I placed the bags of groceries on the counter as Tiffany bounded up the stairs two at a time, her cell phone in hand. I rolled my eyes as I placed the milk and eggs in the fridge, and glanced at the clock, it was almost four, I had two more hours until Charles would be home and Tiffany would be leaving for my mother’s. I licked my lips as I remembered our night at the hotel last weekend, my insides clenched in anticipation and I rushed to put everything away.
“Tiffany!” I called, staring at the ceiling above me.
“I’m on… the phone!” She called with annoyance.
“Well, when you’re finished get down here!” I shook my head and rubbed my temples.
I couldn’t wait for Tiffany to leave, I had spent the entire week driving her to recitals and dance competitions, three competitions and four recitals in one week was too much. I set to work on the kitchen, doing the small amount of dishes that were in the sink, rinsing and drying them carefully as I remembered the bite of the zip ties on my wrists. Charles’ raspy voice close to my ear, saying the naughtiest things I’d ever heard in my life, right in my ear. I closed my eyes and smiled. It had been ages since I’d daydreamed about our sex life.
“What is it?” Tiffany said as she rounded the corner of the kitchen, her backpack in hand.
“I was going to see if you wanted to bring this over to Nana’s?” I held a container of Swedish meatballs I’d made the night before.
“Oh my God yes, thanks mom. Nana makes the grossest stuff sometimes.” She said and kissed my cheek before walking to the door.
“How are you getting to Nana’s? Are you going to walk?” I asked putting the last of the clean dishes away.
“Yeah! See ya tomorrow.” She called as the door slammed behind her.
I put my hand on my hip and pursed my lips as I walked to the foyer window . I peered out the filmy white curtain to watch Tiffany round the corner. Just as she picked up into a jog, her friend Claire appeared in my view, and I released a sigh of relief. We lived in a very safe neighborhood, but I would always worry. I walked up the stairs as the warm evening sunlight shone through the sheer curtains. The carpet was warm on my bare feet and the spring air seemed to smell fresher today.
I opened the large bay window over my garden tub in our master bathroom, the sound of a neighbor mowing their lawn whirred in the distance, and the smell of fresh cut grass filled the bathroom as I turned on the hot water. As the tub filled I piled my hair on top of my head, securing it with a tie, and then removed my clothes before gingerly stepping into the steaming water. I rested my head on the back of the tub, my eyes closed, absorbing the calmness around me.
Charles’ words seeped into my brain, and I could almost feel the sting of his fingers slapping my nipples. I opened my eyes and looked down at my body, my nipples were already hard from my memories. There was something incredibly erotic about remembering that night. After we’d fucked like animal, he’d drawn a warm bath for the two of us, and made love to me so gently, I cried.
I slid my hand between my thighs, remembering the feel of Charles smacking them commanding me to spread them wider. I rested my knees on each side of the tub as I slipped my fingers inside of myself, chewing on my lower lip as I slid my fingers in and out of myself, just as I felt my orgasm crashing through me, I heard the front door open, and close softly downstairs. I was shocked at first, but then grinned and pressed my warm hands to my hot cheeks. He must have planned on coming home early after all.
Charles appeared in the doorway, his suit jacket slung over his wide shoulder, his tie loose a nd the top button of his shirt open. He was grinning at me and I smiled, sinking lower into the tub.
“Hey .” He said.
“Hi.”
“What’s on the bed?” He tipped his head curiously, lifting a playful eyebrow. His
Learning to Kill: Stories