“I just… The trauma from my parents, Vince being an asshole, and not knowing who I really am. I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing. But I think I’m beginning to realize that everything they taught me to believe may be wrong.”
“Some deprogramming needs to happen?”
“Yeah.”
I squeeze his hand, and his thumb brushes over my skin, making me shiver.
“You smell so fucking good. Like coconut and peach,” he breathes, and I reach up to fiddle with the pendant on my neck.
“You’re not supposed to think that.”
“I can think whatever the fuck I want.”
He eyes the necklace I’m wearing. “Take it off.”
I hesitate, my fingers freezing against the chain. “It’s supposed to quell the scent.”
“Take it off,” he says lowly.
“It will get really strong. Potent. You’ll hate it. Everyone hates it.”
“I fucking won’t.”
“You don’t know that.”
He pulls me closer, his hand moving into my hair, pulling my head back gently, his nose sliding up my neck.
“Take it the fuck off, Arbor.”
My trembling hands move, unclasping it and handing it to Glenn. He folds it in his palm and then tosses it aside. My scent drifts up from my body, the coconut and peach growing stronger, mixing with honey and vanilla. Like a candle at the end of its rope.
Potent. Extreme. Almost too much.
“That’s so fucking nice.”
His hand tightens in my hair, and he licks up my skin. “Like dessert. How could anyone not want to smell this day in and day out?”
“No one likes it. No one.”
“I do.”
I almost can’t believe it, but the way he inhales, the way he licks and bites along my skin as if my entire body is a treat, makes hope flicker to life inside of me.
Maybe he’s telling the truth. Maybe he really does love it.
Then he pulls away, panting.
“Fuck, if I keep going, I’m going to fuck you right here against this window.”
“You should.”
“It’s not why I came here. Not why I stayed over.”
“I know.”
He inhales deeply. “But fuck if you’re not tempting.”
His eyes drag across my body, and I shiver, feeling my slick wetting my thighs.
