18. Karolina
KAROLINA
When I get home, I take a long bath to calm my frayed nerves.
Unfortunately, the familiar comfort of reading my romance novel is a mistake.
It’s a darkly sensual book about an obsessed masked man, but when I picture the fictional man beneath the mask, I keep seeing Rand’s perfectly chiseled features.
He’s worked his way into some instinctive part of my brain that craves the protection he offers. Especially after his intimate confessions about his difficult childhood as an orphan, he consumes my thoughts. I keep rereading the same paragraph because I can’t focus on the story.
Our connection is more than simple chemistry. I like Rand. Possibly more than I’ve liked anyone since I fled my foster home. Even though I barely know him, I’ve shared more with him in the last few weeks than anyone in the last five years.
And to make things worse, he’s unbearably sexy with that cocky smirk and model-handsome face.
I groan and get out of the bath. As I dry off, I try to pretend that my nipples aren’t sensitive from thinking about him as a sexy masked man.
I can’t want my professor. Any relationship with him is impossible.
I’ve worked too hard to get to where I am. My stalker already threatens to shatter my safe new life in York.
I won’t be the cause of my own ruin.
I try to tell myself it’s too warm for my flannel pajamas as I slip on my silky pink nightgown, but that’s not the real reason.
My phone is in my hand. I find Bones’ contact information.
I need release. I need connection.
Even if it is just virtual.
It can’t be more than that, no matter what Bones expected to happen between us at the hunt. I won’t risk emotional entanglement.
I request a video call.
He doesn’t answer.
Fair enough. I didn’t really expect him to pick up after how our last conversation ended.
He might not accept me in his life at all.
I try a message. I’ve never apologized for what I said to him before I ran away and left him alone in the woods.
Karolina
I’m sorry for what I said. I didn’t really think you would find someone else after the hunt.
I bite my lower lip, struggling with how to word my next text. I owe him an explanation, even if I don’t want to get too emotionally intimate with him.
Karolina
I didn’t want our relationship to change. I still don’t. But I want to stay in contact. I want to continue as we’ve always been. This is how I feel safe. I can’t offer more.
Several minutes tick by.
Finally, three dots appear on my screen. I hold my breath while he types.
Bones
If I accept your terms, you’ll have to work for it. A real punishment is coming, kitten.
My heart beats faster, and desire begins to pulse through me—an ingrained response to the familiar sensual threat.
Karolina
What are you planning to do to me?
Bones
For now, I’ll make you wait.
Several more minutes pass without another message.
Karolina
Are you there?
Bones
Always. But you will suffer for me, Karolina. Don’t you dare touch yourself until I give you permission.
Karolina
When will that be?
Bones
You’ve always been a greedy little thing. You want an orgasm from me? You’ll have to earn it. I’ll accept that you don’t want to change our relationship, but that’s not enough. You’ve taken me for granted. I’m a real person, Karolina. Not just a toy for you to use and discard.
My eyes sting.
Karolina
I really am sorry. I was scared. But you didn’t deserve to be treated like that.
Bones
I’ll accept your apology when you prove how sorry you are.
Karolina
How?
Bones
You’ll see. Goodnight, kitten.
He doesn’t send another message. I consider following up, but I don’t think pestering him will help my case.
I’m hot and bothered after my intense afternoon with Rand, and my body craves release.
I could easily masturbate to siphon off some tension. There’s no way Bones will know.
But I’ll take my penance. He deserves that much from me, at least.
Waiting to come is going to be slow torment, but I can bear it. I owe it to him.
We might not know much about each other, but I’m not ready to let go of our strange relationship.
Especially when my life is spinning out of my control. Between being stalked by a sick freak and being hopelessly attracted to my gorgeous professor, I could use some normality. Bones has always been a constant for me.
Now, I just have to prove myself to him.
Bones follows through with his promise the next morning. I’m in the library when my phone buzzes.
My stomach flips when I see his contact details on my lock screen.
I can’t message my kinky masked man while I’m on campus.
Another buzz.
I close my eyes and take a quick breath. I promised I would make it up to him, so I can’t just ignore him until I’m back in my apartment.
I unlock my phone.
Bones
Are you ready for your punishment?
Now or never, Karolina.
I press my lips together, debating what to do. This isn’t the right time or place for this.
Karolina
I’m at the library. Can I call you later? I can be home in half an hour. I promise this is a priority for me.
Bones
Your orgasm is always your priority.
Karolina
No, you’re a priority.
Bones
Prove it.
Karolina
How?
Bones
Call me. Now.
I squirm in my seat and cast a furtive glance around. The library is even quieter than usual at this early hour, but I’m not entirely alone.
Karolina
Please, Bones. Give me a few minutes. I told you I’m at the library.
He simply forwards his earlier message:
Bones
Now or never, Karolina.
I can’t lose him.
My fingers shake slightly as I put in my headphones and connect the call.
A camera icon appears on my screen. Bones is requesting a video chat.
I wince and don’t accept the request.
Instead, I whisper, “I can’t do this right now. I’m sorry.”
