Chapter 30

Panic clawed at my throat, a cold fist squeezing my heart. The unexpected hug in the dimly lit shop sent a jolt of terror through me. He wasn’t letting go. This wasn't a friendly embrace. The longer he held me, the more predatory this felt. 
"Hey!" I shrieked, my voice muffled by the stupid rabbit mask. I had no idea who it was, but the unwelcome grip fueled a primal need to escape.
Thankfully, my legs were free. They became my weapons as I kicked out blindly, connecting with a solid thud that elicited a surprised grunt from my attacker. Adrenaline surged through me, fueling a flurry of punches aimed at the invisible figure.
But my attacker didn't fight back. He didn’t let me go either. The unexpected lack of resistance sent a wave of confusion crashing over me. Maybe it wasn't a mugging or kidnapping after all? Did he know me? Why wasn’t he saying anything? Tentatively, I stopped struggling, my breaths coming in ragged gasps.
He relaxed his hold only a little bit. It wasn’t enough to get out of his embrace, but it felt less frightening. 
“Who are you? Why won’t you let me go?”
He didn’t answer. Instead, he grabbed the edge of the mask. Then, I realized it had to be the man in the mask from before. Maybe he was just trying to get his mask back. Maybe he was mute or something? The revelation did little to calm the frantic pounding of my heart. Feeling sheepish, I relaxed further, a blush creeping up my neck at the realization of what I’d first thought. The man wore a rabbit mask. He was harmless.
He lifted the mask off my face. I whirled around, determined to steal a look at his face, but as soon as the mask was off and I had turned around, strong fingers clamped down over my eyes, effectively blocking out the light.
I reached for his hand, wanting to tug it off. But he kept his hand firmly over my eyes and backed me up against the register. 
"Hold on a second," I said. “I just want to see your face.”
He pushed his hips between my legs. Then, before I could even register what was happening, his lips were on mine. The kiss wasn't a sweet peck, a shy brush of lips. This was a full-blown assault, a kiss that stole the breath from my lungs and sent a jolt straight through me. And these weren't Sebastian's soft, familiar lips. These were firm, cool, and faintly scented with a cologne that spoke of wealth. Who was this guy?
I froze, caught completely off guard by the sudden intimacy. I felt him growing hard between my legs, grinding against my. My mind scrambled, a tangled mess of confusion and a growing sense of unease. Who was this man kissing me?
The kiss itself was a whirlwind. Whoever he was under that damn mask, possessed an undeniable skill that sent shivers down my spine. Was he a pornstar, too? His touch was firm, yet surprisingly gentle, his movements confident and practiced. For a stolen moment, the world around me melted away, replaced by the intoxicating swirl of the kiss and the maddening mystery of the man behind the mask. He thrust his hand between my legs, palming me roughly. It was exciting. I pushed my hips against his hands feeling so close to coming just from a kiss that I didn’t want him to stop.
When he finally pulled away, a breathless gasp escaped me. My mind raced, a tangled web of questions buzzing like trapped flies in my head. I yearned to see his face, to understand the motivations behind the mask and this unexpected kiss.
But before I could even stammer a single word, he yanked his hand back and shoved me, turning me away from him. I stumbled against a table covered in panties and bunnies. By the time I turned back, he’d had the mask back on and was disappearing into the back of the shop. 
“Wait!”
He didn’t. The door shut behind him. I was left standing there, heart hammering a frantic rhythm against my ribs, the taste of the kiss lingering on my lips like a forbidden secret. My whole body tingled with shame and desire.
I went to the door, pounding on the door and trying to get in, but the door was locked. 
Then, I turned and decided to head back. My mind turned over who it could be. Stumbling out of the store, the cool night air did little to calm the storm brewing within me. The unexpected encounter left me disoriented and strangely exhilarated. Who was he? I was already wet and aching from the kiss. He’d been hard. Why hadn’t he let me see his face? Why hadn’t we fucked?
I was irritated. Next time, I’d get the mask off him. I wouldn’t just walk out embarrassed like that again. It was unfair. 
Reaching the building again, I rode up to the tenth floor with a sigh. I realized that I still didn’t have a key to Caleb’s place. I sighed and knocked, hoping that he was home. I didn’t even want to think about going to Sebastian’s or Quintons…
The door swung open.  I let out a surprised yelp. Caleb stood there, his expression was incredulous.
"What the hell happened to you?” he asked. "Where have you been?”
“What?” I asked. “Didn’t… Didn’t Jason tell you?”
“Tell me what?” He asked. “You were with him all this time?”
Confusion slammed into me like a physical blow. Jason hadn’t told him? Not even about the audition? 
“How long have you been back?”
“Since yesterday. Why?”
My gut turned. Why wouldn’t Jason have said anything? Or Sebastian? I’d spent the night with him, and Jason saw me the day Caleb left… Looking at Caleb's confusion, a wave of suspicion washed over me. Could Jason have planned for me to vanish entirely, to leave without a trace?