11. Ranen
Chapter 11
Ranen
I sigh when Olly wraps me up in a hug. It’s nice to have a best friend like him. We met under unconventional circumstances, but our friendship is solid.
He ushers me to the couch, looking me over intently. “How are you feeling? You look miles better from the last time I saw you.”
I lower my head, bile rising in my throat as I think about my ordeal. I’ve been having nightmares of a masked man coming into my bedroom, hitting me over and over until I black out, then starting the cruel punishment again when I come to. I haven’t told North about them. I’m not sure what he could do even if he knew, and he’s already doing enough by protecting me from the man physically by being there. He can’t protect me from a dream.
“I’m better,” I say, giving him a wobbly smile. “But can we… not talk about it? It’s already bad enough that it happened in my camming room. I’d rather not talk about it when I’m away from home.”
Olly’s eyes soften. “Sure. But one question before I drop it.” I pull in a deep breath and blow it out slowly before I nod. “Are you having trouble working? I saw your last show. Seemed like you weren’t into it.”
“I wasn’t. Not at first.” It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him that North helped me in a major way, and I even feel my cheeks flame as I think about North stroking his thick, beautiful cock. Not even the dicks I’ve seen in porn looked as good, as tasty as North’s. I’ve never sucked a cock, but I’d lick him like a fucking lollipop if given half the chance.
“But…” Olly says, waving for me to continue.
I open my mouth to tell him about North, but something stops me. I want to keep what I did with North private—it was for us and only for us. He put on a personal show for me. Olly doesn’t need to know that. “But I thought about how I’d lost out on money two weeks in a row and got with the program,” I tell him with as much conviction as I can muster. “I have savings, but not enough that I can skip weeks of work.”
He nods in understanding. “If you want to move out of that place, you’re always welcome here. I have an extra room, you know.”
“I know. And thank you. But I’m good. North is making sure I’m taken care of.” My cheeks heat again and I try to tamp down the smile that’s stretching my face, but it’s no use. Hours later and my lips still tingle from his kiss, my skin still scorching from where he touched me. I couldn’t stop my reaction if I tried.
Olly catches it and raises an eyebrow. “Are you sure it’s safe to have some stranger in your house? You barely know him, Ranen. You just got attacked, for fuck’s sake. Maybe a random man in your home isn’t the best idea.”
I wince at his words. It’s like a gut punch, him throwing that in my face. I know it’s illogical to have North in my home, but he’s not like the masked intruder. North saved me. He took me to get medical attention when I probably would have laid in a puddle of my blood for hours. He might be a stranger in the true sense of the word, but I know him. I know his heart. He would never hurt me.
“Shit, Ranen,” Olly says, his tone laced with remorse. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. Just… I’m worried about you. You’re my best friend. I don’t want anything to happen to you. The thought of him in your house gives me a bad feeling.”
“It’s okay,” I whisper, though my heart still hurts. “Thank you for caring about me.”
“Always. If you ever want to get away from there, I’ll keep you safe. I’ll always protect you. I love you, Ranen.”
I smile at his words. I know he does. I love him too.
Sliding closer to him, I lean my head on his shoulder and wrap my arms around his waist. “I know. Love you back. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had.” Olly kisses my hair and returns my hug.
“Okay,” he proclaims in a loud voice. “No more sad shit. You’re here, so let’s watch a movie or something. When is North coming to pick you up?”
“I’m not sure. He said he had to take care of something with his dad. I think they work construction together, so it’s probably something to do with building shit.”
“Macho man,” Olly says, nudging me. “Maybe he can get around to fixing all the shit you usually call me over for.”
I bark a laugh and head to the kitchen to pop some popcorn. “Oh please, you like coming over to my apartment. Besides, you kept Mr. Barlowe away.”
Olly grunts, going to the fridge to grab us some Cokes. “God, your landlord is a creeper. There’s something not right about him.”
“Definitely. I think he might subscribe to my channel. He always looks at me like he’s seen me naked… Maybe he has.” The microwave beeps, so I take the popcorn out and dump it in a bowl. I hand Olly the bag so he can pick out the last bit of kernels before he tosses it in the trash.
