31. Clara

31

CLARA

I slide my chair back, the metal legs scraping against the precinct floor. James's concerned eyes follow my movements as I gather my belongings.

"Look, Clara, I know you didn't hurt Sarah. The hair we found probably transferred from his coat when he moved the body."

My fingers curl around my purse strap. "I told you, I barely know him."

"Stay away from him." James leans forward, his voice dropping. "He's dangerous. We're building a case, and I need you safe."

The fluorescent lights buzz overhead as I process his words. Each second feels like an eternity as I force myself to maintain eye contact to not give away the thundering of my heart.

"I understand if you want to return to New York, but..." James runs a hand through his hair. "Could you stay at your old place? Just for a while longer? We might need to ask more questions."

The precinct's walls feel like they're closing in. I think of Silas waiting for me, our carefully laid plans for Canada, the new identities already prepared, and the cabin secured across the border where we'll disappear.

"Sure," I hear myself say, the lie tasting bitter on my tongue. "I can stay a few more days."

James's shoulders relax. He believes me; the good girl, the reliable friend, the one who always follows the rules. If he only knew the truth burning beneath my skin, the darkness I've embraced.

"Thanks, Clara. And remember what I said about Knight. Don't contact him."

I nod, already planning my escape in my mind. By this time tomorrow, James will be staring at an empty house. He'll never find us in the vast wilderness of Canada, where Silas and I will finally be free to embrace who we really are.

"I should go," I say, standing up. "It's been a long day."

"If you need anything, and I mean anything, call me," James says, reaching for his coffee mug. "Day or night. And if Knight tries to contact you?—"

"You'll be my first call." The lie slides easier from my lips this time.

James takes a sip of coffee. "Two days without a body. Maybe the Christmas Reaper is done."

My stomach twists. I know why the murders stopped—because I asked Silas to choose me instead. The memory of that night floods back, his hands on my skin, the way he marked me as his.

"Maybe." I adjust my purse strap. "Or maybe he's just waiting."

"Either way, stay vigilant." James drums his fingers on his desk. "The press is having a field day with the silence. Keep your doors locked."

I almost laugh at the irony. The monster they're hunting already has a key to my house, heart, and darkest desires.

"I will." I turn toward the door, eager to escape, before my face betrays me. "Thanks for looking out for me, James."

"Always have, always will."

The genuine care in his voice makes my chest ache. He's been a friend since childhood, and I'm about to disappear without a trace. But the pull toward Silas is stronger than any guilt I feel about leaving my old life behind.

I slide into my car, forcing myself to take steady breaths. The precinct's lights cast long shadows across the parking lot. My phone buzzes against my thigh, and I fish it out of my pocket.

Perfect performance, my goddess. James bought every word.

My fingers brush against the silver broach pinned to my blouse. Knowing he watched everything and heard every lie I told James sends a shiver down my spine. The tiny camera hidden in its center captured it all. I text back.

I felt you with me the whole time.

The way you kept your voice so steady while lying... I've never been more proud. Or turned on.

Heat floods my cheeks. Silas's words affect me even through text. I glance around the empty parking lot, paranoid that someone might see my reaction.

My phone buzzes, interrupting my turbulent thoughts.

Get home, my goddess. My cock is throbbing, needing to sink deep into your wetness.

My breath catches at his words, the anticipation building in my core. Without hesitation, I start the engine and pull out of the precinct parking lot. The tires squeal slightly as I speed out, eager to return to Silas.

The drive is torture, each red light feeling like an eternity. My mind replays James's warnings, his suspicion of Silas, but my body is a traitor, already aching for what awaits me.

Finally, I pull into the driveway of my house, killing the engine. I take a moment to steady my breath, my heart racing with anticipation. Stepping out of the car, I notice the curtains in the bedroom upstairs are slightly parted. Silas, watching for my return. My nipples tighten at the thought of him waiting, wanting me.

I unlock the front door, stepping into the cool interior of my house. My eyes scan the room, furniture cloaked in shadows, the only illumination a soft light filtering in from the kitchen. I pause, listening to the steady rhythm of my heartbeat, the only sound in the quiet house.

"Silas?" My voice comes out as a whisper.

No answer.

