Chapter 6

STEVIE

I unlock the door to my apartment and hold it open for Lennox to step inside. The place is a cozy haven, dimly lit by a small lamp in the corner of the living room, casting soft shadows across the walls. The air inside is quiet and still as I close the door behind us with a soft click, the sound echoing in the small space. I turn to face him, feeling a nervous flutter in my stomach.

"Welcome to my humble abode," I say with a smile, hoping to ease any tension that might linger from our evening together.

He nods appreciatively, his eyes sweeping over the room as he takes it in. I shrug off my jacket and hang it neatly on a hook near the entrance and kick off my shoes, then turn back to him. "Can I get you something to drink? Water, maybe?"

He shakes his head, his gaze still roaming around the apartment. "No thanks, I'm good."

I nod and move towards the kitchenette area, the old wooden floorboards creaking under my bare feet. I fill a glass with water from the tap, taking a moment to collect myself. When I turn around, Lennox is watching me, his expression a mix of curiosity and something more intense.

I take a sip of water, feeling his eyes on me, and set the glass down on the counter. "So, how long have you been living here?" he asks, his tone casual but his eyes probing.

I lean against the counter, trying to ignore the way my heart skips a beat at his proximity. "Not long," I reply, meeting his gaze. "Just a few months."

He raises an eyebrow, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips. "Funny, I haven't seen you around before."

I chuckle. I don't know if it's the alcohol or the way words seem to slip from his tongue so fucking smoothly, but a feeling of warmth spreads through me knowing that out of all the women in that bar tonight, I'm the one he noticed. The only fucking one. "Maybe I've been hiding," I tease, glancing toward the herbs hanging in bundles from hooks on the ceiling.

His eyes follow mine, and a mischievous glint appears in them. "What's with all the herbs? Are you secretly a witch or something?"

I laugh at his playful remark, feeling myself relax a little more. "Maybe," I say with a wink. "You caught me. I've been brewing potions in my spare time."

He chuckles, taking a step closer until there's barely any space between us. "I knew there was something mysterious about you. You probably slipped one in my drink tonight, didn't you?"

I meet his gaze, the tension between us palpable now. "Maybe I did, maybe I didn't."

"It would definitely explain why I'm so drawn to you, witch," he replies.

"You think you've got me all figured out?" I ask, my voice low.

He shakes his head slowly, a smirk playing on his lips. "Not even close."

Before I can respond, he closes the remaining distance between us, pressing me against the counter with a sudden forcefulness that takes me by surprise. His lips crash onto mine, urgent and hungry, and for a moment, everything else fades away.

I respond instinctively, my hands finding their way to his shoulders, pulling him closer. The kiss is intense, passionate, fueled by hours of unspoken attraction finally being unleashed. His hands grip my waist, holding me firmly against him as he deepens the kiss, exploring my mouth with a fervor that sends shivers down my spine.

The feel of his body against mine, the heat of his touch, ignites a fire within me. I kiss him back with equal fervor, my fingers tangling in his dark hair as I lose myself in the sensation of him. The world outside ceases to exist as we stand there, consumed by the electricity crackling between us.

The news report. Forgotten.

Sweet Dreams. A distant nightmare washed away by the rough hands and lust-filled lips of Lennox Arecenaux.

He breaks the kiss only to trail kisses along my jawline. His breath, warm against me, causes tiny goosebumps to prickle along my skin. I tilt my head back slightly, giving him better access, my pulse racing with anticipation. His lips find mine again, softer this time but no less intense. Each touch, each caress, only adding to the heat building between my legs.

I run my hands down his back, feeling the muscles tense beneath my touch. He pulls me closer, his hands roaming over my body as if he's trying to memorize every curve, every inch of me. The desire between us is unmistakable, a magnetic pull that draws us closer with every heartbeat.

He breaks the kiss again, resting his forehead on mine as we share heated breaths. His eyes are dark, filled with a mix of hunger and something deeper, something I can't quite place.

"So, what's your name anyway," he whispers with short, staggered breaths.

A small, genuine laugh escapes me. "You chose now to ask for my name?"

"I..." He doesn't finish his sentence, but he doesn't need to. The look in his eyes says it all. There's a part of me that's terrified, a part that wants to push him away. But there's another part, a larger part, that wants to pull him closer, to explore whatever this is between us, even if it is only for the night.

I swallow hard, my heart pounding in my chest. "Let's just fuck, playboy." I manage to say, my voice shaky. "A guy as pretty as you isn't built for a love like mine,"

He doesn't answer right away, his thumb gently stroking my cheek. "Aw, you think I'm pretty," he retorts with a cocky grin. "Seems to me it's you who thinks you have me all figured out."

His playful reply sends a jolt through me, and I find myself smirking despite the confusion swirling in my mind. "What can I say? I'm pretty observant. I know your type."

The tension between us doesn't dissipate; if anything, it grows more distinct. Lennox's hands still rest on my hips, and I can feel the warmth of his breath on my skin. Every nerve in my body is hyperaware of his proximity, of the magnetic pull between us.

"Well, I can't wait to prove you wrong," he confesses, his eyes locked onto mine. His admission sends another thrill through me, and I find myself drawn to him, unable to resist the pull. We kiss again, slower this time, savoring the moment. His hands move to cup my face, tilting my head to deepen the kiss. I melt into him, my arms wrapping around his neck, pulling him closer. His hands lower my jeans as he begins to unbutton them.

