Chapter 3 Hael
Hael
Stalker: Daddy. When you’re begging me, it’s please Daddy.
Whimpering as I re-read the message, I’m at a loss about what to do, what to feel. Leaving him on read all night hadn’t been my intention. The night was a blur. Between his provocative texts, demands, and threats, my feelings were a mess.
The date with Jeremy was a spectacular failure. He’s about as interesting as watching paint dry. In fact, paint would be more interesting. The food was seriously lacking, and I understood why the man at the table across from us had been so angry when he left. I’m honestly surprised he paid at all.
After being dropped off, I did some reading.
A new stalker romance from Mayra Statham had been released, and I couldn’t wait to gobble it up.
I had warmed up a cup of my favorite vanilla tea, turned on some fireplace sounds for ambiance, and cozied up in my chair until passing out halfway through my book.
Unable to recall waking up and moving to my bed, I shove my blankets aside to discover my nudity, which I definitely wasn’t last night.
Words replay in my mind as I begin typing on my phone.
Me: You bastard! You drugged me. How could you? Did it never occur to you that someone could have broken in and done something to me? I could be dead right now!
The thirty seconds it takes him to respond feels like thirty minutes.
Stalker: Relax sweet pea, I would never allow anyone to harm you. I simply did as I expressed I would. The taste of your pussy still remains a mystery. She sure ate up my seed though. How do your nipples feel?
How the hell is he so damn cavalier about this? Why am I not running to the police?
Me: You’re a fucking psycho!
Me: My nipples are fine but bruised.
How is it possible to remain asleep with him biting me so hard I have teeth marks around my areolas?
Repositioning my body to get up, I notice wetness between my thighs. When my fingers slip down there, I’m sticky and covered in his musk.
Me: You monster.
Tears form in my eyes, and I must force them back. This will not break me. He won’t break me.
Stalker: Only yours. Taste me.
My eyes shoot up to search around the room. He can’t have cameras in here, can he? I’d have noticed. He’s probably just assuming my actions because there’s no way I wouldn’t have noticed the mess he left on my body.
Staring at my fingers, his suggestion runs through my head, and the glossy liquid tempts me. His overwhelming interactions over the last several weeks make me do something I ordinarily would not have.
Ohmygod!
Slipping my fingers into my mouth, his salty-sweet taste makes me moan. I’m going straight to hell. What am I doing?
Stalker: Say “Thank you, Daddy.”
I scream out loud, wanting to break something. He’s doing it again. Making me question everything I thought I knew about myself.
Stalker: Don’t wash me off, sweet pea. The world needs to know you have a psycho Daddy who marks you in the dead of night.
Why am I even contemplating his request and not running to the shower immediately?
I’m. So. Screwed.
The fabric of my bra chafes my constricted nipples, and I want to rip it off and fling it across the room. As soon as class is over, I’m going to the bathroom to remove it and shove it into my bag. My chest isn’t that large that wearing a bra is necessary.
Shifting in my seat as the slideshow my Econ professor was talking about ends, I still feel him between my legs. It’s been hours. Shouldn’t it be dried up by now?
Screaming in my head about my own insanity, the temptation to check my phone is alarming. I’d shut it off before entering class because I didn’t want to know whether he was messaging me or not. The conflicting emotions would be too much to bear when I should be learning.
Dismissed from class with a new assignment, I’m the first one out the door, powering up my phone in the process. It quickly dings, and my heart stutters until I see it’s Piper, asking me to meet her at the picnic tables near the parking lot for lunch. Galen must be with her.
Stepping out into the warm sun with a flock of other students surrounding me, it takes a minute before I find them sitting together at one of the tables. Piper is in his lap, and Galen is feeding her grapes.
Before I can wave, my phone dings again, and butterflies erupt in my belly, sensing it’s him.
Stalker: Please don’t be mad. I only want to cater to your every need and desire.
Me: You violated my space. My body. How can I not be angry?
Stalker: Do you know every time I feed your pretty pussy my seed, your body comes with me? Every. Single. Time. It’s beautiful and addicting, how could I stop?
Stunned, I stand in the middle of the pathway, terrified to analyze the way my sex pulses right now. Like she understands what he’s talking about and wants it again. I’m so losing my mind.
Stalker: Tell Galen hello for me.
That snaps me out of it as my head whips up, and my stare burns holes through the man who becomes my target.
“How the hell do you know my stalker?” I shout at Galen as I approach the happy couple.
“Careful, Hael.” His threatening tone doesn’t scare me. “We might be old friends.”
“Why is he doing this to me?” My body deflates as I drop onto the bench across from them. “How does he even know me?”
Galen sighs and slides a container over to me. Opening it, I’m shocked to see it’s the lasagna from this revamped Italian restaurant called 1990. He hands me another, and the smell of tiramisu wafts out. My mouth waters waiting for Galen to speak as I take a bite of each treat.
“He’s safe, Hael. He’s just a little…different.
The only people who ever have to worry about him are those who do you wrong.
” Narrowing my gaze on him, I’m unsure whether to believe what he’s saying.
“It was happenstance how he found you. He was in town for a job, and you happened to catch his attention. He’s spent the past year moving things around in his life so he can claim you. ”
Piper giggles, and if this cake wasn’t so delicious, I might throw it at her.
“So, he’s a good guy?” She asks what I’m too afraid to.
Galen ponders the question for an immensely long time. “I wouldn’t say that. However, he’ll be good to her.”
“He said to tell you hello,” I grumble reluctantly.
Galen chuckles and goes back to feeding Piper.
Ordinarily, I’d be envious of their strong bond, but today I feel excited.
If Galen is giving my stalker the green light, then maybe I don’t need to be so freaked out.
Or perhaps I need to stop reading stalker romance stories because this still isn’t normal.
“Do you know what he’s done?” I blurt out before I can stop myself.
Galen’s cool gaze meets mine, and I register a wealth of knowledge before he admits quietly, “Where do you think he got some of those ideas from?” His eyes drop down to my best friend's face, who looks like she’s been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
“Piper!” My scream echoes through the air, and a dozen people stop to stare at us. Cheeks flaming, I hide my face in my hands.
“You read all those books, Hael. I sort of thought you’d like it.” Her voice shrinks, and guilt kicks me in the heart.
“Doesn’t mean I want some weirdo breaking into my house, drugging me, and coming inside my body!” I so didn’t mean to say all of that out loud. Thankfully, my voice was quiet enough that no one outside of us heard me.
She leans forward, eyes bright with excitement. “He does that?”
“You didn’t tell him to?” Mortified, I shrink down, hoping for a black hole to swallow me up.
“Well, not that. I simply suggested he remain anonymous for a while. Send you sweet messages, maybe flowers and candy. Your favorite dinners on nights where you’re eating out of a cereal box.” Her eyes widen as she recalls something.
“What?” I beg.
“I might have given him a list of your favorite books to read as inspiration.”
“Oh my god. Piper.” Groaning, I lay down on the bench, staring up at the fluffy white clouds in the clear blue sky, wishing hands would come out and take me away. He knows all my secrets. How do I turn the man away when he’s trying to replicate my daydreams?
So, so screwed.