Chapter 11 Bates
Ican’t wait for tonight, to push Serena past her breaking points even more, to bring her to life, exploring her darker side. But I have to get through practice first, and thanks to Cas and Kol being competitive assholes, it’s not too hard to focus because I need to beat them at everything we do.
“Lucky shot,” Cas chirps as I sink the puck past Jojo.
“Yeah, right,” I scoff, lifting my stick and smacking him in the thigh. “Let’s see you go.”
“Pshh. Easy.” He pauses. “No offense, Jojo.”
“None taken. Good luck,” he says, dropping into position as Cas takes the puck back up top to the blue line.
Cas stickhandles the biscuit as he approaches the right face-off dot—his sweet spot. Skating through it, he no-look shoots the pucks.
Cocky motherfucker.
He scores, the puck entering the net through the small gap between Jojo’s helmet and the post.
“Lucky shot.” I use his own words to mock him.
Skating over to him, I smack his back. “It was decent.”
“Fuck off, Finny.” He slaps my shin with his stick.
I grunt and hit him back. “Bitch.”
“Cocksucker,” I spit, unable to contain my laughter.
“If you’re offering.” He sticks his tongue out and shakes his head side to side.
Kol skates over with a shit-eating grin. “Cas, you handing out blow jobs? I’ll take one.”
Casper flips him off with his glove, glaring at him. “Suck your own dick, Brighton.”
“I probably could; it’s so long.” He cups himself, jiggling his hand with a wink.
“Idiot.” I scoff, skating away from him.
Gliding over to the bench, I grab a water bottle and squeeze it, letting the water flow between my lips. I swallow a few gulps.
A couple of players pass by me, stepping off the ice, bumping my glove with theirs. They mutter different goodbyes, as practice is done for the day.
As I walk to the locker room, I make a mental list of what I have to do before I head to Serena’s tonight.
Shower.
Go home, change clothes, grab my mask and knife.
Sneak into her house.
Hide in her closet.
Wait for her to get home.
I check my phone when I get to the locker room, finding a couple of texts. Leaning against the wall, I read them. She responded to my last message.
I’m back in town. I’ve missed you
Serena: I think you saw a lot of me a couple days ago through your little camera.
Serena: I’m totally hell-bent on finding it by the way
Just the one?
Serena: There‘s more? How many?
It doesn’t matter. If you remove them, I’ll just replace them
There’s almost no delay in her response.
Serena: You have too much time on your hands
I’m actually quite a busy guy. But I’ll always make time for you
Serena: *cue eye roll*
A brat who never learns***
Serena: *cue bigger eye roll*
Keep it up
Serena: Yes, sir
Mmm. Use that later
Serena: Later? Do we have a date later that I don’t know about?
You’ll see
Before I’m tempted to spoil my plans, I toss my phone on the bench, and I throw my clothes on to head straight home. I’m taking a deep-clean shower when I get there. There’s only so much of the hockey stink I can take off here.
Excitement pulses in my chest, and my stomach flutters as I grab my shit and head out of the locker room without bothering to say goodbye to Cas or Kol, who are in the showers.
But I know if I give them any attention, it’ll take me a year to get out of here, and I don’t have time for that.
I have far too many ideas for My Little Cupid tonight, and I’m not wasting another second here.
Serena took Freddie with her to work today, which is the only way I can make this work because he would one thousand percent ruin this surprise. I’d either have to shut him into this closet with me or he’d be sitting outside of the doors, giving away my location.
I’m still a bit worried that he’ll find me right away, but if it happens, we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. I’m excited to see him though, but after I ruin his mother.
Triple-checking that my phone’s on silent, I go back to watching her front-door camera. She should be here at any minute now.
Switching over to her car cam, I see Freddie is sound asleep in his car seat, exhausted from a hard, long day at work.
Serena was nonstop today at the office. She’s the backbone of Bound-to-Be.
Everyone turns to her with their questions, always needing her to fix their problems. They’re respectful, and she always seems eager to help.
