Page 28 of Guarding Grace

“I have three words for you: cops and Elliot.”

That was no choice at all. “Okay. You promise it won’t hurt?” Elliot wassogoing to pay for this.

“I said less. Now hold still. The alcohol may sting a bit.”

I braced, and when he dabbed it on, I felt only a tiny twinge. So far, so good. “You’re sure you know what you’re doing?”

“Cops and Elliot.”

“Okay. Let’s do this thing.”

“I’m going to use a little local anesthetic.” He pinched my ass.

I felt a bigger sting and two more pricks.

“Now we wait for it to take effect.”

“Not long, I hope.” I certainly wouldn’t make it as a stripper, feeling this vulnerable with only my bare butt hanging out. “How’s it look?”

He laughed. “Everythinglooks pretty good from here.”

Vulnerability shifted to a tingle of excitement as I read meaning into his words. How had I gone from hating being around him to being excited that he enjoyed looking at my bare ass? My heart pounded in my ears as time slipped by quietly.

“That should be long enough,” he finally said. “Does this hurt?”

I felt only slight pressure and shook my head.

“Okay then. Hold still, and I promise you my best work.”

I clamped my eyes shut when he picked up the razor blade. After some pressure, I felt a tug. “Are we done yet?”

“Got it. Wanna see?”

I dared to open my eyes. “No thanks.” When I started to move, he held me down again.

“Hold still. It’ll only take a minute to finish up. I’m going to close thewound with super glue, and you’ll be as good as new in no time, as long as you don’t scratch at it.”

I laughed. “Got it. No ass scratching.” Yes, I had changed, too. Last week, suggesting that I scratched my ass would have earned Terry a slap instead of a laugh.

I stayed silent, feeling surprising tingles as he worked on me, and I imagined his fingers sliding beyond the Taser site. I’d spent many a night imagining his hands on me, but never like this.

“All done.” He gave me a light pat on the backside, and my fantasy evaporated.

“That was fast.” I felt him lift off the couch.

“You can pull up your pants now.”

When I rolled over and stood, I felt somewhat lightheaded.

He turned away to give me privacy.

As I pulled up the bottoms of the tracksuit, the bloody gauze and razor blade caught my eye. My traitorous brain imagined the blade cutting into me—big mistake. Darkness pushed in from the fringes of my vision.

Terry

I heardthe same long sigh as last night. Dread filled me as I spun. This time I was fast enough and got to her just as she wobbled.

She went limp in my arms.