game continued.
A new tingle began on the back of Allison’s neck and crept up into her scalp, bringing her head up to scan the area.
A man in a leather jacket stood in the next field over. His crew cut and gaunt jawline gave him a severe appearance, even at a distance, but he seemed bulky beneath the jacket. He had some tics, too, repetitively touching his ears and the back of his head. The man couldn’t hold still, and he wasn’t watching the games. He seemed to be searching the sidelines and talking to himself. Maybe he had some mental illness. Hard to tell at this distance.
The tingle continued but had an uncomfortable edge to it, unlike the mental echoes from Peter and Sarah. She rubbed the nape of her neck as breathing became difficult.
The recent connection with Sarah must have put Allison’s nerves on edge. Too warm, Allison shrugged out of the fleece and laid it on a nearby camp chair.
Focusing on the game, she forced a smile over her lips and took a few slow, cleansing breaths. Better.
When she glanced toward the other field, there was no sign of the man. Probably nothing but her hyperactive imagination, revved up from the experiment with her new powers. She pushed the last vestiges of unease to the side and refused to consider anything except enjoying the rest of the lovely day with her family.
Chapter 10
Peter had driven around La Grande for several days, hunting the man from Allie’s house. The guy must have gone to ground. Maybe he left town, although that answer in no way satisfied Peter.
Focusing on the search was like walking through sludge. He literally couldn’t get Allie out of his head. The memory of her sweet lips, her scent, her soft body in his arms superimposed itself on everything he saw. He had to use his time searching for the stalker, although he would much rather spend the time with Allie. All he wanted was to possess Allie’s body and mind again and let the soothing connection assuage the evil he had become. The impulse horrified him. He’d never been on the verge of losing control, or at least not this close to the edge.
Beyond the distracting memory of her soft, sexy body, that mental connection continued, buzzing in the background of his thoughts. Did she have a similar feeling? He hadn’t had time to ask there on her porch. Claire had once looked at him with horror and fear like that. At least with Claire, his sacrifice made up for her rejection.
Being around Allie was different. Claire had been a sweet and loving wife, but Peter had been more of a father figure to his young bride. Allie possessed a unique strength of character, no less sweet but a contrasting quality. Like fine champagne, he craved more of her effervescence.
He scrubbed at his jaw. Damn it, he needed to look for the stalker, not moon over a woman.
Driving through the Eastern Oregon University campus, he slowed down to avoid the children running around. A “Soccer Jamboree” sign flapped in the early spring breeze. Mindful of the kids, he traveled down the street until a familiar green Subaru Outback caught his attention. Parking nearby, he joined the spectators at the fields.
The tree-lined street afforded some cover as he peered from behind his sunglasses into the crowd. When he spotted Allie at the end of one field, her hips encased perfectly in form-fitting jeans, his gut clenched. The long-sleeved T-shirt might’ve hidden her curves, but he knew better. His fingers spread out, recalling how her skin flowed under his hands. She stood next to the woman he’d seen the other day in the ER. He allowed himself a tight smile at their spirited cheering for an orange-uniformed girl waving to them—the princess from the ER.
Positioned far enough away that he wouldn’t be recognized, Peter remained close enough to observe. When the young girl ran up to hug her parents and Allie and then skipped back to the game, jealousy tightened its fist around his throat until he couldn’t swallow. His was a
A new tingle began on the back of Allison’s neck and crept up into her scalp, bringing her head up to scan the area.
A man in a leather jacket stood in the next field over. His crew cut and gaunt jawline gave him a severe appearance, even at a distance, but he seemed bulky beneath the jacket. He had some tics, too, repetitively touching his ears and the back of his head. The man couldn’t hold still, and he wasn’t watching the games. He seemed to be searching the sidelines and talking to himself. Maybe he had some mental illness. Hard to tell at this distance.
The tingle continued but had an uncomfortable edge to it, unlike the mental echoes from Peter and Sarah. She rubbed the nape of her neck as breathing became difficult.
The recent connection with Sarah must have put Allison’s nerves on edge. Too warm, Allison shrugged out of the fleece and laid it on a nearby camp chair.
Focusing on the game, she forced a smile over her lips and took a few slow, cleansing breaths. Better.
When she glanced toward the other field, there was no sign of the man. Probably nothing but her hyperactive imagination, revved up from the experiment with her new powers. She pushed the last vestiges of unease to the side and refused to consider anything except enjoying the rest of the lovely day with her family.
Chapter 10
Peter had driven around La Grande for several days, hunting the man from Allie’s house. The guy must have gone to ground. Maybe he left town, although that answer in no way satisfied Peter.
Focusing on the search was like walking through sludge. He literally couldn’t get Allie out of his head. The memory of her sweet lips, her scent, her soft body in his arms superimposed itself on everything he saw. He had to use his time searching for the stalker, although he would much rather spend the time with Allie. All he wanted was to possess Allie’s body and mind again and let the soothing connection assuage the evil he had become. The impulse horrified him. He’d never been on the verge of losing control, or at least not this close to the edge.
Beyond the distracting memory of her soft, sexy body, that mental connection continued, buzzing in the background of his thoughts. Did she have a similar feeling? He hadn’t had time to ask there on her porch. Claire had once looked at him with horror and fear like that. At least with Claire, his sacrifice made up for her rejection.
Being around Allie was different. Claire had been a sweet and loving wife, but Peter had been more of a father figure to his young bride. Allie possessed a unique strength of character, no less sweet but a contrasting quality. Like fine champagne, he craved more of her effervescence.
He scrubbed at his jaw. Damn it, he needed to look for the stalker, not moon over a woman.
Driving through the Eastern Oregon University campus, he slowed down to avoid the children running around. A “Soccer Jamboree” sign flapped in the early spring breeze. Mindful of the kids, he traveled down the street until a familiar green Subaru Outback caught his attention. Parking nearby, he joined the spectators at the fields.
The tree-lined street afforded some cover as he peered from behind his sunglasses into the crowd. When he spotted Allie at the end of one field, her hips encased perfectly in form-fitting jeans, his gut clenched. The long-sleeved T-shirt might’ve hidden her curves, but he knew better. His fingers spread out, recalling how her skin flowed under his hands. She stood next to the woman he’d seen the other day in the ER. He allowed himself a tight smile at their spirited cheering for an orange-uniformed girl waving to them—the princess from the ER.
Positioned far enough away that he wouldn’t be recognized, Peter remained close enough to observe. When the young girl ran up to hug her parents and Allie and then skipped back to the game, jealousy tightened its fist around his throat until he couldn’t swallow. His was a
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