Unmasked Desire Page 12

  I hoped she could hear me and hoped she would listen.

  “Angela, I am so sorry. I just wanted to surprise you. I just wanted you to have the best Halloween masquerade ever. I didn’t mean for this to happen. Please, Angela, open your eyes. Look at me. Please, you have to be okay.” I swallowed around the lump in my throat, fighting the urge to cry. “You have to be okay.”

  15

  Angela

  My whole body was stiff as a board. When I tried to move, everything protested. I was weighted down with bulky clothing. I tried to remember exactly what was going on. My heart was beating faster than a hummingbird’s, and my throat and mouth were dry.

  Somewhere, through the cloud of the panic attack, I thought I heard a familiar voice.

  Colton.

  But that didn’t make any sense.

  Why would Colton kidnap me from the Halloween masquerade? Why was I on the cold, hard floor?

  Whose hand was touching mine?

  Nothing was right. The sounds of Vincent Price echoed around me. That cackling, evil laugh fueled nightmares.

  Slowly, I pried my eyes open, even though the lashes were too heavy and like the lids were swollen or glued shut.

  Everything was blurry for a moment. I opened and closed my eyes a few times before they focused on the ceiling above me.

  And then, in sharp, crystal clear focus—a zombie face, its mouth moving.

  I wanted to push away. I wanted to get out of its reach.

  Until I recognized the icy blue eyes.

  I croaked out, “Col--?” I couldn’t manage his whole name. I coughed, spitting out a fake vampire fang onto the floor.

  Did I hit my head? Was that why I was on the floor? Had he been a zombie before?

  Colton sat up, and in an instant, too fast for my racing heart to handle, he pulled me into his lap, clinging to me tightly. “Angela, I’m sorry.”

  Nothing made sense.

  I let him hold me as he rocked back and forth.

  “Why… Why are we on the floor?” The last thing I remembered were masks. So many masks.

  Colton shook his head, holding me close. “I’m sorry, Angela. I thought it would be fun, something you’d never forget. I didn’t think… I didn’t think this would happen.”

  I looked him over. His makeup was streaked down his cheeks, his eyes were red and bloodshot. Like he’d been crying. “What happened?”

  He rubbed my back, clinging to me like I was going to somehow disappear. “I just wanted to surprise you. The kids worked so hard. I was going to make you a zombie, while they danced. I…” He squeezed me a little tighter. “I didn’t think this would happen.”

  I hugged him back, burying my face in his shoulder. “Everyone and everything were closing in on me. I couldn’t breathe. It was just like that night. I thought I was being taken by the clowns again.”

  He held me. It could’ve been a few minutes, or it might’ve been an hour. I had no idea how much time passed. My body ached and when I moved, it protested with more aches and heaviness.

  When I finally started to feel a little more myself, I leaned back and looked up at him. “Take me home, Colton.”

  He scooped me up into his arms, carrying all my weight as he slipped past a black curtain and out into the cold Jubilee Falls air.

  I shivered, curling into him closer. The sounds of the party were still blaring out of the event center.

  “Oh, God, the masquerade.”

  Colton shook his head. “It doesn’t matter.”

  I let him carry me from the party, from the event we’d worked for so long to plan. There was no way I could’ve gone back out to face anyone, even if I’d wanted to.

  The drive home was a blur.

  Colton helped me out of the car, his arms wrapped around me as he led me to my room. He loosened my corset, stripping me out of the too-tight dress. As the layers fell away, and the more distance I got from the ball, I started to relax and feel safe again. I wish I’d be able to be brave and keep my shit together, but apparently it was just too much to ask for tonight.

  “I’m sorry, Angela.” He glanced at the time on the clock on my nightstand. “We should let Tru know you’re gone. I messed up. Don’t even know what the fuck I did with my phone.”

  I got up, grabbing a few face wipes. There was something I just didn’t understand.

  “Why were you on the floor?”

