Between Lies

I looked in the rearview mirror — the black motorcycle had been behind me for six blocks now. Same lane. Same speed. Same distance. Close enough to be intentional, far enough to be a coincidence.

The phone's insistent signal, echoing in the car, only heightened my anxiety. I called Adrian for a third time, but he still wasn't picking up.

I turned at the first block I reached and pressed the gas. The motorcycle replicated my maneuver, shortening the distance between us. The speedometer climbed toward 40 mph, but just then the traffic light ahead turned red.

I felt like I was driving into a trap.

My heart hammered in my chest, but I had to stop at the intersection. The bike pulled level with me. I didn't have the courage to look in its direction, but through my peripheral vision, I caught the biker staring at me through his helmet. Then, suddenly, the engine roared, and the bike turned sharply, leaving a cloud of smoke behind. My muscles, coiled with tension, released all at once. I leaned my head forward onto my hands, gripping the steering wheel. When I opened the window, the cool morning air drifted in, grazing my still-sweaty skin.

Impatient horns broke my momentary calm, but when I saw the green signal, I hit the gas and headed home. Occasionally, I glanced timidly in the rearview mirror, but nothing suspicious was there. The bike was gone.

Walking into the house, I leaned against the door, closing it with my back. I shook my head a few times to shake off my thoughts and sat on the couch. My phone rang, and Adrian's photo flashed on the screen.

"Downstairs!" I shouted.

After a few seconds, Adrian came down from the second floor. "Is everything okay, Mel?" he asked, buttoning up his light blue shirt. "You've called me three times, but I was showering."

"Yeah, everything is okay," I replied, reaching my hands back over my head to grasp his. He kissed my forehead.

"I got worried."

"Actually, I thought that someone was following me while driving. That's why I called you. But it was probably just tiredness playing tricks on me. It was hectic in the ER last night, and I was the only nurse."

Adrian sat next to me. "Are you sure, Mel? Do you want us to call the police?"

"No, honey. It's okay. I probably just imagined it. Don't worry."

"Okay. Turn over," Adrian said and began massaging my shoulders.

"Mm, how are you so kind? That's so good."

Adrian had only a few minutes, but the short massage was a balm for my weary body, bringing me much-needed relaxation.

"I have to go, Mel. I have surgery in an hour. Go to bed and get some sleep. Okay? See you tonight." He kissed me. "I love you."

"I love you too," I replied.

I curled up on the couch without removing my hospital work clothes. It only took a few moments before I drifted into a deep sleep.

Until, out of nowhere, a strange noise jolted me awake. I sat up, my heart pounding. "Adrian?" I called out, my voice echoing around.

Nobody was in the house — just the eerie silence of the secluded suburbs.

While living in the big city, I was used to all the noise, but after Adrian and I got engaged and moved into his house on the outskirts of Seattle, where the nearest neighbors were about half a mile away, every little unexpected noise felt disturbing.

I stepped timidly to the front door, took the umbrella from its stand, and, holding it with both hands in front of my chest like a weapon, opened the door.

"Oh, hello, kitty!" I exclaimed, seeing a black cat with ginger stripes before me. I looked around, but there was no sign of any other presence — just a plank that had fallen to the ground. Crouching down, I stroked the animal. "How did you get here?"

The cat meowed a few times, then rubbed against my arms and legs, purring.

"Are you thirsty?"

The kitten jumped onto the concrete porch railing and lay down. I went inside and returned with a bowl of milk, which I placed next to the animal. "Be my guest."

Relieved of the tension, I walked back into the house, showered, and changed out of my scrubs.

Today was my first wedding dress fitting. Despite the dress still being pieces held together with pins, my eyes sparkled in the mirror. Our wedding was really happening.

After the seamstress took my measurements and we settled on the lace and veil, I walked out beaming.

On my way home, I stopped by the print shop to pick up the wedding invitations — still warm and fresh off the press.

Too wired to sleep, I threw myself into cooking, then baked a fruit pie. By the time Adrian came home, the house smelled like something out of a dream.

I grabbed his hand and pulled him straight to the box of wedding invitations.

We opened it together. I ran my finger over the pearly cardboard, the bronze highlights, the brown font, mouthing our names as I read them.

Adrian wasn't one for details, but he smiled as he watched me.

"Honey, are you sure this is your final guest list?" I asked, opening the folder I had left under the coffee table.