Once we’re settled on the couch, Olly turns on a movie and we get comfortable. Halfway through the new sci-fi movie I’ve been waiting to see, he says, “Maybe you can have someone there with you.”
“For Mr. Barlowe? He’s already met North. I think he scares him.”
“No,” Olly says, pausing the movie. “I was thinking about what you said. When you said you weren’t into the camming because of… that.” I appreciate him for being sensitive about the attack this time. “Why not have someone there with you to help? Maybe even on cam, like we used to do.”
That’s… actually not a bad idea. I was okay with having Olly around because we’re so close and it made us more money, but would North want to join me? Would he be into getting on cam, jerking his cock so I can be more comfortable in front of the camera?
Would he be into doing more? The thought of getting on my knees for North, worshipping his cock for the world to see, has my pants feeling suddenly tight, my erection throbbing. I push the thoughts from my mind before I explode in my underwear.
After I clear my throat several times, I say, “Maybe. I’ll think about it. Thanks for the suggestion.”
“No problem.” Olly leans forward and grabs the remote. He presses play and we finish watching the movie.
I needed today. A good cam session, a quick lunch date with North, and a movie night with my best friend. It was exactly what I needed to get me out of my head. Sure, I thought about what happened to me, just as I do every day since the attack, but other than Olly’s comments, I think I was able to handle it better than before. Maybe I’m becoming desensitized or maybe I’m healing. Whatever it is, I’m glad for it.
After the movie ends, I stretch, tossing the throw blanket I pulled from the back of the couch off my legs. “That was a good movie.” I set the empty popcorn bowl on the table.
“It was,” Olly agrees. “We need to do more movie nights. I miss you.”
I grin at him. “I miss you too. And we will. Next week, same time?”
“It’s a date.”
I pull my phone from my pocket to find a text from North.
North : Can Olly give you a ride home? Dad and I are still busy.
He sent that text thirty minutes ago. I wonder if he’s free now.
Me : Sure. Are you two still busy?
A few minutes later, a text comes through.
North : Yes. But we’ll be wrapping up in an hour or so. Maybe less. Do you want to wait there until I’m done?
Me : Nah. I want to stretch out on my couch. I’ll have Olly drop me off.
North : Be careful. Grab a knife and keep it on you until I get back.
There is no “lol” or laughing emoji after his text, so I know he’s serious. I’m not sure why it makes me feel warm knowing he’s thinking about me and trying to protect me even when he’s not around. Fuck, North is going to fuck around and make me fall for him.
Me : I will. See you in an hour.
I slide my phone into my pocket and look over at Olly. “Can you give me a ride home? North is still working with his dad.”
“Sure. Let me get my keys and we can head out. Unless you want to stay the night here?”
“Nah. I want to lie on my couch and read. I got a new book a few weeks ago that I’m dying to start. It’s about a serial killer and a mortician. I’ve heard great things. Want to borrow it when I’m done?”
Olly shudders. “You and your dark romance. No thanks. I’ll continue to read about men falling in love with no murder, thanks.”
I chuckle as I follow him outside.
We talk about nothing on the ride home, just enjoying each other’s company. I feel like since I’ve had North, I’ve neglected Olly. We talk almost every day, but we used to see each other a few times a week. Granted, I’ve been healing from my injuries, but he offered to come over to check on me and I declined. I need to do better.
When Olly pulls up to my building, he looks at the entrance with apprehension, then back at me. “I’m going to walk you up. Don’t want Mr. Barlowe to get any bright ideas. The sun has set and he’s a fucking creep. You never know what he’ll try.”
Any other time, I would tell Olly he’s overreacting, but not anymore. The only people I trust are him and North. Mr. Barlowe has given me the creeps since I moved in. I don’t want to be caught outside in the dark with him around.
Olly takes my hand and walks with me upstairs. His head is on a swivel, looking around to make sure no one jumps out or Mr. Barlowe doesn’t slink into the hallway.
Once upstairs, I put in my code and turn to face Olly when the door unlocks. “Thanks for tonight, Oll. I had the best time. Next week, yeah?”
“Yep. Want me to check inside?”
I pause, then nod. I hate being so afraid, but I’m not too proud to ask for help.
He pushes past me, checking in every room and closet while I stand in the kitchen, my hand beside the butcher’s block.
