Chapter 17

When I wake up, the sun is streaming in around the closed curtains. Given how bright it is, I would be willing to bet this is midday sun. Heaving a sigh, I check my phone, which confirms it’s just past noon. Fuck. I really need to start getting myself on a better schedule. Or any schedule at all.

The water bottle from last night’s dinner is still sitting on my nightstand. Sitting up, I stare at it for a few seconds before grumpily picking it up to take a few sips. Even warm, it’s still refreshing, and for a brief moment, I think about every social media video that says drinking water is the key to health. It may be over-the-top bullshit, but just a sip of water makes me feel a little bit more lively, a little more vibrant. Chris may be a lying monster, but he was right about one thing. I should really start caring about myself more. I’ve spent the last two years living half a life, caring for myself just enough to keep me alive but not enough to actually consider it “taking care of myself.” In the light of day, on a full stomach and finally feeling somewhat rested, I can finally admit to myself that I need to do better. Something has to change. The only problem is I don’t know what, and it’s overwhelming to consider the full scope of it all.

Rather than burrowing under the covers and ignoring the world, I jump out of bed and head straight for the shower. Usually, when I wake up, I feel like the world is absolutely too much for me to handle, and I’m too scared to actually face it. Today, though, I have so much energy. Maybe I can make myself actually look presentable for once. Just to tease Chris some more. Flaunt myself in front of him, showing him what will never be his. If he won’t leave me alone, I may as well have my own fun, too.

I’m mid-way through my shower before I really consider the thoughts flowing through my head. Is Chris the reason for all of this energy? No matter how hard I try to ignore it, something changed last night while I was taunting him. It started as a game, but it spiraled out of control, and between his dirty words and desire-filled stare, I barely managed to pull my fingers away from my pussy, to stop myself from coming. A dark little part of me mutters that I wanted him to see me come on my own fingers. But that’s just because I want to haunt his mind the same way he haunts my home. Right?

I turn off the water and step out, goosebumps rising across my skin even in the humid heat filling the bathroom after my too-hot shower. In just a week, Chris has become my normal. Knowing that he is always out there, constant, even though he annoys the ever-living hell out of me. On my bad days, I know that I can throw open my window or my front door, and there will be an attentive, sexy-beyond-words man there who wants to talk to me. With Chris, I always have someone to talk to. Elijah usually fills that space, but he still thinks I’m off with Oliver, and, unfortunately, I need to keep it that way for now, because he would see straight through me and my lies, just like he always does. So it’s easier to keep him at a distance for his own safety.

I blow dry my hair and style it with some wavy curls, all the while my mind focused on the man just outside my house, less than 30 feet away from me. Once I’m done, I step into my bedroom, my towel still wrapped around my body. After a quick glance towards my window to make sure that Chris isn’t somehow floating where the branch used to be, I drop the towel on the floor and walk around my room naked. Given that I’m trying to drop Chris to his knees, it’s almost a shame that he can’t see me like this.

Flipping through my closet, I finally settle on an outfit that I’m positive will have Chris a drooling mess wrapped around my fingertip: a low-cut black crop top with a black lace hem that doesn’t leave much to the imagination and black skin-tight jeans. It is definitely a bit chilly out, though, so I pair the look with a thick cardigan that hangs off one shoulder. I don’t know why he seems to be so into me, but who cares, if I can make him uncomfortable and squirm, then why shouldn’t I? He’s making me uncomfortable in my own home. Sorta… kinda. Is he?

Taking a seat in front of my vanity mirror, I take a long look at myself, figuring out what look goes best with the whimsical goth look I seem to have accomplished before pulling out makeup to accent my features. I used to be a natural at this, I think as I start on a smokey eye that will make my eyes vibrant. Back in high school, I did my makeup every single day and refused to leave my house without it. I pause just before I press the liquid eyeliner applicator to my eyelid, feeling… anticipatory, I think. It’s depressing that I can’t recognize what this emotion is, but I feel light for the first time in ages.

I sit there for a few seconds before realizing why that is. Today is the first time in two years that I actually feel like investing time in myself again. It’s a strange feeling to sit here and look at myself, wanting to feel beautiful. Although it’s exciting, I don’t dwell too long on the thought, instead finishing off my black eyeliner ending in a flared wing before adding some blush and my favorite nude lip gloss to finish off the look. Pulling back, I look at myself in the mirror, really look at myself, and feel happy with my handiwork. I feel… confident? And for the first time in ages, I don’t shy away from that feeling, instead embracing it. I look like I can take on the world, and I can definitely take on the sexy stalker trespassing at my home. Giving a satisfied smile to myself in the mirror, I push back from the vanity and head to the window.

