Page 20 of Allured (Love and Burlesque #1)
CHAPTER TWENTY
EZEKIEL
An empty space.
A neat stack of full moving boxes and a very perturbed Peaches meet me in the foyer when I arrive home. The bowling ball shaped cat could surely go a night without her food but she is looking at me like I have committed the ultimate betrayal.
“I apologize, Peaches.” Setting down my messenger bag onto the hall tree, I turn to pick up the fluffy cat and cradle her to my chest.
Walking down the hallway, past the parlor and into the kitchen, I rummage through the pantry to find her a little treat to go with her serving of food.
“I was out later than intended and hadn’t meant for you to starve, sweet girl.”
Once Peaches was settled and greedily consuming her food, I took a moment to breathe and center my thoughts. Last night with Alek was intense for a multitude of reasons and my body is responding in kind.
I observe myself in the mirror hanging in my dining area. There are angles in which my hair is sticking out that I didn’t even think were achievable. My eyes are slightly glassy and it both looks, and feels, like I could make use of another eight hours of sleep.
But, as I look lower, there is a smile on my face and a relaxation in my composure that I haven’t seen in months. Continuing my observation, I see the too large athletic shirt and shorts Alek let me borrow after my own clothing had become unsuitable following our time in my car.
Without an ounce of restraint, I grab the fabric of the borrowed shirt and bring it to my nose. Alek’s scent is one that perplexes me. There is a floral undertone— lavender that isn’t too heady but instead, mixes beautifully with the natural scent of him.
I could get lost in all the sensations brought on from remembering our time together.
The scent of him wafts off of me with every step I take towards my bedroom. If it weren’t for the fact that I needed to shower and complete some work I have been putting off, I would stay in these clothes so that Alek’s scent continues to envelop me.
My aching muscles scream for a hot, steamy shower. Alek may be a gymnast but I have no such flexibility. Being crouched in another man’s lap in the small space of the passenger seat of my sedan has done a number on my back.
A towel and new razor sit on the bench just outside my walk—in shower. My face cream, aftershave, and my toothbrush are set on one side of the counter, making the empty side of the dual sink that much more… empty.
I don’t want to dwell on it. Not now.
Turning the water on as hot as I can comfortably get it, I strip off Alek’s clothes and set them on the unoccupied side of the shared vanity.
Though, I suppose, with Alek’s possessions taking up the space, it is no longer unoccupied, is it? It’s as if Alek is finding every desolate part of my life and filling it up.
It terrifies me in the most welcome of ways.
Fifteen minutes later, I am freshly showered but unable to resist the compulsion of wanting to be close to Alek, so I find myself in the man’s crumpled clothing once again as I head to my study to begin marking papers.
Peaches is my only companion for the afternoon. I mark papers easily, providing both praise and criticism for my linguistics students with a purring puff of light orange on my lap. I also made sure to eat a decent lunch and do some more clearing of the house.
It’s nearing five in the afternoon when I receive a text from Alek. It’s a brief question along with an image.
Aleksander
How much do you weigh?
Attached image.
My first mistake is taking a sip of water right after Alek texts me. My second mistake is, while trying to save my phone, turning in Peaches direction. Water expels from my nose and onto my unfortunately placed cat. I earn a few claw marks on my thigh but not unjustly so. Peaches is glaring at me from the rug as she licks off the excess water plastering down her long fur.
I don’t feel myself weighed down too much from her ire, not when I’m looking at a gloriously shirtless, tan, and sweaty Alek smirking at me through my phone. He seems to be in a stalled changing room of sorts, a wicked smirk on those beautiful lips as he looks into the camera and flashes his torso.
Me
This requires a NSFW warning, Aleksander.
Aleksander
It’s pg13 at best, Ez
but if you’re asking for NSFW I can do that too, angel
Don’t you dare, you brat. I can see you’re in a public space.
And I weigh 170 lbs, if you must know.
I must. give me a minute
Curiosity eats at me. I want to see where this is going. I bite at my thumb to stifle the anticipatory grin on my face. Two minutes later, a text appears with an attached video.
Aleksander
lightweight, baby
Attached video.
Alek is lifting a barbell that looks to have a weight load of 185 pounds on it. He is easily lifting it over his head for several repetitions in a row. It’s not only the action that leaves me swooning in my seat, but the noises. The man grunts with every movement. The groans are seductively similar to the ones I heard from him last night when our cocks were choked in our shared grip.
I’m highly tempted to fist my cock and finish from just the noises alone.
Me
Is there ever an instance where you would have to toss me around like so?
Aleksander
you just gotta ask angel
if you wanna talk and beg for it with your own words, I’m gonna be done with the show by 10pm tonight
Me
Hm... I may be in bed at that time.
that’s where I want you
I scoff and shake my head at his reply. He is incorrigible and I find myself loving the banter.
Me
Ever the flirt, aren’t you?
Aleksander
call me at 10 and find out
try not to fall asleep on me, old man
I should put you over my knee.
that’s gonna do the opposite of help the situation, Ez
gotta go get ready for the show, don’t forget to eat your early bird supper
His last message is time stamped at 5:17 in the afternoon. I roll my eyes in annoyance. I am eight years his senior, not thirty. I’ll humor his game, though.
Me
Goodbye, Alek. It looks like I’ll have to teach you some manners tonight, seeing as you’re disrespecting your elders.