Stalkers: A Dark Romance Anthology

by Ally Vance

  "Did you take a swim on your walk? You look a mess," he announced. Swatting his hands away, she glared at him. He was a full foot taller than her at 6'3, his own dark hair kept cut short, his eyes more gray than blue.

  "Of course not. I'm just more sweaty than usual, I got in a bit of a jog." Oliver made himself at home on her bed, patting the bedspread beside him in invitation when Barkey poked his head in the door. Knowing arguing with him to get out of her room was useless, Lola instead stomped over to her bunny's cage to check his food and water.

  "Morning, Mr. Hoppykins, need anything in there?" Her bunny simply moved his ears in response, not one for ample human interaction. He was her cuddlebum, not as friendly a companion as her dog, but he had a piece of her heart nonetheless.

  "He can't answer you, Lo. I don't know why you even keep that thing around, he basically just lives in your room. Not much of a life."

  Lola frowned, his words weren't something she hadn't thought of herself in the past, but still, she figured he was living a better life than out in the woods where he could easily become prey for a larger animal, or end up under the wheels of some speed demon out in the street.

  "Just stop, honestly, Oliver. Have you ever considered that not everyone needs to hear your opinion all the time?" she snapped.

  "Whoa," Ollie held up his hands in mock surrender. Taking a closer look at his sister, he saw the worry lines marring her forehead and the tense way she held her posture. It wasn't like her to snap so easily. Now that he was actually paying attention, her stress was plain to see. Rising to his feet, he crossed to her side and let his hands fall down on her shoulders.

  "What's up?" he asked, concern evident in his tone.

  "It's nothing, I just..." she rolled her shoulders to shake him off and paced the room. As much as they tended to get on each other's nerves, Oliver was a great big brother. She didn't want to cause him unnecessary worry. Besides, how would she sound if she suddenly started spouting off that there was a ghost person following her around the park? "Just in a weird mood," she finished lamely, meeting his eyes once more and pleading with him to let it go.

  Taking the easy way out, Ollie let the matter drop, but made a mental note to keep an eye on her. She was obviously lying, but would likely confide in their mother if anything was truly amiss.

  A door creaked down the hall and a few seconds later, the sound of water running in the bathroom could be heard. Beckett was clearly up and moving around, about to start his morning workout routine, no doubt.

  "Alright, well since you weren't all that welcoming this morning, I vote for you to make me a hearty breakfast," he told her, leaving the room and patting his leg for Barkey to follow.

  "No way! I cooked last weekend," she reminded him.

  "Shotgun rules. I called it, so you're out of luck."

  "That's literally not even a thing."

  Following him out the door, she glanced down at her haphazard appearance. She really needed a shower before she did anything else, but her stomach had other ideas as it rumbled loudly. Damn Oliver and his suggestion of breakfast. And to suggest that she had to make it again, that was just — "Oof!" she whooshed out a breath as she collided head to chest with Beckett who was coming out of the bathroom.

  He automatically reached out a hand to steady her, his grip borderline painful. "Sorry," she told him straight away, her cheeks turning pink. His hard body had barely budged from her small frame, his response simply to raise an eyebrow as his dark eyes bored into her, nearly searing her in place.

  "Don't worry about it," he replied, his hand lingering a moment longer before slipping away. Lola stared back at him, seemingly transfixed. Why would he never let her in? There was something almost brooding about his character when he was at home, but at school, around his friends and his adoring fandom of girls, he was a completely different person. It was as though he reserved his standoffish behaviour only for her.

  "Guys! Let's go, do you want me to wither away and die here?" Oliver shouted from the kitchen. Lola fumbled a few steps back, descending the stairs. Beckett remained in place, his eyes still on her.

  "Um, we're going to make breakfast, if you want to join us?"

  "Maybe, gotta get my shake in before my workout." His deep voice washed over her, and she again wished he didn't hold himself so apart from her.

  "Okay, see you later," she said and finally turned her back on him, heading for the kitchen.

