by Jade Winters
‘You won’t have to. Let me prove myself to you. I won’t leave you again, Emma. I promise.’
‘Even if—’
A little grin twisted Lauren’s lips. ‘Even if I have a million and one stalkers hunting me down.’
‘If you had that many, I’d go into hiding myself,’ Emma joked.
‘Let’s hope it never comes to that.’
‘Speaking of stalkers—’
‘Oh God, I forgot to ask you about your encounter with Hope.’ She inwardly cringed as she imagined the confrontation. ‘I take it she wasn’t too thrilled to have you accuse her of being my stalker.’
Emma’s expression turned from neutral to one of sadness. ‘That’s an understatement. She took it pretty badly. Not that I blame her.’
‘So you definitely don’t think it’s her?’
‘No. I think her beef with you is just female competitiveness,’ Emma said heavily. ‘For some reason, she thinks you’re a threat to our friendship. Which leads us back to Mike again.’
Lauren hated the thought of them falling out over her. ‘Me? I would never come between—’
‘There’s no need to tell me that. I know you wouldn’t. But it’s not me who needs convincing. It’s Hope. Seeing as I don’t think she’ll ever talk to me again, convincing her might be difficult.’
‘Give it some time. She’ll understand once she’s calmed down.’
‘You do know we’re talking about Hope here?’ Emma said.
‘Yes, and that’s why I know she’ll forgive and forget. She cares about you too much to hold a grudge.’
‘I hope you’re right. Listen, before I forget, I was thinking about something you said a few days ago—about the stereotypical stalker.’
‘What, him looking like a crazy person?’
‘No. The part about him having pictures of you in his room. I have an idea but it’s totally up to you. I don’t want to pressure you into anything. Especially after the mess I’ve made of everything so far.’
‘Go on, I’m listening.’
‘If we could somehow get into Mike’s place …’
Lauren didn’t object, but she did need clarification. ‘Are you talking about breaking-in?’
‘I remember reading on his Facebook page that he lives in a flat share with two other geeks—his choice of words, not mine. How do you think they’ll react if two very sexy school friends of Mike’s turn up unannounced and ask to wait for him until he gets home from work?’
‘But he unfriended you.’
‘Yes, me, but I noticed he’s also friends with Jillian who we went to school with. I’ve spoken to her a couple of times on messenger, I’m sure she won’t mind giving me the info we need.’
‘So when shall we go?’ If truth be told, Lauren wasn’t up for any drama that night, she just wanted to stay at home with Emma and relax.
‘I’ll have to check when he’s working. Not tonight though, I thought we’d make up for lost time first. It has been two whole days,’ Emma said, unbuttoning Lauren’s shirt.
‘You won’t hear any complaints from me,’ Lauren said, letting her shirt fall to her waist.
‘You are so beautiful.’ Emma brushed Lauren’s hair from her face and kissed her softly. ‘I’ve loved you for so long. I don’t know what it’s like to not love you.’
Lauren opened her mouth to tell Emma she felt the same, but Emma pressed her finger against her lips.
‘Before, what I felt for you was like a dream. This’—Emma pulled down Lauren’s bra straps, tugging until Lauren’s breasts slipped free from their confines—‘is more than I ever thought I could have.’
Emma cupped Lauren’s breasts in her hands and rolled her nipples between her fingers. Lauren moaned and leant into Emma’s touch.
‘I worry that even though I love you, it won't be enough, and I don’t think I could stand losing you,’ Emma said.
Understanding finally filtered through Lauren’s mind and the pieces fell into place. ‘I promise I’ll never leave you.’
Lauren turned Emma around and laid her on the sofa. Red cushions served as a colourful backsplash to Emma’s body as she teasingly removed her clothes, laying her naked before her. She kissed her sweet lips while her hand trailed down Emma’s sensitive skin, all the way to her core. There, her fingers touched Emma, tautening her body with each caress. Lauren kissed her neck and her shoulder and suckled at her breasts, whispering as she went, ‘You’re more than I ever deserved. Before you, I only existed. With you, I know what living is.’