"Sure," Adrian replied. "You can start sending the invitations."

"First thing tomorrow morning!" I said enthusiastically.

"Can we eat now?"

I giggled, and we moved to the dining table.

After enjoying the dinner, we went to the bedroom. Adrian's long day caught up with him, and he fell asleep first. I read a bit of my book, then tossed and turned for a while, my mind buzzing with excitement about the wedding.

The minutes passed, the hands of the clock struck 3 in the morning, and I still could not sleep. I got up, went to the kitchen, made some tea, and leaned against the counter, scrolling through my phone.

Before long, footsteps were heard, and I saw Adrian at the doorstep. "Honey, I'm sorry if I woke you up," I said, then looked back at my phone.

He said nothing but moved closely behind me and ran his hand up my thigh, lifting my nightgown and squeezing my ass. I tilted my head back. The light from my phone's screen reflected in his eyes, making their blue shades shine in the darkness. "To what do I owe this mood?"

"Shhh..." he whispered.

He turned me again to face the counter, placed one palm over mine, and the other dug into my long chestnut hair, twisted it, and pulled it sharply.

A moan escaped my mouth. Adrian had never been so playful, but I liked that.

He pulled me again, my head resting on his chest, and while he still controlled my body, holding my hair, he moved his free hand to my lips, putting his fingers in my mouth.

My tongue responded, toying with them. The rapid breathing that teased my ear made my skin tingle and burn in anticipation.

"Adrian..." I breathed out his name when he moved his wet fingers under my panties, parting me sensually to make their way inside.

My arousal grew wild, moving my pelvis to welcome each push. I moved my hands behind my back, sliding them over his hard cock, giving a sign I wanted him in me. "Adrian..."

He removed his boxers and my panties with a rapid move and buried himself in me with an intensity I had never felt before.

My moans grew louder. "Adrian!"

"Shhh," he whispered again, putting a palm over my mouth. "Shhh."

His movements were hard and primal. The tenderness Adrian usually brought to bed had given way to a pure lust. I bit my lip to stop the sounds when he moved his hand away from my mouth. I liked the role of following his commands.

He removed my nightgown and cupped my breasts, teasing my nipples with soft-rough squeezes.

I arched my body tightly to him, wanting to feel each thrust to its limit. And when I was so close, he moved one hand between my legs, his fingers further intensifying the coming orgasm. I squirmed in his hands, bathed in voluptuous waves, and enjoyed the hoarse moans coming from behind me, validating that he was finishing with me.

"Wow!" I turned around. "Adrian, that was—"

Without waiting for me to finish, he walked out of the kitchen.

"—something new," I continued, quite confused but still shaken by the best sex I had ever had.

I gave my body a little time to start functioning normally again, then dressed and went to the bedroom a few minutes later.

Adrian was sleeping in the bed — almost in the same position I had left him when I went downstairs. My brows drew together, wondering how he could fall asleep again so quickly, but when I turned to close the door, something even more puzzling struck me — Adrian stood down the hall. I rubbed my eyes roughly, unable to process what I was seeing. But when I opened them again, the figure was not there. I turned quickly to the bed — Adrian was still there.

"What's wrong with me today?" I muttered to myself. A few more times, I turned my head — now to the hall, now to the bed — nothing changed. I closed the door and took a deep breath. "I probably really need a good sleep."

I snuggled into the soft sheets next to Adrian and hugged him tenderly. The still-fresh feeling from our passionate moments brought a satisfied smile to my face, and I finally fell asleep.

When I woke up the following day, Adrian wasn't in bed. I looked at the clock — it was still seven in the morning. I hurried to catch him for our morning coffee before he left for work.

But walking down the stairs, something caught my peripheral vision. I turned to the window — a black motorcycle was parked outside — the same black bike that had driven behind me the day before.

A ball curled in my stomach. "Adrian!" I shouted, stepping down, while my gaze was still fixed on the vehicle. "There is a—"

Turning my head forward, I froze. An unknown man was standing beside Adrian — an unknown man yet so familiar.

"Mel." Adrian looked awkward. "This is my brother, Axel," he said, his words seeming to leave his mouth in slow motion.

"What? You never told me… that you had a brother..." My mind twisted in a whirlwind of confusion, trying to make sense of what I just saw. "A twin brother…"

And then it hit me — last night in the kitchen, it wasn't Adrian.