed by carnal desire that makes my legs tremble. I stretch out a hand and find that darkness has filled the space where I was sure he was standing.

“Open your mouth.”

“I’m not–”

“Do as your told.” He’s behind me again.

“Fine,” I mumble, and open my mouth. For some reason, I close my eyes too, like that makes any difference in the darkness he’s trapped me in.

Shade places something on my tongue. Chocolate. “What’s that for?”

“For later,” he promises. “When I let you kiss me.”

As the chocolate dissolves on my tongue, fingers trace my cheek. I turn, but my hands slice through empty air again. “Shade!” I hiss.

“Shade?” His voice is further away now. “Who’s he?”

I fight the smile and ignore the twisting desire tightening around my core. “I thought we were done playing games?”

“So did I, Slayer,” he says, his tone cooling a touch. “You made me wait for your call for eleven goddamn days.”

I track his movements from the sound of his voice. “You counted?”

“Every. Fucking. Second.”

Unexpected pressure builds behind my eyes. I really did torture him. “I’m sorry.”

“Are you?”

He’s moved again, forcing me to turn in circles so I lose all sense of direction. “I’m starting to think not,” I say, aiming a scowl into the impenetrable shadows. My eyes have had time to adjust, but still, I see nothing. There isn’t a hint of ambient light anywhere.

Holding out my hands in front of me, I take baby steps forward. My hand grazes a wall, but not the wall of muscle I was hoping for. I keep walking.

“I still won,Mason. And I demand my prize.”

“Fine. Come and get it,” he teases.

He’s ahead of me now and I trail the wall with a hand. I pass a couple of doors, but keep moving until the wall stops abruptly. I’m in the living space.

“Shade?” I ask as I walk forward. Silence and darkness greet me. “I swear…”

“Stop,” he says quickly. “You’re going to walk into a barstool.”

I must be close to the kitchen island I spied. I cock my head. “Wait. You can see me? Are you wearing night vision goggles?”

He doesn’t answer.

“This isn’t fair! I caught you!”

“Lily, you’d still be sitting in that coffee shop if I hadn’t come to fetch you.”

My jaw drops. “You knew I was there?”