Page 99 of The Woman Left Behind

“He could. He was a systems engineer. He worked remote for a company based in San Francisco. He could live anywhere. But he liked where he lived, I liked where I lived, I wasn’t going to leave if my parents might come back, and he exposed the dick within by not getting that. Not to mention, every woman knows, you don’t shake up your entire life and move for a man. I mean, at least not one who hasn’t committed to you. And the whole ‘I found someone else, you better stake your claim or I’ll move on’ thing was totally uncool.” My eyes wandered to the strong column of his throat illuminated by moonlight, and I mumbled, “I think I dodged a bullet with that guy.”

Harry’s hands smoothed up my back. “I know you did.”

I focused on Harry’s hands and silently agreed. Wholeheartedly.

“You?” I asked. Then I dipped my voice, “I mean, outside of Winnie.”

“No one.”

I blinked in the dark. “No one?”

He tightened his arms around me. “No one.”

Was he for real?

I harked back to try to remember when I heard he’d lost his wife.

I wasn’t sure, but I thought it was around eight years ago.

So again…

Was he for real?

“You mean not like anyone to, um…you know, even, uh…clear out the waterworks?”

For a second, he just lay there.

Then he busted out laughing.

I liked the sound. I liked how his doing it felt, his long body in my bed making it shake. I liked just feeling that long body tremble with humor.

But I liked how he automatically tucked me even closer when he did it best of all.

He was still chuckling when he asked, “Clear out the waterworks?”

“I sense you know what I mean,” I replied tartly.

“I know what you mean, sweetheart.”

Yep, still chuckling.

“I thought you guys needed that,” I remarked.

He sobered when he replied, “No. Some guys need women to think we need it so they can play on a woman’s guilt and innate nature to nurture so she’ll give it up to him. Men can go without. Especially those who understand sex is meaningful, they had a relationship that was the most meaningful thing