“You’ve got—Wait, let me get it for you.”
Displaying a boldness I haven’t seen from him yet, he reaches for my face and swipes the pad of his thumb under my bottom lip. The pleasant sensation of his gentle fingertip reminds me how desperately touch-deprived I am. A nine-month dry spell will do that.
He shows me his thumb, where there’s some tomato sauce. I don’t even have time to be embarrassed about it and all but gape when he engulfs it in his mouth. Stunned by how flirty the gesture is, I stand there like an idiot with my mouth open while he returns to the computer to plug the screen in.
Maybe chemistrycanbe fabricated because I’m feeling almost lightheaded now. Damn…
It’s nearly nine when I escort Oli out. He probably would have stayed longer, but I feel bad about taking even more of his time.
“Thanks again, Oli. I don’t know what I would have done without you,” I say as we step outside.
“You’re welcome, Hulkette. Oh! Almost forgot.” He reaches for something in his leather messenger bag, and hands me a square package wrapped in craft paper.
“Are you kidding? You’re the one who helped, andIget the present?”
“Well, it’s a housewarming gift.”
I don’t even know what to say, staring at him with my jaw hanging open. “Open it before you complain, woman. It’s nothing. A trinket,” he defends himself.
Since I don’t know how to handle his generosity, I say nothing for once. After a brief hesitation, I take the package and carefully rip the paper open. It’s a blank cardboard box. The lid opens easily, and a mug reveals itself. I take it out, and a laugh escapes me as I see what’s on it. It has to be the ugliest, most kitsch mug I’ve ever seen, with a sunset, pearly glaze all over, and a dolphin as the handle.
“I know you wanted your own mug at work, and I found this masterpiece at Goodwill, so I had to get it for you.”
I gaze up at him with a chuckle. “Thanks, Oli, it’s perfect,” I say before getting on my tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek. He tenses for a second before a blush slowly creeps up his face. Ah, that’s adorable…
“Are you sure you don’t want me to pay for an Uber?” I offer, knowing he’ll refuse as he did the first four times.
“Yeah, there’s a bus going right to my street. We’re practically neighbors now,” he explains with a wink as he walks backward and away from me. “I’ll see you on Monday, Andy! Have fun with the rest of your unpacking!”
“Thanks! And thank you again for everything!”
With one of his trademark friendly smiles, he gives me one last wave and walks away.
I’m still grinning when I return to my new apartment. Tami is in the living room, eyes on the TV where an episode ofFriendsunfolds.
I give her a broad smile when she notices me and head into my new room. I video call Kate to proudly show her Ifinallyunboxed my stuff. She’s delighted about my improved situation and asks me loads of questions about the neighborhood and Tami. Once we hang up, I have the same call with my parents.
It takes me a couple of hours until I’m completely done unboxing everything, but I finally feel like Seattle can become my home. As I lie in my new bed, showered and ready for the night, I no longer feel like a stranger in a new city.
As I replay the week in my head, my mind inevitably drifts to Alexander Coleman. There’s something about him that I can’t shake off. Is it because he’s terribly intelligent? Or because he seems so unattainable? Oh, it could be that jawline and the stubble that accentuates it. Maybe it’s because of how hard his chest was when a bunch of wild lawyers and traders shoved me into it.
My covers become unbearable, so I push a leg out in the colder air of the room. The man really has an effect on me. Especially when I recall how nice he smells, how bewitching his eyes are, his deep voice…
Okay, I need to do something about this horniness because it’s getting out of hand. Without a second thought, I pull down my pajama bottoms and underwear and reach for Idris in my nightstand. I finally found it in one of the boxes, where Kate hid it as “motivation to unpack.”
With it in hand, I open an incognito tab on my phone, type in my trusted ethical porn site’s domain, and start scrolling through the options. I’m picky, so I only find something suitable on page three.
My eyes are glued to the couple on my phone fucking each other to oblivion as my hand travels south to press the vibrating little hole right over my clit. For five entire minutes, I play my clit like a maestro, but it’s not enough. The sensation is enjoyable, but nothing is building up. I’ll need ages to come like this.
I’m either not in the mood after all, or the three videos I’ve tried aren’t good enough.
Time to change strategies. I dismiss the phone and close my eyes instead. Pleasure happens in the brain, so it may work if I can focus on it.
I conjure a mental image of a dashing man worshiping me. The dark-haired hunk in my mind slowly moves down my stomach, laying kisses and bites on my skin until he reaches between my thighs. My breathing quickens, and I press Idris a little harder on me. A shiver runs through my body as I imagine gray eyes gazing up at me, intense and domineering.
Yes! I’m rapidly getting there.
In the fantasy I’m fabricating, the man darts out his pink tongue and slowly samples me. My legs tremble, and I whimper. Fuck, this is working so well. Changing the pressure, I imagine his tongue licking me, teasing my most sensitive spot, his hands holding my thighs apart so that I have no choice but to endure the sweet torture. I can feel my orgasm right around the corner. A few more seconds, and I’ll reach it.
