Page 117 of See Me

She rolls her eyes but can’t hold back her smile. “Like I said… perv.”

She stands and reaches for the takeout garbage littering the coffee table.

“I’ll clean up. You should go lie down.”

“Thanks.” She walks over and leans down to kiss me.

I cover her face with my hand and push her away. “No way. Keep your hooker virus to yourself.”

“I’m never going to live that down, am I?”

I shove another handful of popcorn in my mouth. “Not a chance, Princess.”

“I knew I should’ve had you arrested for breaking and entering when I had the chance.”

I left Ella in bed this morning while I went to Jace’s for a late morning workout. He got a new hanging bag and wanted some advice on techniques and routines. Apparently working from home has made him used to sleeping in because he asked me to be there around 10 a.m. I’m usually up before the sun and have a workout in and breakfast and coffee going before Ella even rolls out of bed.

I tiptoe into the room in case she’s still sleeping. The bed is empty and water runs in the bathroom. I dig out some clean clothes and sit on the bed waiting for her to come out so I can shower. Even though we’ve gotten closer the last few weeks, we aren’twatch each other peeclose.

We’re taking the time to learn about each other while still skimming the surface. I can make her come eleven different ways and I know what every inch of her silky skin tastes like, but I have no idea what her parents' names are, although from what I doknow about them, I’m not missing much. I don’t know what her favorite meal is, but I know she can’t cook for shit. I know she loves Tuesday, but I don’t know if she would prefer a dog instead. Does she like city life, or would she prefer a country home? Night on the town, or Netflix and chill? Mountain vacation, or toes in the sand?

There’s so much I don’t know, but there’s one thing I can’t deny: the way she makes me feel. And I use the wordfeelloosely because it’s so foreign for me to want to feel anything other than my fist sinking into… something, anything. Flesh, bone, a bag, Enzo’s dumb face.

At first I thought it was just her body I was addicted to. Now I realize I was chasing this feeling. This warmth rooted in my chest that flares and spreads whenever she’s near. I was dumbstruck the day I felt it when she wasn’t even touching me. It isn’t her body I crave, it’s her.

“Hey.” Her voice snaps me out of my thoughts. She crawls behind me and curls up on her pillow.

I turn to lie next to her and tuck an errant strand of hair behind her ear. “Still not feeling well? Do I need to buy a giant net to catch the Mothman if he reappears?”

She smiles weakly. “No fever.”

Her eyes study mine but there’s some apprehension there. She sighs.

The look on her face gives me pause. “Do you need anything?”

She diverts her eyes and picks at a string hanging from the sheet. “I ran to the store this morning.”

“Okay. Let me just shower and I’ll make you something bland to eat.”

I move to get up and she catches me around the wrist. “Do you mind waiting?”

“Waiting? For how long?”

She bites her lip and her eyes pierce mine. “About three more minutes.”

I laugh. “Three more…” I jump off the bed and head for the bathroom.

“Luca.”

On the counter lies a blue stick.

No, no, no.

I fist my hands in my hair and whirl around. She has her arms crossed and leans on the door frame, her lip damn near chewed off.

“I thought you said you had this handled?” I stalk past her and pace the floor, Tuesday swatting at my shorts every time I pass her hanging off the bed. Flashes of memories flit through my mind.

Blonde hair.

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