53. Delaney
CHAPTER 53
Delaney
M y legs propel me through the woods, pumping faster as I attempt to flee the problems swirling inside my head. But no matter how far or fast I run, they remain.
Why did I let a masked stranger touch me?
Who is he?
Why was he here?
Why didn’t he show up on any of the cameras?
And the biggest question of all, why have I been going crazy the past four days, wondering if he’d come back and trying to convince myself I don’t want him to return?
I’m a damn lying fool because I know every night that I sit in front of the fireplace and then head to that window, I’m recreating that night, trying to “summon” him.
Hell, I even go outside in the cold like a damn fool, and still, he doesn’t show.
I’m so lost in my thoughts that I’m not paying attention to my foot placement on the trail until I feel the root grabbing my shoe, sending me lurching forward. My hands fly out in front of me, hoping they will break my fall.
Except I don’t fall.
My palms flatten against a hard, muscular chest as strong hands grab me, keeping me upright. I look up to find the Michael Myers mask wearing man staring down at me.
“Miss me, gorgeous?” There’s a twinkle in his dark eyes that enrages me, suggesting he not only knows I’ve missed him, but his absence was deliberate.
It pushes me over the edge.
I look down at his chest, bracing myself for what I’m about to do. As I lift my head, as though I’m nodding, I lift one of my hands, slamming it against the nose of his mask, my palm striking it hard enough that he emits a pained hiss, releasing his hold on me as his head snaps back.
I whirl around and run for my fucking life.
My legs fly over the trail, my arms pumping. My heart beats wildly inside my chest, like a baby bird about to fly for the first time. My ragged breaths heave from my lungs as my gaze darts around.
Get around the bend. Once you do, it’s a short distance to the ? —
He comes out of nowhere, tackling me. I close my eyes, knowing that his heavy weight falling on me is going to hurt and will knock the breath from my lungs.
His arms go around me, and he somehow spins us so that he falls first, and I land on top of him. A groan comes from beneath the mask as he hits the ground.
My mind whirls. He just broke my fall. What in the actual fuck?
I lie on top of him, stunned. My brain is screaming at me to take advantage of the situation and get up and run. Instead, I reach for the mask, desperate to see the face beneath it.
His hand grabs my wrist before lowering it to my side. His arms band around me, caging me like I’m caught in a steel trap.
“Let me go.” I squirm against him, wiggling and flailing my legs.
“Never.” That weird voice gives no clues as to his identity. The only thing I can see is his eyes. Those dark irises remind me of the man I can’t stop thinking about since the moment I set foot in Green Haven.
But these irises are filled with an emotion I can’t identify. Raging obsession, maybe? The fanatical shine in them sends a cold chill down my spine.
He rolls, pinning me against the ground. “My gorgeous lady. I’ve missed you,” his mechanical voice rasps in my ear.
“I haven’t missed you,” I lie. “Now get off me.”
“Don’t lie to me,” he snaps, anger sparking in his eyes. But it fades as he stares into mine. “That’s not what you want, gorgeous. That spark in those green irises gives you away.”
“What do you think they’re saying?”
“That you’re pissed because I haven’t been around lately. You crave my touch.”
“Wrong answer— hey .”
He’s surprisingly quick and agile for a man his size. He’s on his feet, pulling me up with him. I’m barely upright before he’s flinging me over his shoulder.
My fists pound against his ass and back as I hurl obscenities at him. My voice echoes off the trees. If anyone is around, surely they’ll hear me.
Kicking my legs frantically, I’m hoping he’ll lose his grip on me, and I’ll fall. Then I can scramble away.
Somehow the asshole seems unfazed by my flailing, screaming, and punching.
My energy is waning, so I pause my frantic movements to conserve it and figure out where he’s taking me. I freeze, my eyes widening when I see the familiar structure looming ahead.
Panic fills me. Not here. Anywhere but here.
It’s the small bathroom Zayne took me to that day when I was at the lake with Callie. The place where I hoped things were changing between us. That we could somehow salvage what we had .
Tears slide down my face. I’m unable to speak as I stare at the building in horror. Denial rears its ugly head.
No. He can’t be taking me here.
It’s not until we’re inside and he lowers my feet to the floor, locking the door behind him, that I find my voice. I back against the wall, panic welling up inside me.
“No, please.” The memories are overwhelming me, pulling me under like a wave. I try to swim for the surface, but another rolls over me, knocking me down.
“Baby.” His distorted voice is soothing as he crowds against me, his hands sliding around my waist. “Breathe.”
I can only see his dark eyes shining through the mask. They are soothing as they peer into my broken heart and damaged soul, easing some of the pain.
