Which is silly. This was supposed to be low stakes, no fuss sex. I’m only here to get over my ex. It’s not going to be anything more than that. We just met tonight. It’s ridiculous to be thinking about a new relationship already. Even if it's with someone who seems really sweet and kind and into the same things I am.
I clean off my glasses with his towel. Clean hand towels? Does he secretly have a girlfriend? Single guys don't do that.
I open and close all of his bathroom cabinets. Not looking for anything in particular, just hoping they might offer me some form of clarity. All I find are neatly organized toiletries. No signs of a second person living here. It seems like we use a lot of the same brands, but there are a few things that I don't recognize. I pull one bottle out of his shower and sniff it. Yep, there is his vanilla scent. The smell has me slightly calmer. I carefully return it to its spot on the shelf, memorizing the label, just for future information.
I came here for a reason. Casual sex will be good for me. Even if my stomach flips excitedly every time Ant looks at me for too long.
I slip off my kerchief and undo the buttons until the front of my shirt hangs open completely. I’m just wearing my classic, practical, nude bra. It’s not fun sexy lacy underwear. When I left the house I wasn’t expecting to show it to a stranger today. I drop the shirt to the ground and turn to the side to examine myself in the mirror.
It’s a level of nudity no one except Colin has seen from me in a long time. I know my breasts are good. They are large and full, and even if my middle has always had some squish, and my butt has some cellulite, I’ve never had any complaints about the ladies??1. If they don’t get me laid, then I don’t know what will.
I rearrange my hair, piling it on my head in different ways, until I am satisfied that it looks acceptable. There's not much else I can do. Not enough time to do a million crunches. Or suddenly develop body confidence. He'll have to take me as I am.
I take a deep breath before I open the bathroom door.
1 Except from my back muscles.
5
PONTIUS
This isn’t how I expected the evening to go. I didn’t think she would be here, in my home, tonight. I just wanted to speak with her, just once. Introduce myself, that’s all. So she’d know I existed. So she could get used to the idea of me.
She was just so beautiful, so kind, so fragrant. My flame. I was stupid to think I could refuse the draw I feel to her.
Then I heard the plan she and her friends discussed.
Casual sex.
No strings. No attachments. Just sex.
I shouldn’t have eavesdropped. But once I saw her, smelled her again, there was no reasonable way I could stop myself from listening to her conversation.
She is mine. My mate. My flame.
I couldn’t let her go home with another male. I just couldn’t. Not again. If she wants a one-night stand thenIwill be the one to give her that.
Now she’s here, in my home, my nest, touching my things, spreading her glorious scent everywhere.
And hiding in my bathroom.
Sometimes she trembles when we touch.
She’s scared of me.
I've done something wrong. Maybe I shouldn’t have brought her here this quickly. I could have given her more time to get used to me. I am only trying to give her what she said she wanted. Casual sex.
I grimace. Nothing about this is casual for me.
I cross the room to my collection of gaming consoles. I can wait as long as she needs. I'll wait forever if I have to. I'll make sure she has the space, and time that she needs to feel comfortable around me.
I can’t lose her now, when I am so close to having her.
Behind me, the bathroom door creaks open.
”What are you doing?” Piper asks.
”You threatened to kick my ass atDuck Hunt.” I gesture to the Super Nintendo in front of me.
