“I—No. Wait for me?”
“I’m here.”
The lock rattled again. A chain, maybe. I counted the locks with her, humming softly when she swore.
“The locks are done.”
“Good girl,” I cooed. “I’m so fucking proud of you. That was hard. A really fucking long run, and you’re inside, all safe. Have some water. Do you want me to stay until you crawl into bed?”
She hesitated and I wondered for a moment if I’d lost her.
“Y–yes please,” she confessed in the barest whisper.
“It’s alright. I’m here,” I promised her. “Do you want to get water in the dark or do you need lights on?”
“Dark,” she whispered again, like she wanted to keep this secret between us, and the lights would blare it to smithereens.
“It’s okay, then. Keep a hand on the wall, Cora. Find the kitchen. Two hands for the glass. Put me on speaker,” I instructed her.
“Got it,” she mumbled a moment later, the sound of water filling a glass obscuring her voice.
“Good. Drink as much as you need. Shower?” I doubt she could think beyond her bed right now.
“In the morning. I’m exhausted."
“It’s been a huge day,” I murmured. “Where do you keep your nightdress?” I had no idea what attire she slept in.
“Nothing.” Material rasped on her skin, her breaths short again. “I don’t wear anything to bed."
“Butterfly,” I growled a warning. “Get the fuck into bed, curl up and tell me you’re safe for the night before I start knocking on doors to find yours.”
I knew which one was hers, but she didn't need to know that tonight.
“Sixteen B.” More material rasped against skin.The sheet. “Goodnight, Valentine.”
“Christ, Cora. We’re gonna have a talk about your safety habits.” I swore liberally, the speaker on mute for a few moments, and scared a stray cat.
“Tomorrow.” She yawned in my ear. “You can jog with me.”
I laughed softly. “Goodnight, Miss Cora.”
“Goodnight, Valentine. Hate me tomorrow.”
“I can do that,” I promised without venom.
I’d find plenty to hate about her tomorrow. But for tonight, she was the most incredible fantasy I’d ever fucking found.
Utter perfection.
For tonight, Cora Brooks was mine.
I waited in the shadows outside her building, listening to her fall asleep through the speaker until the battery died on her end, then headed home to rub my cock raw to the images of all the things I’d punish her for soon.
So fucking soon.
After we hated each other for a little longer. After she ran from me some more.
After I chased her a while longer.
