Chapter 6

Emily

"My beautiful Emily. Soon you'll belong to me."

The words flowed into my mind, the velvety tone creating a warm cocoon over me.

"Yes," I murmured, able to feel his fingers as they stroked my arm, caressing me as only a lover could do.

As sleep enveloped me once again, his face lingered in my mind, his chiseled jaw and lush lips almost the only part of him I could see.

"Do you know what I plan on doing to you, my sweet angel?"

"No, what?"

"Devouring you." He laughed and the sound skittered through me like wildfire. He gripped my shorts, ripping them down the length of my legs, tearing them as he jerked them off completely.

I shuddered from the force he'd used, quivering as the sweep of night air created goosebumps dancing across my skin. I was thrown by the level of excitement as he advanced, crawling on the bed ever so slowly.

A part of me wanted to flee, to race into the night, praying and hoping I'd find someone to help me. But a stronger part of me, the one that had kept me curious and full of desire had left me almost completely paralyzed. As he pushed my legs up from the sheets, bending them at the knees, I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Never hide from me, sweet angel. That will only result in harsh discipline. Is that what you want, my dear girl?"

"Na… No. No, sir," I managed, keeping my hands fisted as I lowered my arms to my sides, anxiety rushing into my stomach.

"Good girl. Now, relax, my angel. I'm going to make you feel so amazing." His hands were rough, tingling the nerve endings in my legs as he rubbed along the inside of my calves, his touch firm as he slowly rolled his fingers over my knees.

I sucked in my breath, fighting the urge and strange sense of necessity to run, to escape. Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew there was no such thing as disappearing from the man's clutches. I closed my eyes briefly when he spread me open even wider, the light breeze floating across my aching pussy almost too much to take.

He made me wet and hot, leaving me breathless with wonder and need while he basked in controlling me.

In owning me.

I was thrown by the delirious rush that kept me in the throes of desire, a need so all-consuming that breathing was as difficult as the rush of emotions nearly tearing me apart.

He blew across my aching pussy twice before slowly lowering his head, dragging just the tip of his tongue around my clit.

"Oh," I moaned, unable to stop the sound. I threw one hand across my lips, clamping the fingers of my other around the sheet, tugging several times as he chuckled in the dark.

"That's it, sweet angel. Relax for me. Open yourself up like a vulnerable flower. I need to quench my thirst on your nectar." He flicked his finger back and forth across my clit until it was overly sensitive before taking the tender tissue into his hot, wet mouth.

"Oh, God." I eased onto one elbow, the vibrations coursing through me more powerful than ever. I tried to lift my knees, but it was no use. The man was so strong, so powerful and the hold he had over me was something I couldn't deny any more than I could the attraction I had to him.

He growled his response, digging his fingers into the softness of my skin, ensuring that I would never get away from him. Everything about the man was sensual yet demanding, his needs unlike anything I'd ever experienced before.

The moment he dragged his tongue down the length of my pussy, I threw my head back, studying the intense stars floating across the sky. How was that possible? Hadn't I just been inside of a tent? I laughed at the ridiculous thought as I studied the Big Dipper, something I hadn't allowed myself the time to do.

There was a rush of adrenaline flowing through me that ignited the deep core within the sheltered woman. He licked me tenderly, rolling his tongue up and down as if my mystery man had all the time in the world. I slipped into sweet bliss the moment he swirled his finger around my clit as he'd done before. But when he thrust two fingers past my swollen folds, I issued a sharp cry that I was certain everyone could hear.

"Good girl," he muttered before burying his head into my wetness, adding a third finger, flexing them open. I was so tight, my pussy muscles aching as they stretched and clamped down over the slick invasion. I couldn't think or breathe, my mind a wondrous blur of longing and satisfaction.

He was an expert in everything he did, but this… this was the most incredible thing of all. I clenched and tugged the sheet, my entire body shaking as he continued feasting. A few seconds later I lost it, the sweet relief of an orgasm tearing through me, another roar of fire licking at my insides.

I was alive and swelling with additional need, my sharp cries more muffled than before as a strangling feeling fell across my throat. He refused to let me go, using his tongue and his fingers in perfect orchestration, driving me to another state of euphoria where all time ceased to exist.

