Chapter 9
Tessa
Ithought cleaning a hoarders house would be the biggest problem I had living here. It was quickly proving to be insignificant compared to the newest complication. Felix was now the biggest problem, and the worst part was, I didn’t even know where to start with him.
He had this way of slipping into the corners of my mind, like a shadow I couldn’t shake, and every time he was near, my chest tightened, my thoughts scattered.
He was infuriating, maddening, and impossibly magnetic all at once.
I wanted to glare at him, to push him away, but a part of me—the part I refused to admit even existed—couldn’t stop noticing him.
When he had brought me my belongings, it had been oddly sweet. Out of character for him, completely unlike the callous, dangerous man I’d pegged him as. My chest had tightened, and I couldn’t stop replaying the moment, the low drawl of his voice, the way he’d looked at me.
Was it possible there were more facets to this man than I had originally thought? More than the menace, the arrogance, the edge that kept everyone else at bay? I hated the thought that maybe Felix wasn’t entirely what he seemed.
No. That couldn’t be possible. He couldn’t have soft sides. Not someone like him. I told myself that firmly, forcing my chest to unclench and my thoughts to straighten.
I was almost done cleaning out my new bedroom. The floor was swept, dust wiped from the shelves, and the few boxes of clutter neatly stacked in the corner. For the first time since I’d moved in, the room actually felt like a space I could breathe in, even if only a bit.
I had picked the smallest one. Even though Felix was granting me this tiny shred of benevolence, something told me I needed to get back to work before it was gone.
Pausing in the center, hands on my hips, I let my gaze wander over the tidy room. My chest eased for a moment, but a strange tension lingered just beneath it. Trying to wave it away, I got back to cleaning. The final thing was to get the laundry out of the drier and I’d be finished.
I left the bedroom and padded down the hallway, my old slippers a soft barrier against the cuts on my feet. It felt absurdly indulgent, and I savored the moment of my hurt feet finally being covered.
Suddenly, a low groan drifted from Felix’s room. My stomach twisted. Was he okay? Without thinking, I veered left down the hallway instead of heading downstairs, my steps quiet as I approached, heart thudding in a mix of worry and something I wasn’t ready to name.
I slowed as I neared his door. It was slightly cracked, a sliver of darkness spilling out into the hallway. My hand hovered over the frame, unsure if I should peek.
Curiosity won. I leaned just enough to glance inside.
And there he was, though not directly. His reflection caught in the tall mirror against the far wall. He was sitting on the edge of the bed, eyes closed, head tilted back. And—oh.
Heat surged through me. My cheeks flared bright red, and I had to bite the inside of my lip to keep from gasping. Felix was touching himself.
Panic and curiosity collided in my chest. I should look away. I had to look away. Yet my eyes were glued to the mirror, heart hammering, every nerve screaming at me to stop—but I couldn’t.
An erratic rhythm settled into my breathing as his hips began to move, faster and faster.
His hand pumped harder, and every muscle along his arms, chest, and shoulders tensed, flexing beneath the skin.
Fuck. It looked like a god had sculpted his body, and I was entranced, watching, my stomach twisting with a mixture of shame, disbelief, and a heat I couldn’t deny.
If I had been closer, I would have heard the wet, heavy sounds filling the room. As it was, all I could hear was the rasp of his breaths, his harsh gasps matching mine.
I should look away. I had to look away. My fingers itched to cover my eyes, to shove the image from my mind, but I couldn’t. My pulse pounded in my ears, and I realized with a sinking thrill that part of me didn’t want to.
My pussy clenched, and my fingers twitched, wanting to touch myself too.
Wanting to know what it felt like to be touched like that.
I’d never felt anything close to lust before, but standing there, watching Felix lose himself, something inside me began to stir.
I knew it was dangerous. He was dangerous. But he was also irresistible.
When he cried out, his head thrown back, I had to suppress a gasp. White ropes of cum splattered on his abdomen, glistening in the low light. His body shuddered, and his eyes slowly fluttered open.
I jerked back, heart pounding frantically. There was no way he saw me. My back pressed against the cool wall as I fought to steady my breaths, the image of him burned into my mind like a brand.
Breathing hard, I stumbled down the hall and back into my room. My center felt like it had been set ablaze, and I needed to take care of it, immediately. I clicked the lock shut behind me and sprawled on to my bed, no sheets be damned.
I shed my yoga pants and panties in seconds, fingers trembling as they went. My hand slid between my legs, and I found myself picturing Felix, wanting that release he had just found. My hips rolled, my breaths hitching, and before I could think better of it, I was coming too.
