Page 21 of Carnival Stalker

I nod, steering my car alongside hers. “It wasn’t all bad. I learned valuable skills—skills that have come in handy.”

A mischievous grin crosses her face. “Oh yeah? Like hacking into my computer and stalking me?”

“Guilty as charged.” I chuckle, bumping her car again. “But you have to admit, it paid off. After all, here we are.”

I pull Tilly close as we exit the bumper cars, the electricity crackling between us. Her eyes sparkle as I back her against the metal railing, my body pressing flush against hers.

“You drive me crazy,” I growl, tangling my fingers in her silken tresses. “Every look, every smile—fuck, even the way you breathe sends me over the edge.”

Her lips open with a soft gasp as I lean in. “Phoenix...” she breathes, her fingers curling into the fabric of my shirt.

I trail kisses along her jaw. “I want to hear you moan my name like a prayer on those pretty lips.”

“Phoenix,” she whimpers, her body arching against mine as my lips blaze a path down the slender column of her throat. “Please...”

The desperation in her voice ignites a primal hunger within me. Capturing her mouth in a searing kiss, I pour every ounce of my desire into it. She moans softly, her fingers threading through my hair.

I press her harder against the railing, one hand splaying across the small of her back while the other cups her jaw, angling her head to deepen the kiss.

Reluctantly, I break the kiss, both of us panting heavily. Her lips are swollen and glistening, her eyes glazed with ahaze of want. Tracing the curve of her jaw with my thumb, I gaze at her with a heady mix of possession and reverence.

“You’re mine,” I rasp. “Every inch of this gorgeous body belongs to me.”

Before she can respond, I capture her mouth in another soul-searing kiss.

At that moment, the world around us fades away, leaving only the two of us locked in a passionate embrace, our bodies and souls intertwined in a primal dance as old as time.

13

TILLY

Iclutch the paper cone filled with sweet popcorn, the butter slick on my fingers. Phoenix leads me through the carnival, his fingers brushing against mine. I feel a pull in my chest, a longing to be closer to him, and I wonder if he feels it, too. I want to know what drives him. How he ended up with the carnival, and why he’s so obsessed with me.

I feel like I’m dreaming as we pass the dazzling lights and lively crowds. This place, these people, they don’t feel real. But Phoenix does. He’s a storm of intensity, and I’m drawn to the eye of that storm. I know it’s wild, but I can’t deny my feelings.

He stops in front of a nondescript trailer, its metal surface reflecting the vibrant colors of the carnival. “This is me,” he says, his voice low and inviting. “Want to come in?”

I’m nervous, but there’s a voice in my head urging me forward. “Okay,” I whisper.

Stepping inside, I’m hit by the smell of something uniquely him. The trailer is a mess of clothes, takeout boxes, and screens. So many screens. My gaze flits across them, wondering how many secrets they hold.

“It’s a bit of a mess,” he says, pulling me closer. His lips find mine, and I forget about the chaos around us. His kiss is passionate, desperate even. My nerves melt away, and all I want is more. “Needs a woman’s touch.”

He backs me toward the bed, his hands roaming over my body. The hunger in his eyes lights me on fire. This man is unhinged. I know it, yet I crave him. There’s no denying our attraction that’s pulled me to him like a moth to the flame.

“You’re so beautiful,” he breathes, tangling his fingers in my hair. I shiver as he continues to kiss me.

This is happening. I’m about to have sex with a stranger, someone I know nothing about. But he’s under my skin, in my blood. I’ve never wanted anyone like this before. His mouth travels down my neck, making me arch toward him as a moan tears from my lips.

I pull at his shirt, needing to feel his skin against mine. He obliges, pulling it over his head and tossing it aside. His tattoos are beautiful as I run my hands over his chiseled torso, marveling at the feel of his powerful muscles beneath my fingers.

He pushes me back, and I fall back onto the bed. His hands wander, and the heat of his palms sears me through the fabric of my dress. His lips find my neck, sucking and biting, leaving marks that I know will be there tomorrow.

“You like me marking you, don’t you?” he whispers.

I nod, not trusting my voice.

He grins, grabbing the hem of my dress to pull it over my head. My heart races as I lie there, exposed beneath his intense gaze.

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