Page 202 of Trick or Stalk

“If I were here to murder her, this would be entirely your fault.”

Penny keeps walking. No remorse whatsoever.

At Presley's doorway, she slips through the opening.

I stop outside, listening to see if Presley’s awake.

But it’s silent.

Her face from earlier flashes through my mind. The suspicion that appeared when I called her a good girl—twice.

Fucking stupid.

I knew the second the words left my mouth.

And sooner or later, she's going to figure it out if I keep fucking up.

I ease the bedroom door open the rest of the way.

Penny jumps onto the bed.

Presley shifts beneath the covers.

I go still.

She doesn't wake.

Penny circles twice before curling against Presley's legs like she didn't just personally escort a stalker into her bedroom.

I step inside.

Moonlight slips through the curtains, casting enough light across the bed for me to see her.

Long brown hair is spread across the pillow. One hand rests near her face. Her lips are slightly parted.

She looks peaceful.

Completely unaware I'm here.

I move closer.

The urge to touch her hits immediately.

It always does.

Instead, I stand beside the bed and stare.

I came close to losing her tonight.

I curl my hands into fists when I realize they’re shaking.

I’ve never cared this much about a woman in my life.

I can’t lose her.

My gaze traces over her face, thinking about the way she smiles when she sees me. The way she argues with me about books. The way she says my name when she's irritated.

The way she looked at her phone tonight because she wanted Hades to make her feel safe from the man standing outside her house.