It was messy and noisy and disgustingly satisfying. My hands trembled as I wiped myself clean, shame burning hot behind the mess of sensations from my climax. What was happening to me?
With a shaky sigh, I sat up and pulled on my pants again.
Wrapping my arms around myself, I tried to chase away the feelings Felix had wrought inside me.
They were terrifying and exhilarating all at once, like riding a roller coaster or jumping from a plane.
And I didn’t know if I wanted to do it again. Not now at least.
I took one last look around the now tidy room before slipping past Felix’s door and heading downstairs to grab the clean sheets, hoping to hide the evidence of the mess I’d made, and my own frazzled thoughts while at it.
The next morning, I finally started on the pantry. There was more expired food in there than I could have ever imagined, full of cans bulging, boxes torn, jars sticky with forgotten sauces. I groaned, realizing this was going to take far longer than I’d hoped.
I grabbed a small stepstool and began lifting cans off the top shelf, tossing them into cardboard boxes for the trash.
The pantry door swung open suddenly, and I jumped, losing my balance. The stepstool wobbled beneath me, and I let out a startled yelp.
Strong hands caught me before I could hit the floor, steadying me. My heart hammered in my chest as I looked up—and froze. Felix.
My minds eye was instantly filled with images of him from last night, naked and covered in his come. I turned bright red and looked away from his gaze.
“T-thank you,” I stammered, my pulse hammering as I felt the lingering warmth of his hands on my waist. I waited, expecting him to release his hands, to put me down.
He didn’t.
I could feel the weight of his gaze, calm and intense, pressing into me in a way that made my stomach twist. My cheeks flared hotter, and I swallowed hard, trying to steady my racing thoughts. Every instinct screamed at me to pull away, but part of me didn’t want to.
“Um… you can put me down now.”
He still didn’t. Instead, he pinned me to the wall and wrapped my legs around him, his hardness pressing into my core.
I let out a little squeak of surprise, my cheeks instantly heating up.
My thoughts scrambled, and my hands fumbled in midair, unsure whether to push him away or just stay frozen.
My heart raced, and for a moment, I couldn’t remember how to even breathe normally.
“You know,” he said, his voice low and smooth, the kind of tone that made my pulse skip and my stomach tighten. “You really shouldn’t peep on people when they’re touching themselves.”
My stomach dropped. He did see me last night. My thoughts scrambled, and for a second, I wished the floor would swallow me whole.
“Unless you want to help,” he said, grinding his stiff cock into my center. “Then you’re more than welcome.”
“I—I…” My voice faltered, and I couldn’t seem to find the right words.
He leaned in, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. “I heard you after, you know. The noises you make when you touch yourself,” he paused and gave my earlobe a gentle nibble. I gasped, and subconsciously wrapped my legs tighter around him. “I’d love to see it in person.”
My breath caught as he slowly traced the shell of my ear with his tongue. I shuddered, unable to think, unable to react. His hand slid down my side, tracing the shape of me through my clothes. I gasped into the side of his neck, both wanting and dreading what he might do next.
“I,” I managed to croak out. “I have to finish cleaning.”
His chuckle slid over me like silk, sending shivers down my spine. “Ah yes,” he murmured, letting me go but not moving away completely. I could feel the warmth lingering, the subtle weight of his presence making it impossible to fully relax.
My hands trembled slightly as I stepped back, trying to reclaim my composure. Heart hammering, cheeks aflame, I forced my gaze on the pantry doorway. Focus. Finish the task. Anything but him.
I took a shaky step toward the pantry, forcing my hands to steady as I reached for the next box. My pulse was still hammering, every nerve on fire from his proximity. I kept my gaze fixed on the shelves, convincing myself that focusing on the task would keep my thoughts from spiraling.
Felix didn’t move. He just leaned casually against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching me with that unnerving, unreadable expression. I swallowed hard and tried to ignore the heat creeping up my neck.
“You’re just going to watch?” I asked, my voice higher than I intended, betraying my nerves.
He tilted his head slightly, that low, unreadable smirk playing at his lips. “For now,” he said, voice calm but carrying a weight that made my stomach twist. “I like seeing you in action.”
Before I could respond, his phone buzzed sharply against the counter. He glanced down, eyes briefly flicking to the screen. “Duty calls,” he muttered, irritation threading his low tone.
I exhaled—part relief, part disappointment—as he straightened, giving me a lingering look that made my pulse spike one last time. With a small, almost teasing nod, he turned and left the room, the door clicking softly behind him.
I sank onto the side of the shelf, letting out a shaky laugh. Alone again. Safe. And yet, my chest still fluttered with the echo of his presence, leaving me both relieved and longing.