Chapter Ten
Avery
Stepping out of the shower, I used the maroon towel to blot at my hair and face.
Not for the first time, I appreciated the fact that my mom bought nicer linens than David did.
Checking the time on my phone made me relieved that I’d taken less time cleaning myself than I’d thought I had.
I hadn’t properly prepped myself for a date in what felt like years.
Lately, David only wanted sex when he’d been drinking.
At that point, he couldn't care less how clean I was. With James, I was giddy and nervous. I had read through our short text exchange a dozen times, and I was pretty sure I knew exactly what he’d been hinting at.
A shiver ran down my back at the thought of what was probably about to happen.
I’d left the back door unlocked, like he’d instructed.
My breath hitched thinking about him already being in the house.
We never established a rendezvous time. I considered myself lucky that I’d made it through my shower ritual and opening myself up a bit before he’d arrived.
It was hot imagining him catching me in the shower, but my nerves were jangling, and I needed to maintain just the slightest bit of control over the situation.
Stepping into a pair of my tightest briefs and pulling up the elastic waist of my sweats had me cursing under my breath as the thin fabric clung to my damp skin.
I don’t know why I was in such a hurry to get dressed and head downstairs.
Did it really matter where in the house he found me?
My nervousness seemed to increase with each passing minute, and I caught myself neurotically checking the time on my phone as if we had an appointment.
A quick spray of cologne helped to ground me with subtle notes of amber and incense. Taking one last glance in the mirror before flipping off the light, I decided this was as good as I was gonna get.
Beginning to second-guess my decision to wear pajamas instead of being properly dressed, I hesitated halfway down the staircase. I had nearly turned around to head back upstairs when my attention was pulled to the living room window as the garage security light painted a warm glow across the floor.
Frozen in place on the stairs, I listened. Fifteen seconds turned into 30. After nearly a full minute had passed, the light had gone out, but my heart was still thumping in my throat. Shaking off the panic, I finally made it to the first floor.
James had said to leave the back door unlocked, so why would he have triggered the light in the front of the house?
My whole body jerked, and I whipped my hand over my mouth to stop any noise that might escape as three loud knocks came from the front door. The security light came back on an instant later, along with three more knocks. Then, the knob jiggled.
“Avery?”
I ran over to the door and undid the bolt. “David,” I said, surprised, but trying to keep the panic out of my voice. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be at the station.”
David, dressed in his crisp uniform, handed me a bouquet of pink and white flowers wrapped in thick, crinkling cellophane.
“I just wanted to see you. I feel bad about what happened at the diner. You know I just get upset sometimes. I just want you to be safe.”
I turned my head to the side as David took a step forward and tried to kiss me. “Thanks for the flowers, but I told you I wanted to spend the night alone. I just need some time to clear my head.”
David frowned. “Avery, I’ve already told you that I’m sorry. Don’t be difficult.”
I was having a hard time hearing anything he was saying to me as my mind raced a thousand miles a minute. I had to get David out of here before James showed up and literally broke into the house. I couldn’t imagine a worse scenario. Panic and nausea made my gut contract.
“Avery?”
“Hmm?”
“Are you even listening? I said I don’t have a round check for another 40 minutes. How about I come in and make it all up to you?”
“David, that sounds great, but I’m not feeling well. My stomach is upset. I was just about to lay down when you knocked.”
David scoffed. “You know… it’s always something with you, little boy.”
Little boy is how David liked to refer to me when I’d done something to upset him. Like he was my father, or something.
“I’m sorry, I’m just really tired and…”
Before I could finish, David lifted his finger in a shush motion as he pulled his vibrating phone out of his pocket.
“Detective Kirktin,” David answered, announcing his name and title. I couldn’t hear what was said on the other end, but David sighed. “I’ll be right there. Secure the scene.”
When he pocketed his phone, he looked at me and frowned. “Sorry, babe. I won’t be able to stay and play. Duty calls.”
“Oh, no,” I replied, feigning disappointment. “That sucks. But I know a lot of people rely on you.”
David smiled and reached out to rub his thumb across my cheek. “It’s okay, love. There’s always tomorrow. Sleep tight.”