When I push open the window, I don’t see any sign of Chris anywhere. The tree branch he usually sits on is still lying on the ground, where it landed after last night’s tease. I lean further out the window, scanning my front yard and porch for his usual non-tree hiding spots.

“Chris?” I call out. No movement, no response, nothing. “Did you finally get the hint and decide to leave me alone once and for all?” I’m hoping that comment will coax him out of hiding, but I still don’t see him. I wait for a second to see if he’ll grace me with his presence today, but all I can hear are birds chirping in the distance.

I let out a disappointed sigh. I put all that effort into making myself look pretty for no reason. He isn’t even here. He actually left. My forehead pinches, and I feel a small pang in my chest that tells me that I feel more about this than I want to admit. I don’t know why I care. It’s not like I really even wanted him here. But he was the only person I enjoyed talking to—the only person I even had to talk to. He was always just… here, waiting for me to open my window to talk to him. I shake my head in irritation. I’m being pathetic. I got what I wished for, and that’s a good thing. It is a good thing. Right?

I’m closing the window when I hear a snapping noise, almost like someone’s stepping on a twig. I sweep my gaze across the yard once more. “CHRIS!” I shout. He has to be out there. Is he just playing around? “I know you’re out there. Stop playing games.”

In a quick motion, Chris steps out from behind the tree, dropping something on the ground behind the trunk, just enough outside of my field of vision that I can’t see what it is. “Did you miss me, little kitten? You sounded scared that I may actually have left.” He beams up at me, but I can see the moment he realizes that I got myself ready today because his mouth parts and a small happy huff emerges. “You’re fucking stunning, Danica. You… are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on.” He hasn’t moved, still staring at me with what looks like awe and a hefty amount of lust. I can almost feel his gaze like a touch on my skin. It’s almost like he’s feasting on me with his eyes.

I rally, popping a hand on my hip and tilting my head sassily. “Don’t try to be cute with me, especially when you’re running around my yard hiding from me. You’re up to something. Something devious if I had to bet. What did you drop behind the tree, little puppy?”

He lets out a victorious laugh, his eyes still roving over my body. “You did miss me. Did you get all dolled up for me today, to make me grovel? ‘Cause I will, little kitten. I will worship the fucking ground you walk on if you want me to.” His voice is basically a growl by the last word, and he’s digging his teeth into his lower lip as he finally meets my stare with his own burning gaze.

My lips part at his fiery expression, his growled words. No, stick to the plan, Dani. “Don’t deflect,” I respond, mimicking his words from last night back to him. “What did you throw down behind the tree?” Leaning forward, I squint to try and get a look at whatever it is he’s trying to hide.

Chris lets out a low hum, appearing to contemplate his next words, before placing his hands in his pockets and shuffling his feet awkwardly. “Well, I got to thinking. I was giving you all this shit for not eating last night, but I haven’t fed in over a week. So…” He clears his throat loudly, tugging a hand out of his jeans pocket and rubbing it along the back of his neck. His shy expression, the self-defacing grin, is so endearing that I almost miss what he says next. “I was kinda hungry. So I had a snack.”

I blink at him in confusion. My mouth opens and closes as I process the knowledge that there is certainly a carcass behind my tree. “You… you just ate an animal and dropped it on the ground? Behind my tree?” At his nod, I suck in a breath of air, my stomach turning. “That is fucking disgusting! You can’t just sit here killing innocent squirrels in my yard. You are so vile,” I sneer at him. I can’t believe that I was concerned he might have left, while he’s just killing woodland creatures in my fucking yard. Yet another miss on my emotional integrity.

“It was a chipmunk, actually.”

“Is that supposed to make it better?” I snap. “Because, news flash, it’s not! You make me fucking sick looking at you!” I want to gag thinking about him sinking his teeth into that poor, cute, furry animal.

“When Oliver shows up for you, and I haven’t fed, that will be a big fucking problem. And trust me when I say, you’ll feel even more sick looking at Oliver right before he murders you. The longer I go without feeding, the weaker I become. So I don’t have many options to choose from if I’m going to keep you safe, Danica.”

