Page 31 of The Woman

Chapter 15

Avery

“Did that feel good?”

My body still feels like it’s buzzing and somehow separated from myself, my mind a swirling mix of pleasure.

Even so, his words still manage to make it through the fog, and the question lingers in the air between us.

“Yes.”

It felt wonderful. I don’t know how he manages to do that to me or how he manages to make my insides feel like they’re going to burst through my skin.

This answer seems to please him, and even his usual hard slate eyes appear to soften as they scan my face.

As my breathing settles and awareness creeps in, I notice the feel of his erection pressed against me and the fact my hands are holding his cheeks. Instead of shoving them off like I’m sure he would have in the past, there’s a moment where it feels as if he leans into my touch.

I’m tempted to rub my thumbs over the short hair along his jaw, trail my hands lower, and slip them under the collar of his shirt, maybe even travel further south to give him the same type of pleasure he gave me. But I’m afraid to break this moment.

Right now, the possibility of him not getting rid of me seems like something attainable rather than the far-fetched notion I originally concluded. He has certainly done more with me since finding out the truth.

Then again, maybe that’s because he’s sending me away; get a little use out of me while he can.

My hands drop from his cheeks at the thought, and my face returns to the blank stare I’ve perfected over the years.

He sees the change in my demeanor and the look on my face, and it has the moment completely broken. The little crease between his brows returns at the same time, the soft edges of his eyes disappear.

His lips part, but whether or not he was going to say anything is unknown because the vibrating of his phone between us has him instantly pushing up from me and getting to his feet, checking to see who it is.

“Shit,” he mumbles under his breath before silencing it, then he extends his hand down to help me up. “Come on.”

I don’t take it. I don’t want to make any of this easier on him.

Annoyed, Phoenix huffs out a breath and takes hold of my hand, pulling me up with ease, and then yanks down my top to cover me up again. Then, without releasing my hand, he pulls me along to the bathroom and pushes me through the door.

“Get cleaned up and put some pants on. We need to go.”

I don’t even get a chance to respond before the door is closing in my face. I want to slap my palm against it, but I’m unsure how he would react to that, so I hold back. With a sigh, I reach for the toilet paper to clean up, not because he told me to, but because it is uncomfortable walking around with the moisture between my legs.

A second later, the click of his door shutting catches my attention. I pause, holding the toilet paper in my hands and the breath in my lungs as I wait for any other sound. After it’s quiet for a few seconds, I slowly and quietly turn the handle on the door and then peek my head out into the hallway. From what I can see, his bedroom door is definitely closed, and there is no sign of him anywhere else.

Very quickly, I tiptoe through the door and down the hallway, halting for the briefest second when I hear what sounds like a faint groan from down the hall. Then I rush forward toward the front door.

My heart feels like it’s beating out of control and only accelerates when I actually make it through the door.

I’m really doing this.

If I take the elevator to where all of the cars are parked underneath the building, I could probably hide there until it’s dark, then figure something out at that point. My stomach clenches at the thought of being out there alone and not knowing what will happen.

I guess if I’m discovered, I could act as if I don’t know what’s going on. It hasn’t been thirty days, so we haven’t been tattooed yet. They wouldn’t be able to identify who I belong to.

But, if I’m returned to the same facility, they’ll know who picked me, and he very well might have alerted them to everything. They could also be looking for me.

Shaking my head, I push forward and walk down the short hall. I can’t worry about that now. At least this buys me a little bit of extra time. I reach the elevator and press the button.

Nothing happens.

I press it again and again, but still nothing. My stomach tightens, and my breath quickens. Moving to the doors, I try to pry them apart with my fingers, but they don’t even budge a little. This time, I do slap at the door. Panic and frustration mask the sting on my palm.

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