  "That you will," Beckett whispered quietly, his tone only audible to his ears. "That you will indeed, dear sister."

  Chapter Two

  Ripe.

  Tender.

  Succulent.

  Her silky skin beckoned to him; her scent drawing him out of the shadows; deeper under her spell.

  A subtle movement caused the thin sheet concealing her body to slip down her right thigh. Sucking in a breath, Beckett crept closer, the desire to claim Lola as his clouding his better judgement. He was taking a risk sneaking into her room at night while everyone slept, but since he’d had his hands on her earlier in the day, he’d been left craving more.

  His heart pounded furiously in his chest as he reached for her, a sharp sting of lust powering through him when his calloused hand met the softness of flesh on her neck.

  "Mine..." he breathed. "You're meant to belong to me." Standing in the darkness of her bedroom, it became almost impossible to hold himself in check. For years he'd been obsessed with her, her innocence was intoxicating, her subtle beauty enough to bring him to his knees. In an attempt to hide his true feelings from her, he kept his distance, only allowing minimal interactions between them. He knew it bothered her, her expressive face gave away every thought in her head without her knowledge.

  Still, it was for the best that he didn’t engage, any extra time spent with her was a chance that he’d give away his true feelings. Gazing down at her sleeping form, he allowed his hand travel to her hair, the silky tresses sliding through his fingers. She let out a low moan in her sleep and he snatched his hand back, freezing as she slowly rolled onto her back. The thin strap of the white chemise she slept in had slipped off her right shoulder, nearly exposing the swell of her breasts to him. He longed to lower his head, slide her top down to her waist and tug her nipple between his teeth. Biting and teasing her tender flesh until it was taut and her body arched into him as she begged for more. His hands would travel down the length of her body and push away the barriers between them, desperate to feel her bare skin under his. He’d find her warm and welcoming, waiting for the pleasure between her thighs only he could give her.

  Breathing heavy, he felt himself grow hard at his thoughts. While he knew she’d be sickened if she knew the truth about him, it didn’t stop him from denying himself these small moments with her. Obsession was a form of love; the most intense, almost savage in its nature. While he knew she’d never truly be his, he’d be damned if some other pea-brained loser from school got their claws into the innocence that was his alone to claim. He’d made it his business to ensure no one dared to approach her, he and Oliver had struck a bargain. Between the two of them they were able to thwart any foolish attempts anyone might have made when it came to dating their little sister.

  Sister. The thought made his blood boil. How did he end up having the fucking unfortunate luck at becoming her step-brother? He irrationally blamed his father for falling for her mother and ruining any chance he’d ever have at a normal relationship with Lola. While he knew his logic made no sense, it did nothing to ebb his fury. Had they met at school like they would have living in the same town, he wouldn’t be in the predicament he was. Reduced to being a fucking peeping Tom on his own sibling. Following her in the shadows, creeping into her psyche while she was unaware, attempting to plant the seed of the love affair he desperately wanted with her.

  Lola must have been restless, as she again shifted in her sleep. The moonlight washed across her face, highlighting her porcelain skin and delicate features. From the times he’d observed her
with her friend, Marti, he knew she felt like she wasn’t anything special in the looks department. Her thoughts only showcased her true, pure spirit. She was completely unaware of how beautiful she really was and how much sexuality beat beneath the surface of her skin. All she needed was someone to help her realize what a rarity she was. It was his greatest desire to be the one to bring her inhibitions to life.

  Moving away from her side, he settled in his usual spot on the floor across from the bed and picked up his sketchbook. Mixed between the pages were polaroid shots of Lola at different stages, fussing in the garden with her mother, walking to and from school, riding her mountain bike. Every few pages there was a sketch of her he’d made just as she was now; at her most vulnerable. He was by no means a Picasso, but he did have some talent with charcoal. He enjoyed capturing her at different angles, focusing on the soft lines of her most feminine attributes. Art was his other secret love. Unfortunately, even in modern times, the Captain of the football team couldn’t also be an artsy type without drawing in unwanted ridicule. It infuriated him at times, but he played the part he’d created for himself so well, that exposing his diverse sides wasn’t something he was prepared to do.

