The Stalker Next Door: 34. The Bet Tightens

The first thing Mara felt when she woke was his stare.

She didn’t need to open her eyes to know. His presence pressed against her skin like a weight, heavy and invasive. When she finally dared to look, he was already there, crouched beside the mattress, his bruised face half in shadow, his storm-dark eyes locked on her.

She jerked upright, heart hammering. “What—what are you doing?”

“Watching you.” His voice was low, flat, as if the answer were obvious. He tilted his head slightly, like an animal testing her reaction. “You were dreaming.”

Mara swallowed hard, pulse spiking. Had she whispered aloud in her sleep? Had his name slipped from her lips?

“What… what did I say?” she asked carefully.

His hand shot out, fingers curling around her wrist with bruising strength. He tugged her closer, his mouth brushing her ear. “Nothing. But you looked away from me. Even when your eyes were shut, you looked away.”

Her stomach flipped. He was unraveling.

“I