Stalkers: A Dark Romance Anthology

by Ally Vance

  My hand snakes around to her hip, fingers digging in as I lean closer and murmur, “I took it when you first started working with me.”

  Most of this exhibit is her, it’s why I chose to host it in my studio. It gave the images more weight to display them back where we began our journey together. Partners in crime.

  Ruby leans into me. “Ahhhh, back when you were stalking me.”

  “Don’t pretend you didn’t love it.” My lips brush against her ear as her hand covers mine, lacing her fingers through mine.

  “Of course I did.” With a sly grin, she pulls me away from our guests and leads me upstairs to our apartment. I say ‘our’ even though she technically still lives in the dorms, but after the brutal murder of her roommate, she no longer felt safe on campus—at least that’s what she’s told the college. She left out the part where she had been the one to kill her, and the police never once suspected Ruby, especially since I was her alibi, and I had no connections with Emma.

  We’d decided to refurbish some of the apartment to make it more open, installing ceiling-to-floor windows that overlooked the studio, something Ruby adored. Particularly on nights like this, where she slides her panties down her legs, lifts her dress around her hips and places her palms against the cool glass.

  Gripping the back of her neck, I unbuckle my trousers with my free hand, looking out and down over all the depraved rich people here, appreciating our artful murder as I slam into her from behind.

  “Fuck...Carter. Fuck,” she groans as I dominate her body, and she teeters on the edge, half hoping someone looks up and sees us and half praying they don’t.

  “Cut me. Hurt me,” she begs, and I smirk before biting down on her shoulder. I’d created a monster. A greedy, bloody, brutal monster.

  “We don’t have time for that,” I groan against her skin as I reach around and find her clit with my fingers. “Later,” I promise as her body bucks against mine, desperate for release.

  “Carter!” She moans as she comes, and I’m seconds behind, milked by her tight pussy.

  We stay, wrapped together for a few moments as we both look over the empire we’re building. Feeding our fetishes and making extortionate amounts of money from it, while fucking and creating art, bound together by the dark secrets we share.

  This was more than love, it was obsession. Limerence.

  About Alice:

  Alice La Roux is a dirty minded, mouthy Welsh author who is still trying to find her genre while dabbling in erotica, fantasy and horror. She owes her husband, best friend and sister everything―without them she wouldn’t be writing. She’s a bookworm who reads anything and everything and is addicted to social media. If you want to stay in touch and get the latest updates (or just see pictures of her dog) then don’t forget to stalk her!

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/asmadasAlice/

  Instagram: www.instagram.com/alicelaroux/

  TikTok: @alicelaroux

  Books by Alice:

  Master

  mybook.to/MasterEzraBlack

  Sinclair

  mybook.to/SSinclairB

  Firebird

  mybook.to/Firebird

  What he doesn’t know

  Kat T. Masen

  Prologue

  They say of all the human weaknesses, obsession can be the most dangerous.

  The danger, itself, is masked with the promise of a prize. A reward, as such, should you follow the path to the golden ticket.

  But not every story is a success.

  Not every prize is worth the heartache.

  Obsession, often spun with lies and deceit, can damage one’s soul, and others caught in the vicious web.

  And when one finds themselves in this predicament, desperation will overcome them. There’s no rhyme or reason to their actions, and the consequences they must pay if caught acting unholy becomes an afterthought.

  When night falls and darkness prevails, the monster inside comes out to play.

  He’s thirsty, captive to his own mistakes, and will follow your every move, consumed by the sick mind games he plays inside his head.

  So, here lays the tale of a scorned man.

  A man, who once upon a time refused to see the jewel who presented herself with all intentions of loving him despite his flaws.

  A woman, who clung to the sheer hope of what they could become, sacrificing herself as his part-time lover until time ticked away, and her heart so easily ran away.

  To someone else, someone always destined for her.

  The scorned man is sure she’s made a mistake. It’s never too late when love is involved.

  But what he doesn’t know is that she isn’t the one who will ultimately possess his cold heart.

  She may be his obsession, for now, but little does he know that someone else is watching him.

  Someone he doesn’t even know exists.

  Chapter One

  A Year Ago

  Dominic

  “Please don’t forget that we have the Governor’s Ball to attend this Friday.”

  I was sitting at the head of the long marble table, half-listening to the frivolous conversation my wife insisted we have over breakfast. The food she requested be served appeared stale—my preference of coffee over grapefruit unsatisfying her need to control everything in our marriage.

  “Your attendance is mandatory,” she continued, busily typing on her phone. “You’ll need to be fitted for a new tuxedo immediately.”

  “I have meetings all day,” I told her while narrowing my eyes with a frown. “I’m sure one of the many tuxedos hanging in my closet will do just fine.”

  “I suppose if you can’t leave work, it may do,” she responded, less enthused. “Dominic, please eat something.”

  I scraped my spoon across the surface of the grapefruit and took a bite with minimal interest, just to shut her up. The woman was tiresome. Her constant nagging made our marriage all the more a chore. Was it so fucking hard just to let me do my own thing? I didn’t care for Governor Balls, nor did I care for grapefruit. If it were socially acceptable, I’d be nursing a cognac right now to drown out her presence.

