My Masked Assassin

Chapter Fifteen: Men's Only Gym

It's been afew days -3 maybe?- since the episode on the roof happened. I was on the couch in my pajamas and hugging a pillow while Tom stood in the corner of my alcove window repairing my motion detector and installing some new features.

"Will you please stop fiddling with my tech?" I said alittle harshly.

"Yea, not gonna happen" he steps back and inspects his work. "I never did trust that company when they offered you free security services."

"It was a thank you gift for saving the CEO's life" I counter.

Tom shrugs, "Whatever is free isn't always good"

I huffed and angled my head away from him. The security system that had been installed in my apartment was top of the line. I was so grateful cause it was a real pain going to bed with a baseball bat for years. To be able to lie down and not actually look over my shoulder every 2 seconds was amazing relief.

"I told you to let me do it. But do you ever listen? Nooooo" he sounded like a damn 14 year old.

I toss my pillow at him, "Just cause you have a degree in electrical engineering does not mean you're Nikola Tesla"

"Says the girl who barely finished High School" he shoots back.

I jump up from the couch and grab him in a choke hold.

"Take it back!" I yell.

"Make me!" he rounds me over his shoulder and aims me towards the floor.

Halfway down I wrap my legs around his neck and spin like a swing. Switching the position and having Tom flat on his back.

"I win" I say mock sweetly, smiling widely down in his face.

And before I could fucking blink, air whooshes passed me and now I'm flat on MY back.

Tom's whole body was on top of mine and his face was inches away from touching me.

"Did you?" he says darkly.

That unnerved me a bit, and instead of acknowledging it I cough and spat, "Get off me" at him.

He pushes himself off me and picks up his screw driver, "You need to get in shape" he comments passively while packing his equipment away.

"EXCUSE ME!?" I lift up my shirt and wave my hands at my stomach area. "Do you see these abs? My packs are fucking dynamite, they'd cut diamond!"

"You really don't have any physical strength" he replies, "You're quick and agile, I'll give you that. And compared to other girls you'll whoop their ass, some guys even. But compared to an above average height male with considerable strength? You're burnt toast. And not the good kind"

I growled at him, "That's a lot of criticism from someone who weight lifts potato chip bags"

"Hey, those weight 100 ounces" he laughs, "Lighten up Em" she adds.

"Lighten up? How can I when I'm slipping as a crime fighter!?" At that moment all my insecurities poured out. "I've had two failed encounters already and I'm paranoid as fuck!" my breathing goes into overdrive. "And I possibly have a psychopathic sexy stalker after me!?"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa" Tom dropped his stuff and round on me, "Sexy???"

"Uh..." I blank.

"You find him attractive!?" Tom says next.

"Well I..."

"Embeeeeer"

"I don't know!" I blurt out. "He's hot and cool and-"