I know this business was her dream. She’s the strong woman at work, in charge of everything and everyone. But with me, she can just relax and follow my lead; I’m in control.
I bounce back and forth between her car cam and her front door, and my heart begins thumping aggressively in my chest. This may be one of her fantasies, but fuck if it isn’t fulfilling mine at the same time.
She pulls into the driveway, then into the garage, killing her car’s engine. Gathering her purse, giant water bottle, and Freddie, she prances inside.
Freddie, the blanket whore that he is, beelines up the ramp to the couch, curling up into a big, fuzzy throw blanket, disappearing into the layers.
Serena chuckles, the corners of her lips pulling upward, and I suddenly wish I were able to listen to the sweet sound. But I’m not a complete idiot, and I want her unaware of my presence until I’m ready to reveal it.
I haven’t decided exactly when that perfect moment will be, but I’ll wait in here all night if I need to. When I emerge from this closet, I want her so on edge that every inch of her body is covered in goose bumps, the hair on her neck standing straight up.
She should be able to feel the adrenaline pumping strongly in her veins, terror and excitement, ready to mix with arousal—a lethal combination.
Serena drops her bag and bottle on the counter, her shoulders slumped forward with exhaustion. But then her eyes flick up, locking on the surprise I left on her counter. Chocolates and lingerie.
Her gaze is hooded, and I melt when I see her lips part. She takes a sharp inhale, reaching out and reading the Valentine’s Day card I left her.
Long day? It’s okay. I’ll help you relax and unwind.
Enjoy a sweet treat, slip on the lace, your body’s soon to be mine.
Hide-and-seek. I’m yours to keep. Hidden somewhere inside.
I’ll bind your wrists and steal your heart. If you can manage to find.
– Your Masked Valentine
As if her socks are on fire, she dances in place, clutching the note like a prized possession.
Gently, she pulls it away from herself and reads it again. This time, when she finishes, her eyes flick side to side. Her brow wrinkles as her gaze skates across the room with suspicion.
Minimizing the camera screen, I open our texts, keeping an eye on her as I send a message.
Ready or not, here you come
She retrieves her phone from her purse and reads it, biting down on her bottom lip.
Serena: You’re hiding in my house?
And you’re going to find me
I add another text, a test to see if this game is really what she wants.
But when you find me, you’re mine. To use until I’m satisfied and finished. You are mine to do with as I please. Now hurry up and let me out of my cage. If you dare. There’s no going back once I’m free
I see it—the corner of her lips tipping up. She’s intrigued, excited, and if I had to bet money, I would say she’s already wet, and we haven’t even begun.
Serena: What if I don’t find you?
Then I’ll find you.
Serena: This is one of my fantasies...
I know, baby. You told me
So, let’s play.
Even in the dim lighting, I can see her cheeks redden. Placing her phone on the counter, she rips a chocolate out of the box and plops it into her mouth before grabbing the two lingerie options and disappearing into her downstairs bathroom, where I didn’t put cameras.
A few minutes later, she emerges, and I nearly bust through the seams of my boxers. Her curves fill out every perfect inch of the red lace bodysuit in ways I couldn’t even imagine. When I picked it out, I knew it’d look great on her, but, fuck, I wasn’t ready for this.
Her full tits are sheathed beneath the thin lace, her nipples barely covered by red hearts. She looks like the sexiest valentine I’ve ever seen, and I can’t wait to open her right up.
She also let her hair down from her hair claw; messy and loose curls now flow down her shoulders and back.
I am going to lose my goddamn sanity in her tonight.
Walking over to her phone, she taps the screen, but I haven’t sent her anything new. She sends me a message instead.
Serena: Ready or not, here I come
Oh, My Little Cupid, you have no idea just how many times you’re going to come tonight
Serena: Promises, promises …
Tiptoeing across the floor, she tries to conceal her location, as if I don’t have access to nearly every inch of her home with my phone.
She heads toward the laundry room, opposite the direction of where I’m hiding. I decide to send her a little hint.
