Page 34 of Hidden But Not Safe

“Sorry.” She switched her grip into a rubbing caress. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. I can wait for you outside while you finish.”

He hesitated, finally meeting her eyes. She wasn’t cringing like he’d expected. Her lips turned up in an encouraging smile while she continued making his arm tingle.

Naz gave her a nod, and she left just like that, the door shutting with a little plop.

He needed her to leave. Concentrating with Meg around to watch would be too hard for his currently closed-up throat. He focused on his breathing, a sort of meditation the doctor had suggested to help calm him. After he choked down the rest of his meal, he rinsed out the bottle.

His shirt was wet from his spill. He pulled it off to soak the spot under water, scrubbing with the dish soap, not wanting to smell like milk all day. When he dragged it back on, the dampness cooled his heated skin.

Meg was waiting for him in the yard when he emerged.

“Julio said you can take me to the store. I’m craving sour gummies this time.”

Naz’s nose wrinkled at the idea of eating anything sour. He had a hard enough time eating without his mouth puckering on top of it.

The giggle that rang in his ears every time he heard it wrapped around him, and he stared at Meg’s wide, grinning lips.

“Your face!” She laughed again, pointing at him.

Naz didn’t make a lot of facial expressions, but apparently a wrinkling nose was noticeable.

Meg grabbed his hand, tugging him with her in the direction of the store.

They settled into an adjusted pattern. Meg made herself scarce during outside business, not wanting to irritate Julio again. When only their normal crew was around, she hung out around Julio until he got sick of her hovering, then found Naz. Often, they would pass his phone back and forth during meetings. She asked nonsense questions about things that didn’t matter, things that Naz hadn’t thought about.

Naz didn’t have likes and dislikes.

Meg had a lot.

She hated carrots, dresses, anything that smelled like sandalwood, and socks. He’d stared at her feet when she’d said the last, bare except for the cloth shoes he’d gotten her.

She liked gummies, tight shirts, how his bald head felt when it was smooth, makeup, and whatever soap Naz used because he smelled good.

He just used some green bar soap, even on his head. It began rasping again, and Meg helped him shave it, all over this time. She was careful around his scar.

If she could go anywhere, she’d want to see Niagara Falls. She’d seen it during a rerun of The Office once and thought that amount of rushing water would be amazing to watch in person.

Naz couldn’t imagine traveling anywhere. Even switching jobs could sometimes be a pain because he’d have to figure out new people and ways to meet his food needs.

Meg went to Julio each night for sex, and sometimes it occurred at other times. Naz made himself scarce whenever it happened. Seeing Meg naked confused him. Her body didn’t make him hard, but it also didn’t carve up his nerves like seeing an erection did. The sounds of sex were another matter. They would bring back the voices in his head, with words he wished he could forget.

Most evenings, he walked the perimeter while they did their thing. The woods were still his favorite spot. He’d also found a position to lean against outside the warehouse that was far enough away for any grunts and moans not to carry to him.

Eventually, Meg would leave the trailer, and they’d meet in the yard, clasping hands while making their way to the bedroom in the smaller trailer. She preferred the soft bed, and he wanted her to be comfortable. Snuggling with her was no hardship. Sometimes she carried bruises, though, and seeing new ones made it impossible for Naz to sleep.

After the next shipment came, Julio offered her another packet. Meg hesitated before shaking her head.

Julio snagged her wrist, jerking her toward him. “Do a fucking line. It makes you horny as hell.”

The memory of them fucking on the warehouse floor had Naz pushing to his feet along the wall.

Meg’s smile spread. “I can go all night even without the powder.”

Julio dragged her a step closer. “Then why haven’t you?”

Naz’s skin felt too tight when she tugged against Julio’s hold like she wanted to get away.

“I had a really bad trip last time,” Meg reminded him.

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