Chapter 13
THIRTEEN
GRACIE
Ifelt better after spending time with the guys this morning. So much so that I ventured out of my dorm to pick up my takeout rather than get it delivered.
I figured I was safe from seeing anyone I knew because they’d all be out partying for Halloween, so it wouldn’t get back to the girls that I hadn’t actually gone home to see my parents.
I walk across the parking lot of my building, the silent space peaceful in the darkness with only the streetlamps lighting up the place.
Still, I’m on guard.
I had been feeling better about the whole masked guy thing, but while I was walking back from the Chinese place, things… changed.
It’s probably only paranoia, my brain making me see and hear things that aren’t there, but I swear I saw someone walking behind me at one point. Only, when I span around, there was no one there.
This guy is making me crazy, and not in a ‘omg he’s so cute it’s driving me nuts’ kind of way but in a ‘thirty-day psychiatric hold’ kind of way.
Part of me thinks maybe I should have told the guys about what has been going on, but the other part of me knows that they would completely blow it out of proportion. I mean, the guy hasn’t hurt me, hasn’t threatened me, hasn’t done much of anything to me, really.
I consented to that night in the club. Hell, it was my idea.
And a few texts here and there is nothing to write home about.
Except it wasn’t only that, was it?
The guy climbed up the damn fire escape and watched through the window as I got myself off.
But he didn’t hurt you. He didn’t try and let himself in. He didn’t break into your room.
All valid points.
For a freaking insane person.
Jesus Christ, I swear I’m usually much more rational than this. Much more careful. Much more… less crazy?
Great, now I’m losing the ability to form sentences.
So, maybe I should have told the guys.
Or maybe I should just have myself institutionalized.
At this point, I may as well just flip a coin to choose which way to go because I clearly can’t be trusted to make the decision.
Just when I think I’m all clear and have made it home in one piece, a figure steps in front of me as I approach the doorway of the building.
I freeze, my heart stopping in my chest as I take in the all too familiar man standing in front of me.
Like last time, he’s wearing all black with his hood pulled up over his hair, the glow of the purple mask seemingly brighter than before without the lighting of the club making is seem dull.
“Hello, love,” he says, the voice modulator making his words sound sinister and sending a shiver through me.
“Wh-what do you want from me?” I stutter.
He tilts his head as he stares at me, seemingly confused by my question.
“I don’t want anything from you,” he states, and then makes a noise as though he clicked his tongue but the modulator distorted it. “Well… that’s not true. I just want you, Gracie. All of you. I always have.”
I blink at him, trying to process his words but they’re not making sense.
“Always? How could you have always wanted me? We met a week ago.”
He approaches me slowly, his hands raised as though he’s approaching a wild animal, and I know I should run, should shout for help, should do something, anything at all, but I’m rooted to the spot, unable to do anything but stare at him.
He reaches me, and I’m still frozen where I stand when he reaches out with his gloved hand and pinches my chin between two fingers, forcing me to tilt my head to look up at him.
“Just because you met me like this a week ago doesn’t mean we don’t already know each other, love. Just because this is all new to you doesn’t mean it’s new for me. I’ve always wanted you, Gracie. You’ve always been mine, you just didn’t know it yet.”
I suck in a sharp breath as I process what he’s saying. I already know him, but who is he?
“If that’s the case, then why do it like this? Why not just ask me out or tell me who you were after the night of the club? Or any day since then? What’s with all the secrecy and creepy stalker behavior?” I snap, my tension rising.
This guy is infuriating and fucking delusional.
He chuckles, and it sounds disturbingly deep. Another shiver wracks through me, though this time I’m not sure if it’s from fear or something else.
“You’re not ready to know the truth yet babe, but soon. I promise.”
Oh, fuck this. I’m done with this shit.
I sidestep him and storm towards the building, shaking my head in frustration.
But I forgot rule number one when the guys taught me how to protect myself.
Never turn your back on your attacker.
Just as I reach the door to the building, a hand wraps around my front and my back slams against a hard chest, my takeout bag clattering to the floor, but it luckily stays upright.
Not the thing you should be worried about right now.
“You’re not getting rid of me that easily, love,” he murmurs against my ear, and I whimper.
“I know you’re scared. I also know you’re more scared of yourself than you are of me, and it’s fucking you up, up here.
