Read Behind The Mask for Free Online

front of her short, grey skirt. Maybe Brice was right, she could be beautiful if she wanted to be, but instead she allowed her looks to be hidden under layers of bulky clothing and a defense of shy, standoffish behavior. Maybe it was time to make some changes in her life and break out of the cocoon she’d wrapped herself into over the years. She briefly wondered why she’d allowed herself to become who she was, but that was a question she’d have to search her brain for at another time. Tonight was set aside for more pleasurable endeavours.
    “Trina, there’s someone here to see you,” her stepbrother’s voice called up to her from the bottom floor.
    Today had been another day of avoiding Brice, and he seemed to be content in allowing her to stay away from him. It was both a relief and disappointing. If he really was interested in her beyond a quick lay from a virgin wouldn’t he have pursued her harder?
    Well, fuck him .
    “Fine, I’ll be right down.” She could have sworn she’d agreed to meet Beth and Gwen at the convention, but perhaps not. The previous night had been trying both mentally and emotionally; she admitted she really couldn’t remember much of what happened the previous evening after her encounter with the fake Caped Crusader.
    Grabbing a pair of black pumps she rushed from her room and bounded down the staircase.
    At the bottom of the stairs she lifted her gaze and her mouth dropped, her eyes widening in surprise.
    “You look amazing, Trina.” A smile spread across Batman’s lips as his eyes slowly drank in every inch of her.
    “W-what are you doing here?” She couldn’t believe her eyes. Him. Here. In her house.
    “How did you know where I live?” A part of her wanted to go to him, but surprise kept her rooted to the spot. Where was Brice anyhow? She would have expected to see him standing against the living room door jamb sizing up the competition. Again, she found herself wondering if his interest was genuine or not.
    She was leaning toward not… unless…
    “I told you. I know more about you than you think.”
    She slowly made her way down the hallway to stand before him. “When is my birthday?”
    “April 15th, three days ago.”
    “What are my parents’ names?”
    His grin widened as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Your mother is Maggie and stepfather is Glen. Your real father is Peter, but you haven’t seen or heard from him since you were a child. I’m sorry about that, by the way. He’s an ass and doesn’t deserve to know someone as extraordinary as you anyhow.”
    “How do you know these things?” she whispered, not really meaning to say the words out loud. “It’s almost creepy.”
    He chuckled, amusement in his eyes. “I pay more attention than you know.”
    Her eyes narrowed; he sounded different from last night. In fact, she knew the voice; she knew it very well.
    “You?” With hesitation she reached out, grabbed the bottom of the mask and pulled up. This time he didn’t attempt to stop her. “It’s been you all along.” It was a statement more than a question.
    So much began to make sense as she pulled the mask off and dropped it to the floor, revealing her stepbrother’s handsome face. The familiarity, the attraction, her trusting some strange man with her body, something she’d normally never do. The pieces began to fall into place.
    He nodded.
    “Why?” She lowered her hands to his chest. She watched her fingers trace the contours of the rubber chest piece. Her head was spinning as she tried to make sense of it all. “Where did you get the costume?”
    “The costume was from a Halloween party I went to last year. At first, I went to make sure you didn’t get into trouble wearing that costume. I figured you were asking for trouble. Even nerdy men are still men, so I decided to keep an eye on you.”
    She frowned. “But why lead me on? Why not tell me who you were from the start?”
    “You mean, why didn’t your asshole stepbrother who,