Chapter 43

Half of the psychology class students were trying their hardest to pay attention or even stay awake. Avril was no different. This particular lecturer spoke slowly, everything she said sounded like a prophecy. The smoothness of her voice has the equivalent effect as hypnosis and the students willingly conceded to her spell.
Avril felt as if she was in a very tranquil yoga session. She grabbed hold of her water bottle and brought it to her lips. Hoping any movement would convince her body that it was most definitely not the time to close her eyes in preparation for sleep. After all, there were forty-five minutes left of the class and she was sitting in the second row of the theatre. The lecturer's eyes often glued to the first four rows. The last thing she wanted was to be embarrassed publicly for falling asleep or not paying attention.

The sounds around her began hollowing out and disappearing. She hadn't realized that her mind drifted and before she knew it she was awash with thoughts of Thomas. He hadn't been back for almost three weeks, the hours and days had blurred by. Every day she woke up she felt anxious to check her phone or to ask Trish for any information. Her body on constant alert for any word of or from him, but she hardly received any messages and Trish also was of no help.
She wondered how he was coping with having to work with the woman who tried to kill his father. Her heart went out to him for having to deal with that, but what could she do?

By the time she came out of her head, the class was ending. She thanked God that she recorded it, or else she would have been screwed. She was falling behind in this particular class as it was, unable to concentrate whenever this particular lecturer spoke. The recording would allow her to take breaks in between making notes.
Her classes ended after six. She dragged herself home. Went into her room and slumped onto her bed. She couldn't go into Thomas's room when he wasn't there, it made her miss him a hundred times more than she did, everything in there reminded her of him, it even smelled like him too. It was too distracting...too emotional. She'd curled up there a few nights ago and cried having been reminded of him but unable to see or touch him.
Perhaps it was also a sign that her period was due. She was overly emotional around that time.
She checked her watch. She had notes to start and readings to finish, but her eyes were dragging her down into her subconsciousness. "Just two hours." She breathed, giving up the tug of war between closing her eyes and keeping them open. She was pulled down into sleep, her consciousness drifting away, her mind at peace.
****

"Come in." Thomas unlocked the front door and entered. Lilith following behind him. He closed the door and placed his keys down. He had brought Lilith back to his home. If it was up to him she would never be able to set foot in here again but time was precious. They only had the night to prepare for their next buy. She was posing as his business partner during the deals, and that was as far as their interaction went. When no one else was around he ignored her. It was almost as if she didn't exist.
Almost, because she would always find some way to irritate him into snapping. He couldn't count the times that he was tempted to place a bullet between her eyes. To many Goddamn times!

He had to remind himself that the mission was important. More important than killing that wench. They only had their first successful buy after three long weeks. They were able to move the male and female victims they rescued to a secure location. His mind in no way at ease by this success. It made him all the more anxious, all the more ready to ensure the entire mission was completed without fail. The entire mission rubbed him the wrong way, the trafficking victims were are as young as babies being sold to grow up as sex slaves. He felt sick just thinking about it. So, his plan to kill Lilith had to wait...for now anyway.
He turned his attention to his home. The sight and feel of it causing him to instantly unwind. His muscles loosened and his headache was clearing up. He was really happy to be back home, even if it was just for the night. He needed to get away from the haunting truths that became reality over these last three weeks.

"There is a guest shower downstairs, you can use it." He said to Lilith as he made his way upstairs. His mind focused on other things. He knew exactly how he wanted to spend his night home.

"I remember," Lilith whispered to an empty room. She expelled a heavy sigh as she gazed around. Lilith was more than disappointed with how these last three weeks passed by. Thomas didn't dare look at her and worst yet, he kept giving her death glares whenever she tried to weasel her way back on his good side. She supposed to she would have to play a more active role if she wanted Thomas back. She had to get rid of the obstacles, that was the only way he would be able to turn his gaze towards her.

*****
Thomas all but ran to his room. His strides long and purposeful. He shoved the door open, in his imagination, Avril would be sprawled out on his bed, either asleep or awake. Once the door opened, his steps paused. He didn't go further into the room, his bed was empty. The sheets unbothered, crisp and clean on his bed, not a ruffle in sight. A wave of panic crawled down his spine. He sought to ignore it, rushing over to Avril's room. He eased the door open, his heart pounding in his ears, the random thought of her not being there plaguing him, scaring him even. He breathed a sigh of relief as he saw her curled up asleep on her bed. He fell against the door frame that few seconds of worry drained him. He stared at her in relief.
He didn't want to think about how much he missed her. He walked into the room, closed the door behind him and sat on the edge of her bed. He ran his fingers lightly through her hair. She stirred. Her eyes fluttering open, they transformed from mere slits to huge moons as she saw him.

She pulled herself into a sitting position. Her head spinning from the sudden reaction.

"You're back." she grabbed hold of his arm, her grip weak, her voice was husky and ladened with the aftermath of slumber.

"Only for a few hours." He said, putting his hand over hers feeling overwhelmed at how happy she seemed to see him.

"I have to shower." She said, as she slid her legs over the bed and onto the floor, she tried to apply her weight but her legs buckled under her. Thomas's arm reached out before she could hit the floor and pulled her onto his lap, his arms wrapped securely around her waist.

"I guess my legs aren't awake yet." She laughed and cuddled into him.

"How about I help you into that shower?" The words didn't sound like a question, his breath warm against her forehead.

"Will you join me as well?" She muttered against his skin, her voice muffled.
Thomas smiled that her shyness, he rubbed her back with his hands.

"I thought you'd never offer," he said, adoring the tiny giggle emanating from her. "Although, I wasn't planning on waiting for an invitation." He revealed. He eased her off him and they both stood. He took hold of her hand and led her to the shower.
He paused at its entrance and worked on removing her clothes. Her eyes trained on his every movement, a warm sensation licking its way down her stomach and between her legs. He discarded his own clothes after she stood naked in front of him. His eyes roaming every inch of her body. "I never tire of seeing you bare and hot in front of me." he rasped. His aroused member springing out from behind his boxers and he tossed them aside.
Avril didn't understand why she felt shy around him still. It had a lot to do with the fact that she couldn't believe that this man wanted her. The idea was foreign to her, she hadn't yet accepted it. She gazed after him as he slid the glass door open and stepped into the shower.
He turned back to look at her. "Get in your fine ass in here and close the door." his eyes scanning her body openly, a shiver running down her spine.