by Blythe Stone
If anything got the hotel to act it was that. All of a sudden the manager was also on the phone with the police. Nat assumed they had some form of protocol. All types of chatter was suddenly being heard in the walkie talkies and earpieces that half of the staff carried.
"He could be anywhere," Iris said, looking at every face in the lobby.
“Stay close sweetie,” Nat asked, holding Iris tighter about the waist. “Can we get a robe for her,” Nat said. She had a robe for herself and didn’t care that they’d come from the pool.
“Sure thing,” one of the employees said, before wandering away.
“You can call Stan if you want,” Nat said. “I’m going to call my people as soon as they get my phone from the room.” The police had Nat tied up in the waiting game. “Anyone look familiar?” Nat was sure this was Iris’s stalker and not some rando of hers. Her stalkers, Ben excluded, were almost always bold enough to approach and talk to her.
"I don't have my phone either," Iris said.
Someone handed her the robe and she put it on, stepping away from Nat for a moment. Iris walked up to the counter and asked to use their phone since she knew Stan's number by heart.
He picked up after a few rings.
"Stan, he's been here to our room. The stalker. Yeah, the police are here. We need a new hotel. Okay, bye," Iris said.
She went back to Nat and took her hand.
"Stan's coming," Iris told her.
“That was fast,” Nat smiled.
"He probably feels bad. Should we leave. What if he's waiting?" Iris asked.
“I think we should wait for the police and see if we can find out who he is. Why? Do you wanna leave?” Nat asked.
"I just feel like he's here watching us," Iris said.
“If you want to go we can. I actually think we're safer right here with all these people. And closer to catching him than being attacked.” Other people were like kryptonite to a disturbed creep trying to get you alone, at least that's how Nat felt about it.
"You're right. Leaving is a bad idea," Iris said.
She huddled into Nat and made herself as small as she could. There were people blocking her now but that meant she couldn't see either.
"Maybe if they let us back in their little office area?" Iris wondered.
“Good idea sweetie,” Nat kissed her temple. “Can we do this from in there?” Nat asked the manager.
“Yes, please,” she said nervously. “Do you know what he looks like?”
“We didn't see him,” Nat explained. “He left a note at our room. It's still up there. Can someone fetch our cellphones and purses?”
“Of course,” the manager said. She walked them into the office and shut them inside.
“Is this better?” Nat asked Iris as they both sat down.
"Much. Thank you. I'm sorry you're in the middle of this crazy," Iris said.
“I'd rather you have me with you,” Nat said. “Even if we weren't close.”
"I'd rather you be safe but I love that you want to protect me," Iris said.
If there was a choice between her own safety or Nat's, she would always choose the latter. That's just how Iris saw it. She would sacrifice herself for Nat in a second. It wasn't simple like that though. There were no clear choices when things happened in real life.
“Baby, I'm never safe,” Nat smiled softly.
"You will be when we get back to L.A. and I lock us both in a bunker together with ten years worth of supplies," Iris said.
“Crazy one,” Nat smiled more. “You know I can't survive without the sun.”
"I'll put in a bulletproof skylight," Iris frowned.
“I like the real thing,” Nat said.
"You can go outside to lay in the sun and then come back in," Iris continued.
Talking about this was better than wondering if that guy was going to bust in and kill them. Iris balled her hand up into a fist and squeezed it tight.
“Yes master,” Nat said. She thought about an odd movie she saw a couple years ago at a festival. It had Ellen Paige and Evan Rachel Wood hiding out from civilization in the woods. At one point they burnt their house down, they'd been rotting inside of it and come to resent it.
"What if I ruined evidence by touching the note?" Iris worried.
“Why are you worried about that,” Nat asked, locking their eyes.
"Because they might not catch him or it could be someone else.
“They might not catch him anyway,” Nat reminded. “I'm sure there's video. Let's not stress.” Nat wasn't stressed. She was annoyed. Annoyed that some crazy asshole got to ruin their night.
