Page 23 of Aperture

Chapter 15

I look at the woman tied up on the bed. She’s still asleep. I should not have grabbed her. This shit with Millie has me all messed up and I am not feeling like myself. I was not expecting to become this involved, but I am captivated by the way things are unfolding. It is a complication I was not prepared for. Then there is him. I was not prepared for that either. I am smarter than he is—I always have been. But grabbing this girl was a bad idea. I want Millie and I cannot have her yet, so I went looking for a substitute.

I was impulsive and I am not an impulsive man. I am meticulous.

I pace back and forth across the small room raking my hands through my hair and cursing to myself. I did not do anywhere near my normal amount of research on her before I grabbed her. Getting into her life and getting her to trust me is part of the high. It makes it that much better when I get to see the look in her eyes once she realizes her fate. I love that moment when she sees her trust betrayed. It is almost as good as when the light leaves her eyes.

Usually, when I have a woman tied up in this room, I am excited for a different reason, knowing I get to extinguish her life in slow, exquisite torture.

Tonight, I am jumpy and anxious because this girl has already been reported missing. They are looking for her as she lies here unconscious.

With a heavy sigh, I look at her again. Blonde, short, pretty, young – exactly my type, but she is not Millie, and I do not want her. She has seen me now, though, so I cannot let her go.

Then it occurs to me: this is not my normal modus operandi. I deviated, so I do not need to act with my normal amount of restraint. I can do anything I want with this bitch. My dick gets hard as I think of how many ways I’m going to violate her.

Chapter 16

Millie: Hey! Want to get together for coffee today? I have stuff to tell you.

Gwen: I love stuff! Yes. 3 pm at our place?

Millie: See you then.

Gwen is already there when I arrive. She stands, and I hug her before sitting in my seat with my caramel latte.

“So,” she starts. ”What’s been going on?”

“Ugh,” I reply. “I’m confused.”

“OK, lay it on me,” Gwen runs a manicured hand through her chocolate strands, which fall seamlessly back into perfectly coiffed layers around her lovely face.

“I’ve spent some time with both Theo and Wyatt, and I like them both,” I confess.

“Tell me the part that is an actual problem,” she says.

“It’s just weird, you know. I can’t find a decent guy to save my life, and then two show up in the same week. And they know each other well.” I tell her the story Theo told me about his girlfriend in college and how she disappeared.

“That is strange,” she observes, “but I think she probably just left as Theo said. She was probably looking for a reason to leave college.”

“That’s true,” I say, biting my lower lip while I mull that over. “But then Wyatt comes over and doesn’t make a move. I don’t even know if he likes me.”

“He likes you,” she says assuredly. “I could see it when I met him.”

“He’s just kind of mercurial and intense. I can’t always get a good read on him.”

“So he’s emotionally unavailable?” she jokes. “Why don’t you tag me in and sit this one out. He sounds like my type.”

I laugh and toss a sugar packet at her.

“Seriously though, Mouse, if you want to know how he’s feeling, just ask him. We are too damn old to play these games,” Gwen emphasizes her last point by tapping on her near-empty coffee mug.

“You’re right,” I admit. “I should do that.”

“What are you thinking about Theo?” she asks.

“I really like him. He’s sweet, thoughtful, and hot. Plus, he’s made his interest known,” I admit, but despite Wyatt’s cons, I am not sure I want to abandon all thoughts of Wyatt’s pros.

“So, I definitely think you need to talk to Wyatt. Then you will know if you should put all of your energy into making something work with Theo.”