At first, I’m baffled by this suggestion, but then I realize he’s unsure just how long his leash is. After my embarrassing come apart earlier in the day, I guess I can’t blame him.
“Um, no,” I say with a shake of my head. “I can handle this much on my own. But if you’ll wait just outside the restroom, that will make me feel better.”
He nods once and moves me in front of him. “Lead the way, lass.”
“You wanting to enjoy the view?” I give my hips a playful wiggle.
“Ach, I’m simply trying to keep you in my sights,” he mutters, but the bite is gone from his voice. All that aching softness has buried the sharp tones. That raspy, heavenly softness.
Fuck, I’ve got to text Green Guy.
“I’ll be right back,” I say before rushing off to the restroom. God, he probably thinks I have diarrhea.
Oh fucking well. Before I sink any further into this rabbit hole that Aven’s creating, I need to make sure it’s okay with my leading man. After all, he’s shown me that he’s willing to put me first. He paid good money just to get me off, and that tells me everything I need to know about him. A: He has money. B: He’s willing to do what it takes to please me.
Does a girl need anything else?
Well, actually, she does, and it just so happens that Aven is the other half of the puzzle. He has the looks. Those devilish smirks and that seductive wink. He’s protective of me, and he takes what I say to heart. He was prepared to stand outside the stall and hear whatever unholy sounds came out of me, just so that I’d feel safe. He didn’t just listen to me. Heheardme.
Granted, I was snarling and gnashing my teeth, but still. He heard me.
And I don’t know that I’ve ever been heard before.
I slip inside the stall and lock the door. My fingers are shaking, but I don’t know why I’m so nervous. What’s the worst that can happen? Green Guy says he isn’t comfortable with me pursuing anyone else?Oh no, the serial killer who wants to make me come is obsessed with me and wants me all to himself!Like, what? What BookTok girly doesn’t secretly fantasize about this?
But if there is one thing I look for in a romance novel, it’s a loyal lead. It sounds outlandish, but I’ve accepted that this trip is more than just my violent awakening. I’m also living out a sexual fantasy for a week. I’ll go back to my normal life eventually, and I’ll be a few hundred thousand dollars richer, which gives me time to build back all the subscribers I’ve lost. Life will go on. For now, I’m going to live it up.
And maybe, if I’m a really, really good girl for my male lead—whoever he is—I’ll get invited back for the smutty sequel. A girl can dream, can’t she?
But first, I have to get through this chapter. I take a deep breath and type out a message.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Aven
With the way she trotted off, she either needed a lavatory very badly, or she’s already planning to sneak away to see her secret lover. Odd as it sounds, I’m more disheartened by the second prospect, which makes no sense. I cannae be jealous ofme.
But that’s the long and short of it. Aye, I’ve gone and made googly eyes at her all day. After what she shared with me last night, I couldn’t help it. Then I’ve been a proper gentleman all afternoon. After what she told me about her ma, I couldn’t help it. That moment was more precious to me than when she let me make her come.
Because she opened up to me.
The hard me.
The gruff, asshole me.
She opened up to a brick wall, and that takes a level of courage I can’t help but admire. And desire. After hearing her story, I want to help her fill in the blanks until she’s satisfied.If she’s never satisfied, I want to keep trying for the rest of my natural life.
God, I’m fucked.
The phone buzzes in my pocket, and I nearly scream from the shock, despite expecting this. With a sigh, I pull the tiny cell from its hiding place and read the message from Quinn.
Sorry about earlier and the lack of response. I can’t text when my guard is on duty. Everything is fine now, though.
Hearing her refer to me as her guard hasn’t bothered me before, but now that she’s talking to another guy, it feels very dismissive. Like I’m just some object in her life. Why would she withhold my name from him?
Why does it matter, dumbass? You are the other guy!
Oh. Right.
