After Dark

Once I’m settled, I reach for my knife and fork and cut a piece of meatloaf off, smother it in gravy, then pop it into my mouth chewing thoughtfully.

I scoff when I notice that he hasn’t shoved his first forkful into his mouth, so I reach across the table and give his hand a bump with the back of mine. It seems to work and he comes back to life, taking his first bite of the meal.

Baby Jane slips in almost completely unnoticed by him as she places two small bowls of rice on either side of our plates then walks away.

“You alright?” I ask him as I cut another piece of meatloaf away, wondering if his flesh would give so easily under a knife.

“Yeah,” he replies quickly. Too quickly—like he wants to please me more than he wants to tell me the truth.

“So,” I begin as I pull my napkin off my lap and use it to dab my mouth, “do you want to come back to my place after we’re done eating? I mean, it would have to be when I get off of work, but I’m sure you already know when that is.”

Knox gives me a sheepish smile and I shake my head ruefully. The only thing he doesn’t seem to fucking know about me is my social security number, though I wouldn’t be surprised if he did.

“That would be great,” he says softly.

I nod, “Then finish eating and come find me after work. You know where I live and when I get off.”

He nods enthusiastically as he finally digs into his meal with the tenacity of a starving man and I smile despite myself.

This is going to be much easier than it should be.

Chapter 19

After I left the diner, I went home and showered. He was acting a little strange during dinner. I’m sure he was still angry, but I’m hoping if he sees that I am making an effort to look nice for him it may make him understand that I am serious about my feelings.

He was right when he said that I know what time he gets off of work; four AM. I learned that the first week that I started watching him. He was trying to make me feel bad about the fact that I’ve been watching him, but I just can’t. It’s who I am and I can’t change that. I tried, but I just couldn’t. When I see something I like, I have to have it. It eats away at me until it’s mine.

Right around four-fifteen, I see him walking down the street and my heart starts beating a little faster. The fluttering starts in my stomach. My cock grows hard as I think about the last time I was in his apartment. I would give anything to be underneath of him again tonight. I wonder if he would let me on top sometime. I am usually the dominator, but I liked when he took control of me. It was new and exciting.

“Hi,” I say to him as he gets to the set of two concrete steps leading to the door of his building.

“Hey,” he answers without a smile.

I notice he’s wearing another pair of latex gloves, just like at dinner. If he thinks that’s going to keep me from enjoying the sight of them, he’s wrong. He unlocks the door and holds it open for me to go in first. Following me up the stairs, I move out of his way so he can unlock the door. Once again, he holds the door open, letting me walk in before him. I unzip my jacket, but don’t take it off.

“Do you want a drink?” he asks.

“No, I’m okay. Thank you.”

I wipe my clammy hands on my jeans. I don’t want him to cringe when I touch him, if I touch him, with sweat covering them. He

pours himself a glass of water and turns around, leaning up against the counter. He doesn’t say anything; he just stands there and stares in between each sip.

“Um, thank you for inviting me over. I want you to know I don’t expect anything from you. Anything like last time, I mean. Although that was wonderful and I certainly wouldn’t mind doing it again. I mean, if you wanted to?”

I didn’t mean to phrase it as a question.

“You talk too much,” was his only response.

“I know. I don’t mean to. I’m just nervous,” I say, hanging my head and closing my eyes.

I don’t hear him as he walks over. I only know he’s there when he places one of his hands on the side of my face. I lift my head and lock in on his gaze. I’m sure he doesn’t miss the hope in my stare.

“Last time was fun. I think this time will be even better.”

His soft lips meet mine and he pulls me into his room, backing me up against the bed. We kiss a little longer and then he pushes me backward.

“Take off your clothes,” he commands.