Chapter 16 Freddie
FREDDIE
I toss and turn, unable to get comfortable in my bed. Of course, I know why, but I don’t want to acknowledge that Nora is capable of getting under my skin this easily.
I wish I could say it was because of that picture, or the video, or something I could blame this on, but there isn’t anything that’s a catalyst or a reason for my sudden shift.
It’s just…her.
It’s the fact that even being in her presence makes me remember parts of myself I thought I’d buried, and it’s the fact that they so easily unearth themselves when I’m around her.
I look at the clock. It’s late. Nearly twelve thirty in the morning. But I can’t sleep. I’m too wired.
My mind is racing, and given the fact that I spent the evening skating laps and I’ve already had my release, I know there’s only one other way to quiet my thoughts.
I haven’t gone on a midnight run in ages.
So I throw my legs over the bed, sighing in defeat. I know a run will tire me out. It usually does, and it’s my last resort.
I change into a pair of track pants and a tight black tank.
The house is quiet as I find my trainers and lace them up, running a hand over my head.
I grab my house keys from the bowl in the foyer and slip them into my pocket, grabbing the armband to slip my phone into.
Last, but not least, I grab my AirPods and plop them in my ears, cueing up my playlist on my phone and making my way outside.
The heavy rock beats sound in my ears as I do a couple stretches, making sure the door is locked.
The air smells like it’s going to rain, which I have to admit, I love.
Most people don’t like stormy days, but me? I live for the stormy days. They’ve always been the coziest to me. There’s something about the patter of the rain and the warmth of a fire, of the clap of thunder and cuddling on the couch to watch movies.
Not that I’ve done that with anyone in a long time, but still.
The vibes are there, and every time it rains, I can’t help but feel relaxed.
I take off, my feet hitting the pavement as the music plays, driving me forward with every heavy footfall.
Before I know it, my legs are heavy and heat ransacks me as I let my thoughts wander and focus on the feelings I keep stuffed down below.
I think about Brett and Nora, about his stupidity.
I think about Rush and Nora, and Tommy taking her home this morning.
I think about finding her there at La Femme like it was some divine move by fate, and I think about that damn picture of her in those pretty little lace panties her Daddy bought her.
Well, the ones I bought her. I can’t be a Daddy if we’re not even on the same page with that sort of thing. Not that I want to be on the same page with Nora about my kinks, but…
Who am I kidding? Yes, I do, and maybe that’s part of my problem.
I shouldn’t want that. Brother’s ex or not, this is Nora. I know her. Maybe not intimately, but I know she’s a good girl at heart, despite her mistakes as of late.
People do crazy things when they’re stressed. When they’ve lost something or someone.
She’s in the midst of a breakup. The aftermath has barely hit. She’s got no idea where she’s even going from here—now that my brother broke up with her, and essentially kicked her out of his house.
I wasn’t lying when I told her she could stay with us, and if she needs someone to buffer for her getting her stuff back, I have no problem being her bodyguard.
Just like I have no problem with punching Brett in his fucking jaw if he even has the audacity to look at her, given what he’s done.
But maybe that’s my problem too.
Not only am I unearthing these parts of me I long thought I’d hidden in regards to my attraction, but…
I’m not an aggressive person. Not like Brett. I don’t argue or fight with people, and I certainly don’t go around whooping the asses of every douchebag this side of Lansing.
It seems Nora Brighton brings out a side of me I’ve never known too.
I meant what I said to Rush. He needs to be careful. I know he feels something toward Nora; it’s not hard to see he’s got a bit of a crush. But I also know Rush is ten times more impulsive than Tommy or me, and he doesn’t often think things through, and that tends to get him into trouble.
But there’s also a part of me that is envious of that—how Rush just….rushes into things. Unafraid. I wish I could be like that. I wish I could shed the overthinking and the need to control and just…follow my heart, so to speak.
So I decide to do that, if only for the moment, as I let my legs go and I run on instinct. I run, and run, until I hear the echo of the thunder in the distance.
And then I run some more.
The world is peaceful at this time of night. There’s not a soul out here, and while one might surmise it’s dangerous, this neighborhood is one of the safest around.
Not even a dog or cat is out tonight, and it’s almost as if the universe is giving me this chance to breathe. To run, and sort out my thoughts. My desires…
And the truth of the matter is I do want Nora.
