Selene and Aviva spent the day lying in Selene's bed and watching movies on cable while simultaneously searching said movies on the internet to figure out who the actors were and where they had seen them before. It was a silly but fun game. It wasn't until Selene's work phone rang that the fun had to stop.
"I have to get to work," Selene muttered, stuffing a skimpy outfit into her purse so Aviva wouldn't see. "Do you want to stay here? I don't mind. Or do you have work in the morning?"
Aviva remained on the bed, watching Selene prepare for work. "I have work in the morning. If I do stay, what time will you be back?"
"No later than five in the morning."
"I'll stay."
Selene's belly grew warm in excitement, though she was nervous. She never had an overnight guest before. She still considered Aviva an overnight guest even if Aviva would be alone for most of it. Just the thought of having someone home when she got back from work was tantalizing.
"Have a good day at work," Aviva said cheerfully.
"Have a good day at, uh, well, my house," Selene replied. She heard Bobby pull up outside, and so did Aviva, who asked who it was. Selene said it was a work friend who lived nearby and liked to carpool. Aviva nodded and accepted the answer. Selene wondered how long she'd have to give half-truths. "Watch out for Rosko," she said before opening the front door.
Aviva chuckled and waved goodbye. Selene made her way outside, a smile on her face, and into Bobby's car as he held open the door for her. Bobby got into the drivers seat but didn't drive right away. He pointed up at Selene's windows.
"Hey, you left your lights on," he said.
Selene looked out the car window and could see light coming from her buildings windows. She had left the curtains open. She cursed herself then told Bobby to just drive. He did as requested but still asked why she left her power on.
"I've got a visitor okay, Bobby? I let them stay."
Bobby's jaw dropped and his eyes sparkled with excitement. "You have a visitor? And they're spending the night? Is it your girlfriend. I hope it's your girlfriend."
"I don't know if we're dating, Bobby, we haven't put a label on it, but yes it's Aviva."
"Wow. This is huge, Seely. Does she know where you're going?"
Selene cleared her throat and stared out the window. "She knows I'm going to work."
"But you haven't told her what you actually do for a living."
"Exactly."
Bobby looked at Selene using the rearview mirror but he didn't comment on her choice. After all, it was her choice, not his. Bobby refocused on the road when he saw that Selene was beginning to change her clothes. After changing, Selene left her normal clothes folded on the seat as a reminder to change back when she was ready to go home. She didn't want Aviva to get suspicious. Coming home in different clothing was sure to raise questions Selene did not want to answer.
Selene picked up her sticky note (two names) along with her paycheck. She stuffed it between her folded clothes to keep it safe then handed Bobby the sticky note, and off they went to address one. It was a relatively routine session- missionary with a splash of cowgirl purely for the man's pleasure, not Selene's. She was happy with it, though, since her client paid a generous tip as a thank you, he even vocalized his thanks, too.
Client number two was a beefy, middle aged man. His stature was smaller than Bobby's, Selene noticed, but he was still impressive. He wanted to have sex with Selene face to face while she complimented him on his skill. Selene obliged and said anything she thought would boost his ego. While she spoke empty compliments she wondered if Aviva was okay. Her building could be scary at night if you weren't used to the noises and the occasional midnight stock drop off nearby. Selene hoped Aviva wasn't too frightened being the only person around in an unfamiliar area. She hoped Rosko wasn't continuing to be a punk. She hoped Aviva wasn't the snooping type.
"Hey." Selene's client grabbed her chin more firmly than she liked, and brought Selene out of her thoughts. "Pay attention to me. I'm the only thing happening right now. I'm the only thing that matters."
Selene smiled and reassured him that she was paying attention to him. She doled out more compliments and moved her body a little more to show him she was giving him her full attention. He seemed satisfied but held Selene's body tighter. As Selene felt he was close to finishing, she ran out of things to say. There were only so many things she could come up with. Her client grew angry and slapped Selene once, hard and fast. Selene took it in stride- she had been slapped before- but knew things could become much, much worse. She repeated compliments and tried to appease the man but the situation didn't get any better. Selene attempted to wiggle out of the man's grasp but he was too strong for her. She had muscle, too, and was quick, but she just didn't have the advantage. Selene was stuck.
The man pushed Selene to the ground and laid on top of her, pushing himself painfully into her. Selene hissed but took it, hoping he'd finish and leave her alone. She could alert Bobby but her purse was too far out of her reach. The man snarled at Selene and didn't like that she wasn't looking at him. Selene stared him straight in the eyes as he wrapped his huge hands around her throat and squeezed. Selene finally started to panic. She reached for her clothes, where her purse was, but she couldn't quite reach. The man got angrier and his fist connected with Selene's face. The man kept Selene's chin in a firm grip as he pumped away until completion.
