Lori found herself walking home late at night once more as she padded down the empty street. She was beginning to get used to this, she thought miserably. There had been a recent turnover at the place where she worked, and her old employer had been replaced. Her new boss was a dictatorial perfectionist who also eyed all the female employees with a lecherous glint in his eyes.
Lori, in particular, had been singled out. He had picked on her work and made her stay behind to complete them, then spent hours with a hip propped at her desk flirting with her while she attempted to finish up as quickly as she could so she could leave.
She should probably file a sexual harassment complaint against him. It would be the last resort, she decided. Lori had heard that such complaints were often ineffective, and that there was a chance she might be fired. It was the last thing she wanted. Lori needed the job and the salary.
She turned to walk down a narrow dark alley. Her lips flattened further. Part of the reason why she hated going home late was because of the long stretch of path leading to her apartment building. Sandwiched between two buildings in an older part of the city, the alley had no streetlights at all. It wasn't as bad in the day when she could hear the life and bustle emitting from the open windows. Now the rows of darkened windows stared forebodingly down at her.
The apartment was part of the reason why she needed her job. She intended to find a new place, preferably somewhere well-lit and with more traffic at night. She simply didn't want to walk down dark empty alleyways anymore.
Tonight would be different. Lori heard the shuffle of footsteps behind her when she was halfway down the stretch of road. She hastened her pace, clutching her bag tightly. Her heart rate sped up when she realized the person behind her was keeping pace with her.
She dug into her bag for her keys, gripped them like a weapon. Her building was only thirty, forty steps away, almost within reach. The dim flickering light bulb at the stairwell which had received much criticism from the other tenants now appeared to her like a refuge. All she had to do was to get to the gate and shut it behind her.
A hand grabbed her elbow and wrenched her around. Without thinking, Lori struck, jabbing out with her keys. A muffled voice curse--a voice which she noted was male. He let go of her as though she was hot coal.
So close. Lori was so close to getting to safety. The thought rang persistently in her mind as her body collided into a brick wall of the building on one side. Air rushed out of lungs. She crumpled to the ground, dazed. Her bag and keys fell and her belongings spilled out.
"Bitch," the voice muttered malevolently. "What did you stab me with?"
Before Lori could run, she was hauled up. Her assailant pushed her against the brick wall. She felt something cold and sharp on her neck. She froze. He had a knife.
She took in her accoster. He was taller than her by a foot and twice her bulk. She couldn't see his face at all, for he was drenched in shadows. Yet his eyes gleamed wolfishly at her. She shuddered.
"What do you want? Money? My wallet is in my bag on the ground. You can take all of it," she told him quickly, wishing fervently he was only after her money. It was the best outcome out of a list of bad possibilities.
"That's generous of you, miss," he said sarcastically. "But I think I deserve a bit more than that. Some kind of compensation. My arm is hurting pretty bad."
Not bad enough that he'd want to head to the hospital immediately, Lori thought. She wished she had aimed at his eyes instead.
"What do you want? More money?" she asked.
"It's the middle of the night and there's no one around except you and me," the man drawled. "What do you think a hot-blooded man like me want?"
She flinched, but remained where she was even if every inch of her screamed out to run and escape. The blade was still pressed against her collarbone. Its threat was clear.
"Don't even think about screaming or this knife will cut you up faster than anyone could save you."
Lori's heart sank. "Please. Just take my money and leave me alone."
"Shut up, lady," the man hissed. "You're not in charge here. I am." The point of the knife pressed further into her neck. "Now, why don't you take off your top? Or shall I cut through it?" The weapon shifted down towards her chest, where its journey was impeded by the collar of her tee.
"I-I'll take it off." Lori didn't want to have to go back to her apartment naked after this man was done with her. It would be disastrous if one of her neighbours decided to peep out of the window at the wrong time.
Her fingers shook as she pulled the hem of her tee upwards, revealing a flat belly and her ample bra-clad breasts. The slight chill of the night made her shiver, though that could easily be from being forced to strip before a stranger.
He made her stop before she could pull her tee over her head. She froze, her arms now raised above her head, her tee now covering her head, blinding her and restricting her movements. It made her feel even more vulnerable, unable to anticipate what he would do next. She could hear the pounding of her heart, so loud it sounded like a drum.
"Very nice," he said appreciatively.
Something grazed her stomach. She sucked in a breath.
"And how convenient of you to be wearing a bra with a front clasp. Make it all the easier for me to do this."
He undid her clasp. The cups of her bra fell aside. Her breasts leaped out eagerly from its confines, having been bound all day. Two warm hands cupped her globes, kneading them liberally.
Lori whimpered, stumbling back away from his touch.
"Just where do you think you're going?" he muttered.
A sharp pain to her nipples. He was pinching them, using them as a lever to pull her back into place. Her cheeks burned in humiliation. Her breasts were sensitive, enough that her ex could always make her come during sex by playing with them. Strange errant feelings coursed through her body from her breasts now. She bit her lip. The last thing she wanted was to become aroused right now.
But her body's responses were undeniable. Her assailant noted her stiffened nipples and was delighted. He flicked his fingers over them until she was gasping. "Enjoying this?"
