“Are you even listening? I said I don’t have a round check for another 40 minutes. How about I come in and make it all up to you?”
“David, that sounds great, but I’m not feeling well. My stomach is upset. I was just about to lay down when you knocked.”
David scoffed. “You know… it’s always something with you, little boy.”
Little boyis how David liked to refer to me when I’d done something to upset him. Like he was my father, or something.
“I’m sorry, I’m just really tired and…”
Before I could finish, David lifted his finger in ashushmotion as he pulled his vibrating phone out of his pocket.
“Detective Kirktin,” David answered, announcing his name and title. I couldn’t hear what was said on the other end, but David sighed. “I’ll be right there. Secure the scene.”
When he pocketed his phone, he looked at me and frowned. “Sorry, babe. I won’t be able to stay and play. Duty calls.”
“Oh, no,” I replied, feigning disappointment. “That sucks. But I know a lot of people rely on you.”
David smiled and reached out to rub his thumb across my cheek. “It’s okay, love. There’s always tomorrow. Sleep tight.”
With my pulse beating in my ears, I watched from the porch as David made his way down the driveway. He switched on his flashers as soon as he got into the car and peeled away from the curb. I felt my entire body begin to relax as I closed the door, securing the bolt.
I didn’t make it two steps into the house when a large hand appeared, as if out of nowhere, and covered my mouth as another arm came around my waist. I fought off every instinct to scream or run as he pulled my body back against his and whispered. “Shh, I've got you, baby.”
Hearing his voice for the first time, even if only a whisper, soothed every nerve in my body, and I melted backagainst him.
“There you go, sweetheart,” he cooed into my ear as he wrapped his arms around me tighter. I squirmed a little, and he loosened his grip enough for me to turn around in his arms. He was wearing a mask that covered almost every inch of his face except for his eyes. His beautiful, soft gray eyes. His pupils were enlarged, big and black. I didn’t know how, but I could tell he was smiling, even under the mask.
Echoes of the things I’d written to him, the things we’d written to each other, came floating across my memory. The late-night fantasies about what he looked like, what he’d sound like, how his raspy voice would pierce the quiet when he said my name. Every fantasy of him that I’d clung to all those years came rushing back all at once, and I was suddenly overwhelmed.
“Baby…” he began.
I buried my face in his neck so he wouldn’t see the tears welling in my eyes. He wrapped me up and squeezed. “Fuck, Avery,” I heard him huff as he brought his hand up to run his fingers through the back of my hair.
Being this close to him,feeling him, touching him,was almost more than I could physically handle. It was like a fairytale. A fever dream…
“I can’t believe you’re here.” My broken voice made me wince, and I hoped he hadn’t picked up on it.
I felt him nod against my head, but he didn’t say anything.
“I like the mask,” I murmured.
“I thought you would,” he chuckled. His voice sounded rough, like gravel, and I wondered if that was how he always sounded, or if, maybe, he was a little overwhelmed too. “Actually, I was hoping you would, but I was nervous you’d be upset that you still don’t know what I look like.”
“I certainly wasn’t expecting it, but it’s kinda hot.” I shrugged. “I guess I don’t mind keeping the mystery alive a little longer.” I smiled against him, thrilled at the thought of finding out… eventually. I kept waiting for him to loosen his grip, but he just continued to hold me snug against himself.
Despite the fact that there was a huge, masked stranger holding his arms around me, I’d never felt more safe. Never more at home.
I took a deep breath, inhaling his scent through the thin fabric of his shirt. “I’m so sorry I lied to you, James.” I waited for a moment, and, when he didn’t respond, I spoke again. “This is no excuse, but I felt like I’d lose my family if I didn’t stay with him like my parents wanted.”
“Me not being here for you is my fault, Avery. Not yours. But I am here now, and I willnotshare you. Period. I love you too much. I can’t handle the thoughtof another man touching you.”
Pulling away from him enough to look up into his eyes, I searched them like a road map to make sure he’d said what I thought he’d said. “You… you love me?”
I could see the very edges of his eyebrows through the eyeholes of the mask as he furrowed them together. “Avery, of course I love you. I’ve told you that a hundred times. You’re all I ever think about. You are the only thing that kept me sane being locked up. Your letters were my lifeline. They kept me from getting involved with the gangs, or any of the other stupid ass shit that traps people in the system. I kept clean. No drugs, no trouble, knowing that if my sentence was extended, I wouldn’t be able to handle it. I had to get out. I had to get to you, Avery. I need you.”
“I’m so sorry. I need you, too. I don’t… I’m not sure how this happened. I don’t want to be shared! I only want to be with you.”
“Good. So, what’s the plan?”
