The Stalker's bride

Heat.

That was the only word echoing in my head and my inner thigh.

Even now, hours later, it hadn’t left me. The heat of his gaze. The heat of the way he’d looked at me across the bar—like he already owned every secret I had.

I pulled my knees up to my chest and buried my face against them, trying to stop the shiver crawling along my spine and the juices trying to slip out from my honey pot.

It didn’t make sense.

I’d worked at the bar for almost two years. I’d seen drunk men, bored men, entitled men who thought they could buy me with a flashy smile. But none of them had looked at me like that.

Like I was something to devour.

I swallowed, my throat dry as I remembered the way he’d stood in the far corner,hood up, head tilted, never moving. Just…watching.

Even when other people passed in front of him, even when I’d looked away, I could feel him.

I pressed my palms to my cheeks, trying to rub away the memory.

Get it together, Aria.

I forced myself to look around my tiny apartment—threadbare couch, chipped coffee table, walls that still smelled faintly of fresh paint. This was my space, my normal life. Not some fantasy where a stranger’s stare could follow me home.

And yet…

My eyes flicked to the window. The curtains were drawn tight, but I still imagined him on the sidewalk, head tipped back, searching for me in the shadows.

Damn it! I needed to stop daydreaming about some mysterious stranger who hasn't even said a word to me. I felt like a slut!

No,I'm not a slut,I quit that life years ago,one of the reasons why my stepmother termed me as useless. When she deliberately spent almost all of dad's fortune to train her own daughter,Vanessa.

My phone buzzed on the coffee table.

Ethan.

Relief rushed through me. Something safe, something familiar.

“Hey pookie,” I breathed when I picked up.

“Hey, beautiful,” he said, his voice warm. “You sounded off earlier. Everything okay?”

I hesitated. I couldn’t tell him. He’d only laugh, call me dramatic.

“Just tired,” I lied. “It was a long shift.”

“Well, how about I come by the hotel tonight? We’ll get a room, have a little celebration. Just you and me, I heard tonight is going to be a blast in your workplace since it's the hotel's anniversary.”

I let out a shaky laugh.

“That sounds perfect pookie and yes,I’m gonna be busy,and a sweet moment with you after all that stress is exactly what I need.” He blew me an air kiss through the phone.

“I’ll bring champagne.” His voice dropped lower, a teasing rasp that usually made me smile. “And I plan to make you forget all about work. And anything else that’s bothering you.”

Anything else.

Like the man in the bar with the eyes I couldn’t forget.

“I’d like that,” I whispered, wishing it were true.

“Alright my love,can't wait to see your beautiful face…love you.”

I giggled and said…”love you too pookie.”

We hung up, and for a moment, I clung to the illusion that everything was fine.

Ever since I quit my slut life,Ethan was the only man who truly loved me despite my dirty past.

But when I closed my eyes, all I saw were those dark, unblinking eyes in the shadows—watching me like they already knew how this story would end.

I shook my head and stood up from the bead, I shivered when my leg touched the ground. I stood up and walked around and did a little stretch then gazed at myself in the mirror. If only I had gone to a classic college like Vanessa,surely I would be working in a skyscraper with quality men and I would be getting a good pay.

But nope,life had other plans for me when dad died. At least,I had quite my old self and now I am making money with my hands and not my body. I smiled at myself,I just Ethan won't leave me,he's such a sweetheart.

“Don't worry,he's gonna propose soon.” I laughed at myself and went to the window,I opened the curtains and the window and the fresh air hit me. I inhaled deeply then let it out. I gazed around the neighborhood and my eye caught someone.

It was obvious that it was a He because I didn't sign of any boobs. He was in a hoodie,he leaned against a lamppost close to our house,his hoodie was up and yet I couldn't see his grey eyes gazing at me. I looked away,maybe it was just some random stranger that had missed his path.

But when I turned my gaze to him,again,he was still gazing at me. I looked at myself and realized I was still in my lingerie,and it was revealing my boobs. My eyes widened and my gaze returned to the stranger,he smirked and I shut the curtains,embarrassed!

Pervert!.

It then hit me,this wasn't my first time seeing that stranger,I saw him In my garden,In the kitchen window…everywhere!!.

I guess I have a stalker now.