He doesn’t mind me looking at him. He never shuts it down. In fact, he openly stares back. He certainly gives no vibes of wanting less time with me.
Which makes me wonder if he really isn’t interested. Or if he’s just withholding from me.
Last night, he put me in his bed, after all. He could’ve dropped me at my door and gone home. Instead, he made sure I ate and showered, and he sat next to me. So he was “working.” Okay, but he could’ve done that anywhere. But I didn’t think he’d turn me down. I see the way he looks at me. I’d swear there was hunger in his eyes from the beginning. That’s never gone away, even when he said no.
With those ideas twirling in my head, the researcher in me can’t help but want to do a little experiment. The question is if my heart can survive the scheming.
“You fixed my door?”
We pass my garage as we drive down the alley to his place. I always drive the other direction. I haven’t lived here long, but I already have a pattern.
He nods.
I guess that answers that.
“So, what does that mean?”
“It means it’s safe to return to your house.” He puts the car in park and closes the garage door.
I fight everything in me not to deflate. It shouldn’t feel likerejection. It shouldn’t hurt. It shouldn’t ratchet up my fear. I can’t show that it does. I exhale. “Well, that’s great. I’ll be out of your hair. Please let me know how to pay the bill.”
I twist, reaching for the door handle only to have him grab my wrist closer to him. “Lorien.”
My name is a question and it’s a statement. And I have no reply for either. “Yeah?”
“If you’re scared?—”
“I’m not.” I cut him off. “Thanks for today.”
I slide out of his SUV, whacking my purse against the door and hearing glass shatter. This time I can’t fight the slump of my shoulders, but I can avoid Liam Murphy seeing my tears.
Liam
In my wildest dreams, I never thought I’d meet a woman who would out-stubborn me.
Lorien Anderson is independent, self-sufficient, and a liar. She needs people. She just doesn’t want to need people. She’s done it on her own for so long, she doesn’t know how to ask for help. Or even that it’s okay to.
Hello, Pot. Nice to meet you. I’m Kettle.
Heading inside, I reach for my phone.
Me: How did you handle the stubborn phase of your relationship?
Ci: So it’s a relationship now?
Me: No. I just don’t know what to do with her.
Ci: What do you want to do with her?
Eat her pussy. Eat her ass. Eat her pussy again until she’s jelloand can barely stand it. Then fuck her. Any way. Every way. Until I am so spent I sleep for three days.
Me: I want to not walk on eggshells.
I don’t do eggshells. I don’t do tiptoeing.
Ci: Then say what you need so there are no eggshells to walk on.
Me: Easy for you to say.
