by E. L. Todd
“You two are rich.”
“I’m not that much of a badass,” he said with a laugh.
“Well, don’t let me keep you from your date.”
“You better stay out of our way when we get back. I mean it,” he said.
“Aren’t you presumptive?”
“Paola enjoys being alone with me,” Derek said with a smirk. “I’m definitely not assuming anything.” He walked out the front door and left. When he was in his truck, he called Paola. “Hey, baby.”
“Hey,” she said, a smile in her voice.
“What’s your address so I can pick you up?”
She was quiet for a moment. “Let’s just meet at the restaurant. I’ll see you in five minutes.”
“Come on. Let me pick you up. This is a date.”
“I’m fine, Derek.”
He thought her response was odd. Why didn’t she want him to know where she lived?
“Just give me the address, Paola. I’m not taking you out without picking you up.”
She sighed. “Derek, you’re annoying me.”
“The feeling is mutual,” he said. “Why don’t you want me to see your place?”
Paola paused for a moment. “124 Arbor way. Apartment 6.”
“I’m on my way.” He hung up then headed further into the island, away from the shops, restaurants, and the university. When he saw the apartment complex, he immediately understood why she didn’t want him to come. The building had cracks in the walls, guy with saggy pants and torn t-shirts sat outside, smoking while chains hung around their necks. Derek parked his car and watched the people move. It reminded him of the projects. There weren’t too many bad neighborhoods on Oahu, but like every other city, there were a few. The sight rubbed him the wrong way. He parked his truck then walked to her door.
When he knocked, she looked through the peephole before she opened the door.
Derek saw the guarded expression on her face. She was expecting him to comment on her neighborhood. He didn’t want to ruin their date so he kept it to himself. “Hey,” he said with a smile. He looked at the purple dress she wore. “You’re killing me with these dresses.”
Her eyes lit up. “Thank you.”
Derek stepped into the apartment then closed the door behind him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck. “You taste good.”
“Don’t eat me.”
“I may have to,” he said as while he grabbed her ass and squeezed it. “Are you going commando?”
“Yes.”
“What?” He raised an eyebrow.
“I don’t want you to take any more of my panties. You’ll start a collection.”
He smiled. “Good thinking.” His hand moved under her dress and felt her pussy lightly.
She moaned then dragged him toward her bedroom.
Derek knew where this was going. “After dinner.”
“How about before and after?”
He pressed his face closer to hers. “No. I want to take you out, talk to you, look at you.”
“You can do that in my bedroom.”
Derek grabbed her face and directed her gaze onto him. “The chemistry between us is unbelievable, volatile. I think about you when I jack off, I imagine your naked body when I’m in class, but I want something more. When you’re ready to be in a relationship, we can shack up in the bedroom until you’re satisfied. But for now, we need to take this slow.”
She grabbed his neck then kissed him gently. “I can’t help it. I just want you—all the time.”
“I feel the same way.”
“I’ve never felt that way before.”
“Nor have I,” he said. “Now let me take you to dinner.”
“Okay,” she said quietly.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her from the apartment. After she locked the door, he walked her to his truck. He felt the stares of the men around them, looking at Paola in her short dress. He felt his anger and paranoia set in. He didn’t like Paola living alone, not when these thugs were nearby. What if they followed her? Broke into her apartment in the middle of the night and…he stopped himself from continuing the thought.
He opened her door and got her inside before he moved to the driver’s seat.
“So, you think about me when you masturbate?” she asked with a smile.
“I’ve never cum harder.”
Her cheeks blushed.
“I hope that’s okay.”
“It’s—really hot.”
“Good. Because I like using your underwear for that. And by the way, you’re never getting them back.” He pulled off the road and drove to the restaurant. He patted the middle seat. “Sit here, baby. I don’t like it when you’re way over there.”
She moved closer to him, and he rested his hand on her thigh.
When they got to the restaurant, they sat beside the window and looked out at the water. Derek ordered them a bottle of wine and stared at Paola across the table. Her breasts looked round in her tight fitting dress. Some of the cleavage was sticking out and he loved looking at it. He imagined rubbing his dick between her tits but pushed the thought away, knowing how incredibly inappropriate it was. When he got himself under control, he stared at the curve of her lips and the small freckle in the corner of her mouth. It was hard to see, but still prevalent. He studied her face while she looked at the menu.
“I apologize on behalf of my friends,” Derek said.
She smiled. “I like them. There’s no need for apology.”
“I realize they can be incredibly inappropriate.”
“They are honest. I like it when people are truthful.”
“You look so fucking beautiful,” he blurted, staring at her slender neck and perfect hair.
She flinched. “You look really handsome too.”
He shook his head. “There’s no comparison. I look like an elephant compared to you.”
“Well, I think elephants are cute.”
He smiled. “I do have a big trunk...”
She chuckled lightly. “I have yet to see.”
“I’ll show you sometime.”
