QUINTON
Using the sleek remote, I flip through the channels aimlessly until I finally stop at some old game show reruns. Nothing can keep my mind busy, distract me from the dreadful thoughts that haunt me every night. It’s especially bad when everyone else is sleeping, and nothing but quiet surrounds me.
Laughter coming from the TV cuts through the silence, and I toss the remote beside me onto the couch. Leaning my head back, I keep my eyes trained at the flickering light of the screen when a knocking sound meets my ear. It’s so faint that I think I might have imagined it. But when I turn down the sound and hear it again, I know someone must actually be at the door.
Getting up, I check the time on my phone, realizing it’s after three. Who the fuck knocks on our door at three in the morning?
With an equal amount of curiosity and annoyance, I cross the room and unlock the front door. I pull it open and find Aspen wrapped up in her blanket like a cocoon on the other side. She looks at me like a lost puppy left out in the rain, and I wonder what the hell she is doing here.
“I didn’t know if you were still awake,” she finally mumbles.
“I don’t sleep much. What are you doing here?”
“I’m…” she shifts on her feet, and the movement makes my eyes travel down her legs. She is barefoot, and the bottom of her blanket seems wet. “Never mind.” She shakes her head and spins around to walk away.
Before she can get far, I grab the blanket and pull her back, making her trip and fall against my chest. “Not so fast. Tell me why you’re here,” I demand.
“I don’t know why I came here. It was stupid. There’s nothing you can do. I’ll find somewhere to sleep.” She sounds so defeated. And I hate it. Something crushed her spirit, and because I had nothing to do with it, I don’t like it.
“Why can’t you sleep in your room? What happened?”
“The maintenance guy came to fix my shower earlier. Well, it did work for a few hours, at least. I think a pipe busted. My room is basically underwater and smells like a sewer. But that’s not your problem. Don’t worry, I’ll find someplace to sleep.”
“And where would that be? Going to spend another night in the gym shower?”
“I’ll sleep in the library,” she announces.
“The library is locked up right now, and you know it. All the places are locked up at night or common areas where anyone can do anything to you while you sleep helplessly.”
“I know.”
“You came here for a reason,” I taunt her shamelessly. “So ask.”
“Fine.” She rolls her eyes at me adorably. “Can I stay the night with you?” A genuine smile tucks across my lips. The thought of Aspen in my bed enters my mind, and blood pumps straight to my dick.
“Look, I’ll sleep on the floor. I just want someplace clean and quiet, where I don’t have to worry about someone strangling me while my eyes are closed.”
“Who says I won’t strangle you,” I joke, but Aspen doesn’t find me funny at all.
With a huff, she tries to turn away from me once more, but I wrap my arms around her and drag her into my apartment. Surprisingly, she doesn’t fight me as I bring her inside and close the door behind us.
Once I release her and the blanket falls away, I realize her clothes are wet and dirty. “You do smell a bit like sewage. Maybe a bath first?”
“I’d love a bath, actually,” she says absentmindedly while taking in the apartment in awe. “I’m sore from last night.”
“Ren’s room is over there.” I point at my best friend’s door. “My room is that way, and I’ve got a bathtub in my bathroom.”
“Thank you,” she whispers and starts walking toward my room. I follow her with my gaze glued to her ass. Her pajamas are soaked, and the thin material clings to her skin and doesn’t hide much.
By the time we get to the bathroom, my dick is painfully hard, and only the stench coming from her keeps me from pulling down her pajamas and sinking into her warm cunt.
“Take a bath, use whatever you need. I’ll find something for you to wear while you clean up.”
I rush out of the bathroom before she peels her wet clothes from her body. I know if I don’t leave now, I won’t be able to stop myself. Plus, I have something to do before I can enjoy having Aspen at my disposal.
Back in my room, I flip my laptop open and check the video feed from earlier today. I rewind to the spot where the janitor comes in and starts fixing the shower. I don’t find him doing anything suspicious, but again, I know little about repairs. I’m about to close the laptop when I catch the guy lingering in Aspen’s room after he seemingly fixed the shower. I already didn’t like the guy, but my hatred for him grows exponentially as I watch him open Aspen’s drawers. His meaty fingers dick through her underwear until he finds one he likes. He picks it up and brings it to his nose before shoving it in his pants pocket.
I don’t know why his act enrages me this way. So what? He’s an old pervert, stealing some college girls’ panties. He isn’t the first, and he won’t be the last guy to do it. I should let this go; it’s not like Aspen would ever find out. No actual harm was done. I really should just forget about this. I should… but I’m not going to.