by Unknown
Breathing. Well if that didn’t make it scary, I didn’t know what did.
“Okay, I’m gonna hang up now.”
Still silence. Give em’ Hell Tennessee. “Have a great day if you can hear me!”
I always did like to end things on a positive note. I figure I could use all the good karma I can get and mama would beat me senseless otherwise, regardless of my age. You’re never too old to fit over my knee baby, don’t you forget that. Her mamas words, exactly. Speaking of mama, I should give her a call. Seriously, I ought to win an award for smallest attention span, ever. Between my attention span and my constant gravity checks, I am really racking the awards up.
“Siri, remind me tomorrow at noon to go to the shelter and find a good dog.” I love my personal assistant. Thank God for the iPhone. My phone rings again and I don’t even need to look at the screen. I can tell it is Matt by the custom ringtone, courtesy of Matt recording his own voice shouting, “HELPPPP she has me trapped in her pocket!!!!!” filling the silence of my way too-large loft. We may have been drunk when he made it. I’ve actually scared a few people in the supermarket and other places when it went off. You just can’t help but laugh hysterically when you see an old lady frightened because she truly thought I might be holding someone or something talking, prisoner in my pocket.
“Hey handsome.”
“Hey beautiful.” I could hear him smile.
“What’s up?”
Plopping down onto my chaise lounge in the entryway corner, I pop open my big box of chocolates and throw my head back indulging in heaven.
“Change of plans. I’m done here early, your present backed out and I am hungry, sober and bored.”
“I’ll have to order in then. No, not sushi. I’ll cut you. Door is open, just come on in.”
“You seriously have to stop doing that Tay. This isn’t little Huckleberry or whatever. There are crazies in the world and they will just walk into your house and hurt you!”
“I’m fine and it’s Mayberry.” I correct him keeping my head laid back and my eyes closed. Savoring the magnificent taste of ecstasy. Honestly, someone has to have a serious defect if they don’t love chocolate. It should be a sin! Is there a committee you could appeal to regarding the bible and request a new commandment; thou shalt not deny chocolate. I'll be sure to look into that...
“I’ll be there in 30.”
“Drive safe.” He yelled something at the car in front of him, and was gone.
“Yes, just like that.” I laugh and lay the phone down next to me on the little table holding my keys and change.
I dozed off, curled up on my chaise, dreaming magical dreams. My favorite kind of dreams, where a lady was liable to wake up soaking wet in all the right places, with a need in her bones only one thing in this world could satisfy. For me, that was Tommy freakin’ Kane, so I tried to avoid these dreams. Like I could. This time around, they caught the best of me and had me warped in the worst kind; in a deep sleep I couldn’t claw my way out of if I tried. Bodies lashing together and skin wet with sweat, his strong and capable arms gliding up my bare thighs and heating me at his touch. His fingers danced on my clit and coaxed me into a magical, intoxicating buzz. His tongue followed his fingers and I felt myself hit a glorious, floating high, about to scream out his very name when Matt shook my arm and pulled me away from sweet ecstasy.
Chapter 2
“I could kill you right now, and the jury would let me get away with it.” I moaned, eyes closed.
Matt opened the door further and announced his royal arrival, nearly falling on top of me when he fails to spot the mail I left right inside the door.
“This is New York City, not England, but thanks.” I welcome him groggily and wipe the drool and chocolate off that I’m sure were sliding down my chin, shaking the need from my body.
“It doesn’t matter where I am, I should be announced, always.” He takes a royal bow.
“Oh, you’re so dramatic.”
“I’m from Hollywood sweetheart, it’s in my DNA.”
“I’m sorry, I fell asleep. I didn’t get a chance to order food yet.” I throw him a frowny face for sympathy and instead he points at my face and has no shame announcing my chocolate facial.
“I see. You have a little...” he pointed to his face, indicating the corner of the mouth. “Right there. You might want to wipe that off.” Of course I wouldn’t have gotten it all.
