Page 12 of Restless Obsession

“Hey, we match! Does this mean we’re besties now?” Besties? As in her friend-zoning me?

“Uh—“ Her giggles made me relax. Before I could reach for her, she reached for my hand this time.

“I was joking around.” She stepped out of her apartment before shutting and locking her front door. “Ready?” she asked, tilting her head up at me. Not only had she added a cardigan, but I was almost positive she’d added some mascara and lip gloss, too. Lip gloss I wanted to taste while my lips pressed against hers.

I nodded because I was more than ready for anything when it came to spending time with Lucy.

I’d seen her around.

Fucking hell, who was I kidding? I’d followed her around endless times. But I had never realized just how much energy my ray of sunshine had within her.

“So… you dressing up for Halloween?” she asked as we stood in front of a wall of masks.

After the bookstore, where she’d insisted we pick out a book for one another on top of the one we’d chosen for ourselves, we’d gone to a coffee shop and somehow found ourselves in a Halloween pop-up shop that had every single thing imaginable that you would need for the spooktacular holiday. From costumes to decorations and enough stuff you could create your own haunted house if you wanted.

“Not sure… you like any of these?” I asked, pointing with the hand that held my coffee cup. The other one held hers like it was precious, and I couldn’t seem to get myself to let it go. Hell, letting go at the bookstore so she could read the blurbs had about killed me. I wasn’t sure why she was so comfortable walking around with us holding hands like she was; we’d just met, but I fucking liked it.

“Masks?” she repeated, tilting her head as she took them in. I forced myself to look away and take in every single one on the wall. They ranged from that Ghostface she liked to skulls to devils and one with horns. I glanced back at her and noticed just how pink her pretty face had suddenly turned.

“What’s the matter?” I asked, biting away a knowing smile.

In her mind, we’d just met.

She didn’t know I was the daddy she spoke to. The one she’d given her number and name to. The one who knew about every single kink and fantasy she had. Including the one about a man in a mask. To her, I was a semi-stranger who happened to live next door to her. There would no way I knew what it was about those masks that made her breathing change into something shallower, heavier. Breathing I knew meant if I leaned in closer and slipped my hand under that skirt, those tights, and panties, I’d find her fucking soaked.

“What?” Her tone sounded raspier than before.

“You’re all…” I tilted my head to act like I was trying to read her when I didn’t need to. Again, to her, we’d just met for the first time other than quick neighborly hellos and goodbyes. “Red. You’re blushing.”

“Oh.” Her eyes widened and her pretty hands rose to touch her cheeks. I had to shove my hand into the pocket of my pants so I wouldn’t reach for her and confess everything.

Can’t she feel who I am? Her hands dropped to her sides, and I watched as her pretty lips parted and closed.

She shrugged. “It’s nothing.”

“Lucy—“ I started to say, but she tried to step away, not that I let her. My hand took hers again and pulled her in closer, close enough I could smell the scent of her perfume. She smelled like vanilla with a touch of peach today. “Uh-uh, come on, you made me try this pumpkin spice stuff. What’s that look about?”

“You said it tasted good.”

“It does, but that’s not the point.”

“Fine,” she sighed, her eyes grazing the wall of masks. Without looking at me, she started to speak, “You know how women wear lingerie? Like for their partners?”

“Right.” I prayed my cock wouldn’t decide right then and there to go full mast. It was bad enough the fucker was aching to get closer to her as her soft perfume filled my lungs.

“For some women, masks, especially during, umm, spooky season are the equivalent of that.”

“Really?” I asked, and I hoped I did a good job of pretending I was surprised. She turned and looked up at me, and our eyes locked. There was something playing behind hers.

Recognition?

Interest?

Shit, was she interested in Victor, her neighbor? And if she was, how the hell was I getting pissed and jealous over her being interested in me?

“Hmm… and are you one of these women?” I asked, wondering if she would share something so personal with me. “Who likes masks?”

“Hmm.” Her lips quirked upward, eyes sparkling bright and unwavering. “What do you think?”