Chapter 14 Evie
A hand covered my mouth again, but this time I bit down. For a split second, I thought I might have hurt him—the hiss from the mask made me kick again, but it had no effect. It was like biting into iron, his reaction unnervingly calm. Panic surged through me, but I refused to let it take over.
I struggled, my mind racing as I tried to break free, but the arms around me were unyielding, pulling me further into the suffocating darkness. I couldn’t see his face, but I could feel his breath against my neck, hot and slow, as if he were savoring my panic.
I knew eyes had been on me, and I knew the guys had been worried about threats. I should have paid more attention.
Instead, I let myself get dragged into the woods without a fight. I tried to wiggle my arm free and reach down, but he grabbed it, already anticipating my move. It’s not like I kept my knife hidden, but he must have watched me long enough to know it was there.
I twisted, trying to get a better look at him—his build, the way he moved. It all felt too familiar, but the mask hid his face.
Even the deep dark scent made me think of Aiden.
But he wouldn’t do this. He wouldn’t have a reason to.
Panic flowed through me, but I forced myself to breathe, to focus. This felt too wrong, too predatory. Aiden could be rough, sure, but he wasn’t reckless. He played by the rules, and this was breaking every rule I could think of.
My mind spun between recognizing the man who had me and the terrifying idea that it wasn’t him at all.
I stomped down hard, aiming for his foot, but he twisted out of the way, dragging me farther back until the noise from the party faded into a distant hum.
All I could hear now was the crunch of sticks underfoot, my own frantic breathing, and the steady, ominous thud of his heart pressed against my back.
“Let go of me,” I gasped as he finally lowered his hand, my voice shaking with more fury than fear.
“Now, why would I do that?” he asked, his voice low, mocking.
The sound came out distorted—metallic and unnatural.
If it was Aiden, why would he disguise his voice?
I felt my stomach twist as he leaned in closer, his gloved fingers brushing against my jaw.
I knew Aiden’s voice, every dip and growl, but this .
. . this voice was warped. But maybe that’s what he wanted—to throw me off.
“Because I told you to, and things will end badly for you if you don’t listen,” I said through gritted teeth, trying to push down the rising fear, trying to convince myself this was all another one of Aiden’s games.
Maybe he was trying to match my craziness and get back at me for it.
“Are you sure? I don’t see your bodyguard tonight. Who is going to punish me for this?” His voice came through the mask, an unnatural growl that sent a shiver down my spine. I couldn’t recognize a single hint of anyone I knew, only the chilling, altered tone that sounded both familiar and foreign.
My heart raced—was he talking about Aiden? Would Aiden ask about himself, or was this another way to throw me off?
His fingers trailed down my neck, a slow reminder he could squeeze it closed at any second.
“What if you don’t have to worry about him and you actually have to worry about me?” I asked, trying to steady my voice.
“Usually, I would say you might be right.” His voice dropped lower. “But tonight, no one is stopping me.”
The way he said it, with absolute certainty, sent a chill through me. “You don’t know that.”
“Oh, but I do. I brought you out here when no one was looking. I know for a fact no one will think twice about not seeing you around for a few minutes, and like I said, your bodyguard isn’t with you tonight. No one knows where you are.”
His hand slid back up my neck, two gloved fingers slipping into my mouth and pushing down against my tongue.
The feeling was foreign, invasive, like he was testing me, and seeing how far he could go.
My heart pounded in my chest, every fiber of my being trying to make sense of what was happening.
Aiden’s touch had always had an edge to it, but this .
. . this felt like someone teetering on the edge of something darker.
“Get on your knees, Psycho, and let me get a glimpse of what you would look like choking on my cock.”
I nearly moaned against his hand as relief flooded me, followed quickly by the thrill and heat of understanding I could enjoy this. My knees gave out as I fell to the ground.
He stepped around me, his fingers twisting in my mouth until they curled up, forcing me to look up at his mask from down on my knees. He cocked his head, watching me and giving no indication he realized he had slipped up.
He called me the nickname only Aiden called me.
Psycho.
I grinned against his fingers, not even able to comprehend the pleasure rolling through me that Aiden was doing this.
Did he really want me this way? Did he actually think about me on my knees for him?
My pussy tightened, and I welcomed the needy pain.
If this mask let him unleash any of his hidden wants, I wouldn’t let him know I recognized the man underneath.
“Don’t you look nice down there? Knees covered in dirt and mouth wide open for me.”
I pulled back, making his fingers fall from my mouth and he slid them down to my throat again. “You obviously know enough about me that you know you’ll regret doing this.”
“Will I? How will you get to me when you don’t know who I am?”
I knew I should fight to make it more believable, but a part of me wanted to see how far he would take this. The danger in his touch made my skin prick. The masked figure looming over me with a mix of menace and familiarity had me captivated.
“It doesn’t matter. I can still find you. I can find anyone.”
“You can’t find a ghost. Do you really still think you’re in control, Evie?” His voice held a dark amusement, the distorted tone cutting through me. “Go on—call for help. Let’s see if anyone can even hear you enough to pull you from the mud tonight.”
I swallowed, the words dying in my throat as his fingers pushed back into my mouth, tugging me forward, forcing me to meet his masked gaze. His words were a challenge—a dare—igniting something in me.
“Somehow I can’t decide if you are stupid for doing this or completely sick,” I whispered, trying to ignore the way my breath quickened as he leaned in closer.
“Surprising that you find me sick when you’re still on your knees and loving it.”
