Try as I might, I couldn’t deny that part of me wanted another glimpse of him. Another moment to take in the way his black hair shone with a blue tint in the fading sunlight. Or the way he held himself with total confidence even when nobody was looking. This sudden need was too much like my need for chances and risk. Too much like the start of a new addiction.
I forced a smile onto my face. Carrying the conversation from one topic to another, I did my best to make sure my friends had no idea what I was thinking or feeling. I wasn’t even ready to admit it to myself.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CODIE
I knew Stray was following me before I turned around. I’d come to know his presence, that feeling I got when he was near. He’d been hanging around my place on and off all week, making sure I noticed him. Then he would mysteriously disappear until the next time.
To my utter relief, he didn’t speak to me on campus again after that little incident in the men’s room. He left me alone. Aside from the times I would see him outside my building or following me through traffic.
Saturday had rolled around. Tonight was the graveyard party thrown by Stray and his friends. Athena and I were out of a few things, so I’d popped over to the local grocery store to grab them before getting ready for the party later tonight.
I wandered up and down the aisles in sweatpants and a tank top, my hair in a messy bun. Definitely not the look I would be rocking later tonight. Pausing to scrutinize the details of a sale item, I felt him. What did he possibly have to gain by following me to the grocery store?
At first, I decided not to acknowledge him in any way. That’s what he wanted after all. I continued to amble along, grabbing a package of whole wheat bagels, and dropping theminto the basket I carried. From there, I rounded the corner and headed for the produce section. Still, I felt him following.
I added the blueberries Athena had requested to the basket before continuing on to the stack of long English cucumbers. Picking up an especially thick one, I whirled around, holding it like a weapon.
“Why are you following me through the grocery store? Is this really necessary?” Keeping my voice down so other shoppers wouldn’t overhear, I pinned Stray with a deadly glare.
He took one look at my makeshift weapon and burst out laughing. “Are you going to beat me with that thing? I suppose it’s resourceful. Not sure how effective it would be though.”
With a sigh, I dropped the cucumber into my basket. “Why won’t you leave me alone? Why won’t you just go away?”
He followed along beside me as I went for the apples. “Are you coming to the party tonight?”
Annoyed that he avoided my questions, I said, “I’m not sure yet. Will you be there? I think I’ve had about enough of you for one week.”
My snippy response seemed to have no effect on him. Stray eyed the contents of my basket. “Wow. A lot of healthy stuff in there. You eat better than most college students.”
“Yeah, well, I try to make an effort. Athena orders takeout every weekend. I indulge every now and then.” I didn’t know why I was telling him this. Our shopping list was none of his business.
Stray chuckled, a devious sound. “I’ve noticed. Your indulgences have definitely caught my interest.”
I turned away before he could see my cheeks pinken. I hated how he managed to get a reaction from me with very little effort. His mere presence affected me. For just a moment, I flashed back to the restroom. To being on my knees for himwhile he held a knife to my throat. My thighs clenched, a warm tingle rushing to my core.
Doing my best to ignore him, I grabbed the rest of the things on the list and headed for the checkout. Stray matched my pace, following me every step of the way. When the cashier finished ringing up my items, Stray pushed me aside, tossing down a credit card.
I wanted to protest. To tell him that I didn’t need him to buy things for me. I had my own money. Most of it came from savings from a part-time job I’d had in high school, as well as some money my parents had set aside for me. Some of it was from a student loan. A lot of people thought I was a spoiled rich kid. Not even close. Anything my parents gave me came with conditions. My grades had to remain stellar for one.
After stuffing the receipt into one of the bags, Stray scooped them up with both hands and marched toward the exit. I had no choice but to follow.
“What exactly are you trying to pull here?” I snapped when we were outside. “I don’t need you buying me things. I’m capable of buying my own groceries.”
“I’m sure you are. I’m also capable of buying you groceries. It’s only a few bags. What’s the big deal?” He rolled his eyes like I was being completely ridiculous.
“What’s the big deal?” I repeated. “The big deal is that you are not my boyfriend. I do not want or need your money.”
Stray carried my things right to my SUV, nodding for me to unlock the doors. “I’m just being nice, Codie. You don’t have to be so nasty about it. If you’re that offended, I can find a way for you to pay me back. Don’t you worry about that.”
Now I definitely was worried about that. I could only imagine what Stray would come up with to even the score.
A stubborn part of me wanted to demand that he take the groceries back and get a refund. I needed to create a boundaryhere. I knew it was futile. He would never do it. So instead, I unlocked the car and waited for him to drop the bags in the back seat. Without another word to him, I got in and drove away.
Why would he do something nice after holding a knife to my throat and forcing me to suck him off? What kind of a mind fuck was he trying to pull on me here? The guy was blackmailing me. He wasn’t a nice person. How could he be? He made his money by selling organs on the black market. Someone’s kidney had probably bought my groceries. The very thought made me sick.
I didn’t say a word to Athena about Stray being at the grocery store. She ordered a pizza because neither of us felt like cooking. She then put on some loud music and had her own little dance party while getting ready to go out.
