NINE

Visitor

Lolita danced to the door, chewing an apple when she swung it open. She wasn’t sure what she was looking for, but she expected it to be a delivery. Upon seeing a pair of shiny, leather boots, she looked directly into the owner’s face.

Hayden.

The minute her mind registered that it was him, she stopped chewing. He looked majestic, standing there on the door, just smiling. His lips curved further to the side of his face as he dragged his eyes slowly down her body. Lolita was immediately self-conscious. She felt that something was missing but she couldn’t take her eyes off him for a minute to be sure.

“You’re naked,” he drawled.

She peered at him. “What?”

“You’re naked.”

She didn’t register his words just yet. She only looked down reflectively, and even then it took her a few seconds to realize that she was indeed naked. Lolita screamed, then fell back into the house. She ran as fast as her embarrassment could let her back into her room to put on a dress.

“Oh my god,” she touched