Page 11 of Need

Chapter Eight

Sharon

I could have takenthe cab back to the apartment the next morning, but Jonathan insisted on driving me home on the way to his office. In the car, he talked about his meetings with developers and lawyers, and one with an advocacy group that was giving him trouble. Suddenly, I remembered Sebastian’s text messages. Was the asshole causing problems? I hoped not though I wouldn’t put it past Sebastian to do just that. Twenty minutes later and with three more blocks to go before we’d turn onto my street, Jonathan changed the subject.

“I’d like to see you tonight, but I’ve got a meeting at 6:30 and I don’t know what time I’ll getdone.”

“Just text me and we can figure things out from there.”

His expression grew serious. “What about the bruises? Are you going to beokay?”

“I’ll be fine,” I said before catching the uncertain expression on his face. “Jonathan, it’s okay. It’s par for the course. What matters is that we both enjoyed it. Otherwise, I would have told you tostop.”

He cocked his head as he looked at me. “Is vanilla really your safe word? Somehow, I don’t buy it. But I have to admit that it was a good reminder of what I didn’t want withyou.”

“And there you go. It worked,” I said, chuckling. “I didn’t need to use it anyway. You were perfect.”

He made a left turn at an intersection, his attention on the road. “So, what is your safe word? The real one thistime.”

“Indiana.”

“The state or the movie?”

“Indiana Jones, of course,” I said, smiling. “You do know who he was really named after, right? It wasn’t the state.”

Jonathan grinned. “Nope. His dad named him after the familydog.”

As he turned the car onto my street, I had to admit that as much as I enjoyed seeing the Dominant in him, I also liked to see him smile and hear him laugh. It made me believe I was giving him something he needed outside of the bedroom, something normal. I didn’t have much to offer in the way of intelligent conversation, but if he was okay having me the way I was, then we could probably work out even if it was only whenever he was in town. Besides, I liked Jonathan. I wanted more of his presence, his laughter, his intelligence.

I also wanted the feel of his hand on my skin, punishing me again.

* * *

Jonathan textedme at noon while I was looking at apartments in the Mission District. The area wasn’t on the top of my list of places to live, but Lacey had gotten some appointments set up and it was too late to cancel.

– What are you doing? –

– Looking at apartments. –

– Where? –

– Mission District. –

He didn’t respond right away which worked out because Lacey and I were done looking at the apartment on 18th and needed to hurry to the next one four blocks away. Our plan then was to check out the vintage shops on our way back to the car. Five minutes later, my phone blooped.

– Where exactly are you looking? What streets? –

His question made sense. Lacey’s apartment wasn’t exactly located in the better parts of the Mission District. I didn’t even let him come up to the apartment to pick me up the first time he took me out to dinner or he dropped me off. I didn’t want to chance a mugging.

– On Valencia between 23rd and 24th. It’s a bit on the hipsterside. –

– You’re not a hipster. –

He sure was right aboutthat.

– I know but the rents are reasonable. –

– What’s your budget? –

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