Colder
She jumps, clutching her phone like a lifeline before realizing it’s just a text, filling the room with a chime.
Serena: Oh, so you’re a polite, helpful intruder?
I don’t say anything, even though I have the urge to tell her I’m hiding in her closet. I wasn’t prepared for the anticipation to eat me alive as much as it’s devouring her.
Gently, she spins on the bare heels of her feet.
Warmer
She mumbles something, and I pinch myself for not bringing my earbuds along. But I’m scared to leave anything that could be traced back to me, anything that would somehow lead her to finding out my true identity.
A tentative step forward brings her closer in my direction.
She pads across the hardwood, stopping in the crossroads.
One path leads to her back door. Another leads her down a hallway toward a spare bedroom.
The opposite way is where she came from.
The final path—the one she needs—will bring her to her front door, to the stairs, and up to her bedroom.
I can practically see her heart beating out of her chest. Her face lights up as she rereads my message. She looks like a kid in a candy store, and I’m suddenly realizing that she may be pure, dark, twisted desire, wrapped in a pretty, innocent-looking red package.
She mutters under her breath, and I can’t take not being able to hear it. I call her before I can even question myself.
“Hello?” she whispers, answering the call and putting it on speaker.
“So slow,” I tease her.
Her sassiness comes out to play. “Aren’t I the one hunting you? You’re not being a very good prey.”
“I never said I was the prey.” My deep voice is barely audible as I do my best to stay quiet. “Maybe it’s all a trap.”
I hear her quick inhale. “Maybe I want to be caught.”
“Oh, I know you do. Such a dirty girl.”
She strides toward the front door, and I quickly end the call, nervous that I made too much noise.
She taps her phone aggressively, impatient for my guidance to come through. But I make her wait. I’m not helping her every single step of the way. That’ll ruin the fun.
When I don’t respond, she turns back and starts strolling down the hallway to the spare bedroom.
I decide to let her waste a little time searching an empty room. Let her frustration build. It’ll only make everything to come better.
I follow her location with the cameras, switching to the spare bedroom as she drops to her knees by the bed, gradually bending down and checking beneath it.
Fuck, her ass looks so juicy right now. I need a goddamn bite. I need my teeth imprint branded into her skin.
Clearing the room, she huffs out a breath, and I decide to toy with her a little bit.
Are you sure you checked everywhere?
She reads my message, irritation drifting over her features. Not real anger, but rather sexual frustration. She wants to find me as badly as I want her to.
Serena: Yes, unless you’re hiding inside the mattress
Serena: You’re not, right? I’ll be pissed if you ruined my bed
I laugh, quickly covering my mouth.
I’m not. But even if I were, you’d deal with it. I’d buy you a new one and make it up to you.
Serena: What if I never forgave you?
You would
She tramps out of the room and walks back into the kitchen. Freddie draws her attention in the living room. Walking over to him, she gives him kisses and pets, and I can’t help but laugh because he has no idea what filthy little game his parents are playing while he naps the night away.
This is her fantasy. An intruder taking what he wants from her. I think I’ll up the intensity a bit.
Is this game a joke to you?
Reading my message, she hesitates, contemplating her response, before her thumbs ghost over the screen.
Serena: No, sir.
Taking your time. Prancing about in that sexy number. Taunting me. Do I seem like someone who likes to be kept waiting?
I love Freddie with my whole heart, and, yes, he deserves all of the love, but right now, my dick is throbbing for her touch, and I’m going to bust out of this closet before she uncovers me.
Serena: I’m scared to find you
Her body language tells me the exact opposite. She’s excited. Biting down on her smile. Rocking side to side, confident in her attire. She wants this. She just wants to play the role in the process, pretending that I’m a real intruder and she’s actually helpless. I’m happy to oblige.
You should be.
Serena: What are you going to do to me?
Whatever the fuck I want
Her typing bubbles appear, disappear, and appear again before her next message comes through.
Serena: Warmer or colder?