Chapter Twenty-Six

Ghost

Mallory looks so peaceful when she sleeps. She’s wrapped in a towel, laying on top of all her blankets. I pick up her phone, set an alarm to go off in twenty minutes, turn on her ringer, then head back outside. I had initially planned to give her no down time. As soon as Officer Graves left, I was going to come storming in pissed as hell. That plan went sideways when someone vandalized my truck. I’m sure she thinks it was Ghost, but obviously not. I raced back into town, picked up a burner phone to text her from as Nox, then changed into my all black stalker clothes and grabbed my Ghost mask.

Only three hours have passed since I was with her, but I’m still desperate for another hit of whatever drug her kisses inject into my veins. I walk the perimeter of her property and notice footprints that are not mine. Who the fuck has eyes on my woman now? The need to protect her swims beneath my skin. Whoever it is, is gone now. I’d bet my pay cheque it’s the same person who bashed a log into my truck. All-encompassing rage swamps me as the sky darkens. Thunder rumbles off in the distance and the rain starts to pick up. I check the time on my phone, soon my little siren will wake and beg for my forgiveness. Lightning splits the sky, it’s bright light casting long ominous shadows all around. They last for only a fraction of a second but it’s enough to mess with someone's head. Especially when running from a predator.

Such a perfect night for a hunt.

Mallory

A wailing siren sound shocks me awake. Shit, I didn’t mean to fall asleep. I also didn’t set my alarm, so why is it going off? It’s spooky. I don’t know how to describe it but the atmosphere is thick, heavy. It makes me uneasy. I grab my phone and silence the ear-piercing sound. A message comes through as I am holding my phone, its vibration making me jump.

Ghost:

Time to wake up, baby.

Okay, so it was him that set my alarm. I wonder what he has planned for me. Music starts to boom through my speakers, I wish he would stop doing that. It scares the hell out of me. Is that his plan? Listening intently, I hear "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails is playing. Is he going to fuck me? My thighs squeeze together and a twinge of pain shoots through my lady bits. I think I’m overused from Ghost last night and Nox this afternoon. Damn, am I easy? I went from 0 to 100 real quick. My phone buzzes in my hand again.

Ghost:

Tick tock goes the clock, little siren.

Mallory:

What does that mean?

Ghost:

You have until the end of the song to

get dressed and hide. Then I’m coming to

dole out your punishment.

Shit. I scramble out of bed and run to my dresser. Quickly, I grab black leggings and socks and shove my feet into them. The time is slipping away as I search for my black tank top with the built in bra. I struggle to pull it on and grab a hoodie. I open my door and creep down the hall. I have no idea where he is, but I know he was in my house. It’s probably stupid to go outside but at least it gives me a fighting chance at a head start. I’ll risk freezing to death while he is scouring the house for me. I grab my combat boots, sneak down the stairs, and out the back door as quietly as possible. I hear the music thumping from inside as I move as quickly and quietly as possible through the puddle ridden back yard. The somewhat overgrown grass sloshes beneath my boots as the rain saturates my hair. The water running down my face sticks to my eyelashes and obscures my vision. My phone beeps and vibrates from my pocket, but I ignore it. I need to get to the tree line behind the shed, then I’ll be hidden from view.

Thunder rolls through the sky as I pick up my pace, I’m so close. Silence envelops the area and my heart rate spikes. Lightning splits the sky, lighting up the entire yard like a strobe light. It messes with my reality. Was that the shadow of a man or something else? I dash behind the shed and pull out my phone.

Ghost:

Ready or not, baby, here I come.

There’s a window around the back of the shed, I push it open and place my phone on the ledge inside. I slide the pane back into place and then turn and head into the woods. I’m not taking it with me. It could get lost and he can probably track me on it. As I stand here completely saturated, I force myself to breathe soundlessly. Light flashes inside the shed, he must be calling my phone. Ha ha, sucker. I’m not that dumb. I move farther back into the woods, the darkness engulfing me. I strain my ears to listen for any sound but there’s nothing, only the wind and the rain. My phone lights up the darkness of the shed again and I should give myself a triumphant little pat on the back for leaving it behind.