  I handed him the packet of wipes as I cleaned off the vampire makeup. I was still a little shaky, but here, at home, I could pull myself together and manage.

  Colton took the wipes but made no effort to clean up. Instead, he came over and wrapped me in his arms again. “I never want to see you like that again.”

  I looked up at him. “Talk to me, Colton.”

  He sighed and grabbed a wipe. “Go climb into bed. I’ll be in once I’m de-zombied.”

  I frowned, not willing to leave his side. “What happened? Really?”

  Colton started cleaning off his face and sighed. “You reminded me of my mom. Just what every girl wants to hear,” he growled. He leaned on the edge of the counter and reached for my hand. “I should’ve been in control. I should’ve been helping you. I couldn’t keep my shit together and then I fell. Hit my head. And it was all a blur of bad memories. I didn’t help you at all. I’ve never had that kind of reaction. I thought I was past my traumas, but it would seem that I need to be schooled on my own fucking job again.”

  I stepped between his legs and picked up one of the wipes, carefully working to rid his face of the undead look. “Tell me about her. Tell me what happened.”

  He wrapped his arms around my waist and stood. “Let’s go to bed. Turn off the lights. Then, I’ll talk.”

  I watched as he stripped out of his costume, leaving just his boxer briefs in place.

  We climbed into bed and Colton spooned up behind me, holding me close as he spoke softly against my ear. “I was ten. Dad was away on a business trip, so it was just Mom and me. I was playing outside in the yard. Or the street riding my bike. I don’t remember now. But I came inside after she called me in for dinner. I went into the kitchen just in time to see her collapse. The sound of her head hitting the floor. She wasn’t moving, and her nose was bleeding.” He squeezed me tight. “I couldn’t do anything. I was frozen. Tonight wasn’t any better. You went limp in my arms and I couldn’t yell over the music or find my stupid fucking phone. And then I slipped and hit my head and it all just got worse. All I could do was crawl over to you until the stars stopped dancing around my head. I’ve spent all of this time trying to take care of you and help you, and when you really needed me, I was a fucking failure.”

  I turned in his arms and pressed a soft kiss to his lips trying to ease his disappointment in himself and his fear. “You were there. That was enough.” My fingers slid over his head until I bumped the knot on the back of his skull.

  He hissed.

  “That’s quite the bump. Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine. Are you all right?” He cupped my face and his thumb lightly caressed my cheek.

  “I am now.”

  He held me close, but I couldn’t sleep.

  I wasn’t sure he did either.

  Sometime around two a.m., Colton slipped from my bed, from my arms. He must’ve thought I was sleeping.

  As he pressed a soft kiss to my forehead, he whispered, “I’m sorry, Angela.”

  His half of the bed cooled, and I stared at the wall, wondering just what all he was sorry for. If it was just for scaring me tonight.

  Or if it was for something more.

  Rolling out of bed on Halloween morning left me feeling heavy.

  I doubted I’d even managed to drift off for five minutes.

  My mind wouldn’t quiet down.

  Colton left me. And I had no way of knowing whether it was for the night, or for longer.

  After the fear of the masks dissipated, I realized the fear of losing Colton was so much worse.

  He was
the only person who made me feel safe, even when there were masked men all around. He was the only one who could make me tolerate this fucking holiday.

  After a shower and half a pot of coffee, I called Tru.

  “Hey, boss. What’s up?” She sounded happy. Too happy for Halloween. “I got Colton’s message last night, but he was vague. Where’d you run off to last night? I didn’t see you after the flash mob dance. What did you think? Were you surprised?”

  I bit my lip, ignoring her questions. I wasn’t ready to answer them. “Meet me at The Daily Grind? I need more coffee, and I need your help.”

  “Sure. Half an hour? I, uh… need some time.”

  I heard the soft murmur of a deep voice in the background.

  “Sounds like you have company.” I smiled, glad for a little levity. “Take your time.”

