Page 74 of Always Watching
“You don’t like him, do you?” I ask in a teasing tone.
“Of course not. He takes up too much of your time.”
I give him a dry look as we walk to the small table by the window. “North, I spend one day a week with him.”
“One day too long,” he murmurs under his breath. “I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you didn’t show up today. I don’t want you out of my sight.”
I roll my eyes as we eat.
Besides spending one day a week together, Olly and I talk on the phone a few times as well. It’s something we’ve always done. North doesn’t seem to mind, but I also know he’s possessive of me, so his little tantrum comes with the territory.
“Yes he will. I’ll only be there for a few hours.” I place my hand over his. “And I’m safe now. Nothing for us to worry about.”
It feels good, being able to move as freely now as I did before. For the first time in what feels like forever, I didn’t feel any sense of doom when I woke up. I didn’t feel that familiar oppressive weight that was pressing on my chest, the weight of knowing someone was after me, but there was nothing I could do about it. I didn’t realize how much it was burdening me until I no longer had to worry about it.
Before, when I woke up with North tangled around me, I always felt calm, at least for the first few moments after I opened my eyes. Then I’d wonder if the person who sent me all that creepy shit and those fucked up messages would choose that day to come for me.
This morning, I felt… just that quiet contentment I felt with North being by my side. An unbidden smile crossed my lips when that feeling didn’t surface. My memory of seeing Mr. Barlowe dead on the floor chased away any lingering doubts I may have had.
North’s eyes soften, and he brings my hand to his mouth. “I know, but I just—”
“I’ll be fine, baby. I promise.”
He searches my face for a few seconds, then nods. “Okay. I love you.”
Smiling, I drag my hand from his and pick up my fork. “I love you too.”
“Call me when you’re ready,” North says. He leans over and kisses me softly on the lips. “We have unfinished business.”
I chuckle as I give him one more kiss and climb out of his car.
I told him I could drive on my own, but North said he enjoyed driving me around.
Since I was going to be gone for a few hours, I wanted to give him something to think about while I was gone, so for the entire drive, I slowly caressed his huge cock, making him hard and leaving him throbbing. It was a messed-up game to play, but it would feel all the sweeter when I rode his dick and made him come later tonight.
I wave as he drives off. God, I love that man.
When the realization of the depths of my feelings hit me, I didn’t think he felt the same way. North is so out of my league it’s not even funny. But he chose me. I’ll never regret my feelings for him when he makes me feel the way I do. Butterflies dance in my belly whenever I look at him and a sense of calm washes over me when he touches me. When his lips meet mine, I feel like I’m floating.
“Earth to Ranen,” Olly says from behind me, snapping me out of my thoughts of my man.
I’ll never get tired of thinking about North.
I turn around and rush towards him, hugging him around the waist. “Hey. How are you?”
Olly pulls back, checking me over. He purses his lips when he spots the marks on my neck from North’s eager mouth. The marks litter my body everywhere—my neck, chest, thighs, my ass. North loves sucking on my skin. He says he loves that my skin bruises so easily for him.
My best friend’s fingers are soft on my neck when he traces one of North’s marks. “Are you sure he doesn’t hurt you?”
“Not at all. They happen when… you know.” I lower my head and feel my cheeks heat. Olly and I cam, but I’ve never talked to him about sex. He’s told me plenty, but I never joined in. He knew I never had anything to add to the discussion.
I can’t read the expression that crosses his face. He covers it quickly with a smile. “Good. I’m glad you’re happy.” We stepinside and Olly shuts and locks the door. “How’s everything else going?”
He takes my jacket and hangs it on the hook. I whirl around, smiling at him as I grab his hands, dancing us around the kitchen. “I’m free, Olly! That dick who was after me,” I sing-song, twirling around on his upraised arm, “won’t be bothering me anymore. I don’t have to look over my shoulder for the rest of my life.” Still smiling, I fall into his arms, squeezing him around the waist again. “Today is the first day of the rest of my life.”
Olly looks down at me, his eyes crinkling around the edges as he smiles. “I’m glad to hear it.” He kisses my forehead, but unlike all the other times, it feels off. I chalk it up to kisses feeling so personal since North came into my life, not anything to do with Olly.
Either way, I slide out of his arms and go to his pantry. “Popcorn?”
