Page 79 of Trick or Stalk

Her eyes search the woods.

I stay where I am, even though part of me wants to step forward. Let her see me. See what happens when she realizes the man from the bookstore is standing behind her house.

But I don't.

Not yet.

Penny looks toward the woods, too.

“Come on, girl.” Presley's voice has lost some of its playfulness.

Penny follows Presley as she tosses the old rug in the garbage can, then heads inside.

The door shuts behind them.

Presley disappears deeper into the house, but my attention remains on the door. Something about the sound bothers me.

My eyes narrow.

Did that fucking door latch?

For a moment, I consider walking across the yard and checking.

But it’s too risky.

Not when she’s awake, and it’s still early.

I watch from my usual spot as her bedroom light clicks on. She moves around the room, her mouth moving like she’s talking to Penny on the bed.

When she changes into her pajamas, I feel that irresistible urge to go to her. To let her know I’m watching.

I barely resist.

My jaw clenches. My dick is so hard inside my jeans just from catching a glimpse of her perfect ass.

She lies down in bed, reading a book. I have a desperate urge to know which one it is.

When she finally turns the light out, my hands are shaking.

I slowly creep around the house, heading for the back door.

The Halloween rug is the first thing I see, the dusk-to-dawn light illuminating it. Orange pumpkins and little white ghosts stare up at me from the black background.

Still fucking hideous.

But she likes it.

For some reason, that makes me like it a little more.

I step onto the porch and look at the door.

It’s not completely closed.

My hand closes around the knob.

It begins to open.

My jaw clenches. I knew I didn’t hear the latch earlier.