Page 108 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

his lips catching the spot behind my ear.

“You use a rubber?”

I’m back in his lap,

pressed up against him,

his breath warm on my throat.

Under the water,

my nails trail down his sides.

“Yeah, of course I did.”

He exhales, shoulders dropping,

as if a worry’s been lifted.

Then he’s dragging me closer,

no other questions.

Only a nod and,

“Aight.”

Third bottle’s halfway drained.

Our boundaries are sinking with the wine. Our hands are lingering on each other’s skin.

Outside this tub, the city’s freezing.

Inside, the heat’s rising, the two of us surrounded by stars and steam.

“You’re the only reason I’m touchin’ myself. You got me thinkin’ about you when you’re gone, then I can’t fuckin’ help it. Deadass, like, I don’t even got a body unless it’s wantin’ yours.”

His palms slide up my thighs again,

gripping both hips.

“But it feels wrong in a way. ‘Cause I’m cheatin’ on the real you with this fake you in my head. Then other times… it makes me sad as fuck… ‘cause I miss you. So yeah, you got me all fucked up, homie.”

I tip the bottle to my lips and swallow,

listening as he continues.

“And now when I nut?

“Shit don’t even hit the same.

“I’m all, where the fuck do I put it?

“On my stomach? Boxers?

“Don’t even wanna come no more if it’s not inside you. So I’m sittin’ there, lookin’ down at my dick like—what’s the fuckin’ point?

“You’re not on me or under me.