"Easy to say," Iris mumbled.
She relaxed her hand and saw the marks her nails made in her palm. Iris knew it helped but it also hurt her to release her anxiety physically.
“Come on,” Nat said, pulling Iris closer by sticking her fingers behind Iris's knees. “Look at me,” Nat said, much closer now, needing Iris to focus on her.
"Yeah," Iris said.
Nat had her attention now. Iris focused and tried to block the thoughts that spread her mind so thin.
“We are okay,” Nat said. “And we have nothing to worry about.” Nat believed it so fiercely that it felt absolutely true.
"Nat, I want to believe that but it doesn't feel true. There's a crazy person putting weird religious quotes under our door and writing threats. This just escalated," Iris said.
Nat stared at her, brushing the stray hairs behind Iris's ears before leaning down and kissing both of her knees. “Okay,” she sighed, turning to her side and giving Iris a little space.
Nat couldn't drown in fear. She refused to. Not again.
"I'm going to get some water," Iris said.
She stood and walked to the door, opening it a crack to look out. No one was in the immediate area but she still couldn't make herself go so she shut the door again and stared at it before opening it again and walking out. Nat needed her to be stronger and less afraid. She was failing again.
Confused, Nat got up once the door shut and followed her out. “Iris,” Nat said, stopping her.
Iris looked at Nat and tried to be as calm as possible.
“You shouldn't be alone,” Nat said. The compulsion confused her. That Iris was terrified and that terror would drive her away. “What are you doing,” Nat asked, confused. “Am I fucking up? What is it?”
"No, you aren't. Not at all. You're perfect. It's me. I'm fucking up. It's fine. I just want some water or anything to drink really," Iris explained.
“Okay,” Nat sighed, but she didn't really believe Iris about the not fucking up stuff, it was obvious that she was useless to her. Quietly, obediently, Nat held her hand and walked with her where she led. If the stalker was here right now she'd immediately kick him in the balls. No mercy. No fucks.
"Hey, do you have a bottle of water or some juice?" Iris asked the first person in a hotel uniform.
"Of course, just a second," the girl said.
She rushed off and Iris looked back at Nat.
"Hey, I'm serious. This isn't you," Iris assured.
The girl came back and right behind her was Stan.
"Are you okay?" He asked, hugging Iris.
"I'm fine," she said.
Nat rubbed her neck and felt stressed.
Iris let go of Stan and moved back, reaching for Nat. Somewhere along the way Nat had become her safety.
"They called the police and went to get our clothes," Iris said.
The girl she had asked for the drink was still standing there, bottles of water in hand.
Iris took them and turned to give one to Nat.
"I'm going to see this note and make sure they get your things. Don't want you walking around in robes," Stan said.
He left them alone again, and Iris led Nat back to their little room.
"It would be nice if we could have a normal time for once," Iris complained.
“Yeah,” Nat muttered. She placed her free hand on her own stomach and f
elt a little sick. When Iris got like this it made her feel invisible.
"How the hell did he find us? You don't have to answer that I'm just continuing to freak out," Iris said.
She pushed herself into Nat's arms for refuge. That's where she would find the will to deal with this.
"Are you okay?" Iris asked.
“Yeah,” Nat breathed. She couldn't think of another thing to say. Nothing she did helped and that was beginning to feel very personal.
"Babe, are you sure. I feel bad." Iris leaned back and kissed Nat softly. "I'm so sorry."
“What? Baby why? You have no power over this,” Nat defended.
"I know. You're just being so calm and I'm crazy," Iris said.
“Babe, come on,” Nat begged. “Don't talk like that.”
"Sorry," Iris hugged her.
Nat wrapped her arms around her tighter. “You're not crazy,” she whispered.
"I just wish they would go away," Iris said.
“We'll figure it out,” Nat soothed.