Breaking the kiss for a moment, I help him. He pulls a condom from his pocket as I quickly shimmy my jeans down my legs with my panties before helping him with his belt. He rips open the condom with his teeth and slides it over his hard cock.

The second we're free from our clothing and the condom is in place his lips are back on mine. His hands firmly gripping my ass as he lifts me and presses my back into the kitchen cupboards. He lines himself up at my opening before thrusting himself inside me. Filling every inch of me with his swollen cock. A moan slips from my lips, and Lennox swallows it down with a groan. He holds himself inside me, allowing me a moment to adjust before he begins to make slow yet hard rolls of his hips. My head smacks off the cupboard with each thrust, but I don't care.

"Fuck," he hisses. "You're so fucking tight,"

I wrap my arms around his neck, deepening the hunger-laced kiss as he picks up the pace. This is exactly what I fucking needed. To have my body used. Roughly but passionately. It's twisted, especially after the way I spent my childhood, but maybe that's why my body and mind need it so much. It's all I know.

"Harder," I whisper against his lips. "Fuck me harder,"

He smiles, "Yeah?" he replies, slamming into me harder. The force is exactly what I needed, and it brings me that much closer to finding the release I crave. "You're a crazy bitch, aren't you," his remark makes me giggle as his grip on my ass tightens. His balls smacking off me as he pumps himself in and out of me relentlessly.

The sensation is overwhelming, a mix of pleasure and pain as he fills me completely. I cling to him, nails digging into his shoulders, urging him on.

He moves with a ferocity that takes my breath away, each thrust hard and deep. The counter digs into my back, but I welcome the discomfort, the mix of sensations only adding to the intensity. Our bodies move in a frantic rhythm, a dance of raw need and passion.

"Fuck," he pants, his voice strained.

"Lennox," I gasp, my breath coming in ragged bursts. "Don't stop."

He doesn't. He drives into me with unforgiving force, every movement sending waves of pleasure through me. I can feel the pressure building, a tight coil ready to snap, and I cling to him, lost in the pleasure he's inflicting on my body.

With a final, powerful thrust, he pushes me over the edge. I cry out, my body convulsing as the orgasm crashes over me. He follows moments later, his grip tightening as he finds his release, a guttural moan escaping his lips.

For a moment, we stay like that, tangled together, our breaths mingling. Then, I hear a low hiss. Lennox pulls back slightly, and I see Grim rounding the corner, his fur puffed up, eyes glaring at Lennox.

"Guess he doesn't approve," Lennox mutters, a hint of amusement in his voice as he pulls the condom off his cock and tosses it in the trash next to the counter.

I laugh breathlessly, reaching for my discarded panties and pulling them back on. "I'm not surprised. It's not often I have people over. Let alone strange men I met at a bar. He'll get over it."

I grab my cigarettes from the counter, lighting one up and taking a deep drag. The smoke fills my lungs, a calming contrast to the wild storm that just passed. I offer the cigarette to Lennox, who declines with a shake of his head, still catching his breath.

"That shit will kill you, you know," he replies, cocking a brow as he tucks himself back into his pants.

I smirk, inhaling another drag, "Trust me, I've survived worse,"

As the smoke curls around us, I can't help but smile, a sense of satisfaction settling over me. Tonight has been unexpected, intense, and exactly what I needed.

"So, you going to tell me your name now or what?" Lennox asks. I run my hand through my disheveled hair.

"Nope," I reply, accentuating the pop sound of the p. "You should get going, though; I have to get to bed if I want to be up for work in the morning,"

Lennox's eyes widen and snap toward me with my dismissal. His lips pull into a smirk, "Oh, alright then," he replies. I quickly crush the butt of my cigarette in the ashtray on the counter. The gesture captures Lennox's attention. His eyes trail watch as the small butt embers are snuffed out before they land on the stack of mail piled up beside the ashtray.

Shit. The last thing I need is this guy knowing my name. It's bad enough as it is that he knows where I live.

"You good?" I ask in a desperate attempt to draw his attention to me.

"Yeah," he replies, lifting his eyes to mine. His expression changes to something more playful as his lips pull into a sinister smirk. "I'm fucking great," He unlocks the door and heads outside.

"Thanks for tonight, though. It was fun,"

Lennox tucks his hands in his pockets, his eyes finding their way to mine once more. "Yeah, it was. I'll see you around, lil spark," he replies before heading back out to the street.

Lil spark?

Closing and locking the door behind him, I make my way back to the kitchen, grabbing the stack of mail and tucking it into one of the drawers. Just in case this happens again.

Grim meows.

"Don't judge me," I scold, knowing full well that's not at all what he's doing. By going to the bar right after work, he didn't get his dinner at the usual time, so he's just hungry. Grabbing his food, I fill his bowl and gently pat his head while he eats. "Don't worry; I promise not to make a habit out of staying out late and bringing random people to our home," I whisper before heading to the bathroom for a shower.

Tonight has been a lot, and by morning, I'm sure there are plenty of choices I'll regret, but I can't do anything about them now. Truthfully, the chaos of tonight was exactly what I needed.

Lennox was all I needed.

And though it was just a fling. One night of fun and sex was one night where all my troubles, my fears, ceased to exist under the weight of his presence, and that's something I'll never regret.