  “Oh, I forgot to mention, your mother is coming over for dinner tonight.”

  When it came to my mother, I had all the time in the world. Though annoyed by her last-minute notice, I crossed my arms while watching her furtively.

  “A little notice would’ve been appreciated, Allegra. My last meeting finishes at seven tonight. Unlike some people, I must work. I can’t afford to frolic all day and play socialite to keep up appearances.”

  With a pinched expression, Allegra was anything but pleased with my dig at her daily activities. She played the role of my wife, which in her eyes meant brunches, dinners, shopping, and whatever else she got up to in between.

  I wasn’t as oblivious as she believed.

  She had needs, and it wasn’t me who was fulfilling them.

  “We can wait,” she simply stated.

  Irritated, I finished checking my emails on my phone, eager to get out of here. I had a full day ahead of me, and no doubt, Allegra had a busy day of fucking whoever it is who caught her attention this week. Someone young, perhaps, a playboy who could get her off in a minute while snorting a line of coke off her ass.

  “I need to get across town by nine. I’ll see you tonight.”

  I grabbed my phone and drank the remains of my coffee, the cup emptied of the dark roasted caffeine which went down like a treat. “Dominic, wait.”

  I placed the cup down, closed my eyes with frustration, and released a grit in my tone as I answered, “Yes?”

  “Gianna has organized to take the yacht out for us girls. I was thinking next week in Milan, then out on the yacht. It’s just the girls, but perhaps you could join me for a few days once they leave?”

  My attention shifted, and slowly my body turned to face Allegra. Once upon a time, it wasn’t all that bad between us. There were moments when we enjoyed each other’s company when I craved her body bec
ause of its accessibility. She was in my bed, so why the fuck not.

  But soon after our engagement, the reality of what we’d become came to full bloom.

  Allegra is the only daughter of Bruno Mancini, one of the richest men in Sicily. His fortune is owed to his grandfather and had passed down to each heir. The Mancini name is attached to many businesses worth billions of dollars, and unfortunately, not all of that was earned without blood on those who carried the family name.

  The fact of the matter was that I owed Bruno Mancini my life.

  Years ago, I had made the mistake of trying to bail a friend out. The so-called friend had landed himself in trouble and owed the wrong people money. When the lies and deceit spun out of control, it wasn’t just the money he owed, his life was hanging in the balance.

  There was only so much I could do without jeopardizing everything I had worked hard for. Not only that, by association, my name had been dragged in the circles of those willing to kill, putting my family at risk.

  Allegra came at the right time. It was the Governor’s Ball, ironically, when we first met. She was beautiful, and I needed something to take the edge off with all the stress I had gotten myself into. Allegra supplied what I needed that night, including the blow job inside the cloakroom when everyone was distracted by the Governor’s presentation.

  It just happened to be that her father was an influential man. Before I could even think about it, he propositioned me with an offer I couldn’t refuse if I wanted to survive. Marry his only daughter, and all those problems would leave immediately.

  I had no choice but to protect my family, myself, and save my friend.

  Yet here we are three years later in a loveless marriage of convenience.

  An impromptu trip to Europe was just what I needed, and with that thought, a smile appeared across my face.

  “Of course, I’ll rearrange my schedule. Should a week be enough? I have some business to take care of in Paris, then I can fly over.”

  Allegra’s lips curved upward into a stiff smile. “I thought that would please you. I’ll let the girls know.”

  As I left our penthouse, I walked outside toward the waiting black Mercedes, climbed inside, and pulled my phone out of my pocket.

  Me: I’ll be in Paris next Friday. Shall I book our usual?

  It didn’t take long, despite the time difference, for the response I had been waiting for to come through.

  Kate: Our usual will be perfect. See you then.

  A stir in my pants sent an ache across my entire body. With the driver

  distracted, I had scrolled through my phone and into a private folder. I typed in the passcode and opened the file I had discreetly kept from the last time I visited Paris.

  There she was, on her knees, eyes wide staring at me with such desire.

  Her lips were wrapped around my cock while she tasted every inch as if it were her last meal on Earth.

  “Sir, we’re here,” the driver called.

  I shook my head to break away from Kate’s addictive stare, closed the folder, and exited the car.

  I’d spent the week abiding by all Allegra’s requests, desperately counting down the days until I was alone in the hotel room waiting impatiently for what my body desired.

  Inside the hotel, in the same room I had always booked for us, the door creaked open. Like a thief in the night, I stared into the pits of darkness, desperate to stumble upon the hidden jewel. I found my way toward her body, guided by her scent.

  It drove me wild, the taste of her skin. My hand moved toward her neck. Using my strength, I pressed her against the door to fuck her quickly. Restraining myself was too hard, but we had all afternoon to play out each other’s fantasies.

  I slid my cock inside her, relishing in the sharp breath she took. Only a few thrusts, hard and fast, and my vision blurred as I grunted in the dead silence of the room.

