7. Lily

My hands tremble uncontrollably as I hastily shove clothes and essentials into a duffel bag. The safety of Alice"s spare room beckons, but fear grips me after the stalker appeared at the diner again.

Alice grabs my bag. "Come on, let"s get out of here. The spare bed"s ready, and I"ve got a bottle of wine to help us unwind."

I nod, the lump in my throat choking back words. We rush to her car, adrenaline spiking as we leave my apartment behind. The place that should be my sanctuary now feels like a war zone after yesterday"s chaos—only the carnival might rival its danger.

We arrive at her place, and she hustles me inside. "Come on, let"s get you settled." She directs me to the inviting spare room, urging me to sit on the quilted bed.

"Thanks for letting me stay here. I just...After he cornered me again, I couldn't spend another night alone in the apartment." I shudder at the memory.

Alice sits beside me and rubs my back. "Of course. Mi casa es su casa. Stay as long as you need to feel safe again."

I muster a small smile. "Have I mentioned lately that you're the best?"

"Not nearly enough," she teases. Then, her face grows serious. "Did you call Detective Morris? The stalker showing up twice should be enough for them to do something."

My smile fades. "I tried, but Morris said just talking to me at work isn't enough evidence for them to arrest him. He has to actually harm me." I shook my head in frustration.

Alice scowls. "Unbelievable. Men like that shouldn't be allowed to roam free."

"I know. I feel so powerless like there's nothing I can do except hide here and hope the psycho loses interest." I flop back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling.

One of the scariest parts of this is how he makes me feel when he does corner me. It's unlike anything I've experienced. The pure terror should have been simply that, but it made me feel things that made no sense. Arousal. It's another reason I'm so scared of him getting me alone because things might take a rather twisted and unsettling turn.

Alice lies next to me. "We'll figure something out. In the meantime, we can order pizza and hide out here."

I manage a small laugh. "That does sound really nice."

She claps her hands and sits up suddenly. "What pizza do you want? I'm going to get the ham and pineapple."

I wrinkle my nose. "I'll never understand people who think it's okay to put hot fruit on a pizza."

She rolls her eyes. "You don't know what you're missing."

"I'll have pepperoni, please."

"Boring choice, then." She sticks her tongue out at me before dialing the pizza place to order.

I swallow hard, feeling a shiver race through me at being alone momentarily. The mystery man from the carnival has gotten under my skin in such a bad way. I can't stop thinking about him. Even though he's been stalking me ever since we met. I know I should be terrified of him—and a big part of me is—but this sick, twisted part also finds him undeniably alluring.

When he first cornered me outside the bathroom at the carnival, I was paralyzed by fear. He had me trapped there, his tall, muscular body blocking any escape. But as he leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck, I felt a shiver run through me that wasn't just fear.

It was desire. A desire for a gorgeous, dangerous man who could overpower me instantly. I hated myself for it, but I couldn't deny the unwanted arousal his proximity caused.

And now he's invaded my home, my safe space, and left his mark. That bullet on the counter was a promise that he could end me anytime. But it also showed I excite him. He wants me as badly as I find myself wanting him, though I'd never admit it out loud.

When he appeared at the diner, I thought I might pass out from the rush of fear and adrenaline. But beneath it lurked that traitorous arousal again. How he looked at me with those piercing chestnut eyes, like I was already his possession, made me weak.

If he got me alone, things could go to a very dark place. A place I'm terrified to explore yet morbidly curious about. He awakens things in me no man ever has.

My mind spins with fantasies of what he might do if he got his hands on me. And though it shames me, I can't stop picturing his gorgeous, tattooed body claiming mine, his strong hands roaming every inch of me.

I should despise him for terrorizing me, but part of me hopes our paths cross again soon. I know giving in to him would be reckless, yet I'm drawn to the darkness and depravity he represents. He's awakened my most primal urges; try as I might, I cannot make them disappear.

Alice sticks her head through the door. "Twenty minutes for the pizza. Come on, let's put on some bullshit TV and have some wine." Her intrusion chases away the unwanted thoughts in my mind, and I stand, following her into the living room.

"Sounds perfect," I say, even as I try to push the thoughts of my crazy stalker out of my mind. It's impossible. He's imprinted in there for more reasons than one. All I can hope is that he loses interest quick before things take a turn I don't think I can resist.