Page 290 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

Instead I’m lying here,

pussy screaming bloody murder,

but praying like hell he won’t touch me.

Because no matter how hard and long I scrubbed Raymond off my skin, I’m still sick with guilt. I know I have to tell him. But we’re happy. We’re both finally fucking happy, and I’d rather sever my clit than his smile.

He buries his head into my neck, and my voice muffles in his thick hair. “You don’t cuddle. You smother, y’know that?”

He chuckles against my throat. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” I say. “On top of me all night.

“Buried under you.

“Tighter than I’ve ever been held.

“Almost died.”

I shrug. “And I didn’t hate it.”

His head lifts,

sleepy eyes crawling across my face.

“Yeah, yeah. An’ you don’t cuddle.

“You hold on for dear life.”

I shove his shoulder. “Liar.”

He catches my wrist, pins it against the mattress above my head. “Nah. You were wrapped around me tight. Arms, legs, whole fuckin’ body. I wasn’t goin’ nowhere.” His laugh fades, eyes burning as he still holds me down. “And I didn’t hate it.”

His mouth sinks into my neck,

wanders lazy down my throat.

“So that was Celie, huh?”

His words sweep along my collarbone,

and I drop my head to the side,

humming with my eyes half-closed.

He smirks into my skin. “I was gettin’ worried you didn’t have any real friends⁠—

“or are you payin’ her too?”

I squeeze his side. “Ha. Ha. Real funny.”

He squirms, half a laugh breaking out against my neck, his teeth catching my throat playful.

Then the bite melts into a slow lick,

heat spreading down my spine.

“This mean we’re movin’ on?” he asks.