“By all means.”

Decisive in each movement, Audrey gets down on her knees before me. Instantly, my cock reacts. I expected a few more minutes before I would be ready for round two, but she is a marvel.

I watch her as she wraps her fingers around the base and starts gently stroking the shaft.

I grow harder and bigger in her hands. Thick veins pulsate with every motion, sending heat signals through my body and making my pulse reach galloping speeds once more. Audrey’s lips part as she looks up at me. “Fucking hell,” I hear myself mumble.

“I’ve wanted to do this since the day I first saw you,” she says, then licks the tip.

Her tongue is subtle but capable. Within seconds, I’ve lost all common sense, and so has Audrey. She takes all of it in, deep-throating me with hunger and eagerness.

It was supposed to be a one-time thing, or at least that’s what I told myself. It is clearly way more than that, yet neither of us has the ability or the sense to stop. It’s too good. Audrey relaxes the back of her throat and I slide all the way in, noticing her eyes as they tear up, and still, she won’t stop.

She’s fucking insatiable.

She’s fucking perfect.

I am so fucking screwed.

Chapter 6

Audrey

Aone-off.

That’s what I told myself the first morning after Jason and I were together, after I gave myself to him, wholly and completely.

I’ve actually lost count of how many moments we’ve had since then, hidden from the world and lost to our lovemaking. It’s been weeks, and we’re only getting hotter, brighter, hungrier for more. We have been able to keep things strictly physical, and for that, I am grateful. I wouldn’t even know where to start as far as relationships go. I never had anyone to talk to about these things.

My heart aches. I wish I had Mom around, but she left this world long before I was old enough to even comprehend the idea of love, relationships, or marriage. I was left with my overbearing father and two older brothers, all three determined to “keep me pure” until I was wed.

I never really questioned my upbringing, but I couldn’t agree with what Dad had planned for me, deciding certain things for me, regardless of what it would cost him. So, I ran away. It was a dangerous and perhaps foolish thing to do, but I’ve been breathing a lot easier since I left.

Sometimes, I wish I could go back and do things differently. They never listened, though. I had no one to talk to, no one who would understand me. At least here in Chicago, nobody knows me. I’m just a bubbly kindergarten teacher who was somehow able to afford an apartment in The Emerald Residence.

“Mrs. Ashel!” I call out to my next-door neighbor just as she comes down the front steps while I’m walking up.

It’s Sunday morning and judging by her blue tartan outfit and lacquered beige shoes, she’s on her way to church. A widow and former schoolteacher herself, Mrs. Ashel and I have gotten along great since the first day I moved in. As soon as she saw me come in with my keys and nothing but a suitcase to my name, she helped me get the lay of the land and get settled.

Upon seeing me, Mrs. Ashel lights up like the sun.

“Oh, Audrey, sweetheart, there you are! How are you holding up?” she asks, her milky blue eyes worriedly searching my face.

“I’m all right, thank you. How about you? You haven’t heard anything from the building manager yet either, huh?”

She shakes her head in dismay. “No, but my son wants me to move in with him and his wife until the problem is resolved. They’re coming by tomorrow morning to pick me up.”

“Thank God, you can’t keep living like this.”

“Neither can you, honey,” Mrs. Ashel replies. Underneath her matching blue tartan hat, she keeps her grey hair in tight curls, spending at least an hour every evening to make sure they hold up overnight. “What did the owner say? You mentioned you’d gotten in touch with him.”

“They’re still investigating the issue, but I understand there’s been a misappropriation of funds. That’s just one of the causes, mind you. There’s more, but they’re working to get the heat back on before the end of next week. Jason said they’ve already signed contracts with a new supplier, but they need to get a team onsite to check the installation requirements first.”

We’re outside the building in the middle of a cold February morning, but I’m used to it. My home isn’t much warmer when I think about it, but I do look forward to hugging my little heater once I get upstairs. I spent the night at a hotel with Jason. I would’ve liked to have spent it at his place, at least, but we agreed not to let things get too personal between us.

“Well, that’s good news then!” Mrs. Ashel exclaims. “It means I won’t be bothering my son and his family for more than a week.”

“Mrs. Ashel, you could never bother anyone,” I reply, my gaze wandering up and down the street.