I gasp at his response, less concerned with the presumption and more furious that he just used my full name in that tone. “Seriously, you’re delusional! Oliver is never going to show up! It’s been over a week, and we haven’t seen him at all, but you’re still sitting here, day after day, stalking me in my yard. When are you going to get it through your head that he doesn’t care about me anymore?” My voice cracks, but I power past it. “He isn’t coming. So you can just leave, and stop murdering animals behind my tree. You don’t have many options in food supply because of your own freaking choices, Chris.” My brows furrow as I stare at him, anger coursing through me, but some nameless emotion that feels a lot like sadness also peaking through.

“And when will you get it through your head that I’m not going anywhere?” Chris retorts. “I will never leave you here, defenseless against your crazed vampire ex-boyfriend. He will come for you, Dani. I promise you that.” His stare is strong and hard. He’s not going to back down.

“Whatever.” I roll my eyes. “I’m so sick of having this same conversation with you.”

“Then let’s stop having it.” He rounds the trunk fully and leans back against it casually. “I’m sure we can think of plenty of other things to talk about, little kitten.” He runs his fingers through his hair, one side of his mouth tilting up in a sexy smirk.

“You’re disgusting. Animal murderer.” I snap, but even I can tell that there’s no spite in my tone.

He chuckles softly, but there’s no humor in the sound. “Well, it’s either that or I go on a murder spree of the human victim variety, like your ex probably does.”

“Just shut up, Chris. I’m done talking to you about this.” Frustrated, I exhale loudly through my nose and purse my lips.

“How was your dinner last night?” he asks, his voice quiet enough that I glance back at him. He’s got a smile on his face, this one small and quiet and intimate, in a way that makes my heart beat fast.

I don’t drop my glare, though, instead sticking my nose in the air. “It was fine.” A frosty burst of wind gusts in through the windows, burning across my skin. I gasp at the cold, crossing my arms over my chest to hug the cardigan closer to my body, both in an attempt to keep myself warm and to hide the way my nipples pebble beneath my crop top in the chill.

“Good.” He pauses. “Aren’t you going to ask me how I knew what you would like?”

“Nope.” I pop the ‘p’ sound, cocking my head to the side and smirking at him as I do so.

“Since you asked so nicely, kitten, I’ll admit I did stalk your social media. I noticed you and Elijah liked this joint, so I dug a little deeper and saw pictures he shared of the two of you. I noticed the food you had on your plate in the pictures, so one could assume you liked what I got you.” He tilts his head and mimics my smirk.

“You’re… such a stalker.” A smile cracks wide on my lips. I can’t help it. The level of commitment he has shown to protecting me. Nobody has ever done that for me.

“I’ll be anything you want me to be, little kitten.” His voice is gentle, lulling, comforting, his eyes warm on mine.

My heart squeezes at his words. I should be repulsed by what he’s saying. What he’s done, what he’s doing now. None of this is normal. But I’m not repulsed. Instead, I feel butterflies fluttering in my stomach as I watch this man—this vampire—gazing at me like I’m his whole world. There is definitely something wrong with me for feeling anything for him. I place my hands on the windowsill and lean down, the cardigan slipping further down my arm, exposing more of my cleavage to him. Even I know that my move has nothing to do with any game, any teasing of him, although I hate admitting it. “Hmmm.” I hum softly. “Can you be gone?” I undercut the harsh question with a small smile at the end, which appears on my face with no direction from me.

“Away from you? Never. Not when you look so fucking beautiful, staring at me the way you are right now.”

My cheeks flush, and my pulse increases rapidly. “How am I staring at you, puppy?”

Those piercing brown eyes lift to my face. “Like you never want to look away.” In a low voice, he continues. “Like you want nothing more than to invite me in and see all the ways I could make you purr.”

My body is running so hot that it feels like I have a fever, and my blood pulses in my veins. I’ve lost all control of this game, and I can’t keep this conversation going or I’ll do something I regret. I let out a nervous breath and slowly ease myself back up to a full stand. “I’m leaving now. Try not to eat any more cute woodland creatures in my yard again, puppy.” I fold my lips over a genuine smile, forcing a smirk at him instead.

“Until next time. But, Dani?”

“Yes?”

“You look divine, kitten. You really are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

I shake my head at him, my smirk slowly transforms into a small smile blossoming across my face as I close the window. And fuck me if those butterflies aren’t still flying around in my belly when I walk away from him.