Page 119 of The Professor's Wife

A man.

Tall. Dark clothes. Standing just beyond the trees. Close. Very close.

I froze.

He stepped forward slowly, hands visible, face unreadable. “Didn’t mean to scare you,” he said, voice smooth. “Just passing through.”

Passing through from where?

I looked around, uneasy.

Immediately, I grabbed the towel and wrapped it around myself. I clutched it tightly to my chest. “You startled me.”

He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Beautiful spot, isn’t it?”

I nodded, heart pounding. “It is.”

He stepped closer. Too close.

“Camping nearby?” he asked.

I glanced toward the trail Tristan had taken. “Just hiking.”

He tilted his head. “With your boyfriend?”

I didn’t answer. I thought about leaving. About getting up and running. But he was so close now, he might catch me.

He smiled again, this time with something darker behind it. He was a little older than me, but stocky. Not so unkempt that he’d lived out here in the woods like a transient camper. “You know, you guys were at it for a while. Looked like a lot of fun.”

My stomach dropped.

“How long have you been watching?” I asked, voice barely steady.

He shrugged, his eyes tracing along my skin. “Long enough.”

I stood, trying to move past him, but he shifted, blocking my path.

“Relax,” he said, eyes scanning me. “I’m just being friendly.”

I looked toward the trail again. No sign of Tristan. My pulse quickened as I backed up, heart racing. “You know I’m not alone.”

He smirked. “Doesn’t look like he’s here now.”

“Don’t come closer.”

“I’m not going to hurt you.”

“Stop,” I gritted out, ears whooshing from the adrenaline as he took another step. “Not. Another. Fucking. Step.”

But there was sick intention in the man’s eyes. He looked me over again, musing, “I can just sit here and watch. You didn’t know about me a few minutes ago and it didn’t bother you. Why should it bother you now?”

“You’re sick,” I spat out. “You need to leave.”

But he took another step closer, and like all the times before in my life, I fucking froze. Again. Instead of running. Instead of screaming. I just fucking froze. Not even my mouth would workas my teeth began to chatter. Coldness washed over me as my heart thundered, as my brain sizzled with familiar thoughts.

Eyes—Eyes—Eyes everywhere—All the time—

Then Tristan appeared.