  Lola would understand, of course, but the opportunity to share his love for finer things would never come. Instead, he hid behind the facade of the typical All-American high school jock, flirting with girls he had no interest in all while he bided his time until he could bring his dark fantasies about his step-sister to life.

  Studying her, he flipped to a clean sheet in his book and began to sketch. Drawing her brought him a sort of peace, made him feel connected to her on a more personal level. The chance to transform her into what he desired her to be — it was powerful. While he recognized she might never fully return his feelings, now, in these stolen moments, she would always belong to him.

  Rising, he crossed to her once more and smoothed her matted hair back from her forehead. Leaning down, he placed a feather-light kiss on her forehead, yearning to do more.

  “Sleep well, dear sister. I’ll see you soon.”

  Chapter Three

  “Honestly, Lo, I don’t know how you get anything accomplished living in this house with those two hotties under the same roof,” Marti Hansen, her best friend remarked as she flopped down on Lola’s bed.

  “Ugh, Marti, no. You do realize they’re my brothers, right? That’s so gross.”

  Marti ran her fingers through her short pinkish blonde hair as she rolled halfway onto her back and stared dreamily up at the ceiling.

  “But stilllllll, Lo! You can’t tell me you don’t know how handsome they are. I know you have this whole, no boys for me motto and all, but you’re still a female. You can appreciate good looks when you see them,” Marti told her.

  Lola spun her body around on her desk chair and seared her friend in place with a harsh glare. “I do not have a no boys for me motto. That’s ridiculous,” she shot back.

  “Hey, don’t kill the messenger. I’m just saying...you haven’t even had a first kiss yet, Lola.” The truth of Marti’s words filled her with shame. She wasn’t wrong, of course, but to hear it from someone else’s lips, it was an embarrassment almost too great to bear. The two had been best friends since second grade, when they’d been paired on the same spelling bee team. Both whip-smart, they’d at first been competitive, wanting to one up the other, but in the end decided that friendship was the more rewarding choice.

  “It’s not like I don’t want to, Marti. I’m just...I’m not anyone’s type,” she admitted, casting her gaze to the floor. She rubbed her socked toes around her beige carpet, wishing a hole would open up and swallow her.

  Marti sat up and glared at her friend. Never one to hide her emotions, it was clear she took offense to Lola’s admission. “Have you lost your mind? You’re beautiful, Lo! I wish you could see how much you have to offer.”

  Lola cracked a small smile and tossed a balled up white t-shirt at her friend, who caught it out of the air easily. “It’s not like you’re one to talk in the experience department anyways. We’re both still carting around our V cards,” she reminded her.

  Marti rose to her feet and did a slow twirl, the scarf at her neck spinning in her wake. She was taller than Lola at 5’7 and had a curvy figure Lola was envious of. “You have to be a special kind of man to handle all this,” she boasted. “I’m fielding my choices, that’s all. Keeping them in the shadows, if you will.”

  Lola rolled her eyes before turning serious. “Marti, um...I have to ask you something.”

  Resuming her place on Lola’s bed, Marti studied her manicure, running her thumb along a chipped nail and frowning. “Sure, but if you want me to act out kissing scenes from Cruel Intentions with you, I’m going to need dinner first.”

  “God, you’re so lame. No, I just...well, have you ever had the feeling you’re being watched?”

  “What, like in class?”

  Lola gained her feet and paced the room, running a hand through her hair. “No, not in class. Like when you’re out for a walk or at the grocery store. I don’t know, do you ever feel like you’re being followed?”

  “Well, I know the FBI is pissed at me for that whole Ponzi scam I was running, but I think I’ve met all their demands so they should have called off their watchdogs by now — “

  “Ugh, Marti! I’m serious!” Lola burst out, frustrated at her friend's flippant attitude. Barkey, ever her companion, awoke from his afternoon nap and crossed to her side to nuzzle her hand in a show of support.