Someone knocked on the door and Iris jumped. A policeman in uniform came in followed by Stan and a middle aged man in a suit.
"I'm Sergeant Howe. I presume you're Ms Dupree and Ms Reyes," the policeman said.
He had three bars on the sleeve of his navy uniform shirt to indicate his rank. He glanced from Nat to Iris and back.
"That's right," Iris said.
"We're starting to process the room and the note that was left. I'd like to ask you a few questions in the meantime. Then we'll let you find a new accommodation and give you an escort there," he said.
Turned out the sergeant had already questioned Stan and riddled them with the standard questions about the events of their night.
Iris answered him the best she could and Nat gave even more information but neither of them had actually seen anything so it didn't help much.
Stan was the one who knew the most about the stalker from the internet. If that was even who this was. It could be a whole new person that wanted a piece of her or it could just be a really stupid joke.
Either way, Stan arranged for them to stay at a loft owned by one of the festival founders who owned several properties in the area, which is who the guy in the suit turned out to be.
Iris held on to Nat through the questions and the discussions. Eventually, she checked out and just lay her head on Nat's shoulder, wondering why all this was even necessary. Humans were always screwing everything up, most of all what they claimed to love.
Chapter 25
Recovery
It took a long time to get Iris alone. Once they got to the new place Nat kept trying to get Stan and his friend to go. They were high on adrenaline and that wasn't helpful.
When they finally left the premises, silence was necessary.
“Can I get you something?” Nat asked. They hadn't eaten and Iris was a terrified mess.
Nat faced her just inside the door and held her into her body with an arm locked around the small of her back. “Some of my people are coming out tomorrow to look into this. They've already had the hotel footage and pictures of the note sent to them. They'll be on it. They'll use the press and social media. He’ll be scared to show his face.”
Nat was convinced the guy had to have been stupid enough to be traced. If not by his face then by his means of transportation. No one can just disappear. And there was no way in hell he just so happened to work at the hotel. No way.
"I'm fine. This place seems nice," Iris replied.
“Yeah,” Nat sighed. It was fine. It's whatever, she thought. None of it mattered because Iris was too stressed to enjoy it anyway.
Nat stared at her a second and then decided to walk into the kitchen and check it out. Wine sat beside the fridge on the counter. The man who Stan knew had encouraged them to make themselves at home. “I'm gonna order a pizza,” Nat said. She was rummaging for a bottle opener in the nearly empty drawers while she spoke.
Iris followed Nat into the kitchen and stayed close.
"Wine. That'll help," Iris said.
Nat smiled to herself, amused by Iris. She opened the bottle and poured a bit into two glasses, handing Iris one. “Here,” she said, raising her glass in a toast.
"Thanks here's to us," Iris said.
They clinked their glasses and Iris drank most of what was in her glass in one go.
Nat turned to halfway face her, and lean into the counter, as she stared and slowly sipped.
The wine was nice and her hunger gave the alcohol an accelerated bite.
“To us,” Nat mused, checking out her anxious girlfriend.
"What are you thinking? You have that devious smile," Iris said.
“I'm thinking you're very sexy,” Nat mused. Her eyes trailed down Iris's chest and focused in on her cleavage. “And I'm about to be a little inebriated,” Nat laughed. “I need food.”
"What do you want on your pizza. I'll order it," Iris said.
She sidled closer to Nat and teased her with a better view.
“Mmm. Uh. That's tough,” Nat flirted. “I like all the things.”
"You can have whatever you want. All you have to do is ask," Iris flirted back.
“I'm uh,” Nat got a little flustered with the rush of the wine to her brain. “Well, I better eat before I get into that. I can't really trust myself.”
“Why? What do you think will happen?” Iris asked.
“I'll get carried away,” Nat sighed. “And possibly hurt myself.”
Nat tugged down on Iris's shirt over her right breast. She sunk down and sucked on her nipple, while staring up at her eyes and eventually moaning. “When I start touching you I can't stop,” she reminded.