Emma cried out, her skin trembling as Lauren brought her over the edge. Panting, Emma looked up at Lauren, her eyes hot and darker than their usual light brown.
Without warning, Emma turned her over. Lauren found herself on her back, Emma straddling her hips.
Grabbing Lauren’s wrists, Emma held them over Lauren’s head.
‘You drive me crazy,’ Emma whispered as she rubbed herself on Lauren, her breasts teasing her mouth.
Lauren melted, losing herself in Emma’s touch and the feel of her skin, her heat. Emma’s nimble tongue circled her nipple. She let go of Lauren’s wrists and her hand drifted down between her thighs, her fingers playing with Lauren’s centre. Pleasure exploded within as she lightly stroked her.
Lauren almost came apart. ‘I love you.’
Grabbing Emma’s face, Lauren brought her lips to hers, submerging herself in her taste, with love and worry mingling there.
‘I’m so happy you came back,’ Emma said and pulled away to look at Lauren.
Tears welled in Lauren’s eyes and she nodded. Then she pushed Emma’s hands away and reclaimed her mouth.
No more words. They would speak with their bodies, letting the language of their skin relay their words for them.
Lauren’s hands roamed everywhere—on the elegant arch of Emma’s spine and that little spot on the back of her shoulder blades that drove Emma wild when Lauren caressed it a certain way.
Emma groaned and arched, Lauren forcing her fingers deep into Emma. They whimpered from the extra contact. Emma held herself up, her hands bracketed on either side of Lauren. The angle allowed Lauren full access to Emma’s breasts, and while Emma rocked against her feverish touch, Lauren took her nipple into her mouth, savouring it, letting Emma’s shivers and sighs drive her further.
Love bloomed as they paid homage to each other. Unspoken declarations infused the space around them, creating a sanctuary where they were the only ones.
Sweat slicked their skin. They grew hotter and more desperate with each teasing touch, desire rushing inside them, fueling them as they drove each other harder and faster.
They held on to each other as they flew over the edge of ecstasy. Again and again.
Chapter Thirty-Four
The mixture of their perfumes in the car was overwhelming. Emma lowered the window to inhale a lungful of air. She glanced sideways at Lauren’s profile. She looked serious, as if they were getting ready to rob a bank and she was considering everything that could go wrong. Emma pretty much felt the same—until her gaze dropped to Lauren’s naked leg, exposed from the short black skirt she wore.
To think it was only last night I was running my tongue along them. Her insides tingled with desire at the thought. Her phone pinged with a Facebook message. Jillian had messaged her, letting her know Mike was at his job in Lewisham, although she wasn’t sure how long he had been there. Emma thanked her and put her phone into her bag.
‘Are you ready to get this over with?’ Emma asked.
‘Are you?’
Emma pressed her palm against her chest as if she could somehow slow her pounding heart. She cursed herself for her stupid idea of playing cop with Lauren. She had no idea how things would pan out, but she hoped, for their sakes, that Mike’s roommates were geeks like Mike, and not the size of rugby players.
‘Yes, let’s do it.’
They exited the car and held on to the side of the vehicle as they acclimatised to their six-inch heels. Em
ma’s blood flow to her pinched toes ceased. She had never worn anything so high in her life.
Dragging their feet, they crossed the road and headed toward the imposing Victorian house. Emma checked her phone. Jillian was their look out and would message Emma if Mike left for home.
Holding on to the wooden rail for support, Emma went up the stairs first. They’d agreed that Emma would do the talking and keep their attention, while Lauren excused herself to the bathroom and located Mike’s room.
Emma took a deep breath, then knocked.
The door flew open, and Emma could have kissed the floor. A thin, bespectacled man stood at the entrance with a gaming console handset in his hand. When he saw them, his mouth dropped open.
Finding his voice, he asked, ‘Are you lost or something?’
Emma gave him a slow, seductive smile. ‘Not if this is where Mike lives.’
His eyes widened. ‘Mike? You know Mike?’
‘Uh-huh. We went to school together.’