When he let go and Selene had a little more leeway, she wiggled out from under him and scrambled to her purse. She paused for a second, considering the possibility of solving the problem herself. She knew how to fight, to win. Now that she was away from the man, she could easily take him down despite his size. In the end, Selene pressed the only button on the device that would alert Bobby before her client could do anything more, and before she could do anything to her client.
Bobby crashed into the house, his hulking form looking scarier than usual, and he assessed the scene before him. He first noticed Selene huddled on the floor, her eye beginning to turn purple and her neck an angry red. Next he took in her client, kneeling on the floor, naked, not looking ashamed in the least. Bobby threatened the man and pushed him down. He wanted to do more, smack the man around a little, give him a good beating, but he went against that killer instinct and instead helped Selene get up and dressed. He practically carried her out of the house and helped her into the car. Immediately he was on the phone to inform Kelsey what had happened as he drove.
Selene listened to Bobby rant and rave to Kelsey, demanding of her to never allow that client to be serviced again by their company. He told Kelsey to give Selene time off to let her wounds heal. After Kelsey calmed and appeased him, Bobby hung up. He smacked the steering wheel angrily.
"You're getting the next two days off, more if you need them." Bobby slowed the car, ashamed that he let his anger cause him to speed. "Are you okay?"
Selene rubbed her burning throat softly then touched the corner of her eye, feeling the budding bruise. She sighed and begun to change into her normal clothes. "I hurt but I'll be fine. Thanks."
"I'm always here for you, Seely. I'm just sorry I couldn't get there earlier."
"You got there just in time, B."
Bobby sighed and pulled up in front of Selene's building. He asked if he could accompany her inside but she refused. She thanked him again for helping her and dealing with Kelsey then she took a deep breath and headed inside. Luckily, Aviva was fast asleep, the muted TV droning on in the background. Annie was cuddle up to Aviva's side. Selene smiled when she saw how well Annie had taken to Aviva, and her smile widened when she noticed Rosko on the bed but as far away as possible from Aviva.
Selene put her dirty work clothes in her hamper, put her paycheck in her purse for later, grabbed the only pair of pajamas she owned then headed into the bathroom and shut the door. She studied her wounds intently in the bathroom mirror. Her neck was redder than she had first thought it would be and her eye and the surrounding area was an ugly purple, though thankfully the bruising was more to the side of her face. Her eye wouldn't bulge or shut. Selene took the small victory then begun a shower. It felt heavenly to get rid of the stink of her work and wash away the dirt that reminded her of the nights events.
Aviva was awake by the time Selene got out of the bathroom. Selene gathered her resolve then stepped into the bedroom and allowed the light that Aviva turned on to wash over her person. Aviva gasped and sat up in bed.
"Oh, my god. What happened to you?"
Selene sighed and poked Rosko's head, moving her finger over his forehead. "Just a little scrap. Nothing to worry about."
Aviva crawled to the edge of the bed and studied Selene's face. Rosko didn't move to make room for her. "Just a scrap? You look like you've been strangled and punched."
"Bingo."
"How did this happen?"
Selene grunted and moved her head when Aviva's fingertips brushed the side of her face, close to her eye, and right over the bruise. "Disgruntled customer."
"And you got his name? Called the police?"
"It's handled." Selene shooed Rosko away, though he only moved just enough to let her sit. She let Aviva scoot close to her. "Don't worry about it."
"Hell, I'm going to worry. What? Does this happen a lot in your line of work?"
Selene bit the inside of her cheek and looked at the TV. She was tired and hurting and just a little hungry, she was not in the mood for Aviva's questions. Aviva sensed that, sighed, and ran her palm over the side of Selene's neck.
"Fine," Aviva whispered. "Don't talk about it. But at least look at me."
Selene did as was requested.
Aviva gazed into Selene's eyes, then she smiled. "I'm glad you're okay."
"Thank you for understanding." Selene let Aviva caress her neck, her chin, play with her damp hair. The touches were making her eyelids heavier and heavier. "You're staying the night, right?"
Aviva nodded and pulled Selene to lie down. Selene had to shoo Rosko away since he didn't listen to Aviva. Selene groaned in delight as her back hit the mattress and her head was cradled in a pillow. Aviva remained close but left a strip between their bodies. She knew Selene allowed soft touches, but she still wasn't exactly sure what Selene's boundaries were. Selene scooted a little bit closer to Aviva but didn't wrap an arm around her or try anything. They lay side by side, calmed by each others presence and warmed by the normality of it all.
