Page 35 of XO Karma

“Is this some kind of game?” she asks, breathing out.

“You started it.”

“If you knew I was following you, why not confront me?”

“I’m curious.” I drag a thumb along her jaw, and her breath hitches, but she doesn’t swat me away.

“About what?”

“Why you’re stalking me.”

She scoffs. “I am not stalking you!”

“You were following me without my knowledge. That’s stalking.”

“Well, apparently, you knew, which according to your rules, makes it not stalking.”

I fight a smile. Damn, she’s got a mouth on her. “Whatever you say.” I want to ask her a million and one questions. Figure out exactly why she’s so fixated on me. But in this moment, her fruity perfume is surrounding me, and adrenaline has me aching for physical contact. When I slide my fingers into her hair once more, she stills.

“What do you want from me?” she repeats.

“Right now?” She nods, and while the emotions I’m feeling are frustratingly hard to decipher, they boil down to five words. “I want to kiss you.” Her eyes widen in surprise, but she doesn’t appear completely repulsed by the idea, which is why I stupidly say, “Can I?”

She leans into my touch. “Oh, so he’s a gentleman?”

She didn’t run. So that’s a good sign. “Would you prefer I not be?”

“Maybe…” Her eyes flicker with something dangerous as a wicked grin spreads across her pretty face. A split second later, she’s brought her blade to my jugular, the cool metal pressing against it, and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make my dick jump. My breath catches as she digs into my skin, and a stinging slice spreads over the side of my neck.

My hand flies to her wrist. “What are you doing?”

She pauses her torment, resting the palm of her hand on my shoulder to balance herself as she places a knee on each side of the mattress beside me, lowering herself to a straddle. “Trust me?” she asks, pretty eyes twinkling with mischief.

Unable to find any response besides the groan that slips past my lips, I nod. I’ve no reason to trust her, but the woman does have a knife to my throat. And she’s grinding in my goddamn lap.

Each press of her blade causes a burning sensation, and my heart pounds erratically while desire clouds my mind. My hands absentmindedly find her waist, and I grip tight to avoid shrieking in pain like a little bitch. It’s purely self-induced masochism that prevents me from stopping her as she etches her mark on my skin.

“Who are you?” I whisper, careful not to move too much.

“I thought you already knew?”

“Your name is not who you are.” I know that better than anyone. Being a Blake holds weight. But it’s that same weight that drags me to the depths of the ocean, drowning me until I’m left in nothing but darkness. “Tell me who you are, beautiful.”

“You really want to know?” she asks as blood trickles down my chest.

My eyes are pinned on her amused face. Then they focus on her plump lips mere inches from mine. “I really want to kiss you.”

“I’ll tell you what, Aster.” I fight a shudder at the way she says my name as she lowers the blade from my neck, gliding it between my pectorals towards my waist. “If you catch me, you can have me.”

I huff a laugh that’s cut short seconds later when agonizing pain erupts in my leg. Before I can register what’s happened, she’s pushed herself off me and bolted out the door. Glancing towards the jaw-clenching pain, I find her dagger lodged into the top of my thigh.

Grunting, I grip the pink handle, yanking the weapon out with a sting, and toss the bloodied thing to the floor. The front door slams shut, and I hold pressure to my new spasming wound while rushing off the bed. Blood oozes down my skin, leaving a trail behind me as I hobble in agony towards the window, where I spot Lily sprinting across the yard. She turns, slowing her strides, and blows a kiss my way. An unabashed smile splits across her face as she waves, then takes off towards the sidewalk and disappears.

What the fuck just happened?

I rush to the bathroom, taking pause in the mirror at the sight of bloodied handprints on my chest. Her bloodied handprints. With a steadying breath, I force my dick to stay in place. There is no time for arousal. This woman just slashed, stabbed, and dashed!

After grabbing the MediKit from under the sink, I first tie a tourniquet around my leg. Then I use a wet sterile cloth to dab away the bright crimson on my neck. Once it’s mostly clear, my eyes fall to the fresh wound, blood still weeping from the carved letters: