The flame pendant burned hotter against my chest, like it sensed something behind the voice. My breath caught. The room spun. That message seared into my brain:
"He's not the only one watching you."
My thumb hovered over the screen. Who the hell was this? Another creep? A stalker? Or something worse?
The shadows around me felt thicker. I backed away from the mirror, heart pounding. My robe barely clung to my shoulders. That voice didn't come from the phone.
It came from the room.
From the hallway.
Then—
A sound.
A step.
No. Two steps.
I turned toward the red door. Still shut. Still locked. But behind it—I could hear breathing. Slow. Intentional. It wasn't Caleb. And it damn sure wasn't Daniel.
I snatched my phone and backed out of the bathroom. The floor felt like ice under my feet. I shouldn't have opened that door. Or answered that message. But I did.
And now… something had gotten in.
The house made another low groaning sound, like it was alive. My fingers gripped the flame pendant. It was the only thing that felt real anymore.
Another text.
Unknown Number: Room 3. Right now. Leave your phone.
I froze.
Room 3? That old studio in the back? It'd been locked since we moved in. Daniel said it was storage. The key had gone missing months ago. But I remembered the door had been cracked open last week.
And now someone wanted me to go in there.
Without my phone.
My stomach tightened. Was this a trap? Or something else? Maybe both. The hallway was dead silent. No creaks. No wind. Just this feeling—
I was being watched.
I left the phone on the counter and walked toward the guest wing.
Each step felt wrong. Like I was cheating on Daniel. Lying to myself.
But my body didn't listen. My skin was tight. My thighs warm. The ghost of a touch still tingled between my legs.
Room 3.
The door stood ajar.
It was dark inside. Quiet. No voice. Just my own shaky breath.
Then a whisper—low, male, too smooth to be Caleb.
"Close the door."
I should've run.
But I didn't.
The door clicked shut behind me. A soft lamp switched on, lighting a chair in the center of the room.
And there he was.
Half in the shadows. Wearing a black half-mask—just like the one in Daniel's safe.
I swallowed hard.
He didn't say a word. Just pointed to the space in front of him.
Kneel.
My body dropped before my mind caught up.
He tilted his head.
"You didn't scream last time."
His voice? Dark and smooth. Controlled. Too confident.
I couldn't speak.
He stepped closer. Smelled like fire. Wood. Heat. Sin.
"Why didn't you?"
I whispered, "Because I wanted it."
He smirked behind the mask.
"Good. You're honest. Stay that way."
He stood, slow and sure, circling me. My chest rose and fell too fast. My whole body trembled.
He reached down and touched the flame pendant.
"You kept this. That means you knew."
His fingers brushed my skin—my lips, collarbone, chest. My back arched, like I wanted to beg.
"Does he touch you like I do?"
I shook my head.
"Does he see you? Really see you?"
"No," I whispered.
He crouched in front of me. Close.
"Then here's your rule. You don't come until I say."
I whimpered.
"Say it."
"I won't come until you say."
His hand slid up my leg… stopped just before everything lit up.
He pulled back.
"Next time," he said. "You'll earn it."
Then he vanished into the hallway.
I stayed on the floor, shaken.
The door creaked again.
No one came in.
Just silence.
I pulled the robe tight. My body was still burning.
And then the thought hit me:
What if it was Caleb?
The scent. The way he touched me. Like he knew me.
Could it be him?
My phone buzzed from the bathroom.
Caleb: Can't sleep. You okay?
My blood ran cold.
Did he know? Had he seen?
Or was I just hoping he had?
I stared into the mirror—and couldn't tell what was real anymore.
Everything was quiet. Too quiet.
I stepped away from the chair, but the feeling of him stayed. The mask. The touch. That scent—still on my skin.
It smelled like Caleb.
God, I needed that to be a coincidence. Just a random overlap.
But...
I wrapped the robe tighter. Trying to protect myself from the memory.
Could it have been Caleb?
My heart screamed yes. My mind said hell no.
I didn't see his face. But that voice, that touch—it felt familiar. Deep. Dangerous.
I flipped the lamp off. Room 3 disappeared into shadow again.
Whatever happened there needed to stay locked away.
I stepped into the hall. Still shadows. Still silent.
But I was different.
He gave me a rule—don't come unless I say.
And now I was obsessed.
I walked back to the master suite. My phone buzzed again.
Daniel: We need to talk. I'm outside.
My breath caught. I peeked out the window.
His car was there. Still running.
He was waiting.
I couldn't face him—not like this. Not with another man's scent still lingering.
I jumped into the shower. Scalding hot. I tried to burn it off. But nothing could wash away the memory.
The masked man.
Caleb.
Daniel.
I was caught in the middle. Drenched in want and secrets.
I got dressed fast. Something plain. Buttoned up. Like I could pretend to be okay.
But before I opened the door, I froze.
What if Daniel knew?
His voice echoed in my head:
"You've always wanted to be seen."
I opened the door.
Daniel stood there. Arms folded. Quiet.
His eyes searched mine.
"You didn't answer."
I swallowed hard.
"Just tired," I said. "Didn't hear the phone."
He didn't fully buy it. But he nodded.
He stepped inside.
And as I closed the door behind us, one thought screamed
louder than the rest—
The masked man is real.
But if it wasn't Caleb...
Then who the hell had touched me in the dark?