CHAPTER TENStalked on All SidesI bit my lips as she asked the heavy questions again."Would he be willing to help you with this?""I don't really feel comfortable asking himthat."Why not? You've known him as long as you've known me. You two are super close. I'm sure he'd do it for you.""Maybe, but you don't know my mom. She wouldn't be satisfied with dating. She won't really leave me alone until I'm married. I'm not going to ask Dylan to marry me."At least, not when it's not real. I couldn't ask that of him, especially given my very real feelings for him.Shut up, Kenzy. You're ignoring those feelings, remember? Dylan is your friend."I suppose that is a bit much to ask. What's going on with you and Luke anyway? You haven't said a word about him in days. Usually, you never shut up about him."I can feel my face going red. "We kind of had a fight."Let me guess. He's not happy that you're still investigating him?""Not at all. Do you think I'm doing the right thing? Should I back
CHAPTER ELEVENAm doing this again.I stare at Dylan with my mouth wide open, I had never seen him this angry before. Although I knew he always stood up for me, I wasn't expecting it to be as intense as he had just done.I set the phone aside and turn over to him with a bright smile."Are you okay?" He asked with curious eyes. I am at the venge of bursting into laughter, but I somehow managed to control myself.Of course I was perfectly fine, it's not like I was physically abused or insulted by Raymond. I still try keep my face in a frown. Pretending to be sad but deep down, I was screaming with excitement.I knew I was taking this too personal but seriously, I didn't care at the moment."I am fine." I said, sober."That rascal, I will grind his bone and feed them to the birds of the earth!" His eyes turn strangely dark and I am left amazed that he is able to do that.I shoved off the shock, placing my hand on his as I speak gently."Dylan, I admire the chivalry, but you can't just t
CHAPTER TWELVEI'd Do AnythingI check my watch. Ten minutes until I meet Dylan.Weeks have passed since I barely escaped getting caught masturbating in the restaurant bathroom. I had to do a bit of quick talking, but I've gotten out of tighter spots before when following a story.Hannah is lying on the couch, reading. It's a Saturday, which means Dylan and I will get to spend the whole afternoon together.As I head for the door, my phone rings. It's an unknown number. I grimace."Chuck it over." Hannah catches the phone. We've developed a system for this."Hello? Hi, Raymond. No, Kenzy isn't here right now. Goodbye."Hannah hangs upon him in the middle of a sentence.Thanks." I take my phone back. "Who's holding the current record?""Raymond, but only by two. Your mom is coming in a close second." I roll my eyes.Those two refuse to leave me alone."I need to go. I'm meeting Dylan.""Enjoy." Hannah winks at me. She knows all about my fantasies about Dylan, but she never brings them u
CHAPTER THIRTEENAnnouncementI can't make out the words, but I can hear angry voices. As I listen, my fear starts to subside, to be replaced with indignation. I'm just about to throw the blanket aside when Dylan returns.He looks pissed, but his expression softens when he sees me. "Sorry about that. Just a concerned neighbor.At any other time, I wouldn't let an encounter go without question, but I have more urgent matters on my mind right now.I grab Dylan's arm, pulling him back where he was, on top of me."I need you," I breathe in his ear, taking the opportunity to nibble on my earlobe.Dylan throws aside the gown he'd hastily put on to talk to his neighbor. His cock is still going strong. I reach for it, running my hand down its length.It feels so soft compared to the rest of him. I give it a squeeze, pleased by how he strains up into my grip."Now, Dylan."I lay back on the blanket, spreading my legs. Dylan kisses me as he moves between my legs once more. I grab his waist, imp
CHAPTER FOURTEENFull MoonI lie on the couch with my head on Dylan's lap. I feel like I could lie here forever. It makes me uneasy.Dylan and I have agreed to be friends with benefits, but ever since we talked about it, I haven't allowed myself to so much as kiss him.I know I'm being stupid, but I can't quite get over what happened the last time I trusted a guy. Raymond broke my heart, and it still hasn't healed.Dylan and I aren't a couple, but I can't help worrying that having sex with him again will just make me even more attached. Then what will I do if he betrays me as Raymond did? I don't know if my heart can take that.Dylan will probably just think I'm silly, or be offended that I don't trust him.Dylan is a completely different man to Raymond. Expecting him to make Raymond''s mistakes is just stupid. I shouldn't have a problem trusting him because of what happened in my previous engagement.My broken heart doesn't seem to agree. So far, the fear of being burned again has ov
CHAPTER FIFTEEN ChainsI burst through the door, ready to punch, bite and scream.If someone is trying to chain up, theyhave to come through me first."Kenzy!" Dylan leaps off his bed, trying to hide the huge pile of chains behind him. I scan the room. No one else is here.Dylan, what's going on?" I peer around his shoulder. "What are those for?"Dylan glances guiltily back at the chains. I see that there's some kind of oil there, as well as a couple of metalworking instruments. It looks like he's taking care of the chains, or testing their strength. "It's for work."This is getting ridiculous."Dylan, you're a web designer! In what possible world could your work need chains?""It's a long story. Look, I'm tired, I really want to go to bed.""Tell me what's going on."I look him straight in the eye, silently daring him to lie to me.Dylan drops his gaze to the ground. "I can't. I'm so sorry, Lia, but I just can't. If you don't want to live with me anymore, I'll understand."It's mome
CHAPTER SIXTEENJust FriendsI can only hope that Derek, whoever he is, lives in the building. I burst through the front door into the corridor."Derek! Derek, please, it's Dylan!"A man appears from the upstairs floor. He's walking slowly as if he doesn't hear my desperate screams, but his eyes are on me.I become aware that I'm naked, but I don't care.Derek? Dylan needs help - please, hurry!"Oh yes, Kenzy, Dylan needs help, and you can help him. You need to back off.""I what?"The sound of Dylan's screams suddenly goes quiet. I abandon Derek and run back to the bedroom. Dylan is getting up, his face grim, but he seems uninjured. "I Dylan? What happened?"Before he can speak, Derek steps into the room. "I warned you, Dylan. I told you, it's too dangerous, at least right now. You'll hurt her."I wouldn't. I couldn't."You could. You've already come close. You need to stay away from her."You don't own me, Derek!""Yes, I do," Derek hissed. "And you know it. Now get dressed."To my
CHAPTER SEVENTEENWhat Happens AfterTears are falling thick and fast down my cheeks. I press a hand to my mouth to stifle the sound of my sobs, rushing to my room and slamming the door.I don't know if the door will stop Dylan from hearing me, but it's the best I can do.I throw myself onto the bed, pressing my face into the pillow.I never thought it would be like this.I never thought he'd find out.Even if I'd known he would, I would have been sure he'd brush it off, just like all my other efforts of investigation.I grab my phone, sending a text to Hannah with shaky hands."Hannah I messed up. Dylan found out about Jim tailing him. He's mad. I think he hates me." I texted her"Oh hon, I'm sorry. Tell me what happened, exactly." She replied.I spend a few minutes typing out a description of the fight, not wanting to risk Dylan hearing me speaking to her on a phone call.Hannah's response is a few minutes in coming. "Give him the night to cool off. He has a right to be mad. I'm no