“That’s it, just like that,” he murmured.
Each thrust knocked the wind from my lungs. The bark was biting into my skin, scraping and sanding away at my resistance.
I couldn’t do anything except let him have his way with me. There was no use in fighting, so I let go. My body hung limp like a doll, pliant.
“There you go,” he purred, voice dripping with satisfaction. “Just like I knew you would.”
His rhythm changed, ragged and deeper. I could feel the tension in his body the moment it reached its breaking point. His fingers dug into my skin like hooks, his throat vibrating with a deep groan, and he threw his head back as he drove into me one last time before pulling out. He wrapped his hand around his cock, pumping it a few more times before ropes of cum covered my stomach and thighs, splashing everywhere, marking me as his.
Michael slumped against me once finished, keeping me pinned against the tree. His cock softened against my belly as we stayedsuspended in that moment, with nothing except the fucked up, twisted connection we had.
As crazy as it sounded… it was real.
And it was mine.
He pressed his forehead to mine, the mask separating us. He paused, like he wanted something more. His lips hovered close enough for me to ache for the ghost of a kiss that never came. He pulled away, breathing hard, and his hands moved to the rope on my knee, slicing it with a knife he drew from his boot.
The rope fell away, and my hip screamed as he lowered my leg, setting my foot down. After zipping up his pants, he went to work on my wrists. When the rope fell away, I slumped to the ground, my legs too shaky to hold me.
I looked for Michael, needing his touch, needing to be held, but he was nowhere to be found. I got up onto my hands and knees and peered around the tree to find his silhouette disappearing into the shadows.
At first, I just sat there, confused, used, and utterly empty. And then, I broke. I burst into tears and curled in on myself, not caring about my nakedness or the sting of my scraped skin.
He was gone, leaving me here alone after having his fun.
“Asshole,” I muttered before pausing when I heard a twig snap.
Then, he was there, standing over me, wrapping his arms around me, pulling me to his chest. He scooped me up and squeezed tightly—a silent apology for leaving me behind.
I said nothing as he walked us out of the woods to my window. I remained quiet, arms wrapped around his neck, fighting the urge to rip the mask off his face, see the eyes behind it, and know who was carving himself a spot in my life.
But I didn’t. I couldn’t.
For some reason, my hands wouldn’t move, wouldn’t spoil the secret.
He set me down gently and helped me climb into my room.
My eyes immediately found my bed. I didn’t waste any time with cleaning the dirt off or brushing the tangled leaves out of my hair. I climbed under the comforter immediately, the scent of him lingering on my skin, aching with the ghost of him still inside me.
My pillow felt heavenly, my eyes closing on impact. As my breathing slowed, the sweet lull of sleep grabbed me. Just before I fell under, from the corners of my lashes, I saw him outside, watching me.
Like a shadow who didn’t want to leave.
Iwas still awake, replaying the events of the night before, when Avery’s door opened, followed by the soft sound of her feet padding down the hallway. She didn’t hesitate at my door as I did with hers; she just strolled by, casting a brief shadow under my door.
“Fuck me…” I groaned as I wiped my hands over my sleepy face, hoping to wake myself up.
I rolled out of bed, nearly landing on my knees; I grabbed some clothes off the floor and headed for the bathroom.
As I crossed the hall, I could hear hushed whispers from the kitchen, though one of the participants wasn’t being nearly as discreet as the other.
“I hate knowing he’s going to be here every morning, Mom,” Avery complained, her words sharp.
Marissa responded, but I couldn’t make out anything she said.
“Be nice? To him?” Her tone was pitched higher than before, laced with bitterness. “You do realize he ruined my life, right? Why would I be nice to an asshole who doesn’t give a shit about anyone but himself?”
More hushed whispers from her mom.
