I swallow down the saliva pooling on my tongue and nearly choke on it as another text comes through.
Unknown:
I want to bite your lip like that
Would you let me
Please tell me you would
Oh…Oh, God…
He can see me…
My heart rate kicks up—as does my breathing—and I slowly lift my chin and look around my room. My curtains are pulled back to let the daylight in, and that’s where I focus my gaze. I narrow my eyes as I stand, even as the chug of my heart threatens to choke me.
Phone in hand, I press call and hold it to my ear as I slowly make my way toward the glass pane separating me from my nightmare.
The line clicks.
Silence.
And then, a breath that makes meshiver.
“Hello, little mouse.”
“What do you want?” I croak, clearing my throat at the end to try and sound braver than I feel.
“You,” is all he says.
I blink once. Twice. Pull my lip back between my teeth as I contemplate his answer. “Why?”
“Because you’re perfect.”
I can’t help the unattractive snort that escapes me. “You don’t even know me.”
“I know enough. But fair. Tell me about you, Madison. Tell me things I should know.”
The hand I’ve pressed against the glass of the window shakes slightly as I stare out at the tree in front of me.
Is he sitting in this tree? Looking at me as I look at him?
What would I do if he was?
“Why should I? I don’t know you,” I say. “And you’re stalking me,” I add breathily as an afterthought.
“Stalking, huh?” Static says, accent thick enough to make goosebumps burn their way down my arms. “Is that what you call tryin’ to get to know someone?”
“Is this whatyoucall trying to get to know someone?” I repeat incredulously.
“Yes.”
“What a way of doing it,” I mutter, shaking my head, but my lips twitch of their own volition.
“I wanna know you, Madison. All your good and bad, deep and dark. Give it to me.” Static’s voice is low and gravelly, and it makes me shiver.
I have no idea who this man really is, but… I think I want that too.
Someone to know me…the real me.
