Chapter One
A Change is Coming
Adreana
Have you ever had the feeling of being alone even when you’re surrounded by people? Being utterly and completely alone even when you’re among your closest family and friends? For years I felt that way even when I was in a crowd. But the last year has been different. I haven’t had a moment where I felt alone once.
Because of my watcher.
“Did you hear a word I just said?” Emma, my twin sister, asks, shoving at my shoulder.
“No,” I reply, continuing to scan the park we are walking through.
My American pit bull terrier, Daisy, comes speeding my way with a ridiculous smile plastered across her face. The steel-blue monster tackles me to the ground, slathering me with kisses until I struggle to breathe before she speeds off again.
She loves coming to the park as much as I do. I rescued her from the pound the moment I stepped out of high school and we haven’t been apart since. She is the only thing I love unquestioningly and without forethought. For three years, Daisy has been my only companion, the reason I still have a remaining sliver of sanity. She helped me to not feel so alone in a world full of people.
Daisy and my watcher.
I feel watched and followed every minute of every day. I can’t explain where this feeling is coming from but I know I should have a different reaction to the situation. I shouldn’t feel safe or cherished. What I should be feeling is fear. I know that, but it doesn’t change a damn thing.
“I want you to come with me to the Halloween party at Harken tonight,” my sister says again, finally drawing my attention.
“Are you nuts? I hate that place,” I reply with a frown. “Everyone is on something, and that fucking man is always lurking.”
I can’t fucking stand Mana. The man is too attractive for his own damn good and he knows it. I’ve only been there a handful of times, but I always manage to run into him. Most of those times are because of something my stupid sister did.
“Please. You can’t let me go alone,” Emma says softly, casting her eyes toward the grass beneath our feet.
I inhale deeply through my nose before exhaling. I know this ploy. She is trying to manipulate me but that doesn’t work anymore. It’s another thing that has changed since I started to be watched. I went from a wallflower, terrified of my own shadow, to someone who has a backbone and speaks her mind.
“Don’t do that.” I nod as I scan the area for Daisy. “Your crocodile tears and fake sadness don’t work on me anymore, Em.”
“What happened to you?” she sneers, clearly irritated, her false tears forgotten. The difference between her actual personality and the fake one she uses is as stark as night and day. “What happened to my sister?”
“You mean, when did I stop following you around like a lost puppy? When did I remember I had a mind of my own?”
“You know that isn’t what I meant.” Emma faces me with a frown, her hands firmly planted on her hips.
“You may not have said it but it doesn’t make it any less true. Our entire lives, you led and I followed. You spoke and I agreed, even when I was sure you were wrong. That’s what really bothers you.”
“What the hell, Addi?” she gasps her shock. “You’ve never talked this way before.”
“I didn’t, but these have always been my thoughts and feelings. And now it’s time for things to change,” I say, clipping Daisy’s leash in place before walking away. “I’m not just going to blindly follow you anymore, Emma.”
“Where are you going?” she yells behind me.
“Away!”
I hear her continue to talk but I steadfastly ignore her. For as long as I can remember, I have always danced to her tune, done whatever she wanted. She has always been the more outspoken, free-spirited twin, but now it’s time for me to start living my own life.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my sister with my whole heart. She is the only family I have left but I can’t stand her. I never could. But then, you don’t have to like someone to love them.
Yes, I am fully aware that I won’t allow my only living family member to walk into the damn den of iniquity by herself. Yes, I will end up joining her at Harken tonight. But you can be damn sure I will make my displeasure known every step of the way.
A tingle spreads down my spine, and awareness flows through my veins. My watcher is back. Breathing deeply, I try to remain calm even with the adrenaline spike coursing through my veins. I want to stop and seek my watcher out, but I don’t. I never do.
The fear of them leaving holds me back. Do they know I am aware? Or will that scare them off? I don’t want to lose this feeling. Also, I am terrified of ending the mystique that surrounds my watcher. I honestly don’t know if I want to find out, even if the curiosity is killing me.