“Not nearly sorry enough. Not yet.”
His gravelly voice is a balm to my frayed nerves, even as my pulse ratchets up a notch. I didn’t realize how much my heart ached over the loss of our relationship. Now that he’s speaking to me again, relief washes over me, despite my predicament.
“It’s good to hear your voice,” I admit quietly.
He doesn’t answer for a moment.
“Are you there?”
“I’m here, kitten.” His tone is still rough, but he’s softer now.
My phone buzzes. Another video call request.
I squeeze my eyes shut.
“Please…” I beg.
“You’ll get no mercy from me,” he warns. “Accept the call, Karolina.”
I swallow hard and obey. My screen remains stubbornly black.
“I can’t see you,” I say.
There must be something wrong with the connection.
“No,” he replies. “But I can see you. Your cheeks are the prettiest shade of pink right now. I should embarrass you for my amusement more often.”
Damn my body for reacting to that cruel taunt with a rush of lust.
“Are you alone right now?” he asks.
I cast a frantic glance around the reading area. “There are a couple of other students nearby.”
The young woman closest to me shoots me an annoyed glare for being on my phone, even though I’m barely breathing the words.
“Go find a quiet place.”
I shove my books into my bag. “I can be home in fifteen minutes.”
“No,” he drawls. “In the library.”
My heart skips a beat.
“Please don’t do this,” I whisper as I scurry past the annoyed woman.
“Where do you think they keep their most boring books?” he muses. “Try the Philosophy section.”
“I can’t.”
He ignores my protest. “Maybe there’s some sort of helpful philosophical principle to describe your current predicament. You should look into it.”
“Don’t tease me about this,” I beg. “It’s not funny.”
“I find it immensely amusing. Your blush really is delicious.” His tone hardens. “Go to the Philosophy section. This isn’t a request.”
“Fine,” I say quickly. “I’m going. I’ll look up whatever sick game this is and see if I can find a way to navigate it with my dignity intact.”
His low laugh makes me shiver in arousal and trepidation.
“Your dignity will be in tatters by the time I’m finished with you. Swallow your pride, Karolina. Obey me. This is your punishment.”
“I thought you were talking about the orgasm denial.”
“You’re going to have an orgasm. Right now. See, I can be a kind master.”
A little growl of frustration escapes me. “You don’t own me.”
“You can tell yourself that while you come all over your hand in the middle of the library.”
“I can’t,” I protest again.
“You keep saying that, but you’re in the Philosophy section, aren’t you?”
Damn it. I almost forgot he can see me when I’m simply staring at a black screen.
“Lean back against the shelf and torment your breasts. Hold the phone up so I can see you obey me.”
“Bones…” I whimper his name, but that only seems to please him more.
The sadist.
And I’m getting wet.
His rumbling hum of approval at my wanton state seems to roll through my body to my core, stimulating me like the vibrator he put inside me at the hunt.
“Go on,” he prompts. “Or I’ll make this so much worse for you.”
“That’s not possible.” My cheeks burn as I caress my breasts through my lavender sweater.
“You have no idea, kitten. But you’re being a good girl for me now, aren’t you? Pinch your nipples.”
Compelled by his will, my hand slips under my shirt and bra. Little sparks of pleasure zing from my nipples to my clit when I obey.
My head tips back on a sharp gasp at the burst of pleasure, bumping into the books behind me.
I freeze, and the little thrill of fear that I might be discovered only heightens my lust.
This is sick and twisted, but I’m getting off on it.
Bones knows me even better than I know myself. It should unnerve me that he has this carnal knowledge, but I’m too flustered and turned on to care.
“That’s it,” he encourages. “Make yourself hurt. Just how we both like it.”
I pinch and tug at my nipples. My core tightens, aching to be filled. My panties are damp with my arousal, and my clit pulses madly.
My sharp, panting breaths seem to echo off the high shelves, and I try to reason that no one is close enough to hear me.
“Put your hand down your pants,” he growls. “But don’t rub your clit.”
The softest moan escapes me as my fingers dip into my black lace panties. My inner muscles contract with a pulse of pleasure.
“Are you wet for me?”
“Yes,” I breathe.
“Tell me.”
My eyes slide closed, as though I can hide from what I’m doing.
“I’m wet for you, Bones.”
“You want an orgasm? Beg.”
“Please…”
“You can do better than that,” he admonishes. “Use your words, Karolina.”
“Please let me come, Bones. I’m aching for you.”
His voice is harsh with his own tormented lust when he growls, “Slide your fingers into your cunt, but don’t make yourself come. Get them nice and wet and then taste yourself. Know that you’re my greedy little cumslut while you suck your arousal off your fingers.”
My moan is too loud. I squeeze my eyes shut tighter.
I dip my fingers into my tight channel, gathering up the slick sign of my desire for him. The urge to touch my clit is almost overwhelming, but I’ve surrendered to his will.
I lift my fingers toward my face.
A strong hand captures my wrist, and my eyes fly open.
My stomach drops.
Rand is looming over me.