Page 24 of Tops
“This could belong to our victim and maybe even lead us to her killer. Good job, Vanessa.” I could already feel my blush starting at Nik’s words. Our agreement said he would get me into my dream job, but I wanted to earn my spot, too.
Nik drove everyone back to campus after the little game of macabre show and tell. We arrived well after eleven. I took my time getting out of the van, pretending to furiously text someone while the others shuffled out. My eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, finding blue eyes staring back at me. I wanted to drown in his gaze forever, just surrender to the call of the deep.
Not yet.
I winked before getting out the side of the van and shutting the sliding door. I patted the metal frame two times in a gesture like signaling a horse to giddy up. Nik wanted me to walk around campus to the garage, where he would be waiting to pick me up. All for the sake of secrecy.
He said there would be a security detail watching me as I made my trek, and it would be the best way to ensure no one saw us leaving together. I’d admit, the thought of the short walk by myself scared the hell out of me. A security team wouldn’t be able to do shit if I got sniped in the head. I had finally caved to the plan under the pleading of Nik’s eyes as his lips uttered words of reassurance. Even his lips were attractive.
A kiss from him would shatter my soul.
I tried desperately to think about Nik’s lips and the things he could do with them rather than a view of the back of my head through the lens of a scope. My pace quickened as I pulled my hood up and plunged my hands into the pocket. I just needed to hold myself together enough to get to the garage. It was visible from here. Just one more building to cross in front of, then I would be able to duck into the stairwell. Nik would be waiting on level five.
I might have considered this a lovely night if my anxiety wasn’t so high. The temperature was just right, and the wind wasn’t blowing. The moon hung overhead, missing a few slivers. It would find them in the next few days, and then we would have a full moon. The city was extra crazy during the full moon. Even Hannah complained about it all the time.
My hand landed on the handle of the garage stairwell entrance. At least my body knew where I needed to go whenever I lost myself to whatever thought train I managed to hop on. It was as effective a way to distract myself in uncomfortable situations as any other mechanism the therapists tried to get me to adopt. Apparently, when your dad dies when you are young, it can cause my neurotic shit.
I don’t have issues anymore, baby. I have full subscriptions now.
I made my way up the stairs and into the door marked with a large five. The garage had poor lighting as I stepped away from the doorway. I wasn’t sure exactly where to meet Nik and the van, but I figured he would find me eventually, since everyone was supposed to have their eyes on me. Maybe the thick cement walls that surrounded the parking garage were the cause of my more relaxed thoughts. A sniper couldn’t get me in here.
A hand wrapped around my mouth, cutting off my surprised scream as I was pulled back into a hard body. My body went into fight mode as I kicked my legs wildly, and I twisted and turned to get free from my captor.
I take all my snark back.
“Vanessa,” a voice hissed into my ear despite my struggling. I recognized Nik’s stern tone, and all the fight left me. As soon as my muscles relaxed, he removed his hand from my mouth yet kept me pressed against the hard plains of his vest.
Sure, he was safe from a bullet.
“I’m sorry, I just wanted to see if you could fight someone off or not,” Nik said, and I could tell he was smiling.
“You’re an asshole,” I huffed, pushing away from him. “I have anxiety, you know. This isn’t easy for me, and pulling shit like that will make me distance myself from you.”
“You’re not going to distance yourself from me, Vanessa,” Nik purred with a smile as he pulled the keys to the van from his pocket, dangling them in the air. “You know I can protect you. It’s time to put to bed every safe plan you made about how to navigate life without the messiness. Life is messy and stressful, Vanessa. It’s a rough world for little mice trapped in their mazes, only concerned with food. Learn how to strike back and escape the maze and your anxiety.”
“Face my fears and learn how to fight back? That’s your genius cure for anxiety. Does no one really understand that my body literally feels like it is actively dying all the time?” The number of times I heard people tell me to get over my panic was ridiculous.
“I think you would be surprised just how far a little power can go in releasing worry. You did fine tonight in our little exercise, but I would like to train you sometimes in specific maneuvers,” Nik said passively as he clicked a button to start the van. Light flooded the garage floor, illuminating parked cars and several men clad in black from head to toe.
I gasped as I looked around and saw how many people were standing around parked cars with us. I had no idea anyone was there at all. My feet retreated as if I could find a wall to become one with but backed into Nik’s chest instead. His arms circled around me protectively, and I felt my body relax into his hold. Like it welcomed his protection.
“Relax. That was your security detail for tonight. Well,” he paused as his eyes swept over the team. “Some of them,” Nik whispered, making my whole body light up with electric energy. “We can protect you. Let me teach you how to protect yourself.”
I didn’t answer for a moment, choosing to enjoy finally feeling safe wrapped up in someone’s arms. He promised to protect me and keep me safe like no one had in a long time.
“Fine,” I sighed.
When he released me to head into the driver’s seat, I felt his absence like a blanket torn off me in the middle of the night.
9
Tops/Bottoms
IspentallFridayworking on my online classes’ remaining assignments. There were only a few lengthier final reports to complete. Then I would be finished, other than my anthropology and field credits.
Tanner hadn’t graced me with his presence since the night when he bought me far too expensive clothes. He didn’t even message me on the secure chat today. Guess he wasn’t the most hands-on when it came to my protection. Not that it was needed when I was locked up in the middle of a cement tomb. When a light knock came at my bedroom door in the evening, I figured it was him coming to check in on his ward. I opened the door with one hand on my hip and a glare preset across my face, but the sight of Hannah had my lips splitting into a wide grin.
“Move out of the way so I can put my shit down,” Hannah said as she burst into my room, arms full of bags. “Oh, and close the door. We don’t need movie night interrupted.”
