Carolina:This is your soul begging for Fitz.
Carolina:I’m driving over to come find you.
Carolina:I’m bringing wine and pizza.
“Pizza…”
Wheezing, hands on my hips, I pant as I try to get my arms to stop shaking enough to type out a response.
I hate exercise.
I register the footsteps as I respond to Carolina.
Winnie:I’m saying yes to health.
Carolina:This is worse than I thought.
Winnie:Mom is making cabbage and kale salad with a watery mustard vinaigrette.
Carolina:I’m sorry, a what?
Winnie:I’m turning over a new leaf.
Winnie:Going to give up wine.
I scoot out of the way to avoid the man from the footsteps who’s jogging way more easily than I was to the trailhead.
Winnie:Might join a running club. I think I’m sort of getting into it.
Carolina:You’ve completely lost it.
I’m not even going to look at him. Even the footfalls sound attractive. I can’t have any more unattainable crushes. I need to get back to the investment-bitch Winnie who didn’t give men the time of day and certainly didn’t pine over the guys who only like her sister.
Winnie:Maybe I could split the difference and joina—
“Fuck!” I choke out as a heavy gloved hand grabs me by the neck. Thick, worn pants scratch my bare legs. The scent of motorcycle grease floods my nostrils.
He doesn’t say anything as he clamps a leather glove over my mouth and drags me back into the shadows.
My legs are already shot from the running. I can’t put up a fight.
I claw ineffectively at the rough black leather-and-canvas jacket he’s wearing. Pinning me against the wall with his knee, one hand on my neck, he pulls up the mask—just the bottom part—enough that I get a flash of the strong jaw until his mouth is locked on mine.
You’d think it would be weird kissing a stranger.
Except—
I know him.
It’s dark, thrilling.
It’s the stalker. He wants me.
His hands in the gloves are rough on my waist, pawing through the sweaty clothes as he kisses me in a frenzy, not saying anything.
I want to hear his voice.
His tongue plows into my mouth until I almost gag, trying to breathe through my nose. I rub against his leg as the large hand holds my jaw steady, tipping my head back so he can kiss me rough and deep. I could practically come from that kiss. When he releases me, I sink to the ground, my legs fully giving out.
