Page 76 of Crave

Song, What If I Told You That I Love You, Ali Gatie.

Takinga spot in my nightly viewing area, I can get glimpses of my girl in the window, and watch out for any intruders.

Once she’s asleep, I’ll go in and check on her.

It’s not enough to stand in the shadows, I need more of her.

Unwrapping a lollipop, I shove the wrapper in my jeans pocket and sit back on the bench. She looks tired today. She’s been restless in her sleep, so maybe that’s why.

I look on as she empties the dishwasher, but then my phone starts vibrating in my pocket. Digging it out, her name flashes up on the screen and my heart does that jumpy thing.

“I missed your voice,” I greet her before she can even say hello. I don’t even know why I blurt that out.

She giggles. “Me too.”

It’s followed by a long sigh which wipes my smile.

“Are you okay?” I press her.

“Yea. Well, no. I don’t know. I keep being told I’m wrong, but I thought that you’d understand me. I think someone iswatching me. But, I don’t know if I’m just a bit fucked up from the kidnapping. Maybe?”

“What do you mean ‘watched’?”

I’m always looking out for her, more so recently, I can’t risk her being taken again. I would have seen if there was someone lurking around, risking her safety.

“Like, stalked,” she says in a hushed tone.

Jumping up from her yard furniture and pace around the front of the house, making sure I’m tight to the hedgerow so I don’t trigger the security lights.

The last thing I want to do is to scare her.

“I would know if someone was stalking you, Lara. But, I’ll check it out.”

As I round the house to the front, I stand and listen, nothing. No movement, no cars.

“Thanks, Alexei.” The panic in her voice has subsided.

“Can I kill them if I do find them? You want me to bring you their head, or…?”

She lets out another small laugh and my heart races.

That is all I need to do. Make her smile, make her worries go away. If she‘s happy, I am too.

“I think it would be more Volkov style to cut the balls off first.” she says almost seriously.

I instinctively rub my own through my jeans. Getting my dick pierced hurt enough, having my nuts carved would be worse than death.

“You’re one mean woman, Lara. But for you, I will deliver stalker balls.” I know she can’t see me, but I cover my heart in a solemn oath.

“Is there anything you wouldn’t do for me?” she asks softly.

I don’t hesitate in my answer. “Nothing, Lara. There is not one single thing you could ask of me that I wouldn’t do…” I pause. “Except to not be in your life.”

“Neither of us would ever let that happen.”

I hear her sigh and want to break the door down and get to her, wrap her in my arms and kiss her again.

It plays in a loop in my head over and over.

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