He laughed, low and cruel, fingers sliding down to press against the pulse in my neck. My heart raced, the feel of leather sliding against my skin, and knowing it was the only thing between us pushed me toward the edge.
He tightened his grip slightly, a calculated squeeze that made my breath hitch. “Now be a good girl, get up,” he whispered, “and stop pretending you don’t love doing what you’re told.”
Another thrill shot through me, heat flooding to my core.
He pulled me to my feet, spinning me to face him. He pushed me further, not stopping until my back hit the tree.
“Lift your dress,” he said, his chest heaving more now.
I didn’t move, still trying to catch my breath from his harsh touches.
“I told you to lift your fucking dress,” he said, his words slow and drawn out.
I jumped, my hands moving down and grabbing the hem to pull it up until it bunched at my stomach. Another metallic hiss came from the mask and I tried not to smile.
The gloved hand moved down my body, fingers brushing over fabric until it reached the bare skin of my stomach. His fingers slipped under the band of my underwear, moving over my hip and pulling the thin fabric down as he moved lower.
“Open your legs,” he demanded, and I listened, nearly giddy at the command. I kicked one leg out, giving him more access. “Do you need to choke on my fingers again, or are you wet enough to take them?”
I could only nod, the frantic shake of my head giving away how ready I already was for him.
The blue hue of the mask shined down, coating everything in enough light for me to look him over as his hand slid between my thighs.
I knew if he was keeping up the hidden identity, he wouldn’t take off the gloves—the tattoos on his hands would give him away.
If this would be as close as I came to getting Aiden, though, I would take it.
His hand slid farther until I felt two leather fingers slip into me. I moaned, the wave of pleasure making me want to demand more.
I stifled another moan that threatened to escape as his fingers pushed deeper inside me. The leather was cool against my heated flesh, a harsh contrast that had me arching into his touch. His other hand came up to grip my hip, pinning me against the rough bark of the tree.
“Look at you,” he growled, the distorted voice sending shivers down my spine. “So eager, so wet. Is this what you wanted all along? To be taken like this, used in the dark?”
I shook my head, defiant even as my body betrayed me, clenching around his fingers. “No,” I gasped, the lie tasting bitter on my tongue.
He chuckled, the sound warped and menacing through the mask. “Liar,” he hissed, curling his fingers inside me.
I fought to keep my composure, to not give in completely, and show him exactly how much I wanted this, but my body was betraying me with every thrust of his hand.
“Tell me you want this,” he demanded, his masked face inches from mine. “Say it.”
I bit my lip, stubbornly refusing to give him the satisfaction. But when he twisted his fingers just so, hitting that perfect spot inside me, I couldn’t hold back the moan that escaped my lips.
“Now, Evie,” he growled, his distorted voice sending shivers down my spine. “Let me hear you say it.”
His thumb found my clit, circling it with maddening precision. I bucked against his hand, my resolve crumbling with each expert touch.
“I . . . I want more,” I finally gasped, hating myself for giving in but unable to resist the pleasure coursing through me. “Please . . .”
He gave a low laugh, the sound distorted by the mask. “You’re going to act like a good girl now, saying please, aren’t you? You want to take my cock?”
His fingers withdrew suddenly, leaving me aching and empty. Before I could protest, he spun me around, pressing me face-first against the rough bark of the tree. His body heat radiated against me as he pressed closer.
“Hands above your head,” he ordered. “And don’t you dare move them.”
I complied, my heart racing as I felt him lift my dress higher, exposing me completely to the cool night air. His gloved hands ran down my sides, gripping my hips with bruising force.
“Beg for my cock,” he growled, leaning in close, his mask brushing against my ear.
My breath caught in my throat as he teased me, sliding a finger along my wetness but not pushing farther again.
“Beg for it,” he demanded, his distorted voice sending shivers down my spine.
I hesitated, my pride warring with my desire. But when he ground against me, two fingers circling my clit, I couldn’t hold back anymore.
“Now,” I whimpered, pushing back against him. “Fuck me now.”
With a deep groan, he thrust a finger back into me, one gloved hand snaking around my neck.
His hand tightened on me one last time, pulling me closer until his masked face was against the back of my neck. I could feel his breath through the distorted mask, heavy and dark, mingling with the scent of deep rich pepper and cedarwood that clung to him like a shadow.
“Go back to your party, Evie,” he growled, his voice low, commanding. “But don’t forget that you can, and want, to be owned.”
He released me, the sudden absence of his grip almost making me stumble. I took a shaky step back, staring into the empty, crosslined eyes of the mask. My heart pounded in my chest as he took a slow step back, before turning to stalk off into the woods.
A cold rush washed over me as I tried to catch my breath, the adrenaline still pulsing through my veins.
I opened my mouth, ready to demand he come back and take off the mask.
Demand that he do all of that again as Aiden this time—but he was already gone, his figure melting into the darkness of the trees, leaving me alone.
I stood there, frozen, the eerie silence pressing in around me. The familiar sounds of the party trickled back into my awareness, distant laughter and music that felt a world away from where I stood.
I forced myself to move, stumbling back toward the lights and noise. I hated that every step left me more clearheaded, the chill of the night seeping in now.
As I stepped back into the crowd, I could still feel the weight of his touch, the imprint of his gloved fingers, like a brand on my skin. I scanned the faces around me, searching for Aiden, wanting some sliver of proof that it had been him.
That he was here now.
It didn’t matter.
It was Aiden. It had to be. Which meant he did want me, and even better, I was pushing him to the brink of giving in.