Page 80 of David

“Good to know.”

He tears my shoes away from my hand, and before I realize what he intends to do, he lowers himself, tucks his shoulder beneath my stomach, wraps his arm around my rear, and lifts me off the ground, making me dangle upside down.

“What are you doing?” I protest, my palms hovering over his butt.

“I can’t listen to another word you say. You make no sense.”

“Oh. I don’t? What do you want me to say?”

“I don’t know… But never run away from me. It annoys the shit out of me.”

“Why? Just because you’re used to people doing what you want doesn’t mean I owe you anything.”

“It’s not about you pleasing me. It’s about you not hurting yourself.”

“You sound so fatherly right now,” I mumble, my voice strangled every time his shoes meet the concrete and my chest slams into his back.

“What can I say? There’s an age difference between us. Add to that the fact that you clearly need a father figure in your life.”

“I wish.”

He laughs.

“You need a good spanking as well.”

“Not exactly. Plus, the last time I checked, you weren’t into spanking,” I say.

He climbs the stairs–– a few creaky wooden steps––and lets me slide off before propping me against the doorframe like I’m a sack of potatoes.

He hands me my shoes, and I have a feeling this is it.

“You can take it from here,” he says, pivoting and walking away.

I already stare at the back of his suit jacket when I open my mouth and speak.

“Thank you for your help. Do you happen to know a pharmacy open at this hour? I need some stuff for my knees.”

He gives me a cold chuckle.

“You’re pushing it, Elizabeth,” he says without turning to me.

“Okay. All right. Drive safely…” I say loudly without getting a response from him. “Thanks for nothing,” I murmur under my breath, mostly to myself.

He reaches his car, slides into the driver’s seat, shuts the door, and turns his ride around before leaving my neighborhood in a loud, roaring noise.

And that’s that.

At least a glimmer of conscience has come to life in him. Unfortunately, it’s not enough to make a difference.

The thing is, I didn’t try to fuck with him.

I don’t have any bandages or antibiotic ointment in my bathroom cabinet. I didn’t have the chance to put together a first aid kit.

It’s okay.

Well, it’s not okay, as my knees hurt right now, and I’m shivering.Wet and cold, I reach inside my purse, retrieve my key, unlock the door, and walk in.

What a night.

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