Page 69 of Start With A Slap

He took the towel from her. “This wasmeantto happen.”

“Meant to...? Youmadethis happen. You made this happen for the single solitary reason thatyouwanted it to. This wasn’t kismet, Sever, this was manipulation.”

“Oh was it? Neat trick, that, me manipulatingyourlips ontomymouth!”

“Yes! That’s exactly what you did and you know it! The looming threats, the countdown — that’s textbook psychology. You made up a date and let me freak out over the how and when. Yougaveme a self-fulfilling prophecy, all you had to do was wait!”

“And allyouhad to do was not fulfill it.”

“Believe me, I will regret that moment of weakness for the rest of my life.”

“Moment? Since when istwelve hoursa moment?”

“Fine, themomentthat kicked off a twelve-hour black hole of regret!”

“That’s not regret you’re feeling, that’sguilt. Brought on by the sobering reminder that you do, in fact,havea husband, and that you have beenthoroughlyindulging in an adulterous affair with me, your dear old daddy-in?—”

Slap.

He grabbed her wrists and invaded her space. “You know as well as I do he hadn’t called just now, you’d be on your knees begging for another go. I opened up a whole new world for you,and you arethrobbingat the thought of total exploration. Admit it.”

Her eyelids fluttered. “You make me sick.”

“I set youfree.”

“Is that what you call this?” She flexed her hands, and he realized he was still clutching her.

Chastened, he let go, but didn’t give her wiggle space. “The plane is fueling?—”

“I’m not getting on a plane with you! I’ll find my own way home.”

“W—” She couldn’t mean that, could she? Not after he’d shown her the time of her life!

He tried to kiss her. She shoved him away.

“No! This is over.”

“This is far from?—”

“Do not kiss me. Do not touch me. Do not speak to meever again.”

“Yeah, you say that now, while you’re sated. Tell me, what’ll you say when you get hot and tingly again?”

“Fuck you.” She hustled to the door. “That’s what I’ll say.”

“Like you did for the last twelve hours?” He couldn’t force her to stay, but he could force her to face the truth. “No, you said, ‘Fuckme, Sever! Touch my spot and whisper naughty French in my ear and fuck me, fuck me all night long!’”

“Stop following me!” She fluttered about the atrium, little polka dotted suitcase rolling behind her. “Where is this stupid guest room I allegedly slept in?”

“‘Fuck me with your tongue, Sever! Ooh, ooh! It’s so! fucking?—’ “

“Shutup!”

“‘—long!Ohhhh you’re so good, Sever, so good, it’ssonot fair, you’re the devil! Please, please?—’”

“‘Pied-à-terre’ he says. FYI, when there’s an elevator inside of it, it’s not a pied-à-terre, nor a flat. It’s abuilding?—”

“‘Pleasemake me come again, Sever, I need to — yeah, yeah, oh OH OHHHH?—’”

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