Page 25 of Untouchable

Me

Don’t fucking ask.

The entire work day is wasted on me having to clean the inventory bay up and get everything reorganized and counted. It’s after midnight when I finally leave, and when I look at Katarina’s car on the lot, I’m reminded that her camera was in the trunk. I grab her keys off the wall and open the trunk, finding it nearly empty. Only her camera bag and a pair of sneakers are in the back. I thought girls were notorious for having messy cars, but Katarina’s is immaculate. I pull the camera from the bag, turning it on and pressing the display button to see her most recent photos. I click through a bunch she took of a couple on Broadway, my eyebrows shooting up when I see the ones of him pushing her up against the wall in a dimly lit hallway. At the end of that collection is a sunset I recognize all too well. The very same one that made Katarina look like she was glowing when she stepped out of the garage.

I almost can’t believe my eyes when I see the ones she took of me. The sun reflects off my irises in a way that makes them look golden, instead of the deep brown I see when I look into a mirror. I’m having an internal battle with myself whether I think the photos are good or not, simply because I’m the focus of them. One thing is for sure, she’s excellent at what she does. I wonder if she needs this. Is she not working right now? I guess maybe she can’t work without a car. Regardless, I reach for my phone to text her and ask her if she needs the camera bag. As I await her response, I keep clicking, almost dropping the camera when I find the photos ofher.

On her knees. Dressed in black lingerie. With her camera covering her face.

I click one more time and all the blood in my body rushes to my dick.

Her hands are in her hair, her ass propped up on the bathroom counter, and her body barely hidden behind black lace.

I tell myself she put her camera on a timer because the thought of anyone taking theseof hermakes me feel homicidal. My mouth waters as I take in every delicious curve of her half-silhouetted body.

Katarina

Yeah, that would actually be really helpful. Thank you.

Fuck.

I quickly click back to the photos of the couple on Broadway, turn the camera off, and shove it into her bag. I blow out a breath, looking down at where my cock is pressing against my jeans. I have to leave her alone. After tonight, I’m giving myself some distance from Katarina, by any means possible. I’ll get her car fixed and then go back to how things used to be when I didn’t insert myself into her life.

If she wants to punch strangers in a mall, fine.

If she stumbles out of a bar with her friend, I’ll send Bodine to check on her.

If I think someone is spiking her drink, I’ll call her dad.

No matter how much my instincts tell me to be the one to intervene, I have to stop. I’m toeing the line of very dangerous territory when it comes to wanting to touch the untouchable.

I park at the edge of the sidewalk leading to her building, hanging my helmet on the handlebars before walking up. Before I can even make it to the door of the building, she comes running outside. She has glasses on, which is something I’ve nevernoticed before. My eyebrows scrunch together as I take in her baggy black sweatpants and long-sleeved T-shirt.

“Hey, thanks for bringing this to me. It could have waited until tomorrow, though. I’m sure you’re ready to get home if you’re just now leaving work.”

“I didn’t know you wore glasses.” She pauses at my sudden change of subject but recovers quickly.

“Oh, they’re just blue light glasses.”What the fuck is that?“I only need them when I sit in front of my computer for long periods of time to protect my eyes. They keep me from getting headaches, too. I wear them when I’m editing photos.”

The pictures of Katarina abruptly flash through my mind, causing me to clear my throat to try and force the images away. “Speaking of photos. Here you go.”

She smiles when she takes the camera bag from me. “Thanks.” Then the smile falls, her eyes grow wide, and her cheeks flame. “You didn’t…look through the camera roll, did you?”

“Do I seem like the type of person to go through your stuff before returning it?” She tilts her head as she studies me, but my expression doesn’t change.

“Hmm. I don’t know, actually. I feel like it could go either way with you.” I exhale with a smirk on my face as I take in her appearance one last time before turning to leave. “I’ll figure you out one day, Ace Hernández.”

Good luck with that, Little Reaper. Not even I have been successful in figuring myself out.

“Go inside, Katarina.” I lean against my bike, watching as she rolls her eyes, flipping me off over her shoulder as her slippers drag across the sidewalk. I see the blinds move a few minutes later, twirling my phone in my hands as she gives me a confused look. Finally, my phone dings.

Katarina

My door is locked, stalker. You can leave now.

I begin to type,If I was stalking you, Katarina, no lock in the world would keep me from you.Then realize I might actually be losing my mind and erase it.

Me

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