His eyes darted between them. ‘Well, that figures. He’s not in.’
‘I know. We just got into town from …’
‘Brighton,’ Lauren said, filling in for her.
‘Yeah, Brighton,’ she said, regaining her composure. ‘He said he was working at Tesco tonight, but he’d party with us after.’
‘Mike, party? Are you sure you’ve got the right guy?’
‘If you knew him like we did.’ Lauren winked.
‘Wow, really? The dark horse.’ He chuckled.
‘Would you mind if we waited for him to get back from work. I know we’re early but we’ve had a long drive.’
‘Sure.’ He stepped back to let them into the large foyer: white walls, dark blue carpet, and a mountain bike resting against a wall with a pile of winter coats strewn atop it. A faint, musky odour permeated the area, but nothing too hideous.
‘Come and wait in the living room. Do you want a drink? He’ll be a while.’
‘Sure. You got any beer?’
‘Sure do.’ He smirked.
‘Do you mind if I use your loo? I’m bursting,’ Emma asked.
Mike’s flatmate ignored her request. His eyes remained glued on Lauren’s shapely legs.
‘Where’s the toilet?’ Lauren asked.
‘The toilet? Um, upstairs, first door on the left.’
Lauren looked at him suggestively while trailing a finger down his chest. ‘Next to your room?’
His face reddened. ‘No, mine is opposite.’
Bingo! One down, two to check.
‘So what beer you got?’ Emma heard Lauren ask as she took the stairs.
Reaching the landing, she scanned the layout. Five doors in total. She pushed the first one to the left. Right, that’s the bathroom.
Emma looked at the door opposite. That’s his room.
She walked farther along the narrow hall and opened the door on the right. The room was immaculate, with blue curtains and matching bedding. Trainer boxes were lined up in a neat row against the wall under the window. It didn’t strike her as the sort of room Mike would live in. Despite this, she slipped out of her shoes and tiptoed to the TV stand, where several framed pictures were on display. One showed a young man with long, scraggly hair holding a guitar. Another picture showed the same man holding a puppy. Satisfied, she tiptoed to the room opposite.
Oh, this is definitely Mike’s room. The place looked like a bomb had gone off. The bed was unmade. Clothes that seemed like they hadn’t been washed for weeks were scattered everywhere. Plates and cups were on the floor by the side of the bed. If it wasn’t for the open window, Emma was sure she would have gagged.
Dumbfounded, she stood there, unsure where to start. There was nothing in plain view that suggested Mike was Lauren’s stalker. There wasn’t anything sinister either. No pictures of Lauren’s head superimposed on naked bodies, or her face on a dartboard with pinholes in it.
She crossed over to his wardrobe and pulled the door open to reveal more mayhem. Mike’s idea of tidying up was to dump everything in the cupboard. Out of sight, out of mind.
Emma grimaced as she used the tips of her fingers to pull away some clothes lying on top of a box. Flipping the lid open, she moved the contents around. There wasn’t much to see. She dug down to a thick folder at the bottom and pulled it out.
Her phone pinged. It was Jillian. Mike was on his way back. She didn’t know how much time had passed since he’d left work, because, according to her message, Jillian had gone off to make dinner and it slipped her mind to keep checking.
Shit! Glancing down, she realised she was holding a photo album. Before she could flick through it, the front door slammed shut. She froze for several heartbeats, then dropped the folder back in the box, shut the cupboard door, and retraced her steps to the bathroom. She was in the middle of putting on her shoes when she heard raised voices, including Lauren’s. With no time to think about who Lauren was shouting at or why, Emma scrambled downstairs and almost ran into Mike’s back.
She staggered, but not from the sight of him. Lauren’s eyes were wide and wild. She looked absolutely terrifying.
‘Lauren, what is it?’ Emma asked.
Mike didn’t even bother to turn and face her. His eyes were fixed on Lauren.
‘This,’ Lauren said, holding up a photo.
Emma skirted around Mike to where Lauren was standing. Lauren thrust the picture into her hand. Emma first saw the writing on the back: Mike & Claire Foster 2016.
