Page 113 of Trick or Stalk

Penny launches off the couch, barking.

“Shit.” I step farther behind the tree.

Presley calls her name.

Penny ignores her.

She stops several feet from the window, then stares directly at me.

She knows I’m here.

I just hope she doesn’t give me away.

Presley looks terrified.

My pulse kicks harder.

Fuck. I like it.

I like knowing I’m the reason she’s clutching Penny tighter. That I’m the reason she keeps looking toward the window. That some instinct buried deep inside her knows she isn’t alone.

She just doesn’t know it’s me.

I don’t want Presley afraid of the world. I don’t want her afraid inside her own home.

But afraid of me?

Something dark inside me fucking thrives on it.

I want her safe. Protected. I want her to know no one will ever touch her while I’m around.

No one except me.

The contradiction should bother me.

It doesn’t.

She’s safe from harm.

But not from me.

Which is pretty fucking ironic considering I'm the reason she's currently staring through the window like she expects someone to appear.

The television continues blaring.

Presley grabs the remote and pauses it. The house goes quiet enough that I can hear the rain striking the porch roof.

Penny growls.

I stay still.

Then a branch cracks somewhere to my right.

Presley's body stiffens. Her gaze moves toward the sound.

She says something to Penny that I can't make out.

She stands.