Looking behind me, I check the back seat, my heart racing with the idea of someone lying in wait for me, but thankfully nobody is there. Glancing at the passenger door, I make sure that it’s locked, and it is.
Frowning, I don’t know how someone got into the car and my entire body starts to tremble at the thought. Reaching for the note, I take it and watch it shake from being in my quivering finger’s grasp.
Inhaling a deep breath, I slowly open the folded paper and then attempt to focus on the words that have been written.
Seeing you. Watching you. I know that you will never be good enough for him. Only I can give you what you need. Soon we will be together and I will show you exactly how perfectly we fit together.
Soon you will only dance for me, Tulip.
My entire body breaks out in a sweat. Dropping the note, I watch as it flutters to the floorboard of my car. I want to burn it. I want to rip it into a million pieces. My stomach turns. My brain is screaming at me to call the police. I know what I should do, I’m not stupid.
But part of me knows that the police can’t do anything. I remember when Channing was having problems with her ex, they couldn’t do shit, even though he’d been actually harassing her. This is just some stupid note. It’s probably from some lonely customer who has some fantasy about me.
Pushing the stupid note from my mind, I head toward Louis’ house. Tonight marks my first night of living with him. Though, I know none of my things have been packed and I haven’t officially given my landlord notice, it just feels like everything is official.
I can’t stop myself from letting out a squeal of excitement as I pull down his driveway. This is going to be my new home. Home. I don’t know that I’ve ever had a real one of those before and I can’t freaking wait.
LOUIS
I tried to stay awake for Tulip last night, but I passed out at ten. My alarm sounds, alerting me to the first grueling day back to full-force training. It’s four and I know that my trainer and sparring partner will be ready to go in an hour. If I’m not down there, they’ll be knocking down my door.
Opening my eyes, I glance over to Tulip who is laying on her stomach, her arms tucked up between her body and the mattress. She’s wearing a tank top and her bare shoulder is too hard to resist. I may have to do something that I’ve never done while training for a fight, give up my abstinence.
Rolling over toward her, I lift my knee and place my thigh against the backs of hers while my mouth touches her shoulder. She moans, and I watch as her eyes flutter open.
I should feel like an ass that she’s only had a couple hours of sleep and here I am waking her up, but she’s so fucking tempting.
“Morning,” she breathes sweetly as she turns her head so that she’s facing me.
Smiling, I look into her blue eyes and say, “Mornin’, baby.”
Touching my mouth to hers, I can’t hold back the moan at her taste. Fuck, one night without her and I can’t even describe how much I missed this girl. She whimpers as she rolls on to her back and I follow, climbing on top of her, fitting my hips between her spread thighs.
“We can’t,” she sighs once I break the kiss.
“Fuck it,” I grunt as my mouth travels her neck.
I feel her fingers wrap around my shoulders and she gives me a small shake. Lifting my head from her collarbone, I look up at her in confusion.
“You told me you were going to be celibate,” she says.
I lower my head and touch my mouth to hers again. “How about I’m only celibate the week of the fight. I won’t be here, it’ll be a hell of a lot easier.”
I feel her body shake as she giggles beneath me. “You didn’t even last twenty-four hours, Louie.”
Smirking, I shrug my shoulder. “Yeah, well who can be celibate with a sexy as fuck woman like you next to him in bed. Can’t help it, baby, gotta have you.”
Shaking her head, she places her hands on my shoulders and gently pushes me off of her. I let her, because she’s in control, even if she doesn’t realize it, she always has all of the control when it comes to me.
“Tullie?” I ask when she doesn’t say anything right away.
She turns to face me, lying on her side, those big blue eyes focused on me and nowhere else. “You have a routine and I’m not here to disturb that. I can’t, not when I know that you need to focus and concentrate on training for this fight. This is important to you and you need to be in the right headspace.”
Frowning, I know that she’s right, even if I don’t want her to be. Lifting my hand, I extend my fingers and run them down the side of her face, then over to her lips and trace the soft skin there.
“Being beside you puts me in the best headspace I’ve been in for years, maybe ever. Don’t take yourself away from me just because I had some stupid idea about how to prepare for a fight.”
“Is it stupid though?” she asks.
Lifting my lips into a small smile, I touch the tip of her nose with my finger. “If you’re sleeping beside me then yeah, it’s stupid as fuck.”
My fingers dance down the center of her throat, her chest, and then they make their way over to her breast and I grip her there, massaging her soft tit as my eyes stay connected to hers. I pinch her nipple, tugging on the bud and grinning when her lips part and she lets out a whimper.
“Louis,” she breathes.
“Hmm?”
“You shouldn’t.”
Leaning forward, I pinch her nipple again, my mouth pressing against hers. “I really fucking should, Tullie. You taste too damn good. You’re too fucking sweet. I need you to breathe, baby.”
She lets out a sigh and then she relaxes beneath my touch and her legs slowly part for me. That’s when I know that she is allowing me to take her. I do so with fucking glee. This is where I was always meant to be, inside of my woman.
Chapter Seventeen
TULIP
Guilt consumes me as I drive to work. I shouldn’t have allowed Louis to break his vow. He made it clear to me just days ago that he didn’t indulge in physical pleasure while he was training and day one, he’s already broken it, and I welcomed every moment.
Biting the corner of my lip, I let out a sigh as I continue to make my way toward the grocery store. I’m exhausted from working all night, sleeping two hours, then being woken up and satisfied to sweet exhaustion all over again.
Pulling into the parking lot, I find my regular spot and shift my car into park. Gripping the steering wheel, a sensation of fear fills my belly. Glancing down at my floorboard, I see the note from yesterday and pinch my eyes closed.
It could have been Mark or Joey, possibly even some random sicko. I wish that I knew, that I could pinpoint exactly who it could have been, but I can’t.
The only thing that I can do is stay vigilant, alert and try not to be alone if possible. One thing I know for damn sure, I won’t be dancing for this weirdo, not ever.
Walking into the store, I glance around, looking for Mark. I’m not surprised to find him standing behind the customer service counter, his eyes focused directly on me. Watching him for a moment, I try to read him. I try to figure out if he left the note, but he gives nothing away.