Page 62

His voice is deadly. Calm. Quiet. “But you won’t, will you, Summer?”

I don’t respond.

Without thinking, I move my hair down over my shoulders so it’s splayed out in pretty waves over my chest and take my shorts off so I’m in my panties. I reach into my purse and grab my pink lipstick, then grab my phone and bring up the video so I can see myself. I spread it evenly over my lips, making a popping sound when I’m done.

Before pressing the video button, I position myself a certain way. He answers, and my face pops up on the camera, but of course, he has no video on.

I smile into the camera, knowing I won. Now that he can see me, there is no way he will let me go.

“Hi,” I breathe.

A pause, just heavy breathing in the way he usually does when he is turned on by me. “Well, don’t you look nice.”

No pretty girl?

My thighs heat—no, not my thighs…my entire body ignites.

“Don’t I get to see you?” I ask him, propping the camera up as I lie on my pillow, my hair splaying out beside me, my cleavage pushing up in my tank top.

“I thought you told me to leave you alone?” he says.

I look up at him through my long eyelashes, hoping it has the desired effect. “I changed my mind. I think I need your help, and you promised you would help me. It’s easier when I have someone to talk to about this. It’s how I learn; I don’t retain anything while reading.”

He swallows. “You still want my help? Even knowing what I am?”

I’m not so sure I know what he is. He hasn’t killed anyone that I’m aware of…yet. He sent me a picture of the missing girl, who seems very much still alive.

“Yes, I want your help,” I repeat back to him. “Do you want me to beg?”

“And what are you going to do for me? This arrangement feels one-sided.”

I arrange my camera on the tripod on my desk, which conveniently sits across from my bed. I hear Misty and Dani laughing from downstairs. They could easily walk in on me.

That makes the thrill of this so much more fun.

I rise to my knees, the soft bedding tickling my skin. “Are you still watching me?” I ask, suddenly very self-conscious about what I plan to do.

“Yeah, baby, I’m still watching.”

I sit cross-legged and look into the camera. “I want to see you,” I tell him. “Turn your camera on, too.”

I hear him breathe. I can only imagine what he’s doing right now.

“Please,” I whisper.

“Okay, hold on.” I adjust myself again as he puts the call on hold.

A few seconds later, the video pops up, and he’s there, wearing his burlap mask, which makes me want to scream. He’s leaning back on the bed with his hands behind his head, his arm muscles flexing in his black T-shirt. In fact, he looks mighty fucking relaxed.

“So, what game are we playing right now?” he asks through the blank darkness.

I reach down and pull off my camisole, leaving me topless. He tilts his head as I rise to my knees, the same way the girls in the photo are positioned.

“Is this what you wanted to see?” I breathe and flip my hair, quite unsure what I am supposed to do with my hands. I lean back on them, spreading my legs slightly.

He chuckles, and not in a way I like. I perch up and frown. “You’ve been asking to see me like this all semester. Isn’t this what you want?”

“You have no idea what I want from you, Summer.”