stop cleaning and fussing and to head home. He has a cleaning crew scheduled for first thing in the morning. He sees me out the door with a quick hug goodbye and locks it up behind me.
It’s really pouring now so I grab a newspaper to hold over my head as I make my way to my car. I don’t know what good it does but I see people do it when they don’t have an umbrella like me. An SUV is parked curbside in front of the gallery as I step outside. Both windows are down and the smell of marijuana smoke is strong.
“You look good in that tight skirt mama. You need a ride?” comes from the SUV and at least two guys crack up laughing.
I ignore that and step out in front of their vehicle to cross the street and get to my car down the block.
As I cross in front the driver says “Why don’t you jump in and you can suck our dicks while we take give you a ride home.”
Out of nowhere, my hoodie stalker reaches in through the window and starts pounding the driver. His friend jumps out of the passenger side and comes around to help the driver just as hoodie pulls him out onto the pavement. The hood slides back in the scuffle with the two men and it is clearly Nikolai. He pummels the two gang banger types relentlessly and even when they are clearly finished and not fighting back at all, he continues hitting them and brutally kicking them.
“Niko stop! That’s enough! You’re going to kill them!” I scream. And his sanity returns. He drops his victim to the ground next to his friend. He just stares at me. He is out of breath and visibly getting control of himself.
“Are you hurt baby?” He asks as he approaches me. Both of us soaking wet now.
“Of course not they didn’t touch me.”
“Fuck baby. You are just trouble waiting to happen.”
“How is that my fault? How can you say that? I ask him.
He smiles and picks a strand of wet hair off my face. “Let me drive you home. We will come back and pick up your car tomorrow.”
“I will make your car wet.” I say.
“Come on.” He says, ignoring my comment and he takes my arm and leads me a block or so down the street where I see the familiar Mercedes parked.
We are heading for my home in silence when I say “So you’re my stalker?”
“Yeah and thank God I was there tonight.”
“Why do you watch me?” I ask in almost a whisper.
“I still get to see you this way. I’m fucked up sweetheart.” He offers and I reach over and squeeze his hand. It’s the first time we have touched in so long. Even with clammy and rain soaked skin, the feeling is electric and wonderful.
He keys in security codes without my input as if he does it every day.
“Do you have staff coming in tomorrow or this weekend at all?” He asks.
“No. It’s just me. How do you know my father is out of town?”
“I know everything. I can even tell you his hotel room number down in Orlando and what flight he is returning on Tuesday.” He smiles.
“Clever you. It’s just me until Tuesday.”
Eleven
As soon as we are in and security codes punched in, again without asking me, he turns me to face him with his hands on my waist and just looks his fill.
I am embarrassed, knowing I look like a drowned cat.
“You’re so beautiful baby. I see why those boys couldn’t help themselves. You are so fucking hot. Sex in a skirt.”
I feel a blush sweep from my chest up. First blush in months. I love being under Nikolai’s scrutiny. I love his vulgar words. He’s back. We’re back.
“I need a shower and warm dry clothes. Did you want something to eat or drink?” I ask.
“Not right now. Let’s go up.”
We hold hands up the stairs and he leads us right to my room. Déjà vu.
Nikolai starts removing my clothes and says “It kills me when you dress like this baby.”
I am wearing a grey pencil skirt with a soft white blouse tucked in and now ruined