LUCIE
Iwake up rested.
And completely freaked out.
With rushed movements, I pull the tee-shirt back over my body and find my panties at the foot of the bed under the covers, putting them on before I get to the bathroom. The light assaults my eyes. It’s too harsh, and my heart rate is too high, too loud. My reflection stares at me, disheveled and well fucked. I press a hands to my chest, willing the organ to calm. I can feel it in my throat.
That was so unsafe.
I bite my lip.
Andso exhilarating.
Nothing like what I should do and everything I wanted. I followed my pussy instead of my brain. The fear and danger made it all the better.
I thought he might feel the raised skin on my legs when he touched me, but the darkness made me bold. It’s better if he never finds out. I have a feeling he wouldn’t like it. He’s made a point to protect me.
When I get back into bed, his scent lingers, somehow familiar. Lemony with an edge of darkness I can’t pinpoint. It’scomforting and I inhale deeply, trying to remember where I know it from and failing when sleep claims my exhausted and well-pleasured body. It’s official, I’m losing my mind.
But it’s too late now. It’s like I’m watching a train wreck and can’t stop.
For days after, the attentions of the mysterious man don’t dwindle. Not a day goes by without a post-it note, a flower on my table and nightly visits. I sleep through them but when I wake up, his cologne is all over my bedroom. I don’t get off at his command again. It’s like he’s making a point of not waking me up and having a repeat.
I’m disappointed but it might be for the best. What would happen anyway? He’s still a stranger that breaks and enters my home while I’m asleep and watches me sleep like a creep.My creep.
It’s a grim and rainy Tuesday evening when Mina and I enter my flat to study together, and she stops short, picking up the stack of post-it notes I left on my entrance table. The door closes slowly behind her and she raises a brow.
“It’s… uhh…”
I don’t have an answer for her. Admitting out loud that I’m getting attached to a stalker who could very well kill me in my sleep is beyond reckless, and I’ve known Mina for months now. She’s anything but reckless.
“Do you have a boyfriend and didn’t tell me?” she asks, playful accusation tainting her voice.
“No! It’s not what you think. I… I…”
She remains silent, just like the mafia men and women in my family have always done when they want to pressure someone into an answer. It’s uncanny how she even looks the part, eyes narrowed like an hawk ready to snatch her prey. She’d fit well with Irina.
“I have a stalker,” I blurt out.
The pieces of paper fly off her hands as she rushes towards me, her hands clasping around my biceps. She’s frantic, looking at each corner of the room as if he were here with us. “Are you okay? Why didn’t you say anything? Are you safe? Did he threaten you? You can tell me. I can ask my dad for protection. You should move in with Jay and I.”
“Stop. Stop. Mina.” It’s my turn to wrap my hands around her arms. I give her a smile that I hope conveys how muchnotin trouble I am, how safe I feel but she still regards me with that skeptical look. “I’m okay. He’s… harmless.”
I wince at my choice of words but don’t take it back. My stalker is far from harmless but he would never harmme. I think.
“Are you out of your mind? Lucie, someone is following you. Did you tell your family? Has he entered your home?”
I grimace.
“Lucie!”
I understand where her concern is coming from.
I step out of her arms and turn my back on her so she doesn’t see my blush. I prepare some crackers with jam, honey, and cheese so we can nibble while we study.
“He’s not dangerous to me. He does groceries for me, and he was the one who helped me when Chris decided that touching me without my consent was a good idea.”
Mina knows about the episode from the party a few weeks ago and has since refused to see Josh again. He and his friends barely even look our way now.
