And the only thing it stirs in me about what we almost did… is the fact that we didn’t.Which means now we get to do the things we want.Live the lives we were always supposed to live.
Together.
Hayami’s been concentrating on her studies, getting ready to make a career choice when she graduates this summer.Whatever she decides, she’ll put her all into it, because that’s who she is, who she always was.
And me?I’m with Junko’s new security company, training new recruits.And the rest of the time, I spend protecting Hayami.It isn’t my job—it’s my life.I’ll always protect her, no matter what.Because without her, being alive doesn’t mean a damn thing.
And this game, well, it’s what we do.It’s who we are.Because what is love without a dose fear?
Stopping at the foot of the stairs, I flex my hand and contemplate my next move.I’d hoped to catch her on the stairs, but I seem to have given her more time than I anticipated.
I start with the ground floor.
She’s not in the main living room.
Not in the kitchen.
But she’s been here.I can smell her.
Checking the walk-in pantry, I wonder if she’s gone outside.But just as I stalk towards the back door, I see a flurry of movement out of the corner of my eye.
She darts from under the table and springs out of the room.
Without hesitating, I run after her, pulse pounding in my eardrums.
She’s in the foyer.She swings herself around the banister to the stairs and sets off up them.
This is perfect.
I’ll have her just where I want her.
I follow, flinging myself up the stairs, taking them two at a time.Hayami is fit, but her strides are no match for mine.
I reach for her leg, careful not to pull her back so she falls, but strong enough to stop her in her tracks.
She stumbles forwards, putting her hands out on the step above to stop herself.
Standing on the step below her, I run my hands up her legs.“That wasn’t very difficult, Hayami,” I tell her.“It almost makes me think you wanted to be caught.”
“I don’t.”Her breath is all raspy, just the way I like it.“I’m just toying with you.”
“Is that so?”My hands smooth up the insides of her legs, her leggings hugging their shape.“You know the rules,” I say, gliding my hand over the curve of her ass.“You aren’t the one who gets to toy with me.”
“I like breaking the rules,” she replies, and my hand twitches.
“You know what happens when you break the rules, Hayami.”
This time, she nods, and I hope to God she can’t get her words out because she’s so desperate to feel me.
There’s only one response to this.
I slap her on her ass, the crack reverberating off the high ceiling.
Then, silence.
She does nothing.
Says nothing.
