Under His Protection - Love Under Lockdown

But when I opened the curtain and looked outside, I could see nothing. The streets were empty with everyone home in the lockdown. People didn’t even want to go jogging or walk their dog on the street.

I went back to the kitchen table and looked at the phone again. Perhaps I could call and make up another excuse. I could ask her for a particular client file, or just ask her a question about one of her clients. It could be something I should know, but maybe I forgot and needed to confirm the details.

Yes, that would be easy. Then again, it would also be dishonest. And, perhaps this was corny, but I thought true love has to be purely honest. If I did this to her once, the next time I was feeling insecure about where she was going, I’d do it again. The next thing you’d know, I’d be that paranoid kid back in high school again, checking on my girlfriend until she couldn’t stand it any longer.

I looked at the time. It had been at least ninety minutes, maybe close to two hours. It was getting close to dinner. I could just casually ask if she was almost home or was heading back.

Yes, that would be the best course of action. Pick up the phone and be casual about dinner plans. Then, I could say that I was genuinely worried without sounding genuinely worried.

And then, I’d have to vow not to do this every time. Besides, would she really disappear with the butt plug and go back to her ex? No way! She’d never be able to explain it.

Looking at the clock, it was 4:49. I decided that if I gave her until exactly 5 o’clock, that it would be enough time for me not to look clingy and to look casual about my inquiry at the same time.

Whoever said “love is easy” didn’t have a brain working in overdrive like mine!

Chapter Fifteen

Dixie

I was walking through the woods near the boss’s estate. The butt plug was firmly in there, and, quite frankly, I was little worried about getting it out! Still, I liked the feeling of the stretching. I found myself gripping it as I walked.

My phone buzzed again. Surprise, surprise. Shawn was texting. I was afraid to tell Julius, but not only had Shawn not let up, he’d gotten worse. He was texting and calling several times an hour now. I had to constantly turn off the phone and check it in the bathroom.

In some ways, I felt good about it. By shutting off the phone, I felt less distracted and more in tune with myself. But Shawn’s drama was getting annoying, and I refused to let Julius have to suffer because of it. Shawn was my mess, and I was determined to clean it up.

Part of me worried that my parents would somehow find out about what I was doing. My God, if they knew about what we had done! Or the butt plug! My mother’s head would just explode. They’d never understand, and I wouldn’t expect them to. The lifestyle was only for a certain select group of people drawn to it.

I wanted to trust Julius, but part of me was still guarded because of Shawn. Part of it was because of my parents, too. It’s probably why I stayed with Shawn for so long, even though I knew it was a bad relationship. Somehow, I had to put my ex in the past where he belonged.

Unfortunately, as I was walking down the path, lost in my thoughts, I was roughly tackled. I looked up and there was Shawn.

“Shawn?!” I said. “What are you—“

“I’ve got you now!” He laughed. “I knew you were up to no good. All this time, sleeping with your boss. I thought you were good at your job.”

“I am good at my job!” I said. “Now, get off of me.”

“You gotta promise to talk to me.”

“Fine. Get off!”

He got off.

“Get lost Shawn. There. I talked to you.”

“Wait a minute,” he said, grabbing my arm. “You lied to me!”

“You got drunk and threatened me!”

“I was drunk! That’s not my fault!”

“Oh, did the beers jump down your throat.”

“Now you’re not being fair.”

“What do you want from me, Shawn?”

“I just want you to hear me out, okay? Obviously, you went through some stuff. You’re shacked up with your boss. He’s probably only doing it to get in your pants. Have you even thought about that?”

“I can’t believe you’re here,” I said, dodging the question. “How did you even find me?”

“I drove past the office and it was closed. I called your parents and they said you were still working,” he said. “I found your boss’ address online. Pretty clever, right?”

“No,” I said. “Any idiot could’ve figured that out.”

“Well, at least I’m not a whore! Humping my old, perverted boss!”