“I’m afraid I won’t be able to control myself if you do.”
Derek felt his cock spring to life. He took a long drink of his water to cool the temperature of his body.
She averted her gaze and set the menu down.
When the waiter came over, they ordered their food. Derek ordered grilled fish while Paola ordered a salad and a side of soup.
“I hate to be one of those guys, but I have to say something,” Derek said.
Her eyes widened. “What?”
“You…you don’t eat very much,” he said hesitantly. “If you aren’t a model anymore, you shouldn’t be so strict about it. You exercise so much but you don’t seem to put in as much as you burn.”
“I thought you liked my body,” she said quietly.
“I love your body,” he said. “But I’m going to love it no matter what. Let yourself dig in. Believe me, I’m going to want you as much as I do now.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Okay.” Derek took a drink of his wine and stared at her across the table.
She kept looking away every time she caught him looking.
“I’ll stop if you want,” he said. “But I don’t want to.”
“No, you can,” she said. “I’m just not used to it.”
“How is that possible?”
“I’ve just never been attracted to someone as much as they’ve been attracted to me. I felt like Vince liked my body for the most part, but he wasn’t obsessed with it like you are. It’s just different.”
“Obsessed is the perfect word,” he said. “And Vince is a fucking idiot. I hate that guy.”
“I didn’t mean to open old wounds.”
“I didn’t like the way he spoke to you. You’re the perfect woman. You should only be with the perfect guy.”
“Are you the perfect guy?” she asked.
He averted his gaze. He was nowhere near per
fect. “No. But I love you with my whole heart and I’ll try to be perfect so I can keep you.”
She stared at him, her face expressionless.
The waiter brought their food to the table and set it down.
She nibbled on her salad and ate a few bites of her soup. Derek cut his fish in half and gave it to her.
“Try it,” he said.
“That’s too much.”
“Eat it,” he said. “Please.” He handed her some of his potatoes then ate his food.
“I’ve never been told to eat, just eat less.”
“I want you to eat,” he said. “You have muscle and definition. You need protein to retain it.”
She smiled at him then ate it.
They ate their meal in silence, staring at each other. Derek didn’t feel uncomfortable for blatantly gawking at her. He could stare at her face all day, looking into the depth of her eyes forever. Never in his life had he loved someone the way he loved her. She was always in the forefront of his mind, consuming his thoughts and his desires. Now he understood Coen in a way he never did before. The need to constantly take care of his partner, the need to watch out for her, pull her chair out for her, just love her in general. It was his purpose in life. It wasn’t to become a pro surfer or chase his dreams. It was to live his life for her. The revelation frightened him.
“What?” she said.
“Uh, nothing.” He grabbed the tab and slipped the money inside. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yeah.”
He helped her stand up and held her hand while they walked back to the car. On the drive home, he held her hand tightly, resting it on his thigh. The longer they were together, the more at ease he felt. His connection to her was growing stronger. It was hard to believe they only knew each other for less than a month. A part of him felt like he’d known her his entire life. The sensation was hard to explain.
When they returned to her apartment, the dark side of Derek came out. He wasn’t sure how to act because he’d never been in love before, but the paranoia and fear burned in his heart. He couldn’t stand the area she lived in. It wasn’t safe. It was gnawing at him.
“Would you like some wine?” she asked as she walked inside.
Derek inspected the windows, seeing how thin they were, and then examined the lock on her door. She didn’t even have a dead bolt. Now he was getting worse. “No, thanks. I want to talk about something.”
“What?” she asked, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her breasts were pressed against his chest and she moved against him gently, grinding him. Derek knew what she was thinking, but his thoughts were far from that.
“You can’t live here anymore.”
She sighed, dropping her hands. “I knew this would happen.”
“Then you know I’m right. This place is ghetto, Paola.”
“That isn’t insulting at all.”
“You know what I mean. It’s not safe here. This is the worst place you could stay on the entire island. You realize that, right? There are thugs standing in the front yard, smoking their pipes. Guys wearing chains gawk at you as you walk by. It’s not the right place for you.”
“Well, it’s all I can afford, Derek. And I can take care of myself,” she said. “I’m not totally clueless to what happens around me. I make sure my doors are locked, I look at everyone around me, and I don’t talk to anyone.”
“That doesn’t make me feel better at all.”
“You’re going to have to deal with it. Nothing is going to change.”’
“I beg to differ,” he snapped. “We’re finding you a new apartment.”
“Stop telling me what to do.”
“Too bad. I’m your boyfriend. It’s my job take care of you.”
“You aren’t my boyfriend,” she said.
“Yes, I am. You’re going to have to deal with it.”
She glared at him. “If I feel safe here, then it shouldn’t bother you.”
“But it isn’t safe here, Paola. I can’t sleep at night knowing this where you live. You need to find a new apartment in a better area.”
“Derek, I would if I could. But I just can’t afford it. Arguing about it isn’t going to change anything.”
