Page 55 of Unmasking Her Shadow

Ohhh, shit. “Ryk, fuck.” I run my hands through my hair. “We should give some of the money to his victims somehow,” I suggest, and he agrees instantly.

“I still wouldn’t be opposed to some good old fashion mutilation, though. Or just killing the piece of shit. He’s an addict; we could just lace his coke. It worked before.”

“We got lucky last time because we were on the case. Do I think he deserves death? Yeah. Because we can’t keep him behind bars. But nothing is worth losing Sam.”

“You’re right. I just really hate that the legal system sees dollar signs instead of morals.”

I huff out a laugh. “As we just became multimillionaires because we broke into someone’s house and emptied their hidden accounts.”

“Yeah, but we did it for payback. Karma is a bitch.”

“Yes. Yes, we are.” We both laugh and I realized how much I missed this these past few months.

* * *

I feel lighter after the rush from last night. My mind needed that short reprieve from all the emotions surrounding Sam. But the moment I catch sight of her walking out of the spa on her lunch break, it all comes gushing back in again. My god, she’s fucking beautiful. She spots me leaning against my bike immediately. I parked a couple of spots down from her car. Public space where she can come to me. My hands are sweaty and my chest tightens when she stops and looks back and forth between me and her car. Her hair is half up in a clip, and she’s wearing a beige knit top with a long green floral skirt that has a slit up the side. Always so pretty. Please walk this way. Her gaze finally settles on me, then walks in my direction. Oh, thank fuck. I stand up straight and grab the bouquet of sunflowers off the seat and hand them to her when she’s close enough.

“So you do know my favorite flower?” She grins and brings them to her nose.

“Of course I do, pup.” Her gaze snaps to mine when she hears her nickname. “I know I’ve said this a million times, but I miss you.”

“You haven’t found someone else to stalk and use that app on to keep you entertained?”

I clench my jaw. “I only did that because I wanted you that badly. Don’t you see how amazing you are every time you look into a mirror? You are fucking incredible from the inside out. I want you, love, nobody else.” Dropping to my knees, I rest my hands on her thighs and look up at her. “I’ll beg for your forgiveness if I have to. Tell me what to do. If it’s still time that you need, just tell me there will be an us when you’ve had enough. Tell me I didn’t lose you.”

“Ki,” she breathes and shakes her head. “You didn’t lose me.”

My head drops and my shoulders slump. The weight of the unknown finally lifted, allowing me to take what feels like my first full breath of air in days. Standing in front of her again, I’m unsure of what to do. I’m dying to kiss her, hold her, something…I don’t like being this close to her and not being able to touch her. She steps forward, wrapping her arms around my middle and resting her head on my shoulder. A rush of relief zips through me, and I hug her back, squeezing her too tight and kiss her temple, letting my lips linger, soaking in this moment. You know that feeling at the end of a draining day when you can finally climb into bed to rest? That’s what she feels like right now. Comfort, safety, warmth, calm…relief from the rest of the world.

A siren whips through the air out of nowhere. I look up to find Ryker pulling in. Damn it.

“We got to go,” Ryker yells out his window, urgency in his voice.

I squeeze her one last time before rushing around her to get into the cruiser. He wouldn’t have interrupted this unless it was an emergency. I send her a message before I grab my vest.

Me: You look beautiful, by the way.

My Queen: Please be safe.

Me: For you…always.

35

Sam

My chest tightens and my stomach hurts as I run my fingers over Kioni’s bike. The feelings I have been battling win the fucking war when it hits me hard how much I miss her. That hug wasn’t long enough, and now I’m worried. I’m sure this will be a normal situation for her, but the look on Ryker’s face told me it’s serious. I grab her helmet, hugging it to my chest before putting it in my car so nobody steals it.

I can’t stay away from her any longer. I’m not even sure why I have gone this long. Pride maybe? To know I was in control? To see how long she would still chase me while remaining steps behind, so I knew for certain none of this was fantasy and it was indeed very real. My desires is what led her to me, but not the sole reason she chose me. She didn’t manipulate me and use them for her own gain. I held the reins in my hands every single time. I got to explore safely. She gave me my freedom. She unlocked the vault and loved every fucked-up creature that was inside. They were probably dark, scary monsters with rainbow collars and fluffy slippers. A blend of hell and cuteness only she can handle.

I was going to go grab lunch, but I’m not so hungry anymore. I have some snacks in the break room that will suffice should my appetite return. Knowing I won’t be able to relax until I see Kioni and talk to her again, I walk back inside and clock in early. When my client shows up before his appointment time, I take him back. I’ll be ahead of schedule, which means I’ll get off sooner. Should I make a grand gesture or just text her a bunch of green hearts? I could show up at the station with a big sign that says I’m Green For You and fuck her in front of the large mirror in the gym.

Ohh… I squirm when the image in my mind goes straight to my hellcat. In front of a mirror is a delicious idea. I never got to see the cock she used to fuck me and I’m picturing it now. On all fours with her behind me. Whyyy have I waited this long to let her come back to me? We have so much time to make up for and so many new ways to fuck and toys to use now that I know she’s Shadow. I hope the man on my table keeps his eyes closed because I’m smiling so big right now and it has absolutely nothing to do with him. I get lost within the motions, my mind elsewhere, until the soft timer goes off telling me his hour is up.

“I’ll step out so you can get dressed,” I whisper. He groans and nods, half-asleep. When he finishes, I walk with him to the front to pay. “Would you like me to schedule your next appointment?” I ask him, glancing over at some of my co-workers and their clients gathered around looking at someone’s phone.

“Put me on for four weeks from now and send me a reminder text,” he replies kindly before handing me a tip and walking out. I enter his appointment and check mark send confirmation and reminder texts before telling my next client that I’ll be back out to get her in a few minutes after I clean my table.

Curiosity nags at me at the conversations I’m not privy to when I notice their faces of shock…or was it fear? I wipe everything down as quickly as I can so I can ask my next client what they are all talking about. She’s a nosy one, so I’m certain she already has all the details.