Vigilant

“Sometimes, when we go out, guys are creepy and weird. I don’t like it.”

“Sometimes, boys are inappropriate. Many don’t have the best role models or impulse controls. It’s one reason why girls need to be wary.”

“They touch you and things—like they own your body.”

Ari swallowed, fighting back anger for these young women. She nodded, affirming Shanna’s thoughts.

Margaret raised her hand. “I had something happen to me a couple months ago.”

“Do you want to share?” Ari asked.

She shrugged and said, “I was down on the corner hanging out with some friends. We were going to go to the playground and watch some of the boys play basketball. This guy came around. I didn’t know him but the other girls did.” She looked up at Ari from under her bangs. “He gave everyone some candy. One of the girls asked him for some weed. He laughed and said he didn’t have any with him but that if she went with him he could get her some.”

“Did she go?” Shanna asked.

“Not at first, but he drove back around later when we were at the park and I saw her get in his car.”

“Do you know her name?” Ari asked.

“Dani or Debbie or something. I never saw her again,” she said. “But it’s not like we were friends or anything.”

Margaret broke down the barrier and the other girls began sharing. They each had stories about dangerous situations and weird behavior from some of the boys and men in the community. Some of it was typical. Teenage boys were awkward and strange. Other men were scary and Ari had a renewed fear for the kids she worked with. Just before the hour was up, she took a shot in the dark. “Have any of you heard about girls being forced to prostitute themselves? Like being held against their will?”

Shanna shrugged nonchalantly, but Clarice said, “This one girl in lockup said she’d been held at a house for a month. The guy who owned the house made them do tricks for men. She only got out because she got arrested.”

“Do you know her name?” Ari wondered if it was Hope.

“Nah. I just heard her talking about it in the cafeteria. She got a visit from some dude, and they released her the next day.”

“Some dude? Who was that?”

“I figured he was her lawyer or social worker or something. I don’t know. I stay out of people’s business.” Clarice wrapped her small, thin arms around her waist defiantly.

Ari closed the group, thanking them for their candor. As they filed out the door, she knew where she needed to go next to help these girls.

* * *

“More,” she whispered. They kept their voices low. Coming to Davis’s office had been insane. Stupid. Completely unprofessional. She’d started it, like usual, coming in at the end of her work day under the pretense of needing to talk about work. Partially true, but she’d simply wanted to see him, share her idea with him. The idea of sex…in his office hadn’t been on her mind, but the GYC was empty and they were alone.

Things progressed between them rapidly, from a causal touch to a heated kiss. Before she knew it, they were skin to skin and her skirt was up to her waist. It was wrong. Incredibly wrong.

Ari felt sweat trickle down her back and around the curve of her hip. His or hers, she didn’t know. Bent over the arm of the leather couch she kept an eye on the door, convinced that at any moment it could open. The idea flamed fear and excitement in her belly, mingling with the arousal and desire already building. One damp palm slipped and she tightened her grip, bracing herself for Davis.

His appetite seemed as relentless as her own. Searching for some higher…feeling? Connection? Whichever it was, it felt good. Really good, and Ari arched her back searching for the feeling of his hard muscle against her softer curves. Like the sweat, she could no longer identify which heartbeat was her own. They both rushed through her ears.

“Keep going,” she begged. Davis only huffed in reply. Seconds later, her mind blanked and her body relaxed. He had an arm around her waist, holding her against his flat stomach. Her breath quickened and so did his motions and with one final push, he offered a strangled growl and fell onto her back. She remained upright as long as she could before turning and sliding backwards onto the couch, bringing him with her.

Wow.

“Jesus,” Davis said.

He ran a hand down her side, linking a galaxy of stars. “When are you going to tell me about these?”

Ari looked up at him. Handsome and charming. Fantastic lover. Strong and successful. But she wasn’t letting down her guard. “Someday,” she said, meaning “never”. Davis lifted his body and she heard the clink of his belt buckle. She still had on her skirt, but lost her shirt, panties and bra along the way.

“Here,” he said, handing her the clothes. The office was dark, only the shadowy light from under the door lit the room and the soft glow from his laptop on the desk. She slipped her clothing back on, stopping in surprise when she felt his hands on her back, linking the hooks on her bra. He sunk next to her on the couch, his shirt unbuttoned, revealing his toned stomach. While she fussed with her clothing, Ari felt his hand carefully smoothing her hair back into place. What the hell was she doing?

He spoke first. “That was—“