“I have condoms,” I tell her.
She licks her lips quickly and glances up at me.
“That’s good to know but not for that. I just want to grab a couple of things.”
“Okay with me.” I pull over at the next corner and park next to the sidewalk. “You need help?”
“No, that’s all right,” she says as she opens the car door. “I’ll only be a minute.”
When she returns, she’s shoving a small plastic bag into her purse. I half wonder if she’s bought a can of mace or something. I’ve dealt with far worse, and such tactics would never stop me if I were planning something more devious than sleeping and fucking. I consider asking her what she’s bought but decide against it. It doesn’t matter, and I don’t really care.
“All good?” I ask.
“Yes.” She runs her hands over her skirt again as she sits. The motion draws my gaze to her legs, and I wish she wasn’t wearing those tights, practical or not. I can tell how nicely shaped her legs are, and they’d look especially good up over my shoulders.
I shove the car into reverse and back out of the parking spot. It’s late, and there isn’t much traffic on a Tuesday night, so it doesn’t take me long to get back on the street, and I’m loving the roar of the Camaro’s engine. There’s no more conversation until we reach my apartment. Even in the elevator, she barely looks at me. She keeps her eyes on the ground just in front of her and
occasionally licks her lips or grasps the strap of her purse but says nothing.
After we enter my apartment, she slides the jacket off her arms, and I hang it along with mine in the coat closet. Her arms are long and slender, and her skin is perfect. The lack of jacket reveals more of her ass, and I appreciate it as she moves away from me.
She walks to the kitchen and looks over the counter at the open living room and the view beyond but still doesn’t speak. I can’t decide if it’s unnerving or peaceful, so maybe it’s a little of both. I open the fridge and start to reach for the beer but grab a couple of bottles of water instead. I offer her one, and she takes it with a quiet thanks.
Alina looks around the apartment, taking in the sparse furniture and lack of décor. The place came fully furnished with a smattering of wall art, and I haven’t done anything with it since I moved in.
I give her a few moments to check things out before I take a breath and open my mouth.
“Look,” I say, starting my prepared speech, “I’m really kind of tired. It’s been a long day and all. I think I’d like to start just by getting some sleep. After that, you can earn your money. Consider it a night of relaxation or something.”
I smile at her, but she only looks at me sideways. The information doesn’t surprise her, and I know she must have heard something about me from Loretta. Whatever the whore had told Alina, she hadn’t been scared away.
Well, not yet.
“The bedroom’s this way.” I direct her to the hallway and the left-hand door. She takes in the room as I remove my watch, place it on the dresser, and begin to unbutton my shirt.
“Do you want me to get undressed?” Alina asks.
“Your choice.” I shrug off my shirt and shove it into the hamper. My dog tags clink against each other. I still don’t know why I’m wearing them, and I turn away from her to take them off and coil the chain next to my watch.
“Well, I don’t exactly have any pajamas on hand.”
I look up at her and see the hint of a smile on her face. With a shake of my head, I open up one of my dresser drawers to find a T-shirt.
“Will this do?” I ask as I toss it to her.
Alina catches the shirt easily and looks it over. It’s just a plain white one, but she smiles up at me anyway.
“Perfect.” She places the shirt on the bed and takes off her heels.
I sit on the edge of the mattress to take off my shoes and watch her undress. She doesn’t make a big show of it; she just strips down to her panties and bra before picking up the shirt from the bed. I look her over, appreciating the creamy color of her skin as it’s revealed. It looks soft and smooth, and her legs are better than I’d imagined when the tights come off. I get a flash of rounded tits as she discards her bra before pulling the T-shirt over her head.
“Mind if I use your bathroom?”
“It’s right across the hall.”
She picks up her bag, and I watch her head out of the room, focusing on the curve of her ass. Once she’s gone, I remove everything but my boxers and climb onto the bed. I’m still tense; so many of these nights have ended badly. I’ve already gone three nights without any real sleep. I have endured much longer, but it’s enough to keep me on edge.
Alina returns and lowers herself onto the bed beside me. Stretching out, she turns to face me as I wrap one arm around her waist and pull her body against mine. I can’t identify the scent on her skin, but it’s slightly familiar.