Sally
As I lay in bed, the soft glow of my phone illuminated my face, casting an ethereal light on the darkened room. My roommate’s snores provided a soothing background hum, but my attention was riveted on the words dancing across my screen. I was devouring a dark romance novel, the masked man’s enigmatic presence drawing me in like a moth to a flame.
Ever since Colby’s tantalizing hint about the masked man earlier that day, I couldn’t shake off the intrigue. My curiosity had gotten the better of me, and I’d spent hours scouring the internet for recommendations, finally settling on the darkest, most twisted tale I could find.
As I read, my expressions betrayed my emotions – a sly smile spreading across my face, my lips curling into a subtle pout. My mind began to wander, fantasizing about the masked man’s touch, his whispered promises. It wouldn’t be that bad, I thought, my skin tingling with anticipation.
And then, like a whispered secret, Colby’s face appeared in my mind’s eye. His chiseled features, his piercing gaze, his rugged physique… all of it seemed to scream “masked man.” I felt a flutter in my chest, my breath catching in my throat. Did I want that? Did I want Colby to be my masked man?
The thought sent a shiver down my spine, leaving me breathless and bewildered.
As the night wore on, I devoured the dark romance series, my eyes glued to the screen. I finished the first book, then the second, and before I knew it, the hours had slipped away, leaving me exhausted but exhilarated. My eyes felt heavy, wet, and misty, with a reddish tint from lack of sleep. I glanced at my phone, wincing at the time: 4 AM.
Panic set in as I realized I had a practical class at 9 AM. I needed sleep, but my mind was still reeling from the book’s twisted plot. I finally drifted off, only to be jolted awake by my alarm at 7 AM.
Groggily, I considered skipping my first class and heading straight to the practical. I reset my alarm for 8:30 and succumbed to sleep once more. The alarm shattered my slumber, and I woke up with a start, feeling disoriented.
As I sat up, I realized I’d overslept. My roommate, Mia, was already dressing up for class, and she shot me a concerned glance. “Hey, you woke up late, which is unlike you,” she said, raising an eyebrow.
I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. “I know, I know. I just got caught up in this book,” I admitted, feeling a flush rise to my cheeks.
I had shown her the text on my phone.
My roommate’s curious gaze made me realize that I’d been smiling, thinking about the book… and Colby.
Mia raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. “You don’t usually read novels late at night, Sally,” she said.
I just chuckled and shrugged my shoulders, not wanting to elaborate. She simply chuckled and left after she was done.
Then, I headed to the bathroom to start getting ready.
A few minutes later, I emerged, looking polished and put-together. I slipped on my bag, spritzed on my signature perfume – a sweet, floral scent with hints of vanilla and musk – and gave myself a final once-over in the mirror.
As I turned to leave, I shut the door behind me, and that’s when I saw him – Colby, standing in front of me, his eyes fixed intently on mine. My heart skipped a beat as our gazes met, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. What was he doing here?
I signed, “What are you doing here?” Colby’s gaze swept from the door to me, his expression unreadable. “Glad that you’re here. I went to your first class, but you weren’t there.”
I raised an eyebrow, curiosity getting the better of me. “You came looking for me?”
Colby nodded, his eyes locked onto mine.
I felt a flutter in my chest, but I pushed it aside.
“Why? What do you want?”
Colby’s gaze seemed to bore into mine, but he deflected my question. “Are you going out?”
I rolled my eyes, signing, “Obviously, class.”
“Is your roommate home?” he suddenly questioned.
I shook my head. “She already left for class.”
Colby’s voice dropped to a low, husky tone. “Let me see you for a second, Sally.”
My heart skipped a beat as I hesitated, then sighed deeply and unlocked the door. Colby stepped inside, and I followed, my eyes fixed on him.
Suddenly, he took off his shirt, and my eyes widened in shock. His chiseled chest, smooth and muscular, seemed to gleam in the morning light. I felt my face heat up as I took in the sight.
“What are you doing?” I signed, trying to sound calm despite the turmoil inside.
Colby didn’t respond. Instead, he opened his bag and pulled out a white, plastic-like mask with a black trim. The mouthpiece looked like a crude drawing, but it only added to the mask’s eerie allure.
Colby slipped on the mask, his eyes glinting with a mischievous spark. He flexed his chest, his muscles rippling beneath his skin, and I felt my mouth drop open in shock. He was fucking hot.
Colby’s voice was muffled by the mask, but I could sense the amusement behind his words. “So, what do you think?” he asked, his voice sultry and whispery.
I walked up to him, my eyes roaming over his body, taking in the sight of his chiseled physique. He looked down at me, his eyes glinting with curiosity, and asked again, “What do you think?”
I bit my lip, trying to come up with a response that wouldn’t give away my true feelings. I settled for a more innocuous comment, signing, “You look good.”
Colby’s eyes sparkled with amusement as he removed the mask. “So, you want to do this? You want me to be your masked man?” he asked, his voice low and seductive.
But I didn’t respond. I just wanted to see him in the mask again. I took the mask from him and put it back on his face. He looked down at me, and I saw how perfect he was.
I signed, “Much better,” and grinned cheerfully, trying to play it cool despite the turmoil inside.