I set the chocolates on my lap to wipe off my face. Matt opens my door again and points to the front of it, over my peep hole.
“Don’t worry, I’ll call and order. Did you miss this?”
A little white envelope was hanging there with a piece of tape holding it on the door and he snatches it off for me as I shrug my shoulders.
“I may have. I swore I got it all but you know me.”
“Yes, I do. Which is why you have me! Attention to detail only translates over into your books. The rest of your life needs a little, well, a lot of Matty in it.” He winks and strolls off into the kitchen. “Oh, you bought alcohol on your way home, good.” I hear him call and frown, knowing I sure as hell didn’t buy anything with alcohol in it. Not that I wasn’t up for some, I just didn’t buy it.
“I didn’t buy any. I haven’t bought anything with an alcohol content in over 2 weeks. Trust me, I would remember that.” I slid my finger in the envelope to open it as I crossed the way to the open kitchen and pull out a stool from under my big, dreamy, kitchen island. Sure enough there was whiskey. Not just one bottle, but two of my favorite. Odd. “Huh.”
“Huh? That’s all you have to say?” He grunts at me with frustration and I know he’s trying to hide his rising concern.
Ignoring him, I pull out a blank card and am instantly filled with dread as I read the same message I keep receiving:
My darling, you’ve done so well!
I’ll be watching you, cheers.
I immediately drop the card to the floor and take a giant step back like it was infected with a horrific disease that was transferred by touch. Taking a hint, Matt puts the bottle down and two steps it over to me with fear in bright red marker written all over his handsome face. I reach to pick it up realizing I’ve spooked him but don’t even get a full step before he grabs for me and pulls me back into his side.
“Go lock the door.”
“What do you mean, go lock the door? Clearly this dude has already been in my house!”
With that realization, he pulls me a little closer to him while we alternate between looking at the typed card like it will bite us and around the loft for some kind of mystery person to pop out.
“What did I say to you about leaving your door unlocked? You were passed out on your chaise lounge while this pervert could have been taking advantage of you or robbing you blind.”
“Point made, note taken. Lock the doors from now on.” I gulp dramatically and nod my head vigorously.
“We need to call the cops.”
“No, Matt. It’s just a little incident, I’m sure it will blow over.”
“No, back at you! This is something that only escalates, mark my word.”
His finger pointed up and hand extended to the roof, I can’t help but snort and say, “Are you claiming my dining room or making another claim on the shit-tuation?”
“I love you and I don’t want you to be scared but this is officially serious Tay.”
“As opposed to unofficially serious?”
Although I reverted back to acting like this was no thang but a chicken wang, I wasn’t quite ready to let go of Matt or step out of our huddle we had going on.
“We have to see if they were anywhere else in the house.” I state with as much authority as I can remember to muster.
“NO!” He yelled rather than said. “Look, if it was just me, I would do just that. But it isn’t and I won’t put you in any danger sweetheart.”
“So what would you suggest? Wait for Jamie to get home?”
“I already told you, we have t
o call the cops. He could be here still, even hiding in one of your closets.”
“Thank you for the horrific mental images and terrors to haunt me for a long time now. Even if he isn’t, now I won’t be able to sleep. Truly, thanks a million.” I try to chuckle but I can’t even fake one and he grinds his teeth regretfully.
“I’m sorry, but better safe than... well, sorry.”
I pondered that a minute and realized, he could be right. “Oh, but if he is in there, we may not want to let him know we know that they were or are here, because that’s where my guns are.”
“You have a gun?” He whispered harshly, narrowing his eyes at me.
“Hell yes. Any self-respecting woman should! I don’t need a man to protect me.” There’s my backbone I was raised into! “Well, I guess I do when my guns are in the room a potential rapist slash killer slash pervert slash stalker is hiding. Potentially.” And there it went again.
“You said guns.” He took this in and asked, “You have more than one?”
“Hell yes, again.”
“What exactly were you afraid of?”
