Chapter Nineteen Skye #2
"Kingston and me, the guy I'm entering this relationship with," I say, having no idea why I'm telling this stranger my story. "We're not really friends. So if it blows up, it's not like I'm losing a great friendship. It's just me going back to my old life. But thank you."
He nods and turns around to look at me. "For what it's worth, I'd want to enter a relationship like that with you as well.
" He winks. "I have a wife, but what she doesn't know.
" He grins. "You know, ‘when the cat's away, the mice will play.
' He pulls out a business card and hands it to me.
"If you're ever looking for a second non-friend with benefits. "
I refuse to touch the cards he’s holding. "But you just said you're married."
"And?" He raises an eyebrow, and I shake my head.
I grab the files from the seat next to me, make haste to flee this car, and slam the door behind me.
He rolls the window down. "I'm just saying, if you like to give it up."
I scowl and head to the building. I'm mortified and pissed off and wish I'd taken the card so I could research the guy, contact his wife, and tell her that her husband is a philandering pig.
I step inside the lobby of the building and my heart jumps for joy when I see Kingston standing there, a smirk on his face as he heads over to me.
"You made it. I wasn't sure if you were going to come."
"Well, I want someone to help me with all these files," I say with a small smile. "It's not every day your boss offers to help you do your work."
"True," he says. "And it's not every day your boss invites you to spend the night."
"I know. Crazy." I grin. "Hopefully, I don't have to do anything to earn the pleasure of sleeping in his bed."
"I don't think you have to do anything you wouldn't enjoy doing."
"Ah, but how do you know what I would enjoy doing?"
"I've got a pretty good idea," he says as he takes the folders from my arms. "In fact, why don't we head up to my place right now and see if I can guess one of the things you enjoy doing."
My heart races, and all I can do is nod. We walk to the elevator in silence, and as we step in, he presses the button to his floor and then takes a step back.
"I wish I didn't have these folders in my hand," he says as he licks his lips.
"Oh? Why is that?"
"Because I'd love to press you up against the wall, lift your leg up, and pleasure you."
"Are you really saying what I think you're saying?"
"Depends on what you think I'm saying. Do you understand direct statements?" He grins. "You ever had sex in an elevator?"
I shake my head. "Have you?"
"Perhaps. But not this elevator." He grins. "There are plenty of places I haven't had sex that I would love to have sex with you."
"So, we're doing this then." My stomach is doing somersaults.
"If this means we're going to embark on a sexual journey together, I think so. That's why you're here, right?"
"You're not worried that this is going to blow up in our faces? You're not worried that…"
"Worried that what? Worried that you will fall for me?" He shrugs. "I mean, I am devastatingly handsome with a personality to match."
I groan. "So modest."
"But you seem like you've got your head on straight, and I feel like I've got my head on straight. I think we both see this for what it is."
"And what's that?" I ask.
"Us satisfying each other."
“I hope that—” My phone rings, and I frown as I see Elisabetta’s name on the screen. “I have to take this.” I answer the phone quickly. “Hey, is everything okay?”
“Can you come home?” she whispers. “I did something stupid.”
“Oh Lord, what happened?”
“I can’t talk right now. I’m in my closet whispering to you.”
“Okay, I’m coming right now. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” I look over at Kingston with wide eyes. “Elisabetta is in trouble. I have to go.”
“I’m coming with you.”
“What? No, I don’t need you to—”
“The guy is still there?”
“I think so,” I admit.
“I’m not letting you go into a potentially dangerous situation by yourself. I am coming with you.” He gestures me into his apartment. “Let me grab my car keys.”
“You drive?”
“I’m not just a pretty face.” He grins but then stops as he notices that I’m shaking. “Hey, it’s going to be okay. She’s okay, right? Should we call the cops?”
“I don’t think we need to call the cops, but I’m scared. I’ve never heard her sound like that before.”
He nods and races to his bedroom and is back out within minutes, holding up some keys. He grabs my upper arms and looks me directly in the eyes. “I am here for you and your best friend. We will take care of whatever the problem is, okay?”
“Okay.” I nod weakly. Never have I been more grateful for Kingston being so dominant and bossy. “Thanks.”
“No worries. I always take care of my own,” he says softly and my heart races at his words. I have no idea what he means by that, but the sentiment makes me feel ecstatic.
"You really don't have to come with me," I say to Kingston as we make our way up the stairs to my apartment. "I know that you most probably had other things going on this evening and…"
"No, it's fine," he says. "I was not going to allow you to go back to the apartment by yourself. You don't know what's going on."
