“Are you leaving?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but yes, I’m moving out of state.”
“Why didn’t you mention this last night?”
Now I’m getting irritated because she’s questioning me as if I owe her something.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t owe you an explanation about my life or my plans and I want you to leave. You had no right to look up my information and come to my home. You knew what my intentions were from the beginning and I would appreciate it if you would please go.”
Like a scene out of a fucking movie, she kicks me in the balls and punches me so hard in the face that I hear the cracking of bone. I fall to the ground, grunting in pain as blood spurts from my nose. She starts kicking me and screaming like she’s lost her damn mind. I hear my neighbor and his wife’s voice yelling at her to stop as he grabs her off of me. I look up and he has a tight hold on her. I ask his wife to call 911. I’m in so much pain that I want to vomit. My neighbor’s wife is kneeling down, trying to help me stay conscious. I can hear the sirens in the distance as everything goes black.
I spent one night in the hospital for observation and other than the broken nose, slight concussion, and bruised ribs, I’m fine. I file charges against Mina and the weird thing is, she doesn’t have any previous arrests for assault. It’s almost like she doesn’t exist because I can’t find anything on her. She did say that prior to coming to Chicago, she lived in a small town in Virginia. I wish there were something here so that I can try to understand what would provoke such an attack. She’s been charged with assault on a police officer, stalking, and resisting arrest. She posted bail this morning, so I want to get home, settle everything with the realtor, and pack the last few things that were left before Mina showed up to my house. I’m walking out and as I pull the door shut, there’s a note stuck to the door. I look around and I don’t see anyone, so I open it and the only thing it says is, “This isn’t Over!” I ball up the paper and toss it in the trash. Now more than ever, I’m ready to leave Chicago and start my new life.
Crystal
Present
I hate that this night has to end, but I have to get up early. Jackson is driving me home and I can’t help but stare at him. He made me feel good in ways that I never imagined. He catches me staring and I blush.
“What is it,” he asks?
“Well, I was wondering if you wanted to go back to Pure Sin with me?”
He pulls over to the side of the road and parks the car.
“Crystal, look at me!” “Are you sure?”
Looking him in the eyes, I say,
“Yes, Jackson, I’m very sure.”
He cups my face and kisses me so tenderly that it feels like I’m floating. I deepen the kiss because I need more, and I want to show him I mean yes. Holding his lips against mine, he says,
“I’m so glad you asked to go to the club, because you have no idea how bad I want to cuff you, spank you, and fuck you.”
Ladies, do you know how a man can say something dirty and it stuns you so much that you lose the ability to think straight? Yeah this is that moment. I’m lost in his eyes, drunk on his kiss as his words sink into me, burning me through to my core. Knowing that we need to stop this, he reluctantly pulls away and we hold hands over the console as he takes me the rest of the way home. After one more quick kiss, I wave goodbye and head into the house. The girls are waiting up for me as I knew they would. They want all the details. I tell them all about my night with Jackson and how we have such a connection.
“I feel so free with him, like I can tell him my deepest desires and he’s willing to explore them with me,” you know?
With a look of longing in her eyes, April says,
“That’s so wonderful Crys,”
We talk for a little while longer and head to bed. We each have an early day tomorrow and I need to get to sleep. Walking into the kitchen I turn off the lights and set the alarm on the back door. The motion lights on the patio illuminate and I see a shadow just beyond the deck. I slide open the door to see who’s there, but the shadow is gone. I suck in my breath when I hear a rustling in the bushes, and I freeze. I’m relieved when I see our neighbor’s two cats emerge from the brush. Mugsy and Bitters are out for their nightly stroll. You two stay out of trouble tonight, I say. They purr as if they understand what I’m saying. I give them each a scratch behind their ears and finish locking up. With each step that I take up the stairs, I can feel where Jackson has been inside and around my body. I’m looking forward to spending time with him at Pure Sin and the look in his eyes when he dropped me off tells me that he feels exactly the same.
I wake up the next morning, sore in all the right places. I shower and dress for the day and make my way downstairs. I start the coffee and get our travel mugs ready. I can hear the girls getting ready upstairs and I start the bagels and grab some fresh strawberries. I’m setting everything on the breakfast bar when the doorbell rings. I open the door and it’s my neighbor from next door and he looks panicked.
“Hey MJ, are you okay?”
Wringing his hands, he proceeds to tell me how he can’t find Mugsy and Bitters. I tell him to come in and I try to calm him down.
“I saw them last night on my patio, let’s go have a look.”
We walk through the kitchen and head out the patio doors. We’re calling their names and walking around. I round the corner by the pool shed and scream! Both cats are bleeding from wounds. MJ runs over and falls to the ground, crying and trying to comfort them. Chassity and April come running, wondering what all the commotion is. They cover their mouths at the sight of all the blood. MJ is cradling them and checking their injuries. MJ’s partner Alex comes running over and when he sees the injured felines, he springs into action. He’s giving everyone instructions and we go to gather towels, water, antibiotic ointment, and antiseptic. He comes back with their carrier and after we clean them and dress their wounds, they take them to the vet.
“Oh my god, what the hell happened to them,” Chas asks?
“I have no idea.” I say. MJ came over to look for them and this is where we found them. I saw them on the patio last night, out for their usual stroll, but they usually go back before morning.”
April, trying to hold back tears says, “those poor kitties, I hope they’ll be ok.”
“I’m sure they will be sweetie. They were already starting to purr when we got them cleaned up.”
“I need to change my clothes and get going. I made bagels, coffee, and there’s fresh fruit.”
We go back in and I head upstairs to change while the girls eat their breakfast and fix our mugs of coffee. Just as we’re locking up to leave, MJ calls to let us know that Mugsy and Bitters are going to be fine and they’ll fill us in later. Breathing a sigh of relief, we head out and hope to all things holy that what happened this morning is not an indication of how this week will be.
Jackson
Driving to the station, all I can think about is Crystal. She’s so perfect and responsive. When she asked me to go back to Pure Sin with her, I needed to be sure she meant it. I need her to be sure that she knows what she’s asking for. I’m pulled out of my fantasy by the ringing of my phone. Connecting my Bluetooth, I answer “Barnes!”