  I still needed to come up with a plan. Something that would prove to Colton he meant more to me than my fear. That I could handle Halloween, as long as I could do it in his arms.

  16

  Colton

  Angela deserved better than me.

  I knew she was afraid of masks.

  I knew she hated Halloween, and all the creepy horror elements associated with it.

  And still, I orchestrated her worst nightmare. Because somehow, I’d imagined just a few weeks of time with me, she’d overcome all those fears.

  Leaving her alone in bed was almost impossible. But how could I stay? How could I convince her to stay with me, when all I was going to do was cause her pain?

  I headed home, to the big, empty mansion covered in Halloween decorations. Full of horror props and masks. Everything reminded me of just how wrong I was for Angela.

  Could I give up all these things I loved for her? Could I just stop doing Halloween? The decorations, the haunted houses, the costumes, for Angela?

  Shaking my head, I headed out to the backyard, knowing I needed to do a final run through, a final pass, before kids started to show up.

  I couldn’t let the kids down, even if I wasn’t feeling like putting on a show. I’d already screwed up everything yesterday. I hoped Micah was too high on the success of the show to realize I’d gone missing.

  I just needed to get through Halloween night, and then I’d figure out a way to show Angela she was worth more to me than any of this.

  By noon, I couldn’t stand it.

  I should’ve done more last night. I couldn’t leave Angela alone all night. Not when I knew she’d probably be putting on a brave face to hand out candy, having to deal with her doorbell ringing over and over.

  I had to put something together, and I had to do it fast.

  I pulled out my phone and called Tru.

  “Hey, Colton. Give me a second.” I heard muffled sounds, and a moment later, she came back on the line. “What’s up?”

  “Do you know Angela’s schedule for today? I know it’s Saturday, and a holiday, so she’s probably not working, but I’m grasping at straws here.”

  “Actually, I do know. She’s handing out candy in the square for a couple hours, from two to four, and then I think her plan is to turn off her porch light and just get through the night.”

  “Can you get her home early? Maybe take over for her?” I knew it was a long shot, and a lot to ask for. But if I could get to her before dusk hit, maybe I could convince her to come home with me. To spend Halloween night in my arms. Maybe every Halloween thereafter.

  “I think I can change her shift to one to three. She should be home by three fifteen.”

  “Perfect.”

  Tru hung up, and I made a quick trip to Bizarro’s.

  “A little late for you, isn’t it, Mr. Black?” Drew Styles said with a smirk. “I figured you had all your costumes picked out for the year.”

  I chuckled. Drew and I saw a lot of each other throughout this time of year. He owned the best costume and prop shop in the county if not the state. And I was always looking to outdo the haunted house from the year before.

  “This one’s not something I planned on. But I’m hoping you’ve still got something perfect stashed away somewhere.” I explained what I needed.

  “I think I have the perfect thing, Mr. Black.” He led me deeper into the shop, until he found what he was looking for. He pulled out a Green Arrow outfit. All green and black leather. Complete with a bow and arrows.

  I’d have to leave off the mask, but it was perfect.

  Now, I just had to pick up a few more things and put my plan in action.

  At 3:09, I watched Angela’s car pull into her driveway.

  She headed up her front steps, and into the house.

  And I went to work.

  It was a rough construction, to be sure, made mostly of PVC pipe and curtains. But it blocked the porch stairs. And gave me just enough room to prop up my door. The battery powered twinkle lights gave the space a bluish glow.

  I hung a sign on the door that said, “Open me”, and then I took a deep breath, ready to make my move. I would get into place, and then knock quickly on her door before I pulled mine shut again.

  But I didn’t get far.

  The creak of her front door opening surprised me, and I held my breath in anticipation, not knowing what would come, hoping she wouldn’t just turn and run back into her house again.

  I heard her keys jingling, and a moment later, she knocked.

  I pushed open the door, trying to ignore the slight shake in my hands.

  I could handle scary movies. I could handle any Halloween monster.

  But this… this scared me.