His gloved hand lifts, his thumb stroking my face. “That’s my good girl. Keep breathing for me.”
I don’t know why I follow this crazy masked man’s instructions. Nor do I understand why he feels like a life raft saving me from the turbulent seas.
My trembling body stills as his thumb continues lightly rubbing my cheek. “Feel better?”
I nod, blowing out a breath. “What are we doing here?”
He pulls out a piece of black silky material and holds it up. “Trust me.”
A bitter laugh rolls out of me as I shake my head. “You’ve gotta be kidding me.”
“I’m not.” He remains steadfast, staring into my eyes.
I shake my head. “I-I can’t.”
The silence stretches between us as he stares at me. “You can. You’re capable of more than you think.”
I search his dark eyes, looking for clues about his identity. It can’t be my dad’s goons. No way are they this patient, even if a shit ton of money is involved.
So, who is this guy?
My mind whirls with a plan. There’s a way to find out.
“What do you plan to do to me?”
He pulls out a piece of rope. “I’m going to blindfold you and tie your hands together.”
“Why?”
“I need to taste you.” He doesn’t add that he doesn’t want me trying to pull his mask off. He doesn’t have to.
I debate for another minute before holding my hands out, breathless anticipation filling me as he reaches for my wrists. Anticipation coils through me as I strike, grabbing the bottom of the mask.
But he’s too savvy and quick. His unnatural chuckle fills the small bathroom as he spins me around, pulling my arms behind my back. My cheek is pressed against the cool tile as I curse.
“You’re smart, gorgeous. But you won’t outsmart me.” I wince as the bite of the rope rubs my skin.
When he’s done, he places the blindfold over my eyes, enclosing me in the darkness. My breathing hitches before it picks up.
“Relax, gorgeous. I won’t hurt you… not in any way you wouldn’t want me to.”
For a moment, my breath stutters. My mind catapults back to Zayne. But there’s no way it could be him. He hates me, and last I heard, he’s still on the West Coast. Not that I care where he is….
I gasp as he spins me around. He takes off my shoes, and I feel his hands on the waistband of my running tights, sliding them down my hips.
“Fuck.” His hot breaths flow over the lacy material of my high-cut thong. He pushes me so my back presses against the cold wall. The uncomfortable flash of coldness disappears the second he licks my panty-clad pussy.
My hands press against the cold wall behind me as he strips my panties off. He taps my ankle, and I lift my foot.
I hear a noise that sounds like he’s removed the mask and tossed it onto the floor. My heart pounds like a drum, wondering what he looks like.
Oh, God. What if it’s some crazy maniac ? —
The thought is cut off by his tongue sliding through my folds. I moan, my head rolling against the wall.
He throws my leg over a strong, muscular shoulder, baring me wide to him. I doubt that he’s an axe murderer or some crazy psycho as his tongue swirls around deep inside me before moving to my clit and sucking hard. A man this skilled has had practice. Probably a lot of it.
I close my eyes, thoroughly enjoying the way he’s feasting on me. My fingers curl, digging into the concrete bathroom walls behind me. His tongue worships my pussy, leaving no part of me untouched or unsatisfied.
I shouldn’t be enjoying this so much. The last person who licked me like this was Zayne, and even he doesn’t rival this guy’s skill with his tongue. The way he’s ravenously devouring me like he can’t get enough is a heady sensation, making my head spin.
He lifts my other leg over his shoulder, his hands squeezing my ass cheeks, supporting my weight. The fear that he’ll drop me is overruled by the extreme pleasure his mouth provides. I’m moaning, whimpering, mewling, and begging as he teases me mercilessly. “Jesus. I’m gonna?—”
I don’t get a chance to say anything else. The orgasm barrels over me, drowning me beneath the sensations coursing through my body. My legs shake, my core twitches and jerks, and the screams that come from my lips could wake the dead.
I hear his chuckle as I slowly descend the cloud of bliss.
“That’s one.” His voice is a low rasp, carrying an air of familiarity to it.
But then I process what he says, and all thoughts of figuring out his identity flee my head. “O-One?”
He laughs again. “You think I’m done eating?” His voice sounds mechanical like he’s using something to distort it again. “Hell, no. This pussy tastes so good.” His tongue takes a long, slow lick from clit to slit, like someone savoring an ice cream cone. “I’ll never get enough,” he murmurs against me.
I shiver from the seriousness of his tone. But then his tongue continues its torment, and I jolt, my core sensitive after that earth-shattering orgasm.
He pulls away slightly, his low voice distorted when he says, “Don’t be afraid, baby. You’ve got it in you.”
Then he dives in, dragging me into the throes of bliss again.