Page 11 of Her Nightshade

My heart fluttered, the tension building in my chest. Now he was directly pulling me back in, his words filled with the same intensity, the same need, that both thrilled and unsettled me.

I stared at the message, feeling that familiar tug. And as much as I wanted to resist, I wasn’t ready to push him away.

6

Charlie

Iknew I was being too much. The constant texting, the Instagram story about her, the way I couldn’t stop thinking about her, even when I tried to distract myself. But I couldn’t help it. Something about Ana had gotten to me in a way no one else ever had.

I stared at my phone, waiting for a response that still hadn’t come. She hadn’t texted back since last night, and even though I tried to tell myself to play it cool, I knew I wasn’t fooling anyone. I was fucking crazy about her. No, I was obsessed with her. There was no denying it now. The worst part was, I knew I was coming on too strong, but I didn’t know how to stop. If I didn’t push, if I didn’t keep reminding her how much I wanted her, I was terrified she’d slip away. She could pull back and disappear if I wasn’t careful, and the thought of losing her made my whole body fill with dread.

And then there was last night.Fuck.

I shifted in my seat, my body responding to the memory of her taking control. It wasn’t just about what happened—it was about the fact that it finally happened. I always knew I wanted this. I thought about being dominated, needing someone else to take charge, and with Ana…fuck, it was better than I could have ever imagined. The way she moved, the way she commanded every moment. It wasn’t just exciting—it felt like something I needed all along, like a missing puzzle piece that completed me.

Now that it had happened, I needed it more. I neededhermore.

She made me feel something I hadn’t felt before, and now that I had a taste of it, I didn’t think I could stop. I didn’twantto stop. I could still feel her hands on me, guiding me, her voice low and commanding.

Fuck, I need her to do it again.

I tapped my fingers against the edge of the kitchen counter where I now stood, the restless energy pulsing through me. I had been with other women, but none of them had given me what I wanted, what Ana gave me. She had me tangled in knots, and the worst part was that I loved it.

I sent her the text this morning, half-expecting no response. Maybe I’d gone too far with the Instagram story, with how forward I’d been. Who knows if she even saw it? But if I didn’t push, what if she drifted away?

Stop, Charlie.

My phone buzzed and my heart nearly leapt out of my chest. I picked it up quickly, hoping it was her. And there it was—her name lighting up my screen.

Good morning. You’re sweet, Charlie. I hope you’re doing well.

Finally. A small reassurance that I hadn’t pushed her away. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

But that simple text didn’t calm the hunger inside me. I was teetering on the edge, wanting more—more of her, more of what we had last night, more of that control she had over me. Ineededit so badly.

I stared at her message, trying to keep myself calm. She hadn’t pulled away yet, but it wasn’t enough to quiet the constant fear gnawing at me. The fear that she’d disappear like everyone else had.

Being famous is supposed to mean you’re never alone, right? Surrounded by people, fans screaming your name, always in the spotlight. But it’s not like that. Fame is lonely as fuck. You’re constantly surrounded by people, but no one really knows you. Everyone wants something—attention, proximity, publicity. It’s this constant game of wondering why they’re there, what they want.

But Ana was different. She didn’t need anything from me. She had her own life, her own reputation. Former First Lady. More well-known than I was. She wasn’t in it for clout; she didn’t need it. And that made it worse, because she could walk away at any time.

I ran a hand through my messy hair, trying to shake off the dread. Years of questioning everyone around me, wondering if they’re here for who I am or what I can give…it had burned me enough to know. You start to lose track of who’s real and who’s playing a part.

But Ana…I knew she was real. I needed to hold on tighter because for once, I had somethingreal.

I typed out another message, my fingers moving faster than my thoughts.

I’ve been thinking about last night a lot. I’d love to see you again when you’re ready.

I stared at the message before hitting send, my heart pounding frantically.Okay, that’s not too much,I told myself,trying to calm my nerves. It wasn’t as forward as before, but it still let her know I was thinking about her.

Maybe she’ll be more open to that.Maybe this way, she won’t feel like I’m pushing too hard.

After sending the message, I tossed my phone aside, trying to will myself not to stare at it, waiting for a reply. I had to calm down. The more I hovered over my phone, the worse it would be.

I paced around the loft, trying everything to distract myself—reading, cleaning, working out—but nothing worked. My mind kept drifting back to Ana.Has she seen my message? Is she even thinking about me?

Finally, after what felt like hours, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I grabbed it instantly, my heart racing as her name lit up the screen.

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