Stalking the Dancer || 18+

Part Twenty - Home

She cried all the way to the airport.

And through security.

The only reason her hot tears stopped falling long enough to stain her perfect cheeks is because her body exhausted itself. I've never seen a woman cry so much, so silently. The tears ran down her face, her lips and cheeks swollen, yet her expression never changed. It was haunting, like a scene out of a horror film. My skin was on fire from the helplessness, knowing that I couldn't do anything to make it better. Not if I wanted her to be with me, and I'll have to be dragged to hell to give this up.

My poor Doe, so broken, and forcing herself to be strong. She only lasted fifteen minutes into the flight before her head rolled onto my arm and she snuggled into me instead of startling awake like I'd expected. Knowing that I'm a comforting presence to her makes heat bloom through my chest, and I feel myself getting hooked on the feeling immediately.

She is the best drug I've ever taken, and I'll never be able to stop needing more of her. I hate that she's hurting, but the sick devil inside of me is loving that it's me who gets to see her this way. Pain is an intimate thing to Dorothy; she doesn't let just anyone see her vulnerable like this.

But she's mine. Her little hand wrapped around my forearm solidifies it further, and since she's mine, I get to see her in every emotional state. I get to help her, hold her, and fuck her however she needs.

I'm hers more than she is mine; she owns my soul, and I think she knows it, too. But she lets me take charge, boss her around, and she enjoys it just as much as I do. I never thought I'd find a woman to live with, and in all of the scenarios my mind could conjure, I had settled for someone good enough. There is no settling with Doe; she'll throw a mason jar across the room on your first offense. She's batshit crazy, and completely perfect for me. I need her more than I need my next breath.

Our flight goes by quickly, and she stirs right as we start our descent. We're not below the cloudline yet, and a thought crosses my mind. "I have something for you, baby." Her sleepy eyes find mine at the endearment, something I've only called her a few times before.

I pull the dainty chain from my pocket and slowly unravel it, letting the charm hang loosely. Her face is full of awe at the little necklace I'm holding out for her, as if she can't comprehend that it's real.

She whispers her next words. "I thought I lost that– where'd you find it?" I smile at her softly, making sure she knows that I have no resentment toward her. "It was on the bathroom countertop the day you left. Ray didn't know to pack it, so I held onto it for you." Her shiny green eyes go wide. "You kept it all this time?"

I shrug, not wanting to make a big deal of it. "Just in case."

She slowly nods her head, and I motion for her to turn around so I can fasten it around her neck. The act is intimate, and she shivers just enough that I know she feels it too. I'm obsessed with her, the kind of infatuated that would freak most people out. But not my Doe.

I steer her off of the plane seconds after the cabin doors open, and we find my truck in the parking lot next to my bike. In a flash, her hand snakes out of my grasp and she bounds across the lot, jumping into the arms of my best friend. On any other day, I'd kick his ass for touching her that way, but I know how much this means to her, and I don't want to discourage her excitement about being home.

Rome lowers her to the ground and runs a hand through his hair, talking so much that he can't squeeze in a breath. I don't bother interrupting them, tossing my bike keys in his direction and striding past them to open the passenger door of my truck.

My cock twitches when all it takes is a quiet, "Doe." To draw my girl to the open door. She drives me wild without even trying. I can't believe I finally have her home.

We set off through town, and are headed up the mountain when she pulls her attention away from the window to look at me. "Where are we going?" I smile softly, not wanting to ruin the surprise. Thankfully, she doesn't press, probably because she assumes that we're going to Ray's.

She directs her gaze back outside, on the bare trees and half frozen ground. A cold snap hit while I was gone the past week, so I'm crossing my fingers that the surprise is still standing.

About half a mile past the turn for Ray's driveway, she catches on. "We aren't going to Ray's?" I shake my head and turn down an off-road that we've never been down together. Her voice changes from confusion to pure sass, "If you just paid for my plane ticket just to murder me you must be richer than I thought." The snarky comment rolls off my back, but not before a chuckle escapes my chest. This woman is going to run me ragged and I am very much looking forward to it.

The second the outdated moulding comes into view, I hear her suck in a breath. It's the only other house on Ray's land, with a detached garage a few yards to the side. The yellow paint is peeling off of the siding, and I have no idea why he didn't knock the thing down already, but I'm one lucky fucker that he didn't.

I throw the car in park and turn to her. "They were going to clear out your apartment after you hadn't paid rent, so me and the guys packed up your things and put them in storage. We can go there whenever you–"

She cuts me off. "Billy."

I shake my head to clear it. "It's not much, I know that. I'm handy, though, learned how to fix stuff up as a kid. Plus, the guys said that they'd–"

"Billy?"

I feel it coming before I blurt it out, but I'm unable to stop myself. "I bought the house from Ray. It's on the outskirts of his property, and since he knows me, my criminal record was inconsequential to him."

Her mouth falls open, and tears well in her eyes. Streams of panic set off through my body, and I resist the urge to scratch my palms.

"You don't have to live here with me, obviously."

She scoffs at that, knowing how ridiculous it is for me to say those things. To reassure her that she can get away from me, when we both know that I'll always be watching her.

"Is that your version of an invitation?" Her eyes sparkle up at me, and I want to squash any uncertainty she still has about the way I feel for her. I nod, unable to find my voice.

"Are we going to fix it up?"

I nod again, and her face breaks into a beaming smile. She throws open the truck door and hops out, skipping over to the porch before noticing the garage. I don't wait for her to ask. "I thought we could turn it into a dance studio. Ray's pretty sure we can get the heater set up out there before the first heavy snowfall, and the floor needs to be refinished, if you want to keep teaching."

For the second time today, she bursts into tears.

A/N. Please react and comment what you thought about the chapter if you feel comfortable! I'd love to know where you would like the story to go, what you'd like to see these characters do in the future, or whose story you'd like to follow next. I have ideas and drafts, but I would love to know your opinion!

Stalking the Dancer will continue, and I currently update chapters as I write them. Would you all prefer a weekly schedule or surprise updates? TIA for reading all of my questions. I really appreciate the feedback!