With my pulse beating in my ears, I watched from the porch as David made his way down the driveway. He switched on his flashers as soon as he got into the car and peeled away from the curb. I felt my entire body begin to relax as I closed the door, securing the bolt.
I didn’t make it two steps into the house when a large hand appeared, as if out of nowhere, and covered my mouth as another arm came around my waist. I fought off every instinct to scream or run as he pulled my body back against his and whispered. “Shh, I've got you, baby.”
Hearing his voice for the first time, even if only a whisper, soothed every nerve in my body, and I melted back against him.
“There you go, sweetheart,” he cooed into my ear as he wrapped his arms around me tighter.
I squirmed a little, and he loosened his grip enough for me to turn around in his arms. He was wearing a mask that covered almost every inch of his face except for his eyes.
His beautiful, soft gray eyes. His pupils were enlarged, big and black.
I didn’t know how, but I could tell he was smiling, even under the mask.
Echoes of the things I’d written to him, the things we’d written to each other, came floating across my memory.
The late-night fantasies about what he looked like, what he’d sound like, how his raspy voice would pierce the quiet when he said my name.
Every fantasy of him that I’d clung to all those years came rushing back all at once, and I was suddenly overwhelmed.
“Baby…” he began.
I buried my face in his neck so he wouldn’t see the tears welling in my eyes. He wrapped me up and squeezed. “Fuck, Avery,” I heard him huff as he brought his hand up to run his fingers through the back of my hair.
Being this close to him, feeling him, touching him, was almost more than I could physically handle. It was like a fairytale. A fever dream…
“I can’t believe you’re here.” My broken voice made me wince, and I hoped he hadn’t picked up on it.
I felt him nod against my head, but he didn’t say anything.
“I like the mask,” I murmured.
“I thought you would,” he chuckled. His voice sounded rough, like gravel, and I wondered if that was how he always sounded, or if, maybe, he was a little overwhelmed too. “Actually, I was hoping you would, but I was nervous you’d be upset that you still don’t know what I look like.”
“I certainly wasn’t expecting it, but it’s kinda hot.
” I shrugged. “I guess I don’t mind keeping the mystery alive a little longer.
” I smiled against him, thrilled at the thought of finding out…
eventually. I kept waiting for him to loosen his grip, but he just continued to hold me snug against himself.
Despite the fact that there was a huge, masked stranger holding his arms around me, I’d never felt more safe. Never more at home.
I took a deep breath, inhaling his scent through the thin fabric of his shirt. “I’m so sorry I lied to you, James.” I waited for a moment, and, when he didn’t respond, I spoke again. “This is no excuse, but I felt like I’d lose my family if I didn’t stay with him like my parents wanted.”
“Me not being here for you is my fault, Avery. Not yours. But I am here now, and I will not share you. Period. I love you too much. I can’t handle the thought of another man touching you.”
Pulling away from him enough to look up into his eyes, I searched them like a road map to make sure he’d said what I thought he’d said. “You… you love me?”
I could see the very edges of his eyebrows through the eyeholes of the mask as he furrowed them together.
“Avery, of course I love you. I’ve told you that a hundred times.
You’re all I ever think about. You are the only thing that kept me sane being locked up.
Your letters were my lifeline. They kept me from getting involved with the gangs, or any of the other stupid ass shit that traps people in the system.
I kept clean. No drugs, no trouble, knowing that if my sentence was extended, I wouldn’t be able to handle it.
I had to get out. I had to get to you, Avery. I need you.”
“I’m so sorry. I need you, too. I don’t… I’m not sure how this happened. I don’t want to be shared! I only want to be with you.”
“Good. So, what’s the plan?”
“I’m not really sure. I hadn’t really planned this evening out.”
“No, baby. What is the plan for getting you away from the mall cop?”
“Well, unfortunately, he’s a real cop. And a detective, at that. Worst of all, my father adores him. My father is the chief of his precinct and just promoted David to detective so I could quit my job and just be his little house pet. I hate him, James. I would have already left him years ago, but…”
“How long has he been laying his hands on you?”
His question surprised me, but I answered honestly. I’d already lied to him enough. I wasn’t doing that anymore. “Well, he’s never technically hit me.”
“Avery…”
“Since a few months after we got together.”
His grip tightened a bit. “I don’t want you going back to him. Ever. Promise me.”