  Shocked, Marti sat back and truly observed her friend. Lola’s usually shiny, long dark hair was hanging limply around her shoulders, her normally dewy skin was pale, her cheekbones slightly sunken in. She’d always been thin, but somehow it appeared she’d lost weight. Something was definitely wrong, and Marti was ashamed of herself for noticing the signs earlier.

  “Okay, Lo. What’s going on?”

  “It’s just...lately I’ve felt like I’m being watched. It happened the other day at the park when I was walking Barkey and then this morning when I awoke, I don’t know, I just had this creepy feeling. Like someone had possibly been in my room. Listen to me, I sound certifiable.” Defeated, Lola slumped back into her desk chair and lowered her head to nuzzle into the soft fur at Barkey’s neck.

  Marti dropped to her knees in front of her and stroked Barkey’s head. “Wow, I had no idea, I’m sorry, Lo. Honestly, though, I’m sure it’s just your imagination. I’m not saying I think you’re crazy, but it’s a proven fact that our minds can play tricks on us sometimes. You’re probably just stressed about finals coming up.”

  Lola sighed. “You’re right. I didn’t actually see anyone in the park; it was just this overwhelming feeling of being watched. Stalked, I guess.”

  Marti laughed. “Of the two of us, I’m more likely to have a stalker than you, I’m the one into all that horror movie shit.” Silence fell between them until Marti cleared her throat. “Seriously though, if you need someone to talk to, I want you to know I’m always here. Don’t keep things so bottled up, it’s not good for you,” she said, placing a comforting hand on Lola’s knee.

  “I know, I’m sorry. I wasn’t sure how it would sound admitting these fears out loud.” Not wanting to put a further damper on the mood, she gave Barkey one final cuddle and then stood. “Come on, we better head to the library if we want to get in a few good hours of studying this afternoon.”

  Marti rolled her eyes. “Only you could use school work to pull us out of our stalker mini series we have brewing here. If you need me to pretend to study as a distraction, I’m your girl.” With a dramatic sigh, she picked up both of the backpacks. Handing Lola hers, she shrugged into her own. “Don’t say I never do anything for you. The library and studying it is on this fine Saturday afternoon. Let’s go.”

  Several exhausting hours later, Lola was fully prepped for her biology final. Marti had left a short while earlier, receiving a call from her strict father that being late for dinn
er was out of the question. She’d put up a good fight, not wanting to leave Lola to walk home alone, but in the end, she’d had to relent. Lola assured her she’d be fine; but now that she realized that twilight had fallen quicker than expected, she wasn’t so sure. She briefly debated calling her mom for a ride home, but pushed the idea aside. Marti was right, there was no one following her, no star of the stalker series. It was just her over active imagination playing tricks on her. Gathering up her books, she headed for the door, nodding a polite good-bye to Mrs. Kincaid, the middle-aged woman sitting at the front desk.

  Outside, she again noted the late hour, silently cursing herself for letting time slip away. Setting a brisk pace, she headed for home. The library was only a short ten minute walk to her house, a fact she was suddenly extremely grateful for. Popping her air pods in her ears, she chose her favourite playlist and did her best to block out her surroundings. When she finally relaxed enough to unclench her tightened shoulders, she nearly giggled at herself. Why did she think she was so special that someone would want to follow her around, anyways? God, Marti must have thought she was the most arrogant person alive when she’d revealed her suspicions.

  Feeling slightly embarrassed, she didn’t notice the movement in the shadows behind her immediately. Slick knots of dread slid into her belly, catching her off guard. Just like before, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up and she had the undeniable feeling of being watched. Tears sprang to her eyes as she furiously scanned the street, desperate to unveil whoever was trying to terrorize her. Removing her air pods, she listened intently for any sounds out of the ordinary; coming up empty. Not seeing anything or hearing anything, she began a light jog, stifling a scream when she narrowly avoided colliding with a stranger.