A few minutes later, Olly comes back to the front of the house. “All clear. I can stay until North gets back.”
I sigh as I walk over to him. “I’m good. Thank you for checking.” I give him a long hug, glad I have a friend like him. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Night, Ranen.”
As soon as Olly leaves, I go over to the butcher’s block and pull out the largest knife. Yeah, Olly checked the house, but I want to be prepared… and I want to do what North told me.
I carry the knife to my room where I grab my book, and when I return to the living room I set it on the coffee table while I get comfortable. Once I’m lying how I want, I grab the knife and place it in front of me and get lost in the book.
Less than an hour later, I hear my door beep. I sit up, grab the knife, and face the door, my heart hammering in my chest. When North pushes through the door, I let out a pent-up breath, pushing my hand through my hair.
“Hey,” he says, looking at my face, then at the knife in my hand. He smiles, his eyes shining with pride. “Good boy. You kept yourself safe.”
I sigh at his praise. “I was okay.”
“Because you’re strong.” North walks over and kisses me quickly and my breath catches. Again, it wasn’t nearly long enough. His soft lips brushing across mine send a jolt of arousal through me. Like the last time he kissed me, I try to chase his mouth. North gives me one more kiss, then plucks the knife from my hand. “I’m here now, so you won’t need that.”
It takes a moment for me to even realize he took the knife from me, I’m so gone off that kiss. “Yeah. Thanks. How was work?”
North looks at me curiously, almost as if he’s wondering what I’m talking about. Then his face blanks. “Good. Dad says hi.”
I smile. I really like Atlas. He’s nice. Kind of… different, much like North, but I can tell he’s a good man. Even though he scared the shit out of me at the hospital. But I’ll chalk that up to fear after my attack.
“When will he come back to visit? I like talking to Atlas.”
North gives me a crooked grin. “Are you trying to get in good with my Dad because you’re interested in him or me?”
I sputter, sitting up straighter on the couch. “Wha-what? Interested in Atlas? No. I just… no. He’s nice. That’s all.”
“He’s not really. Only to you.” He slides the knife back into the block slowly. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“Which?” I run through what we were talking about in my head, but can’t figure out what he means.
“Are you trying to get in good with my dad because you’re interested in me?”
I duck my head, sure my face is as red as my hair. “You know the answer to that,” I murmur.
When I look up, I find North looking at me with the same intense expression he had on his face when he was watching me touch myself. I feel it across my skin like a warm embrace.
Before he can say anything back, I decide to go ahead with what Olly suggested. While I was reading my book, my mind wandered to the thought of North working with me, touching me, fucking me on cam. I almost stopped reading to touch myself, that’s how turned on it made me. Maybe he’ll be into it. If he’s not, he can always hang out off camera and watch. I really liked him watching me.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Anything, Ranen.”
I shiver when he says my name. It sounds like sex rolling off his tongue. I clear my throat so I can push the words past my lips. “You can say no, of course. You don’t have to feel obligated. It’s just a suggestion and you know, you might be into it. If you’re not, that’s fine. You don’t—”
“Ranen,” he says. “Breathe.”
I mimic him, taking a deep breath in and out. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay. Now ask me.”
In a rush, I ask, “I was wondering if you wanted to be on cam with me?”
His eyebrows shoot to his hairline. I don’t think North is surprised often. He looks like he doesn’t know what to say. I might think he would reject me if I didn’t watch his cock grow behind his zipper. It’s impressive just how fast he got hard.
He stops what he’s doing, walking over to the couch to stand in front of me. It takes effort to drag my eyes from his hard dick almost bobbing in my face. “On cam with you how?
“Umm…” I say, looking up at him. “I was thinking… you know, you could… help me. Like you did last time.”
North sits on the couch beside me, turning so he’s facing me. He puts his hand on the back of my neck and thumbs over my lower lip. My eyes flutter shut, the feel of his hand on me shooting lightning down my spine. “You want to watch me jerk off with you?”
“Yes,” I whisper, almost panting from his touch.
“What else?” he asks in a hypnotic voice.
Letting out a shuddering breath, I open my eyes and meet his burning gaze. “I want you to touch me.”