“How can you not afford it?” he asked. “We make the same amount of money.”
“I have other bills to pay.”
He sighed. “With my check from the competition, you should only owe ten grand. We can pay that off in no time. Now you should look for a better place.”
She shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest. “Well, that isn’t now. After I pay off the medical bills, I’ll look for a new apartment. There. You happy?”
“No,” he said. “You need to live somewhere else now. And why are you stuck paying for this? Your family should be responsible.”
“Well, he lives in a trailer park and can barely walk. I’m not making him pay for it.”
Derek sighed. “This is bullshit.”
“You’re making it more complicated,” she said. “I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing it for a long time and I’m pretty fucking good at it.”
“And now it’s your turn to be taken care of,” Derek said. “If you aren’t going to get a new place, you are moving in with me.”
Her eyes widened in shock. “You are being crazy.”
“It’ll just be temporary. I’ll sleep on the couch and you can have my room. After we pay off the rest of your medical bills, we’ll look for another place and get you settled. Until then, you aren’t staying here.”
She sighed. “That apartment isn’t meant for three people.”
“I’ll kick my sister out, then,” he snapped. “She got herself into that mess.”
“No,” Paola said. “You aren’t doing that. I’m not moving in with you.”
“Fine. We’ll switch apartments. I’ll stay here and you and my sister can stay at my apartment.”
“You are fucking crazy.”
“What’s your point?”
“We aren’t doing that.”
“We’re doing one or the other. You may as well pick one.”
“Derek, I can fucking take care of myself.”
He grabbed her by the arms and stared her down. “What are you going to do when one of those assholes breaks into your apartment, ties you up, and then fucking rapes you? What? You’re going to scream for help? You think any of your neighbors care? No, they fucking don’t.”
She pulled away, her eyes wide.
“I’m not trying to scare you,” he said. “But it’s true. If they watch you, they’ll know you live alone. The lock is easy to pick and there’s no one here to protect you.”
She turned around and crossed her arms over chest.
“Baby, I’m sorry.”
Paola said nothing.
He turned her around. “So, what’s it going to be? Am I staying here or are you coming with me?”
“I—I don’t know.”
“I’ll give you an hour to think about it.”
“We have to decide this today?” Paola asked.
“If not, I’m sleeping outside your door.”
“Derek, you’re fucking psycho.”
“No, I’m just irrevocably and madly in love with you. I’m not letting anything happen to my girl. I’m getting you out of here. What happened to your mom was horrible and sad. I’m not denying it wasn’t. But you shouldn’t have to suffer for it forever. We are getting you out of here.”
She stared at him. “Derek, you don’t have to do this.”
“I already know that.”
She sat down on the couch. “Sometimes they watch me,” she whispered.
Derek felt his heart accelerate.
“They—”
He held up his hand. “Stop. I don’t want to hear it.”
Paola looked at his hand.
“Now you need to choose.”
She sighed. “I can’t make you stare here.”
“Believe me, I can take care of myself. I’l
l kill anyone who comes in here. Please do what makes you feel more comfortable.”
“What about all my stuff? It won’t fit in your apartment.”
“I have a place where we can put it.”
“Where?”
“My friends will hold it for you. Thatcher and Nancy have a big place.”
“You can’t ask them that.”
“Yes, I can,” he said. “They’d do anything for me. And since you’re my girlfriend, they’d do anything for you.”
“I’m not your girlfriend,” she whispered.
“Yes, you are,” he snapped. “There’s no point in arguing about it.”
She looked away then pulled her knees to her chest.
“So, are you staying with me?”
“I guess.”
He smiled. “I was hoping you’d choose that.”
“Derek, I don’t want you to do this because you feel obligated.”
“If that’s how I felt, I wouldn’t have even brought it up.”
She sighed.
“Paola, please don’t feel bad about it. I know you don’t feel safe here.”
“I just don’t want to ruin what we have.”
“We won’t,” he said. “I’ll sleep on the couch and give you your space. If it gets too much, I’ll stay with my friends. They won’t mind.”
“Derek, I never thought you’d be so sweet.”
“Because I’ve never been this sweet before. I’ve only been that way with you.”
She smiled at him then placed her face next to his.
He kissed her on the forehead. “Now let’s get your stuff together for tonight. We’ll get the rest of the stuff tomorrow.”
“Okay.” She walked into her room and stuffed her bag with her clothes, hair accessories, and other things. The last thing she grabbed was her surfboard.
“Ready?” he asked.
She nodded.
They left her apartment and returned to Derek’s place. He was so happy to get her out of there. If she refused to come with him, he’d have to sleep outside her apartment ever night. The idea of her being alone in that unsafe place would give him nightmares. It was enough to send him into a panic attack.
When they walked inside, Cheyenne was sitting on the couch with Ryder.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Derek yelled. “Get him out of my house!”
Cheyenne’s eyes widened when she saw Derek. “I thought you were out with Paola.”