Marked by Masks and Secrets (Everlasting Possession, #1)

by Maggie Sunseri

“That way, when one boyfriend is dragging you down, you can merely focus on the second. And if the first never shapes up, replace him.”

A man wearing a frightening, deep black skull mask that covered most of his face stood before me. His black shirt was rolled up, revealing elaborate onyx tattoos on his fair skin. Symbols, patterns, and sigil-like structures that I might’ve wanted to inspect closer under different circumstances. Shadows crawled from him, tendrils of smoke and clouds of darkness.

“I will never hurt you,” he said.

“Unless you ask very politely.”

“You’re right. You’re far too adorable to be one of my henchmen.”

“You’re going to do what you’re told because you’re my good girl.”

He’d chosen to prioritize self-preservation over helping Evie immediately, by whatever means necessary. Lest he stain his finely tailored suit. Little did he know, it was failing to protect Evie that had truly sealed his fate.

wanted to shove my blood down her petite throat so I would know exactly where she was at all times. I wanted to mark and claim her, to prevent her from ever being touched by another man again.

It was a sickness, a deep obsession that had me pierced between its talons. I would know her. Every part of her. The secrets she’d buried, the dreams she feared were too big for this world, every last yearning and desire hidden beneath her angelic mask. I would pry each piece of her out into the open. I would consume every last drop of her the way she fucking consumed me.

I was the clan leader of the Masked Order, shrouded in shadows that hungered for righteous violence.

“I could say that it was because I knew immediately you weren’t good for Evie, due to my keen judge of character. And that would be true. But it is equally true that I wanted to kill you merely for touching her. For speaking to her. For thinking you have even the tiniest of claim on her body, her heart, her soul.”

Something inside me had found a home in the shadows—and the shadows had made a home in me. It was a symbiotic relationship built on a mutual desire for power and supremacy. A thirst for creation and destruction, two sides of the same coin. Now, my shadows and I wanted her. My little blonde angel.

A deep rumble of laughter erupted from behind me. When I turned, Kylo was leaning against a bookcase.

“Up to no good, are we, angel?” His voice and body were far more attractive than I remembered. It had perhaps been an act of self-preservation to downplay his beauty before. But now that he was here, in the flesh, there was no hope for curbing his ungodly effect on my insides.

“We’re going to have to work on your manners, aren’t we?” he said with a mocking pout. “That’s two missed opportunities to say thank you, Kylo.” “Fu—” Before I could utter the next syllable, Kylo’s hand was over my mouth. “Uh-uh,” he said, pressing his body against mine. “Be a good girl and watch your mouth.”

You’re my good girl. That was what the masked vampire had said to me. Right after he’d flashed that wicked smirk.

I reached for his arm and pushed up his long, midnight blue sleeves. “This is a bizarre way to try to undress me, princess.”

He removed his hand from my mouth, but his gaze remained on my lips. Intense, nearly angry, his deep blue eyes a stormy sea. “Behave for me, please,” he said, low and commanding. The edge in his voice was wicked, his breath warm against my cheek as he leaned forward. “Libraries are excellent places to teach ornery little princesses harsh lessons.”

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” he said. Hell no. The mere thought of this near-stranger knowing that he reminded me of my favorite romantic leads was utterly mortifying.

“My new favorite shade of pink,” he whispered, touching my cheek again.

He pressed into me, and I nearly gasped at the hard bulge now resting against my stomach. When Kylo chuckled, I was certain my blush had turned cherry red. He was hard from this? From pinning me to a bookcase? And gods, why was it so big? Were they supposed to be that big?

“What’s that they say? A closed mouth doesn’t get fed?” He dragged his thumb down my lips, making them part. “Tell me what you want, Evie.”

“Is that what you want?” he asked, staring at my lips like they held the answers to life’s greatest mysteries.

“Platonic?”

If I was any other man, my self-control would’ve crumbled long ago. My blonde angel stood perfectly still, as if she were petrified of revealing her desire. Unfortunately for her, I could smell every last drop of it. Her lust intertwined with the sinfully sweet scent of her blood, making it so intoxicating it physically hurt my nostrils. I’d never wanted to sink my fangs into someone’s throat more desperately than this moment.

