Page 36 of Dark Holiday

Glancing up, I see Ryan on the stoop, his arms folded over his chest. “All I know is two of my best girls are out here in the middle of winter, about to get sick. You both better skedaddle in before I make you.” Though his lips are set in a firm line, that twinkle of teasing flashes in his eyes.

Brittany, of course, giggles and trots up to him, me in tow, but right now, his show of dominance to her is just one more knife cut to my heart. How many times did I say I wanted something like this? To be like them? Why did my heart have to be so set on that asshole Daniel Grinwich? If I let him go years ago, I could have settled down with my own Daddy well before now.

That thought alone stabs me at my core, and more tears spill down my cheeks. I let Brittany drag me inside, though, truth be told, I don’t even notice the cold. It could be snowing for all I know, and I wouldn’t even notice. The only sensation, the only thing I can feel right now, is the steady breaking of my heart over fucking Daniel Grinwich...again.

CHAPTER 19

Daniel

“This is a bad idea.” Glancing over at Ryan, I see just the hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. This bastard is hiding something, but honestly, I’m not really in the mood to pry. I thought coming here would be a good way to rid myself of the mental maelstrom that is Cindy. I thought wrong. Being here, in these familiar woods, I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to bring her with me.

If we actually ended on a good note, I would have invited her, but she made it very clear she’s not interested in what I have to offer. The little liar. My balls draw up as I remember that first night - her legs spread for me as my cum dripped down her thighs. She wanted it then. She wanted me. What the hell changed?

Looking over the list of potential play partners, one keeps standing out to me. “What do you know about her?”

Ryan glances over, a thoughtful frown pulling down his lips. “She’s new to the scene but should be a lot of fun. I think Brittany gave her the initial interview. Given your proclivities, we both thought she’d be the girl for you.”

The only girl for me is Cindy, but I’ve gone and fucked that up. Perhaps when we both get back, I can make amends somehow. Bristling at the thought, I shove it aside. As much as I want to be the bigger person, I just can’t. The shit from the office shows me she hasn’t changed since high school. She’s still stuck in that moment of time where she’s willing to throw away happiness with both hands then cry when she’s miserable.

No. This is for the best. Skimming the list of likes and limits, it’s eerie how well we line up - on paper at least. Anyone can sound good on paper. Hell, I’m pretty sure Ted Bundy looked and sounded good until you got on his bad side. Looking back over to Ryan, he’s staring off into the snowy night, pretending not to notice me.

Sighing, I set the paper down and stare at the snow myself. I’ve never fucked someone in the snow. I wonder if it’s even possible. I shake my head, clearing all thoughts of Cindy, face down in a snowbank with me plowing into her from behind. “All right. Let’s get this over with.”

“Nope. It’s your love life. I’m not going to interfere.” The bastard has the nerve to let a hint of a chuckle out in his tone.

A sputtering laugh erupts between us. “Since when? You’ve been interfering since the day you realized I was head over heels for her.” Pausing, I contemplate my words, weighing the veracity. Head over heels feels too quaint, too gentle for what I feel for her. A raging inferno is closer to the truth.

Instead of answering my question, Ryan continues to stare out into nothing. “Did you talk to her at all?”

Shrugging, I pick out my own dark spot to concentrate on. The first thing I did was get rid of every bit of hacking device I had set up to monitor her. After that, I purged my phone, my computer, everything that had a trace of her on it. It hurt. It gutted me like a fucking knife. The only thing I saved was her number and that photo of her trying on underwear. God. Was that only about a month ago?

“What is there to say? We’re just not a good fit.” Ryan nods but remains silent. After a moment, I continue again. “Did she say anything about me?” God. It is high school all over again. Fucking A.

“No.” He pauses, his face darkening for a moment. “She wouldn’t stop sobbing. I don’t know what happened between the two of you. She’s not saying a word, but she’s devastated, Daniel. Besides the death of her family, I’ve never seen her as inconsolable except, well ....”

He trails off, but I don’t need him to finish. I know exactly what time he’s thinking about. The Little Viper thought that some tears and wailing would prove her innocence and make me look like the bad guy. Not going to happen.

My brain flashes back to that night. I stood there for at least an hour, wilting corsage in one hand, offer letter in the other. I never expected to get into such a prestigious college, let alone get a full ride with a stipend. It was going to be the start of a new life for us. All she had to do was say yes.

When I saw the picture of her entwined with Mark, it was too much. I left, but I never forgot. When my grades started to suffer, I knew I had to do something. Watching over her, being there for her, protecting her, that was core to who I was. Then, suddenly, it was ripped away. I never meant to become obsessed, but by God, I did. I took on another job to have the money needed to keep her in my sights, to keep her safe.

Fuck it all. Even at my most angry, I knew I would never hurt her. I couldn’t. She would always be mine - mine to love, mine to cherish, mine to sexually destroy in the most primal way possible...but never to hurt.

Once I learned how to watch her, stalk her, I was like a man possessed. Most of my early paychecks went to the PI. I could only afford a detailed report every few months, but it filled in the gaps of what I already knew. She was still out there searching for her perfect person, the Daddy that could take care of her. I was that man, but it never felt like I was enough.

I would like to say it was professionalism that drove me in my quest to become partner, but that would just be a lie. It was her. It was always her. Perhaps once I reached that pinnacle, I would be worth something to her. I would be good enough for her.

Mark and I had been like two peas in a pod - same great hair, same toned physique. Hell, we even had the school bully title down pat. The only thing that separated Mark from me was his money. He was my equal in every way but that, and now, I have it in spades.

Making partner was just going to be the cherry on top. There’s no way she could say no to me then...but, in a way, she has.

I’m close. So fucking close I can taste it, yet at every turn, Cindy sabotages me. Consciously or not, that’s what’s happening. The only recourse now is to cut ties, make a clean break. Every breath I take is laced with pain, but I’ll eventually get over it and find a girl that will finally accept me. Who knows, maybe this little ingenue could be her.

I glance down at the paper again. What she lacks in experience, she seems to make up for in enthusiasm. A lot of the things she wants to try run on the darker end of the spectrum, just like mine. I pause for a moment, staring at the entry kidnapping kink. I’ve never tried this one before, but I’m always up for a challenge.

There are some things I’ll need to prepare beforehand, but this little strumpet sounds just like the kind of hate fuck I need to get Cindy out of my system. “We’re still wearing masks, right?”

“That’s the plan. The fact that some of us already know each other isn’t a big deal, but some people want to remain anonymous. Ms. Hoo here doesn’t indicate that a mask is required, but you’re always welcome to wear one.”