I can’t explain the way I feel which is why I haven’t said a word about it to anyone. Being watched like this isn’t something creepy or scary. No, it feels like I am being protected, even though I don’t have an idea why I would need that sort of attention. Or deserve it.
So instead of doing anything, I continue as if nothing is out of place.
“How do you feel about some ice cream, girl?”
Daisy gives me a lopsided smile and a little yelp. She starts walking faster, pulling me along, and I laugh at her enthusiasm. People may say animals don’t know what we’re talking about but as my beautiful rescue leads me toward the ice cream parlor, I know they are full of shit.
“Hello, Adreana!” Mr West smiles brightly as the bell above the door rings. “And the beautiful Miss Daisy.” He reaches down and scratches my pup affectionately behind her ear.
“Hey, Mr West. How are you feeling today?”
“You know, same old, same old.” He chuckles as he scoops out some of the sugar-free peanut butter and banana ice cream he makes special for all the dogs in the area.
Growing up just outside of Portland, Oregon, you would think I was just one of many faces. But the community is very close-knit in the suburb we grew up. You know the kind of community you see on TV and think could never be real. That’s where I grew up. Everyone knows each other and is always in each other’s business. Even with the city just being out of reach, we almost have a small-town feel.
It’s irritating in a way I can’t explain, but also beautiful. When my parents died in our last year of high school, the entire community banded around us, watched over us, and helped us. I will never be able to repay what this community, this town did for me. And I would never be able to put into words just how grateful I am.
I stay here for that reason. Hoping one day I will be able to pay forward the kindness that was shown to me and my sister.
The other side of the small-town feel is always having people in my business. I couldn’t fart without the whole town knowing and having an opinion about it. But I have learned to take the good with the bad.
“Are you headed home?” Mr. West asks as he hands over the ice cream, glancing out the window. “It looks like a storm might be rolling in.”
“Yeah, just stopped for a treat.” I smile and hand over some cash.
With a wave, I walk out of the parlor and head to the house I have lived in my entire life, and now share with my sister. It’s nothing special, hell, it’s not even a pretty house, but it’s ours.
All the way home, the feeling of being watched and protected never leaves me.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
****
My dreams are vivid. Hands, lips, and skin. Dark hair, light hair, tattoos, bulging muscles… I’m not sure when they started, but I know I have them every night now. Scratch that, every time I sleep. Even if it’s only an afternoon nap. I always wake up hot and bothered, the feel of several hands still burning on my skin.
Perhaps if I had someone in my life, someone to slake my lust and take care of my needs, it wouldn’t be so bad. But I’m alone, and I’ve only had mediocre sex a handful of times with the same guy. I don’t even see any prospects on the horizon.
I don’t have any interest in any of the men in town, and I certainly don’t see myself with any of my sisters’ friends or one of the drug-addled idiots that frequent Harken.
So, I did the next best thing a girl can do and ordered myself a battery-operated boyfriend online. The sleek black box arrived yesterday. After waking from my afternoon nap and a dream that has me begging to be fucked, I seek out my new purchase. Opening it up I stare at the intimidating silver phallic form nestled in its bed of purple velvet.
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Slipping fresh batteries inside, I lie back down on my bed and fiddle with the speed and intensity settings before pressing it against my sex through my panties. Holy shit. The vibrations roll through my already sensitized body. Outside, thunder rolls through the clouds as heavy rain pelts against my bedroom window. I never close the drapes anymore, hoping to give my watcher an unobstructed view.
Awareness rocks me, and the feeling of being watched is more intense than ever before. The gaze caressing my heated skin from a distance serves to make this experience more erotic and even a little taboo. I mean, who the fuck masturbates for their stalker’s viewing pleasure?
Pulling my panties aside, I allow the object in my hand to slip through my folds and nudge at my entrance. My orgasm is already cresting, the dream I woke from earlier still riding me as I twist the dial to the highest intensity.
A scream rips from my throat as my orgasm washes over me. I hope my watcher sees everything. I want to entice them to approach me. I need to know if my watcher and one of the strangers in my dreams are the same person.
I want…