“Before this? Not a damn thing.” Chin held high, I am proud of the way I can handle a weapon with ease and grace and knock a target, moving or stable, dead in the head, chest or groin if necessary. You know, when I have it with me.
“So, you can shoot?”
“You bet your fine ass I can. But can I prove it after we call the cops?” My chin drops a little, not wanting to let on that maybe I am a little worried now, without my pistol and all.
“Oh, I’ll hold you to that and yes, right now!”
I shuffled us a little closer to my front door and kept my eyes darting around the loft, all over.
Forty damn terrifying minutes later, where we, okay I, pretty much jumped at every noise and shadow that crept up with the approaching darkness, the cops finally arrived.
After sweeping the house, I ran straight to my room, Matt close in tow, opened my nightstand drawer and pulled out a medium sized black handprint safe. Opening it, I retrieved two Walther P .22 Handguns and a small white gold band. I put the ring on my left ring finger, and reached further into the drawer for something strappy that, after glancing to Matt, I realized had his full attention. “It’s a shoulder holster for a weapon.” I giggled then said, “Head out of the gutter, crazy.”
“What? Oh, okay.” Then he watched me, intrigued, as I checked then loaded and holstered one of the .22’s. The second one I picked up, I checked the chamber properly then put it to my lips for a moment. Matt stepped closer and I heard him whisper, reading the engraving:
Annie Oakley <3 C & P
“C and P?” He asked a little louder with a confused expression painting his handsome face.
“Charlie and Peyton. My brothers. Peyton is my twin and was supposed to be a girl.” I smiled at the recollection and then slid the most precious handgun at the small of my back in my jean waistband.
“There is another human being on the planet just as good looking as you are, but with a dick?” I choked at his forward question and nodded yes walking over to my closet. I very carefully opened the door and shoved my clothes to the side revealing a much larger, standing safe that took up a bit of room.
“Holy shit Tay.” He stared bewildered.
“What? It’s just a standing gun safe. It’s not like I robbed a bank.” I wanted to chuckle, but my throat were entirely too dry still, instead sounding like a frog in my throat.
“I can’t believe I never knew you had these in here. I’m honestly blown away.”
“That was the point, I think.” My eyebrows now raised into my bangs.
“Touché.” He looked around then asked, “Do the cops know you have these?”
At that, I couldn’t help but giggle. “Yes, they’re legal and registered and the cops don’t have to know I have them unless I am out and about in which I need a concealed carry weapons permit. All of my weapons are registered, legal and I don’t conceal carry, though I do have my permits for these guys.” I gestured to my handguns.
“But you have one that’s hidden…” He pointed out.
“With this psycho running around, I appreciate the law and trust them to do their job, but I don’t trust my safety to just anyone and I don’t like to play Russian roulette with my life.”
Turning back to the closet, I reached up for a light brown leather jacket and tossed it on to conceal the weapons.
“Oh.” Relief flooded his face and I felt a little more comfortable knowing I had my boys at my side now.
“You have absolutely no experience with weapons, do you?” I asked bemused.
He smiled and simply said, “California,” with a shrug of his shoulders.
The officer who had been walking around the house looking for any sign of break in or tampering, now stood at the door and made me jump about a foot in the air when he knocked on the doorjamb. He was taller than Matt but had about 20 more pounds on him of pure muscle. His skin was the beautiful mocha color you just wanted to drink up and such beautiful amber eyes they would dampen any girl’s panties with one look from him.
“Hi officer, can I help you?”
He tipped his head a little and said, “We’ve looked at the whole loft and even your neighbors to be sure. Checked out any possible forced entry at all entry points.” He shakes his head, negative. “The home does not look like anything is missing and there are no signs of forced entry. If you did in fact leave your door unlocked, there is a high possibility, most likely, that that is the point of entry. Do you know of anyone who has a key to your home?”
“My roommate, Jamie and publisher, Matt” I pointed to him, “otherwise just me. We all agreed it would be best if the landlord did not carry a key to the loft. Per safety for him.” I flashed my jacket open slightly so he got the hint.
