Delayed by Nathan Kingsly (best manga ereader txt) 📕

she's after. Her blush high on her cheeks as our eyes connect. Giving her a smirk, she closes her eyes before ducking her face into the guy's neck.

Leaving them to it, I head towards the door, but Sheri waves and catches my attention before making my way out of it. “Is your class still scheduled for Saturday?”

I shake my head. “Sorry, I forgot to tell you. I'll be out of town for a few days starting Saturday." Unless I wander in front of oncoming traffic between now and then.

“Oh, I was looking forward to the class.” Her cheeks grow pink as she pushes her curly hair behind one ear. Sheri is pretty enough, but even if I were looking to dip my stick somewhere warm, it wouldn't be with someone I work with.

“Don’t you have another defense instructor on the roster?”

“Not one that will be available. I’ll go ahead and get it canceled on our website then.”

“Thanks, Sheri.”

Pushing through the gym doors, I run back to my apartment. It’s hotter now than when I went in, and the roads jammed with people leaving work. Getting into my apartment, I head straight for the kitchen and fill a glass full of water.

“Oh yeah, that’s good.” I groan out.

Setting the empty glass on the counter, I head to the bathroom for a much-needed shower.

As I clean the sweat off, my mind goes to the scene I played voyeur to at the gym.

That blonde's cheeks flushed with color when our eyes met. My hand encircles my erection. A moan caught halfway in her throat, biting her lip to smother the rest. My head tilts back, and I bite my own lip. It’s not hard to imagine she’s in front of me; instead of the faceless guy, it’s my hand gripping her bare ass.

Tugging, I pause to squeeze my tip before moving down again. I imagine one of her legs trapped upward by my arm and pumping myself deep inside. My hips buck forward as I slide my hand back again, imagining her tight pussy in its place. Pushing her further into the wall with every thrust.

Hearing her moan and feeling her harsh breath feathering against my neck. Unable to help herself, she sinks her teeth in to muffle her screams.

“Fuck.” I say through gritted teeth. My chin rests against my chest as I watch myself cum, and the evidence disappears down the drain. Heaving a sigh, I lean my shoulder against the tiled wall.

It’s been a long time since I’ve had the real thing, too long, but being without it makes my life far less complicated. Jumping out of the shower, I dry off and make my way to the bedroom. Though I don’t have work for a few more hours, I dress now for it, aside from my shoes. Making it back to the kitchen, I make myself a sandwich and walk to the couch before turning on the television.

A knock comes through the wall the same time Brian’s voice does. “Whatcha’ watching?”

Loosening the grip of my now flattened sandwich, I answer him. “Recaps of last night's game.”

“Be there in a sec.”

“No,” but before I can get my sentence off, I hear the slam of his door. Another minute, Brian has my door unlocked and shoves his way in. He’s like a cockroach I can’t get rid of. Giving him a key to my place in case I misplace mine is more of a burden than a safeguard.

“What’s the score?”

“They haven’t said,” I mumble before taking another bite of my sandwich.

He plops next to me, his eyes never leaving the television, and he asks, “How was your workout? Any luck with the ladies?”

“I don’t go there for that.”

He gives me a brief side-eye. “No luck then? Me either.”

“If you shaved that skid-mark on your upper lip, you’d …”

“My facial hair has shit to do with it. Plus, what would you know? You’re not getting any action either.”

“Who’s to say I don’t go to their place?”

He snorts. “You’re so fucking predictable. If you deviated, I might think it’s for a piece of ass, but you haven’t since I’ve lived next door.” He settles into the cushions and looks my way as I take the last bite of my lunch. “That’s been three years ago, right?” He counts them off with his fingers.

Shrugging, I brush it off. My demons are my own, and whatever I choose to do with them is my business. I don’t justify myself to anyone, not even to the only friend I have.

I’m putting up another skid when my phone goes off in my pocket.

I have been ignoring it as best I can, but the third time makes my hands grip the controls harder than necessary. Knowing it can only be a few people, I only need one guess. Sighing, I put the cherry picker down on the floor and turn it off. Pulling out my phone, Mia’s name lights up my screen with the fourth consecutive call.

“Mia,” I say, growling her name.

“You need to come home, now.” Her words bleed together as she continues. “Mom, she’s in a panic, and I can’t calm her down. Liam, they might commit her again with how she is carrying on.”

“Mia, slow down.” I wait until her heavy breathing starts to slow. “Now, tell me what’s going on.”

“It’s mom. She’s called me five times in the past hour in a panic. They--I mean--Liam, he’s out. He’s out of prison.”

The mount of irritation of a second ago is doused, as the words crawl into my ear like a parasite. My body becomes a block of ice. Gooseflesh breaks out on my arms, causing the hairs to stick straight up as my mind races, not knowing where to slam the brakes.

“Liam--Liam?” Her voice sounds far away but close enough to light a spark.

One question echoes in my mind above the rest. “How?” That demon in a human sack should rot away in a cell for the rest of his life.

“It’s all over