engine and got out of his truck.
In confusion, I
followed him, a new fear coming over me that he wasn't the guy I had
hoped he was. With a sigh, I led the way to my apartment, shoving the
key in the lock and opening the door while worrying all the while if
I was making yet another mistake. I had not been having good luck
with men lately, and these lifestyle guys were the worst, from what I
could tell. Pushy, arrogant assholes. All of them.
Micah proved to be
no different, brushing past me and going into the bathroom like he
owned the place. I tried to keep a scowl from my face as I
protectively wrapped my arms around myself and stood awkwardly in my
living room, waiting for him to come out so that I could thank him
and send him on his way. This aftercare stuff wasn't going to happen.
Not tonight, at least.
When Micah emerged
from the bathroom though, he completely ignored me, making a beeline
to the kitchen. Was that a towel in his hand? I heard my refrigerator
door open. What in the hell was he doing?
Frustrated, I came
around the corner to see. My face contorted into a look of confusion
as I watched him pull out several bags of frozen vegetables along
with my ice cube tray. Did the guy plan to cook for me?
“ What
are you doing?” I asked, trying not to sound angry as I watched
him go through my kitchen drawers.
“ I'm
looking for plastic bags,” he replied absentmindedly, finding
them only seconds later.
“ Why?”
“ To
put the ice in.”
“ Do
you need ice?”
“ It's
for your aftercare.”
“ I
don't need aftercare,” I grumbled.
“ Just
let me do this. Okay?”
Stress was apparent
in his voice, and I was too tired to argue. I wasn't sure exactly
what he was doing, but I decided to leave him to it, returning to the
living room to sit on my sofa while he finished up in the kitchen.
Every movement was nearly excruciating. Walking. Sitting. Shifting my
weight. My back ached like seven hells, and I knew I would be
incapacitated the next day. How could I let things get this bad?
Another wave of
emotion swept over me, feeling like I had been more stupid than
prideful for staying with Chet for so long. All of that time I had
been convinced that Chet would never be able to break me, that I was
stronger than that. But he had chipped away at me slowly, and while I
had never submitted to him fully, I definitely felt broken. That
thought depressed me. Thankfully, I didn't have long to dwell on it
before Micah came around the corner, his arms full of baggies of ice,
frozen vegetables, the bath towel, and several kitchen towels. I gave
him a quizzical look as he set it all down on my coffee table,
wondering what kinky stuff he had planned. This was definitely going
to be creative.
“ Take
your shirt off,” he told me, his voice all business.
“ Aren't
you going to buy me dinner first?” I teased with a smirk,
though my hands quickly moved to obey.
“ That
can wait for another time.”
My smile faded from
the seriousness of his tone. This guy was no fun at all. I had just
been trying to lighten the mood. The last thing I needed was another
asshole in my life, especially after what had happened.
“ Lay
down on the sofa,” Micah instructed once my shirt was off.
“ I'm
not sure I can handle laying on my back.”
“ I
don't want you to lay on your back. That would defeat the purpose. On
your stomach.”
I tried not to
grumble as I did as I was told, feeling stupid all over again. What a
demanding prick. The only thing he had going for him was looks.
Otherwise, he was probably just Chet in a different package. The
thought made my skin crawl. Once I paid this debt, it would be over,
and I'd never have to see him again. I'd never have to see either one
of them again. I was done with the lifestyle. They could keep their
bullshit attitudes and abuse.
I felt like a broken
doll laying on the sofa, staring out into space. Micah leaned forward
and gently unclasped my bra. Then he bent over me, and I felt
Learning to Kill: Stories