Time stretches on until there’s a crackling sound through the speakers in the house. His voice rings out through the night. “Maallllllorrrryyyyyyyy.” It’s exaggerated, sing-song sounding and wholly creepy. My muscles are coiled tight in anticipation. Ready to dart into the forest the second I spot him.

“Come out, come out, wherever you are, baby,” pours through the speakers. I don’t think so, buddy. As much as I liked his previous punishing spanks, I’m far too sensitive for that tonight.

I should have asked him when the game is over. I’m getting cold out here. The voice on the speakers has lowered and I’m straining my ears over the sound of the pouring rain and howling wind to hear it. It sounds like he is whispering into a mic. It’s muffled with lots of interference noise, like his lips are rubbing against the microphone.

Then I hear something else, the sound can only be compared to a massive bear crashing through the underbrush. I turn towards the sound and can make out a huge black shadow barreling right for me. I’m stunned, how did he find me and how did he get so close without me hearing him until the last second?

My feet finally catch up with my brain and I take off, out of the woods and across the yard. Something like a laughing scream bursts out of me because of the exhilarating feeling of being chased. He slips while trying to turn and grab me. Too slow, Ghost. Slowing, I look over my shoulder at him from across the yard. He climbs to his feet and brushes all the stray grass and leaves off himself. His voice travels from beneath the mask and through the rain to my ears. It’s so faint, I can barely hear him.

“Run.”

I do, right up to the back door. It doesn’t open, even as I twist and jiggle the handle. It’s locked. How? I risk a glance behind me, Ghost is standing there, still as a statue watching me. He raises his hand and jingles my keys between his fingers. Shit. If I was to hazard a guess, the front door is locked too, so I won’t even waste my time trying to get in that way. He slips the keys back into his pants pocket and turns, only to disappear from view behind the shed.

My pulse is pounding in my ears as I try to formulate some sort of plan to escape him. I don’t think I can, I’m going to have to let him catch me. He has the keys to my house after all. I better make this good for him since I’m just about frozen to the core.

I take off running in the opposite direction that he went and crash through the tree line. Branches lash against my skin, it stings so much I’m sure I’m bleeding in some spots. I try to shield my face with my forearm as I navigate through the trees. Suddenly, there’s a path under my feet. Seeing this slows my pace. It has to be somewhat new, I’ve never noticed a path through the trees on my property before. I move cautiously along the worn down earth. I don’t know where it leads and it’s extremely slippery. I jump to the assumption it must lead to the road, there’s a clearing up ahead.

Thunder crashes as the wind whips my hair around my face. I’m moving down the slick, mud packed dirt when lighting splits the sky. I catch the split second flash of headlights in the distance. Its reflection in the already brightened area is blinding. Is that his car? Did he make this path? It would make sense. It’s how he can come and go as he pleases, completely unnoticed.

I feel his presence before I see him. Holding my breath, I take in every sound that swirls around me. The wind rustling through the branches, rain pattering on the leaves and plunking into the puddles that have accumulated. Weeding through the noises in my brain until I can discern the direction he’s coming from. I hear a snap behind me to the right. He’s trying to force me back to the house. Away from the path and my ability to find out his identity. Fine, have it your way, Ghost. This is your game, I’ll play it the way you want.

I break out in a full sprint down the path back to the house. His hearty laugh carries along the wind to me. Is it weird that I’m happy he is enjoying this? Probably. Do I want him to catch me? Absolutely. My pussy is slippery with desire. He knew I would enjoy this as much as him. I slow my pace for just a second to try and decide which way to go, a poor decision on my part. His body spears into mine, pulling me on top of him as he absorbs the brunt of the impact.

“No!” I scream as I try to scramble away from him. It’s no use, he rolls on top of me and pins my hands to the wet ground above my head.

“Got you, baby,” I can hear the grin through his words.

“Now what are you going to do to me?” my voice wavers with mock fear.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” he snarks, throwing my words from earlier back in my face.

He’s straddling my hips, effectively pinning me beneath him. His large, tattooed hands worm under my sweater to trace the curves of my body. He palms and grips my tits, circling my nipples into stiff painful peaks. I moan as pleasure sinks its claws into me. He’s unrelenting.

