Page 95 of Under the Bed

He walks in, his gait long and confident. Staring at me from behind his mask.

My eyes fly open. My heart ceases to work.

It’s as if I’ve been punched.

As if someone’s burning me alive.

This is the most upset I’ve ever been. Most angry.

A scream lodges in my throat, and I swallow it. If I let it out, if I howl my frustration at Kaleb, the sound will be so loud that it’ll tear the building down.

It all makes sense now. Jakob with a fucking K.

Eddy wasn’t afraid of me out there. He saw the picture of the volunteer. Kaleb must have had his mask on and Eddy put two and two together.

He figured out it was Kaleb. He must’ve thought I’d encouraged him to come here. To hurt Eddy for the things he’d said about him.

I most certainly did not.

What the fuck!The scream I let out in my head hurts my ears.Putting yourself out there for the world to see? What. The. Fuck.

Yes, the mask hides his true identity. Yes, no one here or anywhere has heard my stepbrother’s voice. He never spoke to the press. They wouldn’t recognize his voice.

The mask, though. His massive size.

The things he might reveal during the session.

Anyone here might recognize him.

Slim chance of that happening. Slim, yet possible.

Damn it. Damn him.

As we stand there, the three of us, I gape at him. It’s all I can do to stay in place, or else I’ll throttle him. I’ll punch him for this sick game.

I’ll cut him, just enough to make him bleed, but not actually damage him.

And he’ll probably get turned on by that, bend me over one of the chairs, and fuck me for the world to see.

The thought sends heat to my pussy, which is terrible.

What the fuck, Kaleb?

Our sick, twisted games aren’t worth it. Nothing’s worth having him taken back to Berkshire or worse.

Dead.

I’m so mad I could cry. Scream. Stomp my feet like I’m eleven allover again.

“Miss Talbot?” Professor Dempsey’s voice is reproachful.

I’m gawking at our volunteer.

I swallow past the lump in my throat. Blink back tears.

Then, I offer my stepbrother my hand. “Sorry about that. Nice to meet you, Mr. White. Thank you for coming.”

“Miss Talbot.” Kaleb takes my hand, the reckless bastard, stroking my wrist with his thumb. One swipe that sends shivers up my spine. “Thank you for having me.”

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