“Why would you?” Iris asked.
“Fine,” Nat huffed, slipping down to the ground and onto her knees. Her hands slid down the sides of Iris's body until they found her Jean's and started to tug on them and wiggle them down from her thighs.
Iris still smelled like chlorine and Nat sniffed her over her underwear.
“Fuck, babe,” Iris said.
Nat's fingers tugged at the underwear now. Instead of fretting or being hungry Nat leaned in against Iris's sex and started to taste her.
Iris held onto the counter and tried not to let her legs buckle. It hadn’t been long since they’d had sex but her emotions were so high, tears were already forming in her eyes.
Nat buried her mouth in against her and gripped her ass tightly to keep her from moving away. One of her favorite things about Iris was that she was so sensitive.
All manner of noises came from Iris as she tried to stay standing but slipped further toward orgasm. When she felt Nat’s tongue go inside of her it pushed her over to freefall into a state of consciousness in which she was only aware of feeling. Reality bent for a moment until she came back to present.
“Nat,” Iris moaned.
The way she said her name made the hair stand up on the back of Nat's neck. It was so soft and honest, yet desperate.
Nat licked up Iris's sex and kissed her stomach and chest on her way to her mouth.
“What is it baby?” Nat asked, kissing her possessively.
“I need to lay down,” Iris said.
Nat pulled back and panted. She used her hands to pull Iris's underwear and Jean's back up to help her.
“Right,” Nat panted, leaning against her. “Come on,” she said, kissing Iris on the shoulder.
Iris let Nat lead her into the bedroom and when she made it close to the bed she fell onto it, feeling languid and relaxed for the first time in the entire day.
“Get over here,” Iris demanded.
Nat threw her shirt off and ditched her heels, crawling up onto the bed next to her.
“Baby, we both have too many clothes on,” Iris commented.
“I tried to take some of yours off,” Nat reminded, “but you wanted a nap.”
She nipped at Iris's skin, kissing in places and leaving small wet patches with suck marks.
“I did not w
ant a nap. I wanted to be on a stable surface so I could touch you,” Iris said.
Nat reached Iris's left nipple and sucked on it.
“Ohhhh okay,” Iris said.
She squirmed under Nat and put her hands in Nat’s hair.
“Guess it’s still your turn,” Iris teased.
“I warned you,” Nat panted.
“I’m not complaining,” Iris said.
She completely submitted to Nat’s touch.
Chapter 26
The Truth is Hard
Iris woke feeling much better than the day before. They had removed themselves from exposure to the public and she and Nat had made each other too tired to care about anything but feeling one another.
The unfortunate part was that they were due to attend a screening for the festival and do a Q & A afterwards. That wasn’t for hours though. Iris reminded herself that they had the whole morning. So, when she rolled over and covered Nat’s body with her own she smiled.
“Mmm,” Nat hummed, hugging Iris to her.
“Thank you for being here. I wish I could tell you how much it means. It’s just you though. You’re amazing,” Iris said.
“Are you thanking me for allowing you to lay naked on me?” Nat smiled.
“For everything but of course for that too,” Iris replied.
She moved her body from side to side against Nat’s, causing a little friction.
“God, you are so crazy,” Nat laughed. “I'd say you're welcome but it's clear I'm benefitting here.”
“Doesn’t mean you don’t get acknowledgement of what you’re doing for me. You put up with my crazy, which has been pretty high lately,” Iris said.
Nat played with Iris's hair. “Your crazy,” she repeated lazily to herself.
“True. You love crazy girls though. You’ve admitted it. I guess you have a strange addiction,” Iris teased.
“I didn't mean YOU ARE crazy,” Nat said defensively. “I was just thinking.”
“I am though. It’s okay. I know you weren’t saying that. I’m definitely not normal. I have no coping skills and I push everyone away but I’m trying not to do that because I’m in love with you,” Iris admitted.