Page 33 of Taming a Menace

Thirteen

I yla

“Ma’am, did you lock your doors before you left the house?”

“Yes, of course,” I told the officer who couldn’t have been too much older than twenty.

“I asked because when we arrived on the scene, your front door was slightly cracked. That could have possibly set off the alarm.”

“I locked my doors. I always lock my doors,” I assured him.

“It’s possible that the alarm could have scared the intruder away.

We did a sweep of the property and didn’t see any sign of anyone in the house.

Over the next few days, if you find that something is missing, make sure to reach out to us.

Your police report will be ready for pick up in about forty-eight hours. ”

“And you’re sure no one is in there?” I asked again.

“Positive,” the female officer with him told me.

“OK,” I said, nodding my head.

It was all well and good that they could assure me that no one was in my house, but that didn’t mean I was going inside.

I refused to go in there just in time for whoever had broken in to pounce on me.

I had watched too many TV shows where someone came home and found somebody lying in wait for them.

Who would do something like this? I lived in a quiet neighborhood where nothing ever happened.

Now someone had broken into my house. I wouldn’t have put it past Wyatt to try to do something to scare me if he knew where I lived.

Maybe it was just some kids messing around.

Either way, I wasn’t going in that house until Keywan made it here.

As the cops left, I got back in my car and waited.

I put my hands on the steering wheel but dropped them to my lap when I realized that they were trembling.

I couldn’t remember the last time that I was so afraid.

That’s what I got for binging true crime shows every night.

Now I was scared to go in my own damn house even after the cops did a sweep and guaranteed me that no one was inside.

Five minutes passed before I saw the headlights of Keywan’s truck.

I grabbed my phones off the passenger seat and stuffed them in my clutch.

I never took my work phone with me anywhere.

I just so happened to have left it in my car after work.

Thank God I did because I wouldn’t have gone inside and looked for it so I could call Keywan.

I probably would have stayed in a hotel for the night.

When Key stepped out of his truck, I jumped out of my car and ran to him. His steps were urgent as he moved in my direction.

“You’re good, baby. I got you,” he said, throwing his arms around me and pulling me closer.

“Oh my God. I can’t believe I called you all the way over here. I didn’t even ask what you were doing.”

“Iyla, you know it didn’t matter what I was doing. I’ll drop everything for you. What happened, baby? What did the cops say?” he asked.

“Someone broke in. The cops don’t think they actually went inside, but I’m terrified. I’m not going in there alone.”

“You have an alarm system, right?” he questioned.

“Yeah. The police think that the alarm probably scared them away before they could get inside.”

“Get back in your car. They’re probably right, but I want to double check to make sure no one is in there.”

“OK.” I quickly nodded.

There was nothing wrong with double checking. I went back to my car and got inside. From the driver seat, I watched as Key tested the lock to make sure that the door was open before going in. A couple of minutes later, he reemerged and walked over to my car. He opened the door before speaking.

“Come on. It’s clear,” he said, reaching out to take my hand.

“My hands are shaking.” I laughed nervously as I put my hand in his.

He brought my hand to his lips and kissed it as I stood to my full height.

“It’s OK, baby. I got you,” he assured me.

“Thank you for coming. I didn’t even think you were in town.”

“I’m glad that I hung around.”

“I’m still tripping on how I just called you like that.” I shook my head.

I couldn’t remember what made me call him of all people. Mostly I just wanted to talk to him. I knew he could help me relax even if he just said something crazy to make me laugh.

“You knew daddy would jump out of a jet with a parachute to get to you. That’s why. Even if I was out of town I would have been pushing it to the limit to come to the rescue.”

“Thankfully you didn’t have to do all that.”

We made it to the door, and he opened it so he could walk in first.

“Do you want to do a sweep together?” he proposed.

“You checked everything, right?”

“Yeah. It’s all clear. I promise. I meant do you want to make sure nothing is missing?”

“Um, sure,” I said, walking ahead of him toward my bedroom.

“Damn, I’m just getting a load of that dress, Iyla. Where were you going looking so good?”

“I had a date tonight. I think I mentioned it to you.”