"I mean, I don't think she's being murdered or anything. She sounded more tearful, not scared." Not sure who I’m trying to convince, him or me. "But I am grateful that you've come with me. Thank you."
"You're welcome," he says, and we share a look for a few moments as we head toward my door.
I'm not sure what we're going to see when we enter, and I'm nervous.
I'm really grateful that he's here beside me.
Even though Kingston can be a jerk, I've quite liked seeing this protective side of him.
It reminds me of when we were in Club Z, and Whitaker Matlock had tried to feel me up.
It had been uncomfortable, and I was out of my element, but knowing Kingston had seen that and stood up for me had meant so much.
I grab my key from my bag and open the door.
"Hey, it's me," I shout as I step inside.
Kingston hurries in behind me and closes the door.
"Hey, Elisabetta. I'm home," I call out again, and I hear the thud of heavy footsteps walking toward us.
A guy in his late twenties with dark brown hair glances up at me in surprise.
"Yo, what's going on?"
"Hi," I say, frowning. I look over at Kingston. "That's not the guy that I saw her with earlier," I whisper, and he makes a face. "Sorry, who are you?" I ask him.
"I'm Radium." He grins. "You're Elizabeth's friend?"
"Elisabetta," I say. "Yeah, I'm her best friend and roommate. You know where she is?" My heart's pounding. I really hope he hasn't done something to her.
"She's in the bathroom, I guess." He shrugs. "I guess she's showering or something."
"Okay. And you were just leaving or…"
"She told me she wanted me gone, but I wanted to tell her it's no big deal. You know?" He looks over at Kingston. "I'm sure you agree. It happens."
Kingston stares at him and then looks at me. "What's he talking about?" he asks softly.
"I have no idea." I shake my head. "I'm going to go and see how Elisabetta is. Kingston, will you stay here with Radium and just make sure everything's okay?" Kingston nods. I hurry toward Elisabetta's bedroom, open it, and then make my way to the bathroom. I knock.
"Who is it?" she calls out, annoyed.
"It's me. It's Skye."
Oh. Hold on." I hear footsteps, and then she unlocks the door and opens it. She's wearing a white towel, and her body is still wet. "Oh my fucking gosh," she says, shaking her head. "Never fucking again. I'm so fucking embarrassed."
"What happened? You're making me nervous. Who the hell is Radium? That's not that dude I saw you with earlier."
"Oh my gosh, Skye. I'm an idiot. I totally screwed up."
"He's not dangerous, is he?"
"Who?" she asks.
"Radium."
"Not that I know of. Why? Isn't he gone?"
"No, he's in the living room with Kingston."
"Kingston?" She raises an eyebrow. "Your boss?"
"Yeah. He was concerned that something bad happened, and he didn't want me to come here alone."
"Oh, that was nice of him. Much nicer than I would've expected from a jerk like him."
"I know. I kind of felt the same way," I say with a little giggle. "But what is going on here? You called me, and you sounded really upset. And I'm not going to lie; I came home earlier, and you were with a different guy. Who is this?"
"Oh my gosh. So, remember Tombstone?"
"Yeah. I remember what you told me about him."
"He came over and, you know, we were going to have some fun, but then he couldn't get it up.
" She rolls her eyes. "I guess he had a lot on his mind or something.
" She shrugged. "Anyway, he said, 'If you want me to go, I can go.
' And I was like, 'Sure, go.' And so I was just kind of hanging out, and I was like, 'You know what? Fuck, I feel horny.'"
"Elisabetta, really?"
"What can I say? I went on the app, and I matched with Radium, and hey, he was feeling horny too."
"Okay, and what happened?" I ask. "Can we sit on your bed or something? I feel awkward just standing here in the bathroom with you."
"Sure," she says. "Do you think we should go out there and speak to Kingston and Radium first though?"
"No, I'm sure it'll be okay," I say as we sit down on her mattress.
"So anyway, Radium comes over."
"And?"
"We're hooking up."
"You don't even know him!"
"I made sure he had protection. Come on now, Skye. You've never just been horny, for horny's sake?"
"Of course, I have, but that doesn't mean I meet a random dude on a site and invite him over, especially after another guy had already been here."
"It's not like I fucked Tombstone. Come on. It's not like I'm fucking two different guys on the same night, which would not be the worst thing to ever happen in the world, by the way."