Chapter 3

Using my phone’s light, I figured out how to turn the overhead light on. Nothing out of the ordinary in the bedroom. Bathroom was clear too. On my way down the stairs, I wondered what I was going to do if I found an intruder. I was naked accept the fluffy bigfoot shaped slippers on my feet. Maybe my lily-white body would either scare them or the glare if a light hit me would blind them. At the base of the stairs, I looked around. Again, everything looked how I left it. Checking the doors were all locked. Before bed I had checked the windows but, I double checked them again. Dry mouth led me to the fridge. I’d never heard of these fruit drinks but, I was craving them now. The one I pulled out this time was pineapple.

I hadn’t looked at the label before. They were locally crafted and bottled at one of the nearby wineries. Definitely would be taking a couple of cases of these home. Hoped they had shipping. I took a moment to stand at the window wall looking at the moon high in the sky. It was full. There was just enough light to see the outline of the tree line. Given that nothing seemed wrong in the house, I had to assume I’d probably been woken by a critter. Or possibly my own snoring. Chuckling at myself I went back upstairs.

Back upstairs, I used the restroom then crawled back into bed. This time I took care to place my glasses where they wouldn’t fall to the ground so easily. Using the remote, I turned off the sconces. As I laid there waiting for sleep to take me, my eyes adjusted and with the light of the moon I could make out shapes in the room. I was startled as my eyes drifted they landed on a human shaped shadow again by the bathroom door. Seriously? No more creepy shows for me. Sighing I started to roll over. Only to find that I couldn’t move.

Frantic I again tried to roll. Nothing happened. I tried to sit up. Still nothing. My phone. I needed to get my phone. Scared now, I tried to reach my phone. My arms wouldn’t move. My breathing was getting rapid. The only thing that would move is my eyes. Oh God. Why can’t I move?

From the corner of my eye, I saw it. The shadow moved from the doorframe towards me. It was an ambiguous huge male human shape with a hat on its head. There wasn’t enough light for me to see. Once it reached the bed, it stopped. Less than a foot from me and I couldn’t make out any details. Just the outline. My heart was racing, and my breathing was ragged.

Male knuckles traced my jaw from my ear to my chin. The touch was gentle. Intimate even. A husky, seductive chuckle filled the air that still smelt of the candle. “I know what you need little gazelle.”

The shadow shimmered. Now I could see the details. He was at least six foot two. Dark skin, bald head, and wearing jeans that clung to his muscled legs. An unbuttoned dark purple shirt displayed his taunt chest. The moonlight showed his beautiful smile as he leaned towards me. I tried to speak, but nothing came out. “Shhh. I’m going to make it all better.”