“Gah damn, did he get the chance to see you?” he asked, grimacing like he was in physical pain.

“No, I got the call when I was walking in. He wasn’t at the restaurant yet.”

“Fuck, come here,” Key said, walking closer and taking my hand.

He raised my arm over my head and twirled me around like we were dancing before releasing my hand.

“I’m glad that poor sucker didn’t get to see you before you bailed on him.

He would have been heartbroken. My baby got her back out and the ass on full display for another damn man.

Girl, you’re killing me. I’m ’bout to have a heart attack up in here. ”

“I told you I was just going to be nice,” I said, continuing to check for any sign that things were out of place.

“I’m glad I postponed my trip. I didn’t need whoever he was thinking you needed him to follow you home just in case.”

“I wouldn’t have asked him to. The only reason you know where I live is because you’ve been here before. I don’t bring random guys to where I lay my head.”

“That’s good to know.”

“It doesn’t look like they came inside like the cops said, but why am I still terrified?”

“I’m sure a break in is a scary thing. I can stay here with you for a while until you feel better.”

I sighed. “I think I’m going to get a hotel room for the night.”

“You don’t have to do that, Iyla. How about if I stay here? I’ll sleep on the couch and guard the doors.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah. I’m not going to be able to rest knowing that you’re over here scared.”

“Do you need to go home and get a change of clothes? I’ll ride with you or drive. It doesn’t matter. I just don’t feel like being here alone right now.”

“Then we won’t leave. I keep a change of clothes in my gym bag. It’s always in the truck. I need to take a shower though.”

“There’s a shower in the guest bathroom. You really don’t have to do this, though, Keywan. I’m probably just being a big baby.”

He grinned. “As long as you know you’re my baby.”

“I hear you.” I blushed. “Let me show you to the guest room.”

“All right. I’ll grab my stuff out of the truck after that.”

I showed Keywan my guest bedroom that no one had ever used yet before showing him the bathroom. I didn’t even have towels and soap in there because, like I said, nobody had ever used the room.

“You can take a shower whenever you’re ready. I’ll grab you some towels.”

“OK. I’ll probably go ahead and do that. I was running when you called me.”

“Oh, that’s right.”

“Didn’t you say you were meeting somebody for dinner? You hungry?” he asked.

I shook my head. “I think all the excitement took my appetite.”

“Well let me grab my stuff out of the truck.”

“Just let yourself back in. I’m about to get out of this dress,” I told him.

That signature devilish grin spread his lips but surprisingly he didn’t say anything before heading for the door.

I went to my bedroom and closed the door behind me.

It felt like the room was closing in on me.

I regretted not setting up my indoor cameras because they would finally serve a purpose other than watching an empty room all day.

I could have had a guarantee that no one had come in my house or a positive ID of the one who did.

I changed out of the dress and threw on an oversized T-shirt and a pair of shorts.

Once I was dressed in something more comfortable, I stood in front of my bathroom mirror and removed my makeup then went through my nighttime skin routine.

I skipped my skin routine most of the time.

For some reason it didn’t happen to be a skip night. I think I was trying to kill time.

It was easy to turn Keywan down when we were in my office and now I had even let him convince me to cross the line there. I knew having him in my home meant I was a goner. I wasn’t completely opposed to it. I just needed a minute to process everything.

As I dried my face on a disposable towel, I remembered my promise to bring him towels for his shower. I tossed the towel in the trash can and walked over to my linen closet to grab fresh towels and wash cloths.

“Key!” I called as I walked through the open door of my guest room.

I heard the water running, so I walked in to put the towels on the bathroom counter.

As soon as I walked in the bathroom, he stepped out of the shower.

He looked like the finest dark chocolate from head to toe.

His dick swung heavy between his thick thighs as he moved in my direction.

I was frozen in place until he called my name.

“Iyla, let the towel go.” He chuckled.

“I-I’m sorry. I forgot your towels.”

He smiled when I finally released the towel. When he used it to dry his face, that finally broke the spell he had on me. I fought the urge to run as I turned and headed for the door.

“Moon!” His voice stopped me in my tracks.