Page 63 of My Turn

My hand hovered above the knob to the bathroom. I couldn’t do much there if I was going to stay in my clothes, which I had to. She may not recognize my body when I was dressed, but my tattoos would give me away and she’d seen me shirtless many times, so that alone could trigger recognition.

I bypassed the bathroom. Instead, I kicked off my shoes and started going through her drawers. The knife wasn’t in any of them. When I checked her purse, I didn’t find it there either. I laid on her bed with my back propped up with the pillows, hoping she didn’t have it with her in the bathroom. She could rush in and jump on me with it.

If she wanted to stab me, where would she stash it so that it’d be accessible? I reached under the pillow and smiled. Clever, but not clever enough. I slipped it into my pocket before I settled into a more comfortable position and stared up at the ceiling.

When the shower turned off, I grabbed my bag and moved into the closet. Positioning myself behind some hanging clothes in the corner, I waited. She was humming when she returned to the room. Through the gaps in my hiding spot, I watched her twirl in her towel, then rummage around in her drawers. She tossed sleep shorts onto the bed and started to untuck her towel when she froze, staring at the boots I’d left by the door.

She took a step back and looked to the sides. I pulled out my phone to send her a message, making sure that I was tucked into the corner enough that she wouldn’t see me.

Erebus:Hide & seek. You find me, you get rewarded.

She jumped when her phone buzzed. After reading it, she put her fingers over her mouth, looking deep in thought.

Shaking her head, she picked up her shorts. I rapped my knuckles on the wall twice and she froze again. She spun in a circle, trying to pinpoint where she’d heard it. Her gaze moved to her pillow, then to the closet. She knew I could see her, which made her question her next move.

If she was smart, she’d maintain the element of surprise. If she was smarter, she’d get dressed and fucking run.

I smiled when she took a tentative step toward the closet. She poked her head in and I could hear her panicked breaths. I wondered if she was wet right now from the fear. It was an effort not to jump out. All she had to do was turn on the light and she’d see my socked feet.

“Erebus?” she called softly. The tremor in her voice was so alluring, so fucking sweet. She took another step into the closet. “You said you weren’t coming.”

Her fingers ran over some of the clothes, displacing them, but she was on the wrong side. While she was facing away from me, I carefully squeezed through so that I didn’t jostle the hangers. When I was right behind her, her shoulders rose. Grabbing onto her waist, I turned and pushed her against the wall. Her hands came up to brace herself so that her face didn’t slam into it.

“Erebus,” she gasped.

“Mm.” I trailed my fingers around to her front and slipped them inside the towel. Flattening my palms on her stomach, I dipped my head. “My name on your lips makes me wonder if this is all a dream.”

“P-please let me go.”

“You sought me out.”

“What else was I supposed to do? Wait for you to jump out or let you watch me?”

“Run,” I suggested. She was silent and I laughed. “Didn’t think of that?”

“You would’ve caught me.”

“Maybe, maybe not. You’re capable of winning a round once in a while.” I pressed my hips forward and she sucked in a breath. “Since I won, what’s my prize?”

While I waited, I moved my hand up her torso. My fingers brushed her nipple, making her stiffen further. When I reached the top of the towel, I untucked it and let it fall at our feet.

“You lied,” she whispered.

“And why would you even consider trusting me?”

More silence. I lightly pinched both of her nipples and her forehead fell against the wall.

“You’re wet for me, aren’t you, Alana?” She shook her head. “If you are, will you hate yourself?” A nod. “Will you hate me?”

“I do.”

“That’s a half-truth.” Keeping my palm pressed against her skin, I moved my hand further down. She shook her head, but Iignored her. “I think you’re overcome by a morbid curiosity that you’re desperate to satisfy.”

“You’re a monster,” she gritted out.

“I can be if you’re into that.”

Her legs were squeezed tightly, but I managed to get my hand between them. My finger rubbed on the tattoo, which made her yelp. I moved to her entrance and pushed inside to my first knuckle.