It wasn't auspicious for a relationship; he wasn't quite...right.
Not that there was anything wrong with him per se, because there wasn't. We had met online through one of those dating apps; he was sweet and funny and intelligent. Normally he would have been perfect, but I needed something...more. I enjoyed the relationship, but it was nearing six months and I knew he was getting impatient to take things to the next level. He never said it, but I could tell, and I just wasn't feeling it.
Until.
It was supposed to be a break-up dinner actually. The plan was to have a light meal and let him down gently, but I had a meeting to run late and had to cancel. When he suggested we meet at my placeโhe'd cook and we would have a quiet evening inโI didn't have the heart to say no. He was enthusiastic about it, and the promise of not having to cook or order out was too much of a temptation. So while I finished up some paper work he stopped by for my key and, with a quick peck in the cheek, was off to get started.
I sighed. I would just have to do it tomorrow instead.
The drive to my house seemed longer than usual that evening. My house sits just outside of city limits, in a more rural part of the county. Normally I enjoyed the drive, just me and my thoughts while I decompressed, but I felt a twinge of guilt as I pulled into the drive and saw his truck sitting there.
Tomorrow
, I told myself. I would tell him tomorrow, but tonight I was going to enjoy a meal I didn't cook and an evening of good company.
The house smelled heavenly when I opened the door, roasted meat and spices with a tang of citrus, causing my stomach to rumble.
"Smells delicious!" I called, kicking off my heels at the door and dropping my keys in the bowl on the stand. "I'm going to shower if I have time."
"Be done in about twenty." I heard his voice from the kitchen before he leaned around the doorframe, a strange expression on his face. His typically relaxed, open features seemed a little strained, his smile a little tight.
He knows
, I thought with an inward grimace.
He knows I was going to break things off with him today, and he's upset.
Ughh. I hated making people upset.
"Are you alright?" I had to ask, to see how he was taking this. I didn't want to hurt him, but if things weren't working... well, it was better this way. He didn't answer, just arched his eyebrow at me and pointed a sauce-coated spoon down the hallway as a silent gesture to get going.
The shower was lovely, the heat soothing. It took a little longer to get my hair dry than usual, but eventually I emerged, wrapped in my fluffy bathrobe since I had left my evening clothes in my bedroom.
He startled me as I left the bathroom. For some reason I hadn't expected him to be there, I thought he'd still be in the kitchen and his sudden appearance caused me to jump slightly. He seemed a little tense, imposing. His expression made me uneasy. He looked almost predatory.
"Oh! Just give me a minute and I will be dressed. Is dinner ready then?"
He didn't respond, just watched me with a slight smirk. My pulse picked up as I tried to reason through his strange behavior. Perhaps it was the bathrobeโI needed to get dressed ASAPโso I edged forward toward my bedroom. The door I saw was slightly open. I frowned at it as I padded forward. I was sure I closed it when I left that morning. I always did.
A few more steps and I pushed the door completely open, stepping inside. Everything looked fine, except...The bottom drawer of the nightstand was open.
I felt a stab of panic. Oh no. That's where I kept...things. Personal things. Personal things I didn't want people to see... especially the boyfriend I was on the verge of dumping.
My intent was to turn around and ask if he had been in my bedroomโwhat kind of person snoops through someone's home while they're gone?โbut just as I registered the thought to do so, I felt him behind me. So close I could smell the faint lingering scent of aftershave.
I stiffened, wary. Waiting. He was making me nervous, even more so since his discovery of my secret. I wasn't sure what he was going to doโconfront me? Call me a freak or threaten to expose me to my family, friends, colleagues?
But he just leaned down until his breath was in my ear and whispered, "You have three minutes for find a way out of this house. Find it and I will walk away without a word. If I catch you...you're mine."
I shivered involuntarily, feeling the color drain from my face. Not only had he found out, he'd set a trap. For a second I stayed frozen, a whir of emotions and thoughts as his words settled.
One exit. Three minutes. His if I failed. Tingling flush spreading through my body, turning my face pink and causing a faint dampness in my nether regions.
Oh god. I was
not
getting aroused by this.
I was sure he wouldn't actually hurt me if I refused. I could deny his terms, tell him I didn't want to play along. I wasn't sure what the options would be from thereโwould he leave? Would we sit down to dinner and pretend nothing happened?