Page 23 of The Masked King

Part of me knew he would, the part of me that increased my heart rate while I was running, forcing me to stop after 5k and walk back home. The part of me that stood beneath the shower with my eyes closed while I tried to picture Brian beneath the mask and settled on Enzo’s features every time. The same part of me that had me trembling when I stepped into Nyx’s costume tonight.

I’m wearing a sheer black robe that floats around my body as I move. Nothing underneath. And I’m already wet. I never believed a stranger could have this effect on me, but it seems fear of the unknown can be erotic in a controlled environment.

“Hello, Nyx.” Same distorted voice, but it’s enough to make my pulse race.

I’m not afraid of Brian. I’m afraid of how badly I want him to follow through on his parting promise of last night.

“Did you think about me?” he asks.

“I think you already know the answer.” I move closer, my feet following the braille track in the carpet leading me towards him and keeping me at a safe distance.

Safe.

I know Brian can’t touch me, I know our conversation is being monitored, but I feel like I’m being hunted, and the adrenaline is already pumping through my veins. I don’t want safe. I don’t think I ever did.

“Did you touch yourself when you thought about me?”

I replay in my head making myself come in the shower with my fingers, and my pussy starts to throb with want.

“Yes.” I step closer, my feet silent on the plush carpet.

“Did you make yourself come for me, Nyx?”

“Yes.”

I feel my slick trickling out from between my legs, and a shiver travels down my spine. He is doing exactly what he came here to do: he’s living out his fantasy by making me fear him and want him at the same time.

“Take off your clothes.”

My pulse takes off. I want to do this for him, I want to feel powerless when I’m with Brian, to hand over control because it’s the one aspect of my life where I don’t have to be Demi Payne, the woman who knows what she wants. And I already know that I’m not going to fight it.

But still, this is a game that requires two players.

“Is that it, Brian? No foreplay tonight?”

“If you want foreplay, maybe you’re in the wrong profession.”

I laugh. “I didn’t say I wanted foreplay.”

I loosen the silk ribbon that fastens the transparent robe together at my waist, slide it over my shoulders, and toss it to Brian. I hear the rustle of movement as he catches it, hear the sharp intake of his breath, and picture him raising it to his nose and inhaling my scent.

“And the rest.” His voice is thicker even through the mask.

“That’s it.”

“Are you naked now, Nyx?”

“Yes.”

Pause. “I’ve changed my mind. I want you to put this back on. But you’ll have to come and get it.”

My breath hitches in my chest. “You know the rules. You know I can’t come any closer.”

“I won’t touch you if that’s what you’re afraid of.”

“That’s… not what I’m afraid of.” At least, it’s not the whole truth.

If he touches me, I’ll never see him again. I won’t have a job here, and the investigation will take a huge leap backwards. But I’m also afraid that Brian touching me will be an anticlimax, and this game will be over too.