“Got it. So I take it you do not have a security system installed?”
“You just saw it.”
“I would suggest doing that immediately and even though this was a first time thing and no one was injured, we are going to try and get a guy to do a roll by every few hours. Just in case.”
“Great. I will make some phone calls about that immediately.” Matt jumped in and offered his hand to the officer. The officer walked over, shook his hand and looked back over to me. He handed me a card with his name and number scribbled on it. I couldn’t help but smile on the inside thinking, “Oh yeah, I still got it.” Guns on a chick, totally turn the right kind of guy on.
“Keep in touch and we’ll let you know if we pick anything up.” The officer ignored Matt aside from shaking his hand and tipped his head to me again before walking out and back down the hall to his partner.
Unconsciously, I sucked my bottom lip in between my teeth and nibbled in the silence.
“Can I stay with you tonight, or would you rather be alone?” Matt walked over to me and put his arm around my waist almost possessively.
Leave it to Matt. He always knew how to make me feel better, even if temporarily.
“If you wouldn’t mind, I would love some company to keep me busy tonight.”
“Oh, I’ll keep you busy, just not how you’d prefer.” He winked and brushed his body against me provocatively, teasing.
“You’re such a freak. Not everyone has sex on the brain twenty four seven.”
He didn’t even flinch. Others took freak in a bad way, Matt did not. Probably because he was and accepted it. He knew who he was, what he liked and had no reservations about it. I loved that about him and wished more people could be like that. Comfortable in themselves. Even if I did call him a man-whore more. Matt was one of the hottest men I had ever seen in my life and he knew it, but he was more like a brother to me than anything and had been since I laid eyes on him in L.A. my sixth week there. Since that day he always looked out for me and made sure I was taken care of. I’d be forever grateful to him for giving me a shot and taking me under his wing.
Upon reading my first manuscript he sw
ore he had a major bestseller on his hands and managed to snag me a five book deal with an upfront sign on bonus of 1 million dollars. It was so insane I couldn’t believe it. Some authors work years to get signed and here I was making a record breaking deal six weeks into striking out on my own. He has had more faith in me than I have ever since the first moment we met. I always considered that moment something like a gift from the Heavens because it was so unbelievable.
“What am I going to do with you?” I shook my head and began to walk towards the door when Jamie, my roommate, came rushing in. Jamie stood at five foot ten and was what models wished they were made of. Literally. Pure perfection with a complimentary heart of pure gold. She was a rare being in her line of work but she loved it, made beaucoup dollars and she got to travel all over the world. The hardest thing she struggled with was the shady and fake people that surrounded her waiting for a scrap. Concern filled her striking sapphire blue eyes and she ran straight to me her brown hair flowing behind her and settling at the middle of her back when she stopped. Her chocolate skin was soft as silk and flawless; naturally perfect.
“Is everything alright? The police were going out as I was coming in.” She had a strong Brooklyn accent that could knock you over.
“Did you know Taylor is packing serious heat?” Matt asked Jamie, apparently feeling left out.
“Yeah, and it’s a good thing too. You know where we live right?” The brass in her voice was at war with the hearts circling her head animatedly by the way she stared at Matt. I couldn’t blame her really, he was damn good looking but I felt for her because Matt had absolutely no romantic interest in her. He had told me as much when she began to show her affection for him after she first moved in and he hung around all the time.
Matt just shrugged and we all walked out to the living room where we watched movies, ate junk food and all passed out for the night strewn across the large connect a piece couch we had just gone in together on at IKEA.
* * *
“Hey brother, what’s cookin’?” Noah asked walking his over 6 foot self into his brother, Tommy’s, front door, into the kitchen and making himself at home on a bar stool at the island. Looking up from behind the oversized kitchen island, Tommy stopped cutting and waves a knife at his brother. “You know, most people knock. I could have had this knife buried deep in your chest before you took a step.” This makes Noah chuckle and wave him off.