“So responsive,” he drawls, as he pulls my sweater up and over my head. I’m not cold anymore, my fear of hypothermia long forgotten. This man ignites my blood. I’m burning up from a simple touch. He brushes my hair away from my face and I lean into his touch, I’m starving for it.

“Did you have a fun afternoon, little siren?” His tone is light and inquisitive but laced with malice. I tense. I hear the hidden threat woven through his sickly sweet question. This is a trap. If I say yes, it will hurt him. If I say no, he will ask why I let Nox kiss me. I stay silent as his voice finds me again.

“Are you confused about who you belong to, sweetheart? Was I not clear enough last night?” He grips the hem of my shirt and peels it up my body. He bunches it up over my eyes, another makeshift blindfold. The elastic from the built in bra keeping it snuggly placed over my eyes and restricting my arms above my body. I feel his hot breath against my skin; he smells of the forest and mint. “I do not share.”

His mouth presses against mine as I start to eagerly devour his kisses. His massive body is braced above mine, shielding me from the storm raging around us. It doesn’t compare to the one ravaging my body, mind, and soul. How can I be so fully infatuated with two men? It’s not right, I know it’s not. Yet, sadness threatens to pull me into it’s depressive embrace whenever I think about telling one of them goodbye. Ghost’s teeth sink into my lip until the tang of copper crosses my tongue. He hurts me so good, just the way I want it. He knows me so well.

His hot mouth blazes a path down my sternum, purposely ignoring my breasts that are aching for his attention. He kisses and nips my skin in a slow tortuous descent to my pussy. He nuzzles into the apex of my thighs and inhales deeply. So filthy. He groans from the euphoria my cunt brings him as he licks the seam of my leggings. He presses his mouth to my clit through the soaking wet material and sucks. The slurping sound of liquid being pulled through fabric fills the air. I’m desperate for him, wantonly grinding my clit harder against his face.

“So fucking delicious. Tell me, baby… Are you wet for me?”

Without even thinking, “Yes,” erupts from me in a mewling cry. He presses his thumb to my bud, rubbing in tight circles. The pressure he uses is perfect. His ability to wring pleasure from my body so expertly should concern me with his bedpost body count, but I don’t fucking care. I can’t judge him for who he was before he found me.

He rips his hand away from me as I’m about to cum and I groan out in annoyance.

His hand encircles my neck, pinning me beneath him. He slowly rubs his erection between my legs as he whispers in my ear, “Were you wet for the cop too, Mallory?”

Fear grips me and I struggle to free myself from beneath him. My attempts are futile as his menacing laugh fills the space around us.

“There’s no escaping me, baby. Now, answer the question.” He grinds his cock into me again, eliciting a whimper from me. Working me towards my release quickly, then stopping. I sob out my frustration.

“If you want to cum you’ll suffer through your punishment. Now, let the truth spill from your sinful little mouth.” His touch is gentle as it trails down my body, wrapping my leg around his hip as his cock strokes me slow and light. He grips my ass, then smacks it.

“Now, Mallory.”

“Yes,” I whisper

“Did you let him kiss you?”

“Yes.”

“Touch you?”

“Yes.”

“Taste you?” he growls out, clearly growing more and more infuriated with each admittance I utter. I nod.

“Jesus, baby. Did you fuck him too?” he yells, and I sob. I’m pretty sure I’m crying but behind this dripping wet shirt I can’t tell.

“No!” I scream as he rips off my blindfold shirt and tosses it across the lawn. He practically throws himself off me, disgusted by me and my actions. My heart cracks and pain swells within me. It overflows as my tears mix with the rain streaming down my face.

He looms above me. A solid imposing figure of coiled rage. I feel his glacial gaze aimed right at me through the mask.

“I’m sorry, Ghost. Please. It just...happened. I got swept up in a moment with him.”

“It was more than one moment, Mallory,” he grits.

“You’re right, I’m sorry. Please forgive me.” I slowly rise from the ground and stand before him. I probably look disgusting, covered in mud, tears and shirtless. My skin is red from exposure to the cold lashings of the rain pelting me. My eyes have to be puffy from the emotions I’m trying to keep under control.

“Beg,” he says flatly.

“Excuse me?” My pussy drips into my already saturated leggings at his command.

“You want me to forgive you? Then beg.”