Page 34 of Villainous Intent

I was still staring at the phone, trapped between the defiance of “no” and the devastating truth of “yes,” when the front door unlocked.

“Annie? I’m home!”

I slammed the laptop shut and shoved my phone under my pillow.

“Just a second!” I called back, wincing when my voice came out strained and high-pitched.

My phone buzzed under the pillow. I ignored it and stepped into the living room.

Dawn looked up. “You okay?”

“I’m fine,” I said too quickly. “Just work stuff. You know how it is. I thought you’d be out with Hunter tonight.”

“He had to cancel. Work emergency.” She shrugged, but I could see the disappointment in her eyes. “Have you eaten?”

“No, actually.” My stomach chose that moment to growl loudly, reminding me I’d been so caught up in my inappropriate text exchange that I’d forgotten basic human needs like food.

Dawn ordered Thai, and we settled into our usual routine of watching mindless reality TV. I kept my phone face-down on the couch, planning to ignore Cipher if he messaged anymore. Whatever he had to say could wait until I wasn’t sitting three feet from my roommate.

After we finished, I headed back to my bedroom, but I kept glancing at the black screen of my phone. He hadn’t texted once while I’d been with Dawn.

Where had he gone? Was he bored? Had he moved on to a more interesting target? I was actually disappointed that my stalker had stopped stalking me for the night.

I dropped my phone onto the mattress and reached for the buttons of my shirt, desperate to peel off the day and get ready for my shower.

My phone buzzed and I hated the immediate spike of excitement I felt. I was supposed to be immune to the gravitational pull of arrogant, manipulative Supers.

I snatched the phone up.

I counted eleven glances at your phone while your roommate was talking. You’re terribly impatient for a woman who claims she wants me to leave her alone.

I do

I let you play house with your friend because I’m generous. But don’t think I didn’t notice how tightly you crossed your legs on that couch. You’ve been aching since my mouth was on you in the rain.

I scowled as the distinct, hollow pang of need gnawed at me.

I typed out multiple different responses. Fuck off. You’re delusional. Are you still watching?, before I deleted all of them.

If Cipher wanted a reaction, he could wait for it. Let him wonder if his taunts were landing. I locked the screen and tossed the phone face-down onto my bathroom counter. I was going to take a nice hot shower and ignore the stalker currently hacking my life. At least for the next fifteen minutes.

As I reached for the buttons of my blouse, my eyes snagged on the small window above the shower.

The window I’d never thought twice about because who could possibly see through such a small opening at this height?

But Cipher could fly. Cipher had drones.

I lunged for my phone.

Have you been watching me? The shower? The bathroom?

I could have.

I have the angle. I could have watched every drop of water slide down your skin.

I felt sick.

Did you?