Silver really had been stalking me.
That was it. How else could he know things like my shoe size... where I lived... where I worked? And why had I given that all a pass until now? Why had I let myself be so damn naive?
Every built in fear that had chased me since five years ago kicked in. Stalkers were dangerous, and danger was something I'd taken painful steps to always avoid. Why was I so stupid?
I didn't know I was standing until Silver reached for me, holding me by my arms and keeping me from collapsing to the floor. “Pet?” he asked.
I couldn't answer, I just swayed.
I'm insane, he's insane.
What if he ties me up and keeps me here forever... he said he wanted to... what if he hurts me... what if...
“Pet! Are you alright?” He shook me, demanding I look at him, and still... I could only close my eyes. This wasn't real, this wasn't possibly real, this...
“Alexis!”
My eyes popped open, fixing in shock on Silver. His face was tormented, fine lines and a deep furrow on the bridge of his nose. I'd never seen him so worried. It would have been comforting if I wasn't so freaked out.
I pushed backwards, hugging my naked chest. “Tell me what's going on.” My voice was shaking; I tensed, making myself harden. This time, my words were sharp and solid. “Who the hell are you?”
Silver lifted his hands, spreading his fingers. “Calm down.”
“I'm not going to calm down!” I couldn't, the anger was all that was keeping me together. I latched onto it, desperate to stay on my feet. “This is a sick game, stalking someone and playing with them! I don't get it... I don't...” I let him get too close to me.
That time, when he reached for me, I backed away. I was moving too quick, my body like a broken marionette. I swung one way, my hip slamming into the bedside table. The bolt of pain made me wince, but it was the reminder of how he'd clung to my skin while burying his cock in my depths.
I'd let a mad man tie me up. I'd fucked someone crazy enough to follow me around for who knew who long, and I'd justified all of it. But his threat of keeping me here, of capturing me so I could never leave—that had been too much.
Grabbing my dress, I started to slide it on. The top was ruined, it wouldn't keep me decent. Silver moved my way, I gave him a warning look. Instead of grabbing at me, he scooped his jacket off the floor, holding it out.
Warily I took it, sliding the heavy material around my body. It was saturated with his scent. It reminded me wretchedly of the first night we'd met. He'd given me his jacket to keep me warm... to protect me. As much as I didn't want it to, it made me feel safe.
A mountain was growing up and out of me. The pressure crushed my soul.
On bare feet I rushed towards the elevator. I didn't look back, it was an impossible task. If I just kept my eyes forward, I could make it out of this alive.
Before I could get into the sliding doors, he swiped out his palm and caught the edge, blocking me from entering. “Wait!” he growled, his fury rivaling my terror. “Just wait a fucking minute.”
Gritting my teeth, I ducked under his arm.
Amazingly, he didn't reach for me. I faced the glass windows, eyeing the city outside and willing myself to transport away from here. This is too much, I don't understand any of this! I need air, I need to get out!
Something solid landed by my feet, startling me. Glancing down, I saw it was my purse. Silver said, “Don't forget that. You'll need your phone to reach me.”
The elevator doors pinched together before I could reply. I didn't even know what I would have said, because honestly, I wasn't sure if I wanted to see this crazy man again.
It was raining outside. The doorman was taking shelter under the eaves when I burst past him. “Hey!” he shouted after me.
I didn't slow down.
Why did he pick me?
My bare heels splattered over the shining asphalt.
Why?
Headlights beamed at me, my lungs shredding from exertion.
WHY?
Cement bit into my feet, a slippery patch making me stumble. Clutching the jacket, I crumbled into a heap, my knees skidding and bleeding. A distant roar, like a coming tornado, filled my ears. I couldn't hear the cars, the horns, or the lingering people wandering in the night air.
Shaking so hard I expected my bones to come undone, I hugged my knees. Maybe I was crying, maybe it was the rain. It didn't even matter. There was no making sense of what had happened back there.
You should be scared, I told myself. Lifting my chin an inch, I glared at my raw knees. No. You should be pissed. Silver wasn't just some distant admirer. He was a bastard who'd led me into a game where he could conquer me, break me down, and keep me at his side.
But why pick me? It made no fucking sense!
“Are you alright?”