” He taps my temple with his free hand. “But all you have to do is just feel, babe. All you have to do is just let go and let me give you everything you’ve ever wanted.
I can guarantee that I know you better than anyone, Gracie, and I know what you want. What you need.”
My heart threatens to beat out of my chest it’s hammering so hard, and my voice is a hoarse croak when I reply, “What do I need?”
He chuckles that deep, distorted sound again. “Me. I’m what you need, in every conceivable way.”
With that, he shoves me forward until I’m against the wall, my cheek scraping against the rough brick before he surrounds me once more.
“You need me to make you feel alive,” he mutters, and his hands grab my hips, squeezing them, once, twice, three times before one hand releases and moves around to the front of my jeans.
“You need me to make your fantasies become a reality,” he says as he undoes my zip, and while I make no move to stop him, I don’t want to make this easy for him, either.
I struggle against him, but his grip on my hip manages to keep me in place.
I could struggle harder; I could fight him off if I wanted to. I should call for help or attempt to run.
But I don’t do any of that.
Why? Because deep down, there’s a dark, depraved part of me that knows he’s right.
I like this.
And that’s the most horrifying part of it all.
He’s right, about everything.
“You need me to be the bad guy.” His words sound different and are barely audible as his hand slides down and his fingers find my clit while there’s a simultaneous sudden sharp pain to my shoulder.
It takes me a moment to realize that he bit me, and it takes me even longer to realize the reason his words sounded different is because he must have removed the lower part of his mask, so that was his real voice without the modulator.
“What makes you so sure this is what I want?” I ask with a gasp as he circles my clit just right and he chuckles darkly.
“You may be the good girl to the public, little Aston, but we both know that’s not who you really are.”
The name the media uses for me is said mockingly, and I shudder. I’ve always hated that damn nickname, but I’d still like to know why this guy thinks he knows anything about me at all.
Who is he, really?
I don’t get to voice my thoughts because his movements quicken, and I moan as pleasure shoots through me. God, why is this so freaking hot?
I should be running and screaming, not griding against his hand and moaning.
“All I want to do is give you everything you’ve ever wanted and more, is that such a bad thing?
Is that so horrifying that you had to block me?
” he grunts, his tone filled with anger.
“I’m gonna let you in on a little secret, Gracie.
Everything I’ve ever done; I’ve done for you.
Every decision I’ve ever made, it’s been made with you at the forefront of my mind.
No one knows you like I do. No one cares for you like I do.
” He pinches my clit, and it sends me closer the edge.
“No one knows how much of a greedy little thing you are, do they? No… only me.”
His voice… it sounds so damn familiar, yet different at the same time. I’ve heard it before, I’m sure I have, but the answer to who he is, is too far away from me, like his identity is just a little too far out of reach and the pleasure he’s giving me is too distracting for me to fully focus on it.
I whimper, unable to stop the sound from leaving my lips and he groans before pushing his body further against mine. His hard length digs into the base of my back and that’s it; I can’t hold it off any longer.
My orgasm takes over, darkening my vision and pulling a long, drawn-out moan from me as I come almost harder than ever.
Almost, because nothing can compare to that night in the club, but this is a close second.
The only reason I’m still standing is because of the hold he has on me. If it wasn’t for his tight grip, I would probably be a puddle at his feet.
“So fucking beautiful,” he whispers reverently, and it snaps me back to reality.
Shame washes over me, dousing out every last drop of pleasure I was feeling as I’m faced with the cold, hard truth.
I let it happen. I didn’t even try to stop him. I just let him push me up against the wall and take what he wanted from me.
Well… that’s not exactly true.
He didn’t take anything, he gave.
He just gave me what I—and I loathe to admit this—needed without asking for anything at all in return, and I’m not sure how to feel about that. I’ll no doubt process it later but right now, I just want to wallow in my shame and let my mind spiral.
Just as I’m about to shove him away from me, he tightens his grip as though he knew it was coming.
“You’re allowed to spiral. You’re allowed to be indecisive about what you want because I know how this will end.
But what you’re not allowed to do is fucking block me.
Don’t try it again, Gracie, because you won’t like the outcome.
You can’t save yourself. Your brother and his friends can’t save you.
It’s time to start accepting that, love.
” As soon as the words leave his lips, the pressure against my back disappears but I stay against the wall, breathless for a few moments before pushing back and whirling around to face him.
Only when I do, he’s nowhere to be seen.