She’s the biggest distraction to me—not that I’d admit to either of them.
“Nope. Hardly see her during the daytime. We only hang out for meals.”
“Good. Tell her I said hello.” He hangs up without an insulting comment, which is big for him, but still, Summer’s expression takes a dive.
“Ignore him. He’s getting better.”
She picks up her cup again, tracing the edge with her thumb. “Years of us being friends, and he still hates me. You should give up trying to change that.” Her low demeanour has me cursing, agreeing to the call at all.
“I’ll never stop making him understand you’re not going anywhere.”
A staff member comes in with a drink we ordered, ending the conversation. Summer returns to drinking and watching the ocean through the window while I finish reviewing financial reports.
“If you could have anything in the world, what would it be?” she asks suddenly, gaze unmoving from the water.
You.
“Not sure. You?”
“Freedom. Not only from Dad, but from my thoughts, the trauma. Freedom from working, to have the funds to travel and see the world.”
Just like that, she formed our post-graduate plans.
“Dad owns overseas operations. After next semester, I’ll mention wanting to check in there. We’ll do a Europe trip.”
Her gaze dives to my cell, and she doesn’t need to say it; the doubt in her expression is obvious.
“I’m going to hang out in my room for a bit, maybe in my pool.” She slides off my desk, keeping her cup close. “See you for supper?”
She’s gone before I can respond or kill the negative thoughts I’ll use Hunter to pull her out of.
It’s well after midnight, after she’s gone to sleep, when I slip inside her cabana. It’s been an hour since she texted me as Levi, so my visit isn’t close enough that she links it as a coincidence.
She’s passed out, her bare leg kicked out from beneath the covers, face buried in her pillow. Admittingly, I hoped she’d be awake, to fight a little, give some chase.
After adjusting my mask, I unloop the rope I’ve brought with me. It drapes like a snake, ready to constrict itself around our prey and swallow her whole.
I tie one end around the bedpost by her head and then carefully slide it beneath her wrist to form a cuff. Once taut, I move to the opposite side and do the same with her other wrist to limit her movements. Her ankles remain free to maneuver her body easier.
She makes another noise, moving her head. Hair shifts onto her face, so I push the strands away, letting my fingers linger for a moment longer. She’s so fucking soft, so lovely, all bound up like this.
The monster within growls at having our prey, our darling, our Sunshine, in rope.
I draw the blanket down her body. Her breasts protrude, nipples jutted, and my cock hardens. There’s no longer any need to conceal my desire for her. I undo my pants and take myself in hand, rubbing myself from root to tip.
I near the bed until my knees press into the mattress. She moves her head, her pouty lips parting—sofuckable. Cum beads on my tip, my thumb rubbing it around. The monster inside me wants to gag her, choke her, make her swallow our cum.
“Time to wake up, Sunshine.”
TWELVE
SUMMER
Salt and silk.
My tongue chases the addictive but strange taste once, then again, this time drawing myself from sleep. There’s a breathy noise I’m sure comes from me; my mind can’t make sense of it or determine the exact location.
Salt, silk, and a hardness tap my bottom lip. The feeling runs along the shape of my mouth. I move my head, not certain if I’m trying to get away or accept it.