Shane laughed. “You thought this dickhead had money? The trust fund is Anna’s. He was just leveraging it to get some easy pussy and apparently yours was the easiest there was.” He reached across the balcony, handing April the envelope.
“What is this?” she asked. She seemed to be swallowing a lot.
“Divorce papers. Don’t mess me around April. It’s all pretty simple and iron clad. You have two days to get out of my house. You can have all the furniture. I don’t want anything you’ve touched.”
Mason hadn’t taken his teary eyes off Anna.
“Anna, are you with him? What are you doing?” Mason had tears in his eyes.
“I’m not a cheater like you, but as of now, I’m officially single.” She looked at Shane, fluttering her eyelashes. “GI Joe, my poor puss is aching for you.”
Shane smiled at her and winked at Mason. “And I’ve been aching for your sweet puss, Tinkerbell.” He picked her up by the waist, leaning her against his chest, his arms across her back and her butt. Mason went red, whether with anger or embarrassment that they’d heard his aching puss conversation with April last night, Anna wasn’t sure.
“No. No!” he whispered. April was furiously ranting behind him, pacing and pulling at her hair.
Shane leaned down and kissed Anna in a way that couldn’t be described as remotely platonic or friendly. “Goodnight and goodbye Mason,” she said without taking her eyes off Shane as he carried her inside and closed the French doors firmly.
Chapter 23: Shane—Trauma bonding and choreography
Shane moved into the hotel room, placed Anna on her feet, but didn’t remove his arms. “You okay, Tinkerbell?” he asked.
“Oddly enough, yes. I moved past tears a while ago and now I feel like my anger has been lifted. I feel light. It’s weird.”
“What do you want to do now,” he murmured, quietly but in a deep voice, never breaking eye contact.
“What doyouwant to do now?” she asked.
“I want to trauma bond with you all night.”
Anna laughed and leaned in for a kiss. It began softly, lightly, but increased in intensity. Shane felt like he couldn’t let go.
Please don’t say no. I need you.
He was willing to take things as slowly as Anna needed. He knew he was further ahead in the healing process, but he hoped she felt the same as he did.
She pulled away and he reluctantly dropped his hands.
“We can just drink if you want. Watch some crappy reality shows,” he offered.
“Um … this is … I feel bad,” she stammered, staring at the floor.
“Don’t feel bad. I know how I feel, but I’d never push you into anything,” he soothed.
“No, not that. I’m not rejecting you. I really like you. I feel bad that I don’t feel bad about moving on so quickly. Does that make sense?”
“Yes, but it’s not quickly. Feelings die when you’ve been betrayed. Mine died at least a year ago when I first realized April was using me, and they died quickly. It’s like the blinders are off and you realize you can’t really have ever known them.”
“Yeah, that’s it I think.” She looked up at him, moving her gaze from his eyes to his lips.
“Fuck it, let’s trauma bond,” she said as she threw herself against him, pulling his face down to meet hers.
He took her mouth, feeling like he couldn’t get enough. Lifting her again, he moved her backwards toward the bed, where he gently dropped her. He stared down at her. Her hair was fanned out across the pillow, her legs open, one bent. Her skirt rode up, revealing a flash of white panties.
She’s beautiful. Don’t fuck this up. This is your future.He just felt it. He knew. He saw everything with her.
“I really like you too,” he whispered, falling down on top of her but supporting his own weight with one arm.
They kissed again. Clothes were pulled off; he didn’t even know who removed what but before he knew it, he had his mouth and hands all over her. She played with his hair, throwing back her neck as he kissed down her body. He’d been picturing her breasts since the moment he met her, and they did not disappoint.
