Smirking, he grabs a condom from the pocket of his trousers on the floor and rolls it on. “Patience, Amour. I want you to come on my cock, not my fingers.”
At this point, I just want to come full stop.
He positions his dick at my entrance and I sit down slowly, torturously so. His abs flex and twitch as I set a languid pace to drag my clit against him with every downward roll. My pace picks up as the first spark of an orgasm catches low in my abdomen, and as my walls start their first flutters Jake suddenly stands, pulling out of me to flip me around. I'm pressed against the cold glass of the terrace doors as he enters me again from behind and pounds into me at a frenetic pace.
“Fuck, Shari, I want to fuck you out in the open for everyone to see. As soon as spring is here, I'm going to have you out on the terrace,” his breath is erratic in my ear. My orgasm was partially ruined by the position change, so it hits much weaker than I was originally building up to. I find myself more frustrated than if I hadn't come at all as he spills into the condom, tugging hard on my hair.
As we lie in bed later, I find myself questioning everything. Two people I care about deeply have now said they think Jake is bad news after meeting him just once. One meeting isn't enough to form a true opinion of someone, but I trust their judgement. What does that say for Jake? Plus, he seemed to be a completelydifferent person at points during our double date, and that was not a person I liked. He had drank a fair amount of wine, but that doesn't excuse his rudeness or his posturing.
And is this always going to be our sex life? Unfulfilled and with unwanted pain? Me constantly reminding him to be gentle, to check in with me, to consider my needs?
But then, on the other side of things, he's incredibly sweet and thoughtful. He's always buying me little gifts to remind me that he's thinking of me. Always sending me cute little texts throughout the day. Always calls me to say good morning and goodnight and find out what my plans are for the day.
My mind whirls all night, and by the time the sun crests the horizon, I've barely slept and am none the wiser as to what's real or not.
33
WHAT THE FUCK ARE THEY SMOKING?
SHARI
14th February2026
Brad’s parentsmust already be here, I muse as I pull up behind their car in the driveway.
I get Lizzie out of the car and turn back to gather all the paraphernalia that comes with a toddler. The creak of the front door precedes the crunch of the gravel underfoot when Lizzie shouts, “Daddy!” Their combined laughter ties a knot in my stomach and I don't really know what to make of it.
When I turn around, I'm greeted by the sight of Brad throwing Lizzie into the air, much to her delight and my panic. “Nngghh, not so high, Brad!” comes my choked protest.
He catches her and settles her on his hip and they chuckle together with their matching eyes and grins. “Mama worries too much, don't you think Lizzie Loo?”
“Ya, too mush,” she nods.
“You're too much, Madam!” I go in for the tickle kill and she squeals and wriggles with that shrill laughter I adore so much.
Brad puts her down so she can run ahead of us and takes her bags to lead me into the house.
“Shari! Have you done something new with your hair? It looks gorgeous,” Grace states as she pulls me in for a tight hug. It lasts longer than usual, which has me questioning her.
“No, nothing new. Are you ok, Grace?”
“Yes, dear! Absolutely smashing. Just glad to see you,” she smiles warmly and rubs my upper arms as I surreptitiously look around for hidden cameras.
Phil steps up to me and all but shoves Grace aside, “Don't mind her, she's been taking that CBD oil for her hip pain and it seems to have removed the stick she had up her arse.” He winks and kisses me on the cheek, and all I can do is stand there in shock. I would have expected Grace to annihilate him for saying that, but she just rolls her eyes and laughs.
“It's weird, isn't it?” Brad murmurs next to me. “She's been taking it since that bottle Hettie got her for Christmas and has been mellow like this ever since. I'm still not used to it. Dad is clearly loving every moment.” I don't know what to say, so I just stand there blinking like an idiot.
“Hi Shari,” a small voice snaps me out of my stupor.
“Larissa, hi! Sorry, I didn't know you were here already,” I hug her and we three make our way to the kitchen, leaving the grandparents to entertain Lizzie for the time being.
Brad automatically puts the kettle on and starts making a pot of tea as I unpack Lizzie's food bag and stack yoghurts in his fridge. Yes, he has plenty of snacks and food for her already, but in true almost-two-year-old fashion, she keeps changing her mind about what she likes, so it's just safer to have options. Especially when Brad's parents are the ones babysitting.
“So, what are you guys up to tonight? Your first Valentine's together!” I try for an excited tone. IthinkI nail it.
“Oh! We're going out to dinner and then ice skating!” Larissa beams, clapping her fingers together softly.
“Wow, very romantic! I'm sure you'll have a blast.”
