Page 36 of Hollow Forest

It was cute. A small act that made him feel human.

But I wanted to invite the monster out, if only for a short while.

“Let’s keep this pause on the no-touching rule going for a bit,” I offered, pulling his hand closer to me.

He remained rigid, not succumbing to the way I tugged.

“Until midnight,” I breathed and changed my movement. Instead of pulling him over me, I used his body to draw myself up to him. “The rule goes back in place at midnight.”

And with that, I kissed him.

Chapter 13 – Samantha

At first his mouth was hard. Surprise probably had something to do with it. I slid my tongue against his lips, begging him to open. Nothing could have prepared me for what happened when he did. His tongue thrust into my mouth with enough force to steal my breath. I rocked backward, but his hand shot up to catch the back of my head. The masked man proceeded to devour my mouth with a desperate hunger.

But the kiss didn’t last long.

He broke away and tugged my sweatshirt over my head. The shirt went with it. I reached back to snap my bra free, but he was already there, tearing it off me.

Pushing me back against the sofa, careful of my ankle, he palmed my breasts while his mouth worked its way down my jaw. A strangled groan vibrated against my pulse. It was deep and sexy. I wanted this. More than I wanted to breathe.

He laved his tongue over my pulse. “So wild, beautiful. You’re heart beats like the wind.”

I groaned, twisted my hips, seeking him with my body, but his hands splayed across my ribs to keep me still as he peppered a torturous path over my collarbone and down my chest.

The moment his mouth latched onto my breast, another rush of liquid heat flooded between my legs.

“Please, stalker,” I moaned, wishing I knew his name.

“I like the sound of you begging.” He pulled the tight peak of my nipple between his teeth, making me hiss. That only seemed to fuel his hunger. He sucked and pulled, teased and bit, working my tender flesh until I was reduced to a whimpering mess.

“Aren’t monsters supposed to devour their prey whole?” I stammered.

His chuckle was hot against my sternum. “No, beautiful. Something this sweet needs to be savored.”

I cursed him silently.

But he must have sensed it, because his laughter continued south. His exhale tickled my belly. But it was his fingers working the button of my jeans that made me squirm. He wasn’t moving fast enough!

I would have bolted off the couch and torn my pants off if he hadn’t held me down. And if my ankle didn’t twinge at the slightest movement.

He bent my good knee, pausing to place a kiss on the torn hole. A walking contradiction, who knew a psychopath could be this gentle? Slowly, he drew that side of the jeans off my body, before laying my now bare foot on the ground. Then he every so carefully peeled the other side off my other leg, careful around my bummed ankle.

I reached for my panties, done with playing it safe. He captured my hands, bringing them to his mouth.

And bit the inside of my wrist!

I yelped. “What the hell!”

“We have all the time in the world,” he rasped.

He was right. Midnight was hours away.

Thankfully, he continued to bend lower, scooting to kneel on the floor before the couch. He brushed his nose against my pussy, rubbing it back and forth. His mask stayed firmly in place. My fingers itched to tear it loose. But also, I liked the skeletal visage kneeling before me.

“So wet.” He inhaled. “So fucking perfect, and finally…mine.”

The possessive note in his voice sent a thrill through me, but even so, I couldn’t help squeaking. “Why are you smelling it, you monster?!”