Page 64 of The Guy Next Door
My thoughts exactly. “Yeah. And then it’s gonna further complicate things. If Detective Roth finds out I’m here, she’s gonna freak them out. They might be able to get a protective order or worse if they find the cameras I set up. And if I have to leave…or spend time in jail, I’m not gonna be able to protect your family. And the cops sure as hell won’t be here if something happens.”
“That’s what I keep thinking.”
“I know it’s asking a lot to trust me, but, Leif, if you’re in danger, I can protect you and your family. And if this is all in my head, then you’re not losing anything by my being over here.”
He studies my face. “You’re right. It’s a big ask—”
Fuck. “Then tell them. You should do whatever you think is right. And I’ll—”
He kisses me again, silencing me with a sweep of his tongue before he pulls away and looks me in the eyes. “You didn’t let me finish. I was going to say that it’s a big ask, but that I do trust you.”
Being inches from his face, gazing into his eyes, I don’t doubt his words. “I won’t let you down, Leif.” It’s my promise as I attack his lips yet again.
It’s a significant promise, but I’m more determined than ever. I may not have been able to protect my brother, but I will protect Leif. And this person who’s after him will lay a hand on him over my dead body.
17
LEIF
“Come on, Kyra.”
I sit on my bedroom floor, legs crossed, her cage in front of me.
I want some evidence that she can use her wings, but she just hops about, not making any effort that might lead me to think she’s healing. I offer words of encouragement, but Kyra goes about her usual business, ignoring me.
“Dammit,” I mutter, more than a little disappointed.
I pick my phone up and text Zane:Short King, Flight 6 is a bust. Think it might be time to take Kyra back to the clinic.
I return Kyra’s cage to the spot by my window and settle at my desk, browsing the vet’s online portal, when I get a reply from Zane:Sorry. :( Why don’t you come over tonight and I’ll try to make up for it? *devil emoji*
A rush of excitement moves through me.
Something changed in me two weeks ago—the night Zane fucked me.
That initial curiosity for his cock has turned into an obsession, a mission to get him in me as much as possible, something he clearly doesn’t mind making time for either. Even sitting here at my desk, my ass cheeks clench in anticipation. It doesn’t even have to be in moments like this, when there’s at least the promise that we might mess around again. Sometimes I’ll be sitting here when I feel that familiar clench, as if my ass is reminding me what we must get back to.
It’s not only the fucking, though.
I like Zane. He’s not the creeper I believed him to be when I first started seeing him around the neighborhood. Now that I’ve gotten to know about his past, I get what lies behind his intense gaze. So much pain, and I’m glad he felt he could share it with me.
When I finish booking an appointment through the clinic’s online portal, my phone screen switches to a FaceTime from Steven—a welcome surprise.
“Hey, stranger,” I answer, placing my phone in my mount.
“Leif, man. How’s it going? What’ve you been up to?”
His typical cheerfulness is charming as ever, but it stirs an awareness that I’m still not totally out of this funk. Back when we started talking at the beginning of our first semester, he was friendly and playful. We could go out to a party for a good time and laughs without me thinking twice about it. But now, that smile and the levity in his voice shine a light on the dissonance with where I’m at now compared to back then.
The fucking around with Zane has helped, but I have to accept that maybe I’ll never get back to that place before I crumbled under the weight of intense depression.
“It’s going okay,” I say. “I had another flight attempt with Kyra. It was a no-go.”
“I’m sorry, dude.”
“It’s okay. I was hoping it was an easy fix and she’d be back to normal, but looks like it’s gonna take longer than I figured.” As the words escape my lips, I can’t help but imagine that’s how Mom and Dad must feel about me and this time I’ve needed to recover from last spring.
“Anyway, I made an appointment with the clinic. I’ll keep you posted. How are you doing?”