Page 46 of The Stranger's Voice

I couldn’t continue until I came, Callum was sheathed and inside me before the waves started. I was teetering on the edge as he teased me and then stopped. I took matters into my own hands and stroked my clit while he thrust hard.

“I'm spending the day downstairs. The wood for the counter arrived today. I will make you the best countertop for your register and sales point.” Callum said, after he came down from his high. We were cuddled close while he told me his plans for the day.

The passion and dedication they Callum and Scottie put into my shop were heartening. They were far more enthusiastic than I was. Felicity had picked out the cash register she thought would be in keeping with a rare comic and magazine store. She had her resignation letter ready, and as soon as I gave her the nod, she would hand it in. Callum and Scottie fixed up the place in between their other jobs. Callum had promised me that between his flat and the shop, there was everything he needed to teach Scottie about the basics of carpentry. He'd said I was helping him out rather than the other way around. I didn't believe him, but didn't put up a fight either. A small sliver of hope bubbled in my bones that I could have a normal life. As each month passed, I adapted to ways of understanding people and what they said. The only avenue I could never master would be the telephone. The words filtered brought my ear as muffled noise. An odd word here and there came through, but that took heavy concentration and an utterly silent room.

“What time is Scottie getting here?”

“He should arrive soon, I’d better get dressed.”

Adaline

I'd got a puncture on my way home just before lunch. I was so hungry, I was tempted to chew on my arm. Leaving in the morning without breakfast is never a good move with all the cycling I do. That was Callum's fault for not letting me leave the bed until I'd had my second orgasm. I'd made the mistake of telling him I could make myself come in under a minute. I'd had plenty of practice over the last five years. It was his aim to beat my time. He didn't believe me at first, then I fell into his trap of showing him.

I tried to tell him it won't be quick when he licks and strokes me because I want it to last forever. It didn't stop him trying this morning.

Grumpy with the lack of food and then a puncture as I rounded the courier at Brighton Pier caused a long walk home. My bike was upturned while I sat and spun the wheel.

“Are you going to fix the puncture or just watch the spokes turn?” Scottie asked me from the other side of my bike. He'd got into the habit of knocking loudly twice on the nearest surface before he talked to give me notice I was supposed to listen. While it was incredibly sweet, it meant I had to listen to everything he said.

“I was thinking about my trip to Hong Kong, something feels off about it. I know the comic exists, and that he has it, but the lengths he's going to makes me nervous. My customer has agreed to pay for my flight although it's cattle class on lucky black cat airlines.”

“Are you sure he's legit?”

“Fairly,” I answered and used the bent spoon in my hand to lever off the tyre. Scottie tapped the floor again, but I didn't look up. It was when he hammered on the ground I reluctantly looked at him.

“I know you've been doing this for a lot of years, but please stay safe. I get that no one has looked out for you apart Steph and Elliott, but you have Felicity and me, and Callum who would go to the ends of the earth to make sure you're safe.”

I blushed at his words, smiling that he cared enough to press the point.

“All right, I promise. You can track my phone if it makes you feel any better,” I jokingly offered.

“Cool, give me your phone, and I'll sync them. I'll know your every move,” Scottie said chuckling.

“I'm not that interesting,” I said and finished fixing the tyre while I gave my privacy over to an eighteen-year-old.

Turning the bike the right way round, I wheeled my brand new bike to the back yard and locked up. When I came back to the shop, Scottie handed me my phone.

“We're all set, if you're sold into slavery, then at least I'll know where they ditched the phone.”

“Hilarious. I'm heading upstairs, will you lock up?”

“Yeah, no problem, I'm on my way out soon too.”

I left him to it, my stomach growled like a bear coming out of hibernation. Letting myself into my flat, I dumped my loot for the day on the sofa and went in I search for food. There was nothing in the fridge or the freezer that wouldn't take at least an hour to cook. The downside to eating healthily was that everything in the cupboards meant proper cooking.

I went to Callum's French Windows but when I pulled down the handle, it was wedged on the armchair that was pushed against the doors. He'd moved all the furniture to make space on the floor. It wasn't like that when I'd left that morning. Cursing that I couldn't raid his fridge I picked up my bag from the sofa and headed out. I slammed my front door, taking my frustration out on the piece of wood and turned to go down the stairs.

A cold, skinny hand grabbed me by the throat, it squeezed slowly to the point my scream was silent. My eyes bulged at the loss of airway, and I scrabbled with my hands to pull Jeff’s arm away. He had me pinned to the wall with my toes just touching the bare floorboards.

“Where's my stuff, bitch?” Jeff said.

I glimpsed Callum's front door, the bottom part had boot marks scuffing the paintwork.

I couldn't talk to answer him he squeezed my throat so tight I saw stars. His breath smelled of stale whisky, it filled my nostrils to the point I wanted to vomit. He dropped me to my feet and shoved me hard against the wall with his hands on my shoulders. My head knocked the wall repeatedly as he kept shaking me to answer. I started to black out, my mouth was so dry I couldn’t swallow. I was about to pass out when he let me go. I slumped to the floor at the same time Callum let out a roar. His string of curses littered the air. He pushed and shoved Jeff until he reached the end of the corridor and teetered on the top step. Jeff had lost his footing when Callum took him by surprise and stumbled up the corridor. Callum had positioned Jeff on the top stair not saying a word. He had Jeff by the scruff of his shirt as he glared at him.

I thought Callum would push Jeff down the stairs, but then I saw Scottie's body supporting Jeff from behind.

“Your stuff is out by the skip. Scottie will take you to the sodden mess that is your life and will then kick the shit out of you,” Callum yelled at Jeff.

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