North hums, his blue-green eyes blazing as he looks at his thumb moving back and forth over my lip. On a whim, I dart my tongue out and flick it over his skin. North hisses, his eyes going half-lidded. “What else?”
Can I tell him what I want? Can I be honest? Will he think I’m too forward? Fuck it. Might as well go for it. “I want to suck your cock.”
At my words, North slides his thumb into my mouth and I suck it greedily, rolling my tongue over the digit the way I want to suck his dick. I lave it, getting it wet then applying suction to the tip. I’ve never done this before on a person—just on my toys for my viewers—so I’m not sure if I’m doing it right. But judging from the way North’s breath is quickening, I think I am.
He pulls his thumb from my mouth abruptly and slams his lips on mine. Fucking finally . North grips the back of my neck tighter, pulling me closer until I’m almost straddling his lap. He licks into my mouth, rolling his tongue around as if trying to memorize my taste.
I moan into the kiss, my head all floaty from the way he’s tonguing me. Holy fuck, North can kiss. I only have one person to compare him to, but this isn’t even on the same level as my first kiss. That kiss was awkward and fumbling. This kiss is ownership. It’s possession. It’s everything .
While North is kissing me to within an inch of my life, his free hand glides into my pants. I hold tight to his shoulders, my heart hammering as I anticipate his hand on me.
When his large palm wraps around my dick, I break the kiss and throw my head back, moaning and panting. He maneuvers me out of my pants, my cock standing proud, pointing right at him. He gives me a squeeze before he strokes me in one long tug.
“Fuck, North,” I breathe, spreading my legs wider and gripping his shoulders harder. “Like that. I want you to touch me like this.”
“You want everyone to see me get you off?” he asks, kissing me on the chin and neck, sucking some of my skin into his mouth. Not hard enough to leave a mark, but enough that I feel the sting of his mouth. He drags his tongue over the spot, soothing the burn, but I want more. I want to feel his marks on me everywhere.
“Yes. Oh god, yes. Please.”
North spits on my cock, getting me wet to make the glide smoother. I’ve never experienced anything so hot and filthy in my life. I look down at his large hand around my dick, the pink head of my cock poking out on every downstroke.
“North. I’m close. I’m close.”
He hums, leaning closer so he can get to more of my skin. He kisses and licks at me. It’s almost like sensation overload. When I get used to one sensation, another takes its place, making me go out of my mind.
Is this what I’ve been missing all these years? Should I have done this with someone else so I could have experienced this great pleasure?
No. No, I think I was supposed to wait for North. No one could have made me feel this good. No one would have taken their time with me like he is. No one would have put my pleasure first, making sure I got off. North was meant to be the first person to touch me. I’ll let him know at some point that he’s the first person to touch me like this, but right now I just want to enjoy what he’s doing to me.
Against the skin of my throat, North growls, “Come for me, Ranen.”
Before the words are even fully out of his mouth, I moan high and long, my balls tightening to my body as I spill over his fist. Shudders roll through me as North jerks me through my release. Even when it gets to the point of pain from sensitivity, I don’t ask him to stop. His hand feels so fucking good on me, I never want him to stop.
When there’s nothing left, North removes his hand from my cock. I exhale roughly, sagging into him. He chuckles in my ear, kissing the side of my head. “You okay?”
“I’m perfect.” I lift my head and force my eyes to steady on his face. “You were perfect. Thank you.”
Then North does something that has my dick twitching, wanting to go for another round. While meeting my eyes, he lifts his hand to his mouth and licks my cum from his palm. “Fuck,” I murmur, watching him clean his hand of my spend.
He drags his tongue over his plump lips. “You’re fucking delicious, Ranen.”
I lunge at him, taking his mouth in a greedy kiss. I shove my tongue into his mouth, tasting myself and loving the flavor. His shirt is sticky with my release, but I don’t care. I meld myself to him, kissing him hard. North’s strong hands go around me, holding on to my ass while I plunder his mouth.
His hand threads through my hair and he pulls me away from his mouth. I whimper, wanting more, but he’s holding me so tight I can’t move.
“On your knees, Ranen,” he growls, applying more pressure to my scalp, pulling a whimper from me. Anticipation sings through my veins at what’s to come.