I close the door behind me with a soft click, the sound reverberating in the stillness. My heartbeat quickens as I move further inside, my senses heightening. A floorboard creaks under my feet, the only noise besides my shallow breathing.

And then I feel it—a rush of air, a shift in the atmosphere. I spin around, my eyes widening as they land on Silas. He stands in the shadows, a dark, imposing figure wearing the Ghostface mask. The silence between us stretches thick with anticipation.

"I've been watching you." His voice is low, sending a shiver down my spine. "The way you lied to your friend, so composed. It made me harder than I've ever been."

Desire pools between my legs at his words, his intense gaze possessing me. I step toward him, my hands reaching up to my blouse, needing to feel my skin.

"Take it off." His voice is commanding now, and I obey without hesitation.

I let the blouse slip from my shoulders, revealing my bare skin to his hungry eyes. With each article of clothing I remove, I feel the weight of my deception lift, exposing not just my body but my true self to him.

Silas stays in the shadows, his eyes never leaving mine as I stand before him, completely naked. I feel vulnerable, but not in a way that makes me want to hide. I yearn to be seen and truly known by him.

He steps toward me. "You were magnificent today." His fingers trace my collarbone. "The way you protected us."

"I'd do anything for you." The words slip out before I can stop them.

Silas's hand stills. Something flickers in his ice blue eyes for a moment, and it's an emotion I can't quite read. His jaw tightens as he cups my face.

"You're the first person who's ever seen me. Really seen me." His thumb brushes my bottom lip. "Everyone else is just... noise. But you're different."

My breath catches at the honesty in his voice. Even through the predatory gleam in his eyes, I sense something deeper stirring.

"I used to think I was broken," I whisper. "That my fascination with darkness made me wrong."

"You're perfect." His fingers tangle in my hair, gripping tight enough to make me gasp. "Your darkness calls to mine. I've killed so many and felt nothing. But with you..."

He presses his forehead against mine, his breathing ragged. I know what it costs him to admit this vulnerability, how foreign these emotions must feel to his psychotic mind.

"I want to consume you," he growls. "To mark every inch of your body as mine. But I also want to..." He struggles with the words. "To protect you. Keep you safe. I've never wanted that before."

My heart pounds against my ribs. I rise on my tiptoes, pressing my naked body against his clothed one.

"Then take me," I breathe against his lips. "All of me."

Something snaps in Silas's eyes. He tears off the mask and his mouth crashes into mine, desperate and demanding. His hands roam my bare skin as I fumble with his shirt buttons, needing to feel him.

I gasp as Silas's mouth trails down my neck, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin. My back arches into him as he presses me against the wall, his hands pinning my wrists above my head.

"Please," I whimper, desperate to feel him inside me.

He releases one of my wrists to unzip his pants, the sound echoing in the quiet room. My free hand finds his chest, tracing the hard planes of muscle beneath his shirt.

"Tell me what you want," he commands, his voice husky with need.

"You. All of you."

His cock presses against my entrance, teasing me. I wrap my arms around him, pulling him closer. With one powerful thrust, he fills me completely.

I cry out, overwhelmed by the sensation. His movements are slow at first, deliberate, making me feel every inch of him. My nails dig into his shoulders as he picks up the pace.

"Look at me," he growls.

I open my eyes, meeting his intense gaze. The raw emotion I see there takes my breath away. This isn't just sex. It's a merging of our souls.

His thrusts become more urgent, more demanding. I match his rhythm, lost in the pleasure building inside me. Every stroke brings me closer to the edge.

"Come for me," he commands, his voice strained with his need.

My body obeys, waves of ecstasy washing over me as I shatter in his arms. Silas follows moments later, his release triggering another wave of pleasure through my hypersensitive body.

We stay connected, our breathing slowly returning to normal. His forehead rests against mine, our bodies still trembling from the intensity of our connection.

Afterward, he collapses beside me, pulling me close, my head resting on his chest. I listen to the steady beat of his heart, his arms wrapped protectively around me.

For the first time, I feel truly seen, truly understood. The darkness we usually embrace has given way to a different kind of intimacy, leaving me feeling bare in a whole new way.

I know at this moment, I'd follow Silas anywhere.