I want to take care of her because it’s what she deserves. I want to spoil her rotten just so I can see that flush in her cheeks or hear that poutiness in her voice when she tries to tell me no.
I want to drop some serious cash on her too, if I’m being honest. I’m not rich by any means, but I definitely live below my means.
Apart from the house—which Rush also contributes to with his salary—there isn’t anything in my life that’s a luxury.
My car is paid off. I make sure Tommy has whatever he needs, and Rush too, but there’s more than plenty left over that doesn’t get used.
And seeing Nora today, in that store—then seeing her in those little lacy panties—
I want to see her bathed in the prettiest silk, want to see her perfect, round ass covered with sheer lace. And then I want to push those panties aside and taste her. Touch her.
Fuck her. I want to watch my cock disappear inside her, and then I want to fill her and tighten those panties when I’m done, so they collect every bit of my cum. Just the thought of her walking around with my cum-filled panties makes my dick twitch, and I have to shove the thought aside.
That’s not what I came here for.
I pick up my pace, the air getting colder as I run faster. Thunder echoes again in the distance, and the trees whistle in the wind. And then I feel it.
The rain comes without warning, heavy and fast. But I can’t stop running. Not now. I keep going, not at all paying attention to where I’m going, but I recognize the houses on the street.
And then…I see it. One house on the street with the living room light on.
I turn to look at the street sign as the rain hits.
I turn to look back at the house, knowing I should turn away. Run back toward home.
Because I know that house.
It’s Micheal Brighton’s house. Nora’s brother. It’s where she’s staying while he’s away, and the light is on.
Which means she either forgot to turn it out or…
No, Freddie. Don’t do it. Just turn around.
Though as I try and talk myself out of it, I find myself inexplicably drawn closer and closer. The rain slides down my skin as I tell myself this won’t end well.
I can feel myself becoming obsessed. Nora has poisoned me, and I don’t know how to stop it.
And if I’m being honest, maybe I don’t want to stop it.
Maybe I want to give in to these desires.
Maybe I want to be the man my brother can’t be.
The one she deserves.
I find myself in the driveway, staring into the living room. I don’t see her. All I see is a damn cat in the window, and I tell myself I should run back home. She’s probably fine. Probably sleeping like she should be.
But there’s also a nagging feeling inside of me that beckons I check. That I make sure she’s okay. That I make sure my princess is safe and content.
I tell myself if I knock, and she doesn’t answer, I’ll go.
I’ll know she’s asleep, and that’ll be that.
But yet, I can’t bring myself to step onto the porch, out of the rain. The water sluices down my skin, soaking my shirt and my pants, and yet I can’t move.
It’s just a knock.
A simple knock on the door, and then I’ll have my answer. My closure.
So I take a deep breath and step forward, and I knock. Once.
Twice.
Three times and then I wait. No answer.
Maybe I should try again.
One knock, two knocks. Three knocks.
No answer.
Yeah, I should probably go.
But maybe…just one more time. Three times and that’s it. Three is my lucky number, after all.
I just poise my hand above the door, looking down at my feet, and then I hear it.
The clicking of the lock. The opening of the door, and I look up to see her.
Standing in the doorway, her bright fiery hair a mess around her shoulders, bright blue eyes finding my gaze easily. The baggy ivory sweater she’s wearing only comes to her thighs, and her legs are bare. She’s holding a knife in one hand and her phone in the other.
My heart beats so loud in my chest I think surely she can hear it.
I’m acutely aware of the water on my skin, of my aching cock, and my rapid heartbeat.
“Freddie, what?”
I don’t think, I just step forward, and she moves back, giving me space.
“What are you doing here?” she asks, her gaze flashing up at me.
There are a hundred things I could say.
There are so, so many things I should say.
I should turn around and go and never speak of this again.
But I can’t.
I can’t let this go. I can’t keep it in anymore.
“I wanted to make sure you were okay,” I breathe, the water from my hair dripping to my lips. She looks past me as a clap of thunder sounds, and she sets the knife down on the end table, reaching for my arm. Her palm on my wet, cold, skin is like a cozy fire.
“Come inside,” she says. “You must be freezing.”
Quite the contrary, because her touch is so warm it spreads fire throughout my entire being.
When I get inside, and she closes the door, I get a good look at her. Her eyes are red, like she’s been crying.
“Are you okay, Nora?” I ask.