  We moved our bodies toward the bed, and I laid on my back and allowed her to control my every move. Whenever we found ourselves alone in this affair that we began years ago, nothing was off-limits. I’d soon become obsessed with the power she held over my body. Kate Hamilton was a shark in the boardroom, and with me, her power continued to reign.

  I’d spent my life being the man who controlled other people’s fantasies. It’s why I opened up my club, allowing people to explore with their significant other or, more so, a complete stranger.

  People paid for their privacy, for their fantasies to come alive. For as long as I had been providing this to them, my own needs shifted.

  Allegra could fuck me, make me come in a matter of seconds, but what I wanted was so much more.

  I wanted Kate.

  In my entire life, I had never wanted any woman to satisfy me as Kate did. Despite spending countless hours watching completely naked women in my club succumb to their sexual desires, none of that stirred me in the slightest.

  Until it was Kate inside my club being devoured by two men.

  Something clicked, and a seed had been planted inside my cold heart. I refused to acknowledge it at the time, but Kate triggered something inside of me no other woman had ever come close to unraveling.

  Yet I was caught in a loveless marriage created out of convenience, and I thought it would distract me from my sudden interest in Kate.

  Bruno Mancini made it very clear—divorce wasn’t an option.

  There was the family name to uphold, and I had debts to pay. For as long as I breathed, my repayment would be to stay married to his only daughter.

  However, like anything not built on honesty, the lies became second nature. My affair with Kate started taking a different turn. My feelings had become more than just sexual desire.

  I craved more.

  No longer had I wanted to settle for a rendezvous every few months, I wanted her in my bed more than that. I wanted her at my beck and call to satisfy my needs whenever I demanded.

  I wanted to taste her skin and know it belonged only to me.

  I wanted all the things we agreed were not a part of this forbidden affair.

  Commitment.

  Exclusivity.

  And the one thing that always complicated sex—love.

  Chapter Two

  Present

  Dominic

  I remembered the moment just over a year ago when Allegra made the last-minute decision to attend the Grand Masquerade Ball in Versailles.

  It was unlike me to care for such events, dressing up in a ridiculous costume from the 18th Century, but, of course, I had done so to please Allegra and perhaps tried to make up for my indiscretions.

  Though, to be quite fair in the matter, Allegra isn’t exactly the model wife on her friend’s yacht. Many of the bored housewives she circled with devoured the young men who somehow found themselves lost in sea during their overnight sail.

  Selfish as it may be, I also need something to take my mind off how it ended inside the hotel room with Kate.

  I pushed the boundaries and exposed my emotions, something I never did.

  My marriage came up for discussion as did my desire to spend more time with Kate.

  The topic, a clear shock to Kate, sent her out of that hotel room so fast, I was sure I fucked it all up. Losing her wasn’t an option back then. I had my mind set on making her all mine.

  I didn’t expect to encounter Kate with a lover at the ball, or how she delicately put it on that day—her partner.

  To say my jealousy spun out of control is an understatement. I don’t know what part of my fucked-up brain expected her to be exclusive to me. Once upon a time, she begged me to be someone I wasn’t—a committed man to her—and I pushed her away because Dominic Kennedy did not entertain relationships. My solitude had been longed engrained into me. I wandered the Earth like a nomad, focused on my business, which is the only thing I lived for.

  My family was kept at arm’s length. I no longer possessed a circle of friends aside from the one who had landed me in trouble.

  And despite it all, I
pushed away any emotions evoked while in Kate’s presence. It slowly chipped away at me every time I watched her inside my club. The way her body begged me with every curve, every move, it had been this curse I wished to disappear.

  Yet at the ball, my heart fell captive to her beauty. We were no longer in the hotel room, naked in compromising positions. We were two people, standing next to each other in a room full of others, our own respective partners beside us.

  It made me crave her even more like an animal thirsty for blood, a hunter greedy for its prey. Something inside of me clicked, and I’d have given my soul to the devil himself if she walked away with me that night.

  But she didn’t. Kate ignored my pleas, even when I demanded more between us. She appeared unaffected by the whole matter, hell-bent on reiterating the rules of our arrangement.

  I tried over and over again like the desperate fool I was, to make her mine. And much to my surprise, Allegra had become well aware of the situation, admitting our sham of a marriage but making it clear that divorce would ruin her family.

  Even Allegra tried to convince Kate to commit to more, giving her approval to be my mistress, but it all fell on deaf ears. I couldn’t understand why, the sheer mystery of it all eating away at me every single minute of every-fucking-day.

  And then, before my eyes, she began to choose him.

  I’d learned of his name, Noah Mason, cousin to the wife of mogul, Lex Edwards. Long before all of this, I’d met Edwards through a business associate. Charlie, his wife, is my brother Eric’s boss. We were connected, oddly so, then throw Kate into the mix, who also happens to be Eric’s best friend. The ties became even tighter.

  My desperate need to control Kate’s situation came crashing to a halt when she moved to Los Angeles to live with her partner. It should’ve been my warning to stop what the fuck was going on in my head, yet being a stubborn ass, I refused to listen.