Page 7 of Unmasking Her Shadow

“I climbed through your window,” he replies casually, sitting down on my bed next to me.

“Why?” I bite out.

“Because your door was locked, and you didn’t hear me knocking.” I flop backwards onto my bed and drag my hands over my face. “We needed to talk in person,” he explains.

“Still doesn’t make it any less breaking and entering, Xan,” I grumble.

“I thought you liked these kinds of things?”

I can’t stop the laugh that bubbles up my throat even though this is not funny. “Wanting to be well and truly fucked…does not mean I enjoy crimes being committed against me.”

He tosses his hands into the air. “I’m new to this, Sam. I don’t know all the rules.” He sounds so defeated that it’s almost sad. I rest my hand atop his, and he lies next to me.

“I appreciate you exploring new things with me, and it’s okay that it didn’t work. It just means we aren’t compatible. Can we please just be friends?”

“I’d rather be your friend than nothing at all,” he agrees reluctantly.

“Just no more climbing through my windows,” I add.

“Deal.”

He gives my hand a squeeze before sitting up. “I should probably go, shouldn’t I?”

I nod and walk him to my front door. Breaking hearts is not on my favorite things to do list. Maybe this is my sign that I should remain single for the time being. Until I figure my shit out. I check all of my windows, finding only one unlocked. Speaking of figuring shit out, I jog up the stairs and swoop up my cell phone from the hallway, and jump back into bed. It’s pure insanity, but I just finished signing up for SINS before Xan scared me nearly to death.

An unread message makes my heart gallop.

Phantom_Shadow: Tell me your limits.

I’m not sure what I was expecting. A list of people to choose from, maybe. I guess I don’t get a choice. Well…no choice definitely goes along with everything I listed in my hidden desires. Do I even have limits? I mean…I’d rather this not turn into a documentary about a horny idiot who was so desperate to be fucked right that she handed herself over to an unhinged psychopath.

Hidden_Embers: I’d rather not be tortured…or killed, please.

Phantom_Shadow: Baby, I’ll torture you, but you’ll enjoy it and beg for more.

Heat builds between my legs as I read the words over and over. He’s a professional. Of course, he knows the perfect thing to say.

Phantom_Shadow: I’ll send you a pin tomorrow night on where to meet. Wear running shoes.

My eyes widen. Tomorrow? Holy shit. Am I going to go through with this? This is insane, letting a complete stranger have their way with me. My brain tries to wave red flags, but my pussy sees them as beautiful ribbons she would like tied around her in a pretty bow.

Hidden_Embers: How will I know it’s you?

Phantom_Shadow: Nobody else will be around for miles. You’ll be all mine for the taking.

I make a mental note to write a goodbye letter in case I am accidentally planning my own murder.

Hidden_Embers: I’m nervous. I’ve never done anything like this before.

Well, I have. Just not with someone I didn’t know and who might do it right.

Phantom_Shadow: Make no mistake, I’ll have your soul trembling beneath me, but I will not hurt you. You have three safe words. Red-everything stops. Yellow-we slow down or pause. Green-you’re all fucking mine and nothing is off limits.

Hidden_Embers: Green for now. See you tomorrow…Shadow.

Oh, my god. Oh, my fucking god. Please don’t be a serial killer.

Phantom_Shadow: Good night, pup.