Page 85 of Dark, Forbidden, & Taboo

I never understood it, and I don’t think I properly ever will, because I won’t allow myself the time.

I sigh, ready to let the slack fall from my fragile fingertips, when I see something that perks my attention.

There’s a delivery truck that’s moving slowly down the street. It goes past my home, the home next door, and continues going until it’s out of sight.

I wonder.

I walk quickly into my bedroom and slide my feet into some comfortable shoes, a gut-feeling telling me that this is the moment I’ve been waiting for. I make a quick stop in the bathroom and tie my hair back in a loose ponytail, then grab my favorite big pair of sunglasses off the kitchen counter as I make my way out of my house.

It takes no time to reach his street, and the truck is only just pulling away from the front of his home when I arrive.

I hide behind a hedge, careful not to be seen by anyone who may be out enjoying the sun as I peer at his porch.

And that’s when I see it.

A small, brown, square box ready to be stolen away and returned at a later date.

Am I daring enough?

Is thisreallywhat my soul desires? To be crushed under the heel of a man that I don’t know? One that might provide me with the endless torment and pleasure that I find myself suddenly drawn to?

I take a deep breath as I move away from the hedge, glancing up and down the street.

There’s only one way to find out.

Chapter

Two

Ipush my hair behind my ears and take as calming a breath as I can before I raise my hand to knock on his door. I almost lose balance of the package I’m holding, but a swift knee saves me from dropping it on the porch.

I can hear a sturdy set of footsteps approaching, and I have to force myself to swallow the nervous lump in my throat so that I don’t end up choking on it instead.

There’s a slight movement on the other side of the window—the curtains being pushed aside to see who’s knocking on the door so early in the morning. I don’t glance over, because if I meet his eyes before he opens the door, I know I’ll drop the box and run.

The curtain swings lazily in the window as he lets it go after a few moments of inspecting me through the glass. If his touch feels anything like his gaze, then I’ll know I’ve done the right thing; if feels as empty as I do, then I’ll do my best to pretend for the time I allow him to have with me.

“Hi.”

The curious voice snaps me back to the moment I hadn’t even realized I had escaped from, and I glance up.He’s even more beautiful up close,I think as I bite my lower lip. He’s much taller than he looks from the nights I’ve spent standing outside his window watching. Common sense steps in to tell me that’s because he’s standing to his full height now and not with a belt in his hand, hunched over a cowering woman, ready to strike again. His brown eyes are tired; I can’t tell if it’s from the possible activity of the night before that I may have missed, or if that’s how they always are. His lips are full, but not overly so, and as he stands before me—shirtless, shoeless, and in a pair of plaid sleep pants—I have to fight the urge to reach out and touch him to make sure this is really happening.

“Hi,” I echo softly.

“Can I help you?” he questions.

“Um, this is yours,” I state as I hold out his package. “It was dropped off at my house by accident, I guess.”

“Thank you,” he replies, reaching for the box. I look into his eyes again and see that the careful curiosity they held has melted into warm, welcoming pools of milk chocolate, and my knees begin to tremble slightly.

I clasp my hands in front of myself as my eyes wander away from his gaze and over his shoulder for a moment, before I clear my throat. “Okay, well, I guess I’ll be on my way, then.”

I haven’t moved an inch; not even the slightest of centimeters, and he grins, leaning against the door-frame. “Did you need something else?”

Yes.

“No. Sorry to bother you,” I reply softly as I turn and make my way toward the five steps that led the way up to nirvana.

I’ve come this far, only to tuck tail and run.

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