Page 14 of Her Soul to Own

I let him.

Because it feels good to be the one doing the watching for once. To hold the leash, even if it’s imaginary. I need to feel something other than trapped, and this is my best option right now.

He’s saying something about wanting to see me again, about missing our talks at summer parties. I nod along, my eyes half-lidded, letting him lean just enough into my space.

This is a game. But it’smygame.

And today, I want to see how far I can take it before someone breaks.

Because I’m not doing this for Wesley.

Not really.

I’m partly doing it for the man Iknowis watching. Somewhere, behind some lens, in some shadowed room, Silas Creed is seeing this play out in real time.

And I’m testing him.

I’ve always been this way. Guys show up when I text, when I smirk, when I sayjust one drink. It has never been hard. But this?

This is different.

There’s a charge in my skin that didn’t exist before. An intrigue that doesn’t come from the man in front of me, but from the one I can’t see.

The one Iwantto watch me—see me.

And I don’t know what scares me more—how far I’ll push this, or how farhemight push back.

The moment the door chimes behind us, something shifts.

It’s subtle at first. A hush. A breath held. And then I see him.

A shadow rising at the end of the aisle, backlit by the amber glow of the emergency exit sign.Silas.

He moves like he’s part of the goddamn floor plan. Like the walls made space for him. No words. No expression. Just his existence. Dense, indifferent, andabsolute.

Wesley doesn’t even notice him at first, too busy trying to slide his fingers inside my underwear. But I stop breathing, and maybe that’s what gives it away.

Wesley stiffens when he notices the tall man standing behind him. “Hey, man, uh… do I know you?”

Silas’s eyes never leave mine. “Leave.”

That’s it. One word. No heat. No threat.

Just purecommand.

Wesley hesitates and looks at me for backup, confirmation,anything. His hand is back on my waist now. Barely. My silence is the answer.

And it’s the cruelest one I’ve ever given.

He lets go like I burned him.

“O-okay,” he stammers, stepping back. “Text me if you need anything.”

I nod.Who knows? I might actually need him some other time as well.

He leaves and doesn’t even try to be cool about it. The door chimes again, too loud in the sudden quiet.

Silas watches him go, then looks at me like I’m the only page left in a book he’s memorized.

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