Page 50 of Foul & Fake
ELIAS
Fuck, she’s running.
I had a feeling this might happen if she ever caught me following her, but what I didn’t expect was for her to call me for comfort. No, not just for comfort… to save her.
So that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
Her threatening her stalker’s life wasn’t on my Bingo card, and it took everything inside me not to burst out laughing, but now I have to find a way to chase her down without being seen. All while being on the phone with her. How the hell do I keep finding myself in these ridiculous messes?
Whatever. I need to be the arms she launches into, I need to be the man she looks to for protection, I need her to know I’ll be there.
“Is he still behind you? I’m close.”
“I don’t know,” she rushes out, breathless and terrified. “Eli, hurry.”
Damn. How fucked up am I that I love this? I love that it’s me she’s seeking comfort from and not her friends or older brothers. “I think I see you. Riley, run.”
I don’t actually see her right now. I’ve already taken a roundabout way so I can come up in front of her and be the hero instead of the creepy fucker stalking her through the park.
It’s the same rush I got hunting her on Halloween, and when I see her coming around the corner, it takes everything not to grab her and fuck her right here and now. “Hey!” I yell, making her head snap in my direction, and when I hang up and start running to meet her halfway, I see relief in those addicting blue eyes. I can’t get distracted though, I have a role to play. “Back off, mother fucker! She’s mine.”
She melts into my arms, hugging me tightly as she trembles. “Is he gone?”
No, you ran right to him.
“Yeah, baby. He took off. Want me to go chase him down?”
I will if I have to keep this going, but in all reality I don’t want to move from this spot. What is this woman doing to me?
“No, but maybe I should file a police report. He didn’t catch me, but what if he takes someone else?”
“Did you see his face at all?” I ask, knowing the answer has to be no, because if she had she wouldn’t be looking at me like this.
But I have to convince her not to call the cops.
“Well no,” she says slowly. “I didn’t see him at all actually. I heard him, though. He was there.”
“I believe you,” I say as comforting as I can, cradling her face with both of my hands. “But the cops might not take it seriously. I mean, who do they even look for?”
She nods slowly, glancing back over her shoulder. “You’re right. I’ll post it at least and make sure everyone knows there’s a creep running around, but the cops won’t be able to do anything. Do you think there are security cameras anywhere?”
“Maybe. Posting it online is good enough, but let me see your phone.”
I hold out my hand for it and do a quick scan of her text messages before I hand it back. “There I shared your location with me so I’ll always be able to find you, but really you shouldn’t go out without me for a while.”
Her shoulders relax as she takes her phone back. “Thank you, Eli. Seriously.” Rocking up on her toes, she grips my chin and pulls me down into a kiss that makes me feel so good I lift her up off the ground to deepen it.
I’m well aware of the guilt creeping up my spine, but I ignore its presence completely and squeeze her ass. I have her.
And as of right now, she’s kissing me like I’m her hero.
“Let’s give him something to watch,” she whispers, biting my bottom lip as her cheeks flush red. “Fuck me, Eli. Right here.”
Goddamn I think I’m falling for her.
What?
Nope, not going there.
