Chapter 3 - Iosif
Stretching out, I breathed deeply as I watched the bathroom door. This woman was like no other I’ve ever met or been with. I didn’t expect the sex to be mind-blowing, but it was.
I’ve always been able to keep my cool and be in control. I’ve surely never lost my shit when it came to sleeping with a woman. But Clara has unraveled me. She had taken it to a whole new level.
Closing my eyes, I knew I was still in the sex-induced bliss she had left me with. I wanted more of her. I wanted to feel this high all the time. Looking back at the bathroom door, I waited patiently for her to return. I wanted us to do it all over again before going our separate ways.
After a couple of minutes, I sat up and listened carefully.
I tried to hear if there was any sound. My eyes narrowed as I studied the bottom of the door, hoping for some smoke.
I wondered what was taking her so long. No sounds were coming from the bathroom, not even water running.
Something wasn’t right. I got up and walked closer, suddenly feeling slightly worried. I hoped she was okay.
I knocked and listened, but there was no reply. “Clara?” I asked as I knocked again. “Are you okay?”
There was still nothing. Opening the door slowly, I peeked inside. The bathroom was empty. I felt my breath catching as I looked around. The window was open. Moving to the window, I stuck my head out. I scanned the surroundings, but there was no sign of her. She had run away.
But how? It is very far down. Leaning out the window, I noticed the fire escape ladder was drawn. I felt my brows crumple as I frowned. The distance from the window to the fire escape wasn’t small. It was mind-boggling.
She must have jumped it. That was the only explanation I had. She was flexible, but I didn’t even hear it. As the thought crossed my mind, I thought back to last night. I could have done so much more if I knew she was that flexible.
Smiling, I shook my head. I didn’t have time for such thoughts.
Pulling back in, I turned and sat down on the tub’s edge.
Why, why would she run away? I didn’t understand.
What did I do to drive her away? I thought things went pretty well.
The way she moaned, whispering my name, was a sure indication of her pleasure. She enjoyed it.
Moving back to the room, I stood wondering as I looked around. I was unsure of what had just happened. It felt like I was in a dream. The evening was pleasant, the sex fabulous, and then the short discussion before we fell asleep.
Rummaging through our conversation of last night and early this morning, I tried to think what I could have said that had triggered this. What did I say that rattled her so much that she had to leave? I mean, I was extra careful when I asked about her friends.
Walking to the chair by the window, I sat down, staring out.
Then it hit me. It felt like I had walked into a brick wall.
Clara was none other than the Aslanov I was hunting.
Jumping up, I slapped my forehead as I paced up and down.
That’s why she didn’t tell me her actual name at the bar.
Thinking back to the photo, I nodded. Yes, Clara was the baby Aslanov.
She was the one I was looking for. How could I not have seen it? She had pulled the wool over my eyes. I couldn’t see it. Her beauty enchanted me. And then obviously the sex, oh my soul. That was the only reason I could think of that would cause her to flee.
How fucking blind can I be? I’ve been hunting her, and I didn’t see it. The signs were in front of me, mocking me like a cruel joke. How had I missed it? Her laughter, the way she carried herself, I brushed them off.
I was consumed by her, by what I craved, and not by who she was. I allowed myself to get lost in the images floating in my mind. I allowed her to seduce me. The one I was looking for was right here, and I was blind.
The realization stung me. I could slap myself for allowing my desires to cloud my judgment.
I got tangled up in her web. Flopping down on the bed, I closed my eyes.
I could still smell her. Licking my lips, I could taste her sweet, tender lips.
Placing my hands over my face, I swore under my breath. “For fuck’s sake!”
How could I have been so dumb? No, she blindsided me by giving me the best sex I had ever had in my entire life. Sitting up, I frowned. I couldn’t decide if I was angry, disappointed, or sad. She was also the only person on earth who was able to trick me.
She didn’t do it with force or elaborate schemes. She had precision and was subtle. A soft smile here, a well-timed glance there, just enough to make me drop my guard without even knowing.
No one had ever gotten this close, made me question my instincts the way she did. It was maddening how someone seemingly harmless could weave her way past my walls. I replayed every interaction in my head, wondering where I slipped.
The truth was simple. I had underestimated her. Now I couldn’t get her out of my head. I couldn’t stop thinking about her.
The real hunt was now starting. Now that I knew what she looked like, she could no longer hide. I was ready and more motivated than before. I would get her, I promised myself. But this time, there was no getting away. I was going to hold onto her once I got her.
I am going to ensure she doesn’t slip through my fingers again like the little sly fox she is. She would stay, even if I had to lock her up. I headed home with a new purpose now that I knew what she looked like. I did my research. It took a day or so, but I finally found her.
She made me feel alive, and that was dangerous. I was out of control. These cravings for her terrified me in a way I couldn’t begin to explain. I didn’t want to let go. I needed her by my side; I wanted her to be where I could reach her, hear her, and feel her.
I wasn’t obsessed with her, I told myself. She wasn’t the center of my being, no, she was my target. The chaos inside me seemed to settle with her nearby. I felt more unraveled than usual without her.
She couldn’t see it yet. She didn’t know the power she had. One look, one touch, and I would be man down. I could feel it, though. She was in my blood, under my skin, and in every breath I took.
“No!” I huffed, shaking my head. The thought of her slipping away was painful, unbearable. I’d move heaven and earth to get her. But I was doing it as payback, not because I wanted her.
Pulling out my phone, I scanned the social media apps for the model friends I met last night. By the afternoon, I had a list of places to visit. I felt confident I would find her at one of them.