Darker Devotion: Chapter One

Disability: Spina Bifida / Genre: Erotic Romance

 Movement and Location

There he was. The most magnificent man she had ever seen. His hair was as dark and brown as a piece of dark chocolate. Hmm, that would be nice to melt over his chest, she thought. Melissa Shay tried not to stare, as she sorted through her mail in the apartment lobby, but it was hard not to. Even if he wasn’t what she was looking for, he would be considered handsome by most girls. Those hazel-green eyes seemed so soulful and wise, yet looked they were concealing pain under them. Yes, he would be a handsome specimen by anyone’s rulebook, but there was something else about him that made her desire him more than any man she had ever laid eyes upon.

The way he walked. Spina bifida? Cerebral Palsy? MS? She knew she’d find out sooner or later, but it was already a question which burned in her mind. Through his khaki slacks, she could just see the outline of his leg braces. Her heart skipped a beat and she coughed to stop it.

“Are you alright?” the gorgeous creature asked.

“Y-yes, just something caught in my throat.” I wish it was your…well we’ll get to that soon enough my dear, the voice in her head commented.

“I’m Dustin, 209 B,” he said extending his hand. A scar ran down from where his thumb and index finger met. She loved scars.

“Melissa, 212 B,” she said grabbing the scarred hand. Mm, nice handshake. I wonder what else those hands are good at.

“Nice to meet you, Melissa.”

“So you’re new to Shady Acres Apartments?”

“Yeah, just transferred to Chicago with my job,” Dustin said. The way he talked melted her.  

“Well, welcome to the Windy City,” she replied, brushing a curl of auburn hair away from her dark, blue eyes. She readjusted her thick rimmed, triangular glasses upon the bridge of her nose. They gave her that bookish-hot nerdy chick look. Melissa liked to look the part that she was. A gamer, a bookworm, an intellectual, and a firebrand. She was shorter than Dustin by a few inches, not that it mattered.  

“Thanks Melissa. I’ve got to run, I’m already late for work. I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other around,” he said with a warm smile. Ugh, those teeth are precious. So perfect.

“I’m sure of it,” she replied.

Melissa went back upstairs to her apartment. She worked from home as a technical writer. She reviewed all the latest home technology solutions and sent her opinions to a variety of avant-garde magazines and blogs. Good luck working now, honey, she thought to herself. Maybe a quick, little romp with Mr. Pleasure would take her mind off him. She spent fifteen minutes with the vibrator, whispering Dustin’s name each time she climaxed. He would be hers. Of this, she was sure of. No, there’s no other way around it. The things she planned to do with him…to him. She didn’t even need Mr. Pleasure now.

♥♥♥

Somehow, the tech guru managed to finish a fairly productive day’s-worth of work. She changed into some tight, black spandex exercise shorts and a blazing hot pink tank top. Sure, she planned to go for a run, but not until he came home first. This is insane, waiting by the peephole for him to come home. What if he works all night? Luckily, Dustin seemed to be a 9-5’er. She heard him walk down the hall. She opened the door just as he was unlocking his.

“Oh, hey stranger,” she said as she strutted by. She had her iPod headphones already in her ears and a sweatband over her forehead.  

“Hey…Melissa, right?”

“Yep, just going for a run.”

“Nice. I mean, nice day to do it,” he said, turning slightly red. That’s right, it’s your turn to blush, boy.

“Yeah, it’d be criminal not to go on a day like today,” she said with a warm smile.

“Cool, well…have fun!” he replied politely in a slightly shaky voice. Aw, he’s a nervous, shy little ball of delicious.

“Thanks, Dustin,” she said, and put an extra bounce in her step to show off that ass she knew was killer.

Dustin unlocked his door and stepped inside his apartment. He closed the door behind him and leaned against it, breathing hard. She’s fucking hot. Ha, easy boy, calm down. What’s a vixen like her ever going to want with a gimp like you? Reality check, bro. She’s just being nice to a poor little cripple.

There were still tons of boxes everywhere. Moving was always a bitch; especially if you’re disabled. Hauling up some of the boxes with the bad balance he had was a chore. The moving company did most of the heavy lifting, but some things were in his car, and of course, the only vacancy was on the second floor.

He set up his big-screen TV, hooked up his gaming consoles and popped in a game of Halo 4. It’s been one of those days at work. Nothing that a little Red on Blue “big team infinity slayer” match couldn’t cure. Several matches in, he heard a knock on his door.

Who the hell is that? He wondered. He opened up his door and saw that smoking hot redhead with plate of chocolate chip cookies.

“Hi, can I come in?”

“Uh, sure, come on in,” Dustin replied.

“I brought you cookies, kind of a welcoming gift, to show you not everyone in Chicago is an asshole. Ooh, Halo!”

“Uh, thanks…everyone’s been nice so far. You…like games?”

“Yeah, I review them and a bunch of other tech things for a living.”

“Geez, that’s a sweet gig.”

“It pays the bills. Can I play?”

“Play? Huh? Oh, uh sure,” he said, handing her the controller.

“Eat this, fucker!” she growled as she knifed an opponent in the back.  

“I see this isn’t your first try at the game,” he quipped.

“I’ve played it here and there,” she said with a grin as she just scored a long distance headshot. At the end of the match, she was the top performer. Dustin was thoroughly impressed.

“Hey, you’ve got a lot of unpacking to do. Need some help?”

“Uh…no, no it’s alright, I’m good.”

“Are you sure? Believe me, I know how daunting a task it can be.”

“Nah, I’ll be alright. I was just lazy, had to unwind a bit from work when I should have been unpacking.”

“What do you do for a living?”

“I’m a programmer for financial institutions.”

“Interesting. So, have you got your dinner sorted out?”

“I’ll probably just order take out tonight.”

“Nonsense. Not to brag too much, but I’m a hell of a cook. Why don’t you come on over tonight? I’m making spaghetti with meat sauce and salad. I’ll have way too much left over.”

“I…uh…”

“Seven o’clock alright with you?”

“Well…I…”

“Oh, don’t worry about bringing a bottle of wine or anything, I’ve got plenty. Just bring an appetite. Don’t munch on too many cookies before dinner,” she crammed in all before he could even reply.

“But…”

“Well, I’ve got to go get dinner started. See you soon!”

Melissa left his apartment, leaving the man in utter shock. What just happened?

♥♥♥

He’s even cuter than I thought. A gamer! Mm, I’ll teach him a few new games. I’d better prepare the bedroom for that…

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