  I had to take a double-take as Angela came into view.

  She was in costume.

  Not just any costume. She was dressed in a blood-splattered red and green sweater, a fedora, and gloves with knives for fingers.

  Her face was made up too.

  She made a damned convincing Freddy Krueger.

  “Angela?”

  She bit her lip, looking me up and down. “What are you doing here?”

  I held up a small gift box with a green bow on top.

  She took it, curious, and looked up at me again. “Are you the Green Arrow?”

  “Open it.”

  Rolling her eyes at my command, she tugged on the bow. “You know, typically the person who lives in the house is supposed to give out the treats.”

  “Oh, but you knocked on my door.” I grinned.

  She opened the box and pulled out the cherry Ring Pop, with a note taped to it. Her eyes scanned over it, and then she looked up at me again. “You want to be with me?”

  I pulled her onto the stairs with me and wrapped my arms around her. “I don’t know how we’re going to make this work at all yet. I mean, you hate scary movies. You love do-gooder heroes. But I want to try.”

  She tugged off her gloves and dropped them on the stairs before she slid her hands over my head, pushing the hood back. “You think you’re some sort of an Oliver Queen? Billionaire, a little dark, not afraid to get blood on his hands, but still the hero of the story?”

  “I’ll be whoever you want me to be.” I grinned. “As long as you’re all mine.”

  She pursed her lips. “You always say that wrong.”

  “I think I say it entirely right.” I leaned down and pressed my lips to hers. “What do you say, Freddy? Can Oliver Queen take you home with him?”

  She chuckled. “You have haunted house duties tonight.”

  “So? Hand out candy with me. No doorbells. Just kids, candy, and, whenever things slow down, plenty of this.” I kissed her again, sliding my hands down over her ass, pulling her in tighter.

  My leather pants hardly gave me room to grow, but my cock didn’t care as Angela pressed against me.

  “When does the haunted house open?”

  I smirked. “Six.”

  “Then I think we should get upstairs and get me out of this ridiculous outfit.”

  “I don’t know. I think it’s kind of hot. You did all this for me?” I slipped my hands up
into the back of her sweater.

  She bit her lip as she nodded. “I…” She glanced back at the stairs. “I don’t know if I’m ever going to be a horror fan, or if I’m ever going to be entirely comfortable with people in masks. And I really hate jump scares. But you make me feel safe. I could handle the masquerade when you were there.” She looked up at me again, pressing her body a little closer. “I really like spending time with you, Colton. I don’t want it to end just because I’m afraid.”

  “I like spending time with you too. I’m falling for you, Angela. I’d give all this stuff up, if it means I get to keep you.” The profession wasn’t planned; I hadn’t even really thought about it. But saying it out loud, I knew it was true. She was what I wanted. More than haunted houses, more than costumes.

  I wanted Angela Bartell.

  She grabbed my hand and tugged me toward her front door. “How about we talk about it later? Right now, it’s Halloween, and I think it’s about damn time I make some better memories.”

  I grinned. “My house. I’ve got something incredible for you to wear tonight. If you’ll be by my side in the haunted house.”

  Angela nodded. “Okay. I can handle it, as long as you’ll be right there with me.”

  I wrapped my arms around her and grabbed her ass, lifting her up.

  She wrapped her legs around me and grinned. “I have to say, I like this look on you. You look good in green leather.”

  I carried her to my Escalade, setting her down on the front seat. “I’ll be your hero any day.”

  I tangled my fingers with hers as I drove to my house, surprised at her bravery.

  Even if I wasn’t quite ready to say it out loud, I had no more doubts. I was falling head over heels for Angela Bartell.

  Parking in the driveway, I leaned over and kissed her hungrily. “Let’s go upstairs, my sexy Freddy Krueger.”

  She grinned. “Make me yours, Green Arrow.”

  Chuckling, I got out of the car.

  We moved into the house, tugging and tearing at each other’s clothes, leaving a trail of costuming behind us.