Page 54 of Tamed By You

“Ali, are you in there? Why is the door locked?”

Huh? My doors locked?

“Coming, one sec…” I shout.

“Get up, you lazy piece of shit.” I tug at his arm.

“We really need to work on your bedside manner.” He yawns, getting up off the bed he stretches, in only a pair of black boxer briefs, his morning wood straining against the material.

I eye him “Really?”

“What? It’s not my fault. I can’t control him.” He adjusts himself before he swipes a hand over his face.

“Why is my door locked?” I ask narrowing my eyes.

“After you fell asleep during the movie I went to pee, and I figured you wouldn’t want Gabby walking in and seeing us, so I flicked the lock.” Weirdly thankful for his quick thinking but also wanting to question why he didn’t leave but not having the time, I scoop up his clothes and throw them at him. “Get in the closet.”

His face contorts. “What the fuck? No.”

“Ali, come on.” The door handle rattles, and I panic, my heart hammering. Gabby can't find Harry here.

“I am begging you, please, get in the closet,” I whisper, pushing him towards my small walk-in closet.

“If this is how you greet people in the morning, I understand why you don't do sleepovers.”

“Ha, funny, now isn't the time for pleasantries and for me to stroke your ego.” I shove his chest, backing him towards the closet.

“My dick would disagree.” He eyes his morning wood.

“Well, if you ever want it stroked again, you'll get in the closet.”

He steps in and turns. “You owe m—” I cut him off with the slam of the door, smooth out my hair and open the bedroom door.

“Hey, you’re back early,” I say with more enthusiasm than needed.

“Yeah, you know my parents. I needed to get out of there. Why was the door locked?” She looks at me suspiciously.

“Oh, erm, I sometimes lock it when I’m here on my own. You know, safety first.”

She nods thankfully not questioning me further.

“So, I got my period and I have run out of pads and tampons. I’m guessing you got yours too. Can I borrow?”

“Sure, let me get them.” I hurry to my bathroom, taking a handful of both and passing them to her.

“What happened in here?” she asks, her big brown eyes scanning the room.

I look, food wrappers, the empty cheesecake box, and cans of pop scatter my floor. My eyes bug out when I notice Harry's tennis shoes. I step forward kicking them under the bed, praying she didn't see.

“Oh, I had a movie night, ate my body weight in snacks. You know what I’m like when Aunt Flo visits.”

She laughs. “I do. Well, I’m gonna head to the grocery store. I’ll stock up. You want anything?”

“No, I'm good.” I smile, my anxiety levels rising. I need her to leave.

“Okay, I won't be long.” I follow behind her and I shut the door, waiting for the sounds of the front door opening and closing knowing the coast is clear I rush to open the closet door.

Harry stands there still clutching his clothes to his chest looking at me deadpan. “Don't ever shove me in a closet again.”

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