I carry Zoey over to my laptop and set her down on the counter beside it. I open it up, put in my passcode, and wait a second for all the security cameras to come up to speed.
“That’s my home,” she says, leaning over and watching with me.
“Yes. It looks like someone got inside. The front door was opened, but there’s no sign of forced entry.” I zoom in on the image and see that the door knob and locks don’t look damaged. I double-check the keypad system on my phone and see that the correct code was entered. “Whoever did this had a key and code.”
“That’s impossible. Only Elle and I have that.”
I switch through cameras around the house, but I can’t find any movement. I can’t figure it out. Someone opened her door and turned off the alarm. I have a motion sensor going off at the entrance but nowhere else. Whoever was there must have seen something to scare them off.
I pull Zoey close to my side as I go through the camera footage. Finally, I get to the point when the sensors went off, and I see a dark shadow at the front door. The two of us lean closer to my laptop screen to try to make out the figure, but it’s too dark and too grainy.
“Goddamn it,” I curse, wishing I would have had more time to test out the equipment I put in place before we left. I was so concerned with getting Zoey here that I didn’t test the sensors and cameras properly. “I’m sorry, Zoey. This is my fault.”
“Why are you sorry? You’re the one who got me out of there. I’m safe because of you.”
I look into her eyes, and I see that she means it with all her heart. She’s partly right. I did get her out of there before the person came back, but I can’t help but feel a little guilty for not making sure we caught them at the same time.
“Do you recognize the person on the screen?” I have little hope she does. She would’ve told me already. With Zoey, I always know what’s on her mind. And it’s quite possibly my favorite thing about her.
“No. It’s so fuzzy. It could be a man or a woman, and I can’t even make out what they’re wearing. It looks like they open the door, enter the code, and stand there for seven seconds before they turn around and leave. I don’t think they even locked it behind them.”
“That’s an accurate description,” I say, leaning over and kissing her cheek. “I’ll pull the cameras from the lobby, but the system your building uses is less than adequate, and I’m not hopeful. It will take me some time to get the request back. They weren’t very cooperative when I talked to them before. They said that unless a police report of harassment had been filed, they weren’t required to tell us shit.”
“Yeah, I’m really not a people person, but I should have done better research on the building security guys before I moved in. Some of them are alright, though.”
“I’m sure they will work with us once I show them the footage of the break in, but I’m not sure how fast they’ll work.”
“So does that mean you have time to give me another orgasm before we’ll have more information?”
I can’t help but smile at her. I look back at my computer, sending the video along with an email to my team and her building requesting lobby footage. Once I click send, I turn to her, scoop her up, and carry her back to the bedroom.
“Yes. That’s exactly what that means, cupcake. More orgasms. How many would you like?”
Leaning in, I bury my face in her neck, breathing in her sweet smell as I go into the bedroom and get on the bed with her in my arms.
“All of them. And this time I want you inside me, too. I think it would feel magical.”
I pull my face away from her neck and look into her eyes. “Zoey,” I whisper. I’m not sure what to say. I want her so bad, and my cock is throbbing. But I worry it’s too fast, and what happens when I get what I want and she tries to take it away from me? A panic comes over me, and I cling to her tightly. I can’t let her leave me.
“I’m on the pill if you’re worried about getting me pregnant. It helps regulate my periods. And I’m a virgin, so I don’t have any sexually transmitted diseases. Do you?” She says it all so bluntly.
“No. I’m clean. It’s been a really, really long time since I’ve done anything, and I’ve been tested since then. I just worry…”
I trail off, not knowing what to say. This conversation is usually the other way around, isn’t it?
“What, Drake? What do you worry about?” She wiggles like she’s trying to get closer to me, but we’re already plastered together.
Letting out a deep breath, I look away from Zoey. “I just don’t want you to use me for sex, okay? You mean something to me, and I’m afraid once I give in, you won’t want me anymore.”
When she doesn’t answer, I look back into her eyes and continue. Cards on the table, right?
“I’ve been really shy around women my entire life, and I never know what to say, so I just don’t say anything. I’ve only been with two women, and it was once each time. I don’t remember much about them It was just a drunken mess to get it over with. I don’t have a lot of experience when it comes to this, but I like that you tell me what you mean so I don’t have to guess. There are no games, and I know where I stand with you. So please just tell me, for lack of a better question, are your intentions with me honorable? Do I have to worry about you being with me and then sneaking out on me in the middle of the night? Will we do this and then will you decide you don’t want to see where this goes? Because right now, I’ll give you all the orgasms you’ve ever wanted if you think I’m what you want. But if you just want to play around and have a good time, then maybe we should cool off for a bit.”