The single orgasm shifted into a beautiful wave, one so blissful and relaxing that I fell ever so slowly back to the comfort of the pillows.

As I slowly came down from the breathless moment, he kissed the inside of one thigh then the other before easing back, tugging the sheet up over my waist.

"Rest, my sweet angel. Soon, you'll belong to me."

I rolled over, fighting the urge to awaken when all I wanted was to return to my delicious dream. The scent of him lingered, staining my skin in a sweet yet strange moment of possession. I reveled in the imagery, although somewhere in my foggy brain I knew it was just a dream, a beautiful yet sinful moment that I couldn't indulge or embrace in real life.

I opened my eyes, realizing the light of a new dawn had filtered in through the crack in the tent's material, but I was far too comfortable to leave. My entire body ached and I wasn't certain why. It felt as if I'd been touched, used, and kissed in the middle of the night, which was ridiculous. But even my lips felt swollen.

In the few precious seconds as a strange longing settled into my system, my hand slipping past the elastic of my shorts, I envisioned the man I'd dreamt about so many times. He was the one stalking me. He'd been the one standing outside in the darkness. Watching me. Hungering for me.

I was certain of it.

Or was I?

I slipped my hand into my pussy, shocked from the realization it was wet, so much so my inner thighs were sticky. Oh, God. I'd climaxed in the middle of the night. That had never happened before.

I laughed softly, slowly becoming fully awake, turning over and staring at the ceiling. I was certain the same man I'd felt stalking me had been inside the tent.

Watching.

Forever watching.

God. I had to be losing my mind. That was silly, so much so that I wanted to rip my hair out. Yet I could still feel his hot breath, hear his deep voice. Just thinking about him had me tingling all over again.

"You're crazy, girl. Just nuts."

Suddenly, the memory of Tyler's disgusting advances tore away the delicious moment, pushing a wave of disgust and hatred into me.

The bastard.

What had he been thinking?

I rubbed my eyes and sat up, uncertain whether it was my obligation to tell Cara or not. She really liked the guy, even mentioning she thought she could be falling in love with him. Telling her would break her heart. But I owed it to her to let her know her knight in shining armor was a pig in disguise. How could he fondle me when he'd just had sex with my bestie?

Ugh.

The whole thing was as unsavory as anything I'd ever experienced.

I continued debating leaving the warmth of the soft bed when I heard a shrill scream.

What the fuck?

I jerked back the covers, fighting to climb out and find my shoes. After shoving my feet into the tennis shoes, I grabbed the robe I'd brought with me, struggling into it as I threw back the tent's cloth door, racing outside.

I could hear a series of whimpers then it sounded as if someone was throwing up. What in God's name had happened? I ran toward the sound, almost tripping twice since my feet weren't fully in the shoes.

When I rounded a corner that headed into a denser part of the trees, I was taken aback seeing my three friends and two of their boyfriends. Sierra was doubled over at the waist, still vomiting while her boyfriend was holding her, trying to keep her hair out of the gooey mess.

Janie and Dylan were tumbling away from the makeshift circle, clinging to each other. I could see Janie's face, her skin ashen.

"What is going on?" I asked, folding my arms as I walked toward them.

"Don't come any closer. Don't do it." Janie threw out her hand to me, trying to lift her head.

"I don't understand. What are you looking at? I need to see it." A sick feeling pooled in my stomach as I rushed forward, pushing my way past everyone. Cara was hysterical, folded over as her body swayed.

There was no sense of understanding what I was seeing at first as I peered down at the ground, my eyes trying to focus. But what I was seeing wasn't possible. There was nothing anywhere that ever prepared someone for witnessing utter carnage, for partaking in the very moment when you learned there was true evil in the world.

It was that moment of seeing Tyler's mutilated body, his slit throat. The vivid imagery would never leave. His eyes were vacant, his mouth gaping open.

It was also that moment that I realized my greatest fears were a reality.

My stalker was very real; the kill had meant to protect me or avenge my honor.

And perhaps to leave me a warning just like the whisper I'd sworn I'd heard.

That I did indeed belong to him.

Tick. Tock.

Tick. Tock.

Tick. Tock.

The monster was coming.

Soon…