stored there, opening up to reveal it contains something much different that a bunch of cosmetics.
My vibrator falls into the palm of my hand as I turn the bag over, and I grip it like it’s the holy grail. And I don’t care I’m a sweaty mess. I don’t care that my ponytail clings to my neck, that sweat still drips between my breasts. I yank down my workout shorts and my panties in one move and step out of my flip-flops, clambering up on top of my bed covers and pushing the button to turn my little savior on.
I take the tiny silver bullet between my fingertips of my right hand, reach down between my legs with my left, and pull back my hood, feeling how embarrassingly wet I am and having to readjust to get a better grip to expose my clit. And when I touch the vibrator right… there, I have to turn my face into my pillow to muffle the long, relieved moan that leaves from deep within my chest. My toes curl into my comforter as my head presses back into the pillow, and images fill my mind as my eyes squeeze closed, shutting out the room around me and the fact that I’m alone. My head instantly transports me back, back to the first time, the only time I got to experience Neil’s kiss, one year ago.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I mumble, seeing Scout, Neil’s Australian shepherd, watching me as I slip my sneakers on and tie the laces. “I’ll be back before your daddy even gets out of his session. I just need a few things from my apartment.” I roll my eyes. “Maybe I’ll find my sanity while I’m there, seeing how I’ve now resorted to talking to a damn dog.”
I texted Neil, asking when his appointments would be through for the day. He said an emergency session had been booked and he wouldn’t be home until sixish. A new shipment of my products had been delivered to my apartment this morning, and I need to package up a few orders today so Neil can take them to the post office for me in the morning.
I toss my cell into my purse and then grab one of the several sets of keys hanging on the wall next to the door, this one with the least fancy emblem on the remote. I’m sneaking off with one of Neil’s cars, so the least I could do is not borrow the Audi or the one I can’t pronounce. The Chevy truck would work just fine for me, and hopefully he’ll never even know I used it. Why one man would need two cars, a truck, and an SUV, I’ll never know. But right now, I’m just grateful there’s a vehicle for me to drive instead of having to walk to my apartment. Even having a restraining order in place, and a security team keeping an eye on Brandon, I still have an eerie feeling, and I’ll listen to my gut enough to at least not walk the streets in the dark.
I hear Scout whine behind me as I open the door, and I glance back long enough to tell him, “Be a good boy. I’ll be right back,” before shutting him inside and locking the door. I hurry out to the truck, remote in hand, which I use to unlock it before I even reach the tall, black vehicle. Heart pounding, I yank open the door as soon as I grasp the handle, pull myself up into the driver seat, and then slam and lock the door behind me. I start the truck, letting out a nervous laugh and shaking my head.
“Calm the hell down, Astrid,” I whisper to myself. “He doesn’t know where you are.” But even as I say the words, I glance in all the mirrors, and even turn around to check the back seat for anyone who might be hiding back there, waiting to attack.
Feeling vulnerable, even behind the tinted windows and locked doors, I put the truck in reverse then make my way out onto the main road. Within minutes, I arrive at my apartment and park in the underground garage. Thankfully, the space right next to the elevator is open. As I turn off the engine, I grab my purse and look around through the windows, trying to see if there’s any sign of Brandon hiding between the parked cars.
“You’re being paranoid. Just get in quick, grab