Page 36 of Locked in Wonderland

Where?

Nothing.

Then―

Breathing.

Behind me.

I spun around so fast I nearly lost my footing, my heart jumping into my throat. “Who are you?”

“Shhhh.”

Nothing else.

Just that single sound.

A hand landed in the center of my chest. At least, I assumed it was a hand. It pushed me backward until a wall stopped me from going any further. Then it slid higher, settling directly over my heart. The bastard could probably feel it trying to punch its way out of my ribcage.

“Yeah,” I said, determined to claw back some dignity. “I’m about to have a heart attack. That’s what happens when you trap someone in the dark with no idea what else is in here with them.”

The hand remained where it was.

“Is this how you get your kicks? Terrorizing people?”

Silence.

If not for the steady pressure against my chest, I might have thought he’d vanished.

“What do you want?”

The hand moved.

Across my collarbone.

Up my throat.

Fingertips brushed my cheek in something dangerously close to a caress.

Could he see me?

Probably.

He’d found me easily enough.

The knowledge left me feeling strangely vulnerable, even though it really wasn’t any different from the blindfold.

His fingers slid into my hair.

A moment later, pressure settled on the crown of my head.

“Right,” I muttered, understanding the intention immediately.

It occurred to me as I sank to my knees that I probably should have offered at least a token protest.

Got to pay the debt.

Yeah, that was it.