After Dark

I wait for her companion to walk over to the couch and drop down before I turn my attention back to her. She’s still standing in front of me, still wavering on her feet, still enamored by the person she sees before her—unsure if it’s even human—and I’m quite content with that.

“Your real name,” I reply in a soft, stern tone. “I told you mine. Don’t you think it’s only fair? Especially if we plan on becoming close.”

I take a step forward, closing the gap between us. Gently, I take her hand again, interlacing our fingers, and smile down at her. She instantly becomes shy and almost docile as she blinks rapidly a couple of times.

“Daisy,” she finally says.

“And his?” I ask, nodding toward the crumpled man on my couch.

“That’s Sid,” she replies, making a face.

“And you’re together?”

“Kind of.”

Interesting.

“Either you are or you aren’t, Daisy,” I purr, pulling her closer and wrapping my arms around her hourglass frame. “Does he like to share his pretty little pet?”

Daisy reaches up and wraps her arms around my shoulders clumsily as she stumbles against me. I use a hand to push her hair out of her face. I can see a fresh bruise hidden just beneath her hairline and I have to do my best to continue to disassociate myself from this.

It’s not my problem.

If she hasn’t been smart enough to walk away from him yet, then maybe she enjoys it in her own way. Perhaps it’s their kink, one that I plan on ending before the night is over and done with.

She nods.

I grin.

I wonder what your screams will sound like, I think wistfully as I kiss the back of her hand gently and lead the way to Sid. I’ve never had more than one at a time, but I’m going to make a fucking exception.

He’s earned it.

Chapter 11

I watch Bodhi’s window from my spot in the alleyway, not caring if he sees me; hoping that he does. I can see part of the entryway to his building from where I stand, so I will be able to see him if he leaves.

I check my watch; it’s 10:27 PM. I take a cigarette out of its pack and light it, inhaling the smoke and exhaling my anxiety. I stand there, staring at his window, willing the light to come on. I finish my cigarette and light another one. And another. And another; checking my watch nearly every minute until 11:00.

Finally, I convince myself that he isn’t home. Maybe he went into work early? Maybe he’s away? Is he on a date? Oh, shit. What if he hurt himself and he’s lying there, unable to call for help? I need to go check to make sure he’s okay.

When I get to the door, I push the button to every apartment in the building; someone is bound to let me in.

“Yeah?” a voice comes over the speaker.

“Hi, I live in unit 201 and I lost my key, are you able to buzz me in?”

“There is no apartment 201, get lost!” the voice answered back.

Shit.

A second later and I hear 2 more buzzes, one right after the other. I quickly pull on the handle, relieved that one of the tenants doesn’t care enough to ask who it is before they let someone in.

During my numerous stakeouts in the alley over the past week and a half, I’ve deduced that he lives on the second floor in the first unit on the right. His bedroom and his bathroom are the first two windows in the row on the outside of the building.

As I reach the top of the stairs that led me to the second floor, I feel like someone is watching me. I look around me, but no one is there. I shrug it off and chalk it up to the fact that I shouldn’t be here; that I am infringing on his personal space. But when have I ever cared about that before? I knock on his door but, after waiting a few minutes, there is no answer. I place my ear on the door to see if I can hear any movement from inside his unit. Nothing.

“Bodhi,” I call out softly, “are you in there?”