In all of my years as a grown-ass man, I’ve never come from dry humping—unintentional dry humping at that. My toes curl in my socks, and my overstimulated tip pulsates at the release.
I can’t look her in the face. I can’t evenseeher face since she’s still threaded to the watch I’m cursing myself for wearing. With her eyes pointing down, she has an unobstructed view of the mess that’s settling into expensive cotton.
“I— Oh, I didn’t mean—”
“Don’t apologize!” I grimace. “I’ve been trying to get you off.” Well, not like this.
“Here, let me—”
“No, it’s okay—”
Too late. Again.
I lift from my elbows to sit and roll her off me but collide with her head as it swings up. The good news is, she frees herself. The bad news is, I think she broke my nose.
Blood pools out of my nostrils, and I squeeze them to stop the bleeding.Shit.
Miriam rushes to her feet. “Sorry! Let me get you paper towels. Actually, I might have some tampons.”
“Where’s your hair?!”
She pats her cornrows with wide eyes. I lift my hand to reveal her curled wig dangling from my watch.
“I’m so embarrassed!” She reaches out to pull me up with no luck. Miriam is a foot shorter without shoes.
“I got it,” I groan.
“Here.” She thrusts takeout napkins in my face and grabs her purse. “I’m taking you to the hospital.”
I feel around the granite island for my wallet and keys, but she puts both in my hand. “What about your hair?” I wiggle the new accessory on my wrist.
“It’s coming with us.” She motions to the door. “Let’s go.”
“You should wear your natural hair out. It’s beautiful,” I say.
“Come on.” Miriam grabs her shoes but slides into a pair of my sneakers near the door. “If I put those death contraptions back on, we’ll both need the ER. Keep applying pressure.”
“I’ve had bloody noses before.” I remind her about my physical pastime…which, admittedly, doesn’t involve being tackled and beat up in my own house.
“Are you smiling?” Her eyes shift to my grin.
“At least we’ll spend New Year’s together with a night we’ll never forget.”
“I should’ve stayed home.”
“Will you be my emergency contact in case there’s head trauma?”
“You already have it.” She pushes me out the door. “Now shut up, and let’s go.”
“I feel this is the start of a wonderful relationship, Doe.”
Chapter 4
Miriam
Three years later
Moving to the tundra in the dead of winter was a choice.