Puzzled, she turned it over, and it took a few seconds for her brain to process what she was actually seeing. The picture was of Mike at his thirtieth birthday bash. He was standing next to his sister—the florist they’d visited.
Chapter Thirty-Five
‘I don’t know what sick game you twisted fuckers are playing, but it stops now,’ Lauren said.
Mike smoothed back his hair, looking well and truly busted.
‘You’re a stalker. Aren’t you going to try and talk your way out of this one, Mike?’ Emma asked.
‘This isn’t what you think. It really isn’t,’ Mike said.
Mike’s flatmate, who was standing beside Lauren, said, ‘Stalker! Shit, man, that’s fucking sick. What’s the matter with you?’ When Mike didn’t reply, his flatmate went on. ‘Oh my God. I’ve had my kid sister stay here. I’ve got to call my mum.’
Lauren stared after him as he hurried away then she turned back to Mike. ‘There’s no getting out of it this time. I still have the flower you sent me. Your sister will have to tell the police the truth about who ordered it.’
Mike remained silent, enraging Lauren even more.
‘You know what? Fuck you. I’ll let the police deal with you.’
She brushed past him and glanced back to see that Emma was following her.
They’d reached the door when he finally spoke. ‘Wait.’
Hand on the lock, Lauren looked back. ‘Don’t bother. Nothing you say will change anything.’
‘Don’t you want to hear the full story?’
‘Does it really matter?’
Emma rested her hand on Lauren’s forearm. ‘Maybe you should hear him out. You might get some answers and finally be able to put all this behind you.’
‘What can you possibly say that will make things any better?’ Lauren asked Mike.
He stared at his trainers. ‘I thought you were looking for the truth about why you were targeted.’
The air was sucked out of Lauren’s lungs. She spun around, holding on to Emma for support. When she spoke, she couldn’t stop her voice from shaking. ‘Are you telling me you think you can actually justify putting me and my family through hell?’
‘You really haven’t put it together, have you?’ he said.
Lauren didn’t know whether he was apologizing or enjoying playing with her.
‘Are you saying I did something to offend you?’ she said sharply.
‘Sit down and have a beer and I promise I’ll tell you everything.’
&nbs
p; Tamping down her frustration, Lauren said, ‘You have ten minutes.’
‘The short version won’t even take five.’
They followed him into a cramped living space, which looked like a gaming room for kids. A massive wide-screen TV hung on the wall. Underneath it was a gaming console and stacks upon stacks of video games. Three single leather gaming chairs stood side by side, facing the screen.
Mike dropped into the middle seat and gestured for them to sit on either side. He was enjoying keeping her on tenterhooks.
‘I’m not playing your sick game, Mike. Come on, Emma. Let’s go.’
He leapt out of his seat and blocked her way.
‘Look, I’m sorry. This isn’t easy for me.’
‘Isn’t easy for you?’ Lauren said. ‘What the hell do you think it’s been like for me?’
‘Sorry. That came out wrong. What I mean is that it isn’t easy to snitch on family.’
Lauren looked down at him. ‘Snitch? What are you talking about?’
‘It’s my sister. She’s the one who’s been stalking you all this time.’
Chapter Thirty-Six
Standing at the counter in her kitchen, Emma poured Lauren a third glass of brandy, and like she had twice before, Lauren knocked it back in one go. Were she in Lauren’s shoes, she would have needed something more than brandy to calm her nerves. The shock of the evening’s events had left them reeling and struggling to make sense of Mike’s bombshell. His sister, of all people, was responsible. Not an ex-partner or her jealous stepsister, but a near-enough stranger who Lauren barely had any contact with.
‘I … I still can’t believe it.’
Lauren was trembling, and Emma slid her arm around her waist to comfort her. ‘Do you think he was telling the truth?’
‘Why would he lie?’
‘To cover his tracks.’
‘No, I believe him. There’s no reason to lie. Not now.’
‘Come on. Let’s take our drinks into the bedroom.’