She was driving me fucking crazy. And I wanted to punish her for this obsession just as much as I wanted to protect her vulnerable, fearful heart like it was the precious gift that it was.

“Come read with me,” I said, tilting my head toward the nook I’d been studying in. She grabbed her book back from the shelf, and she stared at me for several beats. I could see the distrust in every twitch of her features.

“Okay.” Good girl. Good fucking girl.

“What are you working on?” “Curriculum to effectively radicalize the youth.”

“That is not a funny joke.” I chuckled. It wasn’t a joke.

“You’re a fiery, suspicious little creature, aren’t you?” She made a soft noise of derision that made my cock strain in my pants. She had no fucking idea what I would do to her for being such an incorrigible brat—once she was all mine.

In a strange, nonsensical way, I was almost angry that both versions of me turned her on. Even if I knew we were one and the same, she didn’t. I was self-aware enough to recognize the insanity of letting my violent possessiveness get triggered by another version of myself.

“Am I not allowed to experience pleasure and amusement, Evie darling?” She made a face. “No.” Gods, she was such a brat right now.

“I’m not sure men deserve to experience pleasure and amusement,”

“Shhh, baby,” he said softly, his voice unmistakably distorted. “Behave. No screaming.”

She’d clearly channeled her power out of fear, and that loss of control had cost her. She was terrified of her own power, her own darkness—and that was hurting her. I, on the other hand, wanted to lap up every last drop of her buried violence.

Once I earned her trust, I would claim her. Evie had no idea the depths of pleasure that were about to torment her every waking moment.

Did you see the masked man who’d been carrying me?” I cocked my head. “Yes, and I don’t think so. No one was with you when I found you. Why? Did he make you uncomfortable?” Her eyes snapped to mine, her cheeks flushing. “No. Yes. I don’t know.” My cock twitched in my dark pants. I loved tormenting her like this.

She still suspected the masked man was me. Maybe even more than ever before. But she couldn’t prove it. She didn’t want to believe it. Even if both versions of me made her panties slick.

Her obedience was as deeply satisfying as it was maddeningly erotic. Evie wanted to be my good girl. She wanted to listen and submit. She just didn’t feel safe enough yet to fully let go. I was a patient man. Or, rather, a patient monster.

“Don’t ever apologize for that beautiful mind of yours, angel,” I said. “Or the consequences will be grave.” Her mouth parted, mind whirring. “Are you threatening me? For apologizing?” “Correct. You’re such a good listener,” I praised, leaning forward as my gaze snagged on her perfect lips.

I wanted to lick that tiny droplet of water that stuck to her cupid’s bow. When her own tongue darted out to snatch it, I had the ungodly urge to pull her into my lap and suck that pretty pink tongue into my mouth.

I wanted to take her sweetness, her innocence, and forever taint it with my unholy marks of depravity. I was going to ruin her for all other men.

knew that when I finally claimed Evie, no man would so much as breathe in her direction in a way I didn’t like without finding his hands removed from his body. Who was I kidding? That was already true.

“I thought we were playing games?”

“You made your first move. You thought I wouldn’t respond?” He paused, his chest vibrating against my back with a chuckle. “It’s like you don’t even know me at all.”

I shifted my thighs together, and the masked vampire fucking inhaled. Audibly. “Isn’t that something?” he whispered cruelly. “You’re more aroused than frightened. I can smell it in your blood.”

“Baby, please,” he said, still laughing at my expense. “As if you weren’t already infuriatingly adorable enough. If you keep kicking those little feet, I’m going to have to leave bites all over your thighs.”

A frustrated tear slid down my cheek. My masked stalker easily shoved my legs to the side and placed his thigh between mine, pressing against the sensitive, needy core of me. “Why are you crying, angel?”

His thigh pressed harder against my center, and I gasped. Tears burned my eyes, anger a bitter lump in my throat. Yet I slowly began to shift my hips, lightly grinding against his leg. “Good girl,” he cooed.