CHAPTER 20
Elena
I may be new to all this, but I know enough to recognize he didn’t use a condom. The wetness between my thighs when I was all but running up the stairs was his cum sliding out of my body.
The possibility of consequences should terrify me. I’m single, in my mid-twenties, with a job that’s temporary at best, and I live with my mother. I should be worried about being careless, yet somehow, I’m calm, eerily so.
I’m sure he used a condom yesterday, or at least I think he did. I know he grabbed one from the nightstand, the first time, but after that I’m not sure. Everything’s blurring together, starting when he touched me.
Maybe it’s that I’d just had such a big shock to my system. Having somebody show up unexpectedly is one thing, having them show up when you’re naked with a man is another. And we were on the kitchen floor. Oh Lord. My face burns again at the memory. I’m not sure how much he heard, but we were likely still at it when he walked in.
Come to think of it, he was pretty calm about the situation himself. I don’t want to consider what this says about Addler and what goes on out here. Though I’m sure Sage would have mentioned something, if she was aware. This makes things infinitely worse.
If I could only find my clothes. I might be a little more centered if I was wearing my panties. Why didn’t I think to ask him about them? Glancing at the closet, I bite my lip. Should I dare going in there again? I’m not sure, considering how angry he got yesterday. Technically I’m still under his thumb until tomorrow. Going against his wishes might extend this out past today.
The faint smell of sizzling bacon reaches me upstairs. My stomach rumbles, sending a reminder it’s empty and I’ve expended a lot of energy since last night.
Does this mean Ezequiel is gone? There’s no way for me to find out from here unless I’m going to start yelling across the house. I double-check the shirt buttons are all fastened and open the door. Tiptoeing down the hall, I strain to hear any conversation. Nothing. Taking a deep breath, I start down the stairs to the kitchen.
Peeking around the corner, I find Addler at the stove. At first glance, it looks like nobody else is around. He’s pulled on a white T-shirt that doesn’t do much to hide the solid muscles in his back and arms.
“Is it safe?” I ask, still running my gaze around the room.
He looks over his shoulder and grins. “Yes. He’s gone.” My shoulders lose some of their stiffness, and I make my way through to stand next to the kitchen island. He spears a piece of bacon with a fork, flipping it expertly. “You okay?”
“Yes.” I nod. “It was just a bit of a shock to find someone watching us.” Heat rises up my chest.
“Yeah.” He flips another piece of bacon. “We caught him by surprise, too.” He gives me a sidelong glance that goes down to my breasts and lingers long enough to make my nipples tingle. “He had to check in with me, and we don’t have a doorbell. You either have a key to get in, or you don’t come through.”
Well, I suppose it should be one less thing for me to worry about. It sounds like Addler isn’t having sex with women on the kitchen floor on a regular basis. Now it seems like such a shame. It’s an experience I never would have expected. “Do you think I might be able to get my clothes?”
“I figured you’d ask.” He nods, indicating the kitchen table. “I brought them over when I grabbed a T-shirt out of the laundry room.”
“Thanks.” Scooping up my clothes, I head to the bathroom down the hall. I’m not sure where I’m supposed to change, but this seems like the most reasonable option. The last thing I need is to have someone else walk in while I’m pulling up my panties.
The image of Addler doing laundry and folding up my clothes, including my purple undies, brings a smile to my face. This isn’t exactly my best bra, but then, I’ve always purchased for support, not looks. Oh well, it’s a little too late to worry about it now. He’s seen it and a heck of a lot more.
I fold up the borrowed shirt, even though it has to go straight to the laundry. The sound of the blender leads me back to the kitchen. Draping the shirt over the chair I’ve been using sends me back to yesterday. Having Ezequiel show up then, when I was draped across here, would have been worse than what happened today.
I join Addler by the stove. “Do you need some help?”
“How about you grab a bowl for the salsa.” He points over to the cabinet. “I wasn’t sure what you had in mind, but I went with huevos rancheros with bacon and refried beans.”
My tummy does a happy dance. “You’re spot-on.” I find the glass bowls in the second cabinet. All with the same tan-and-blue design. A big change from the disposable dishware we have at home. But then our financial circumstances are quite a bit different.
“I’m cheating with the tortillas,” he confesses. “They’re usually fresh made, but those talents are better left to those with experience.”
I chuckle. “I’ll try not to hold it against you.” Who could, when a man who looks like Addler is working the stove like he’s right at home.
“Good. Mayela left a few flour tortillas in the warmer.” He turns on the burners under the wide comal. “We should have enough for breakfast.” He moves the pan with refried beans off the back burner.
The need to bring up what happened is bubbling in my chest. Maybe if I had more experience, I wouldn’t feel like the knowledge is choking me.
“Addler…” He looks over. “We, um… We didn’t use protection just now.” My stomach is twisting with every word. “And I’m not on anything, for…obvious reasons.” Why would someone who’s not having sex think about needing a contraceptive on a regular basis?
“I know,” he says, sounding calmer about this than I am. He reaches over, lifting my chin to give me a quick kiss. “I wouldn’t worry about consequences over what happened just now.”
The memory of our conversation about the de Marcos echoes in my head. The family line only produces one child per generation. Does that mean he already has a child? Is that why I shouldn’t worry about consequences? I suppose that’s better than anything else I could’ve expected.
“Okay,” I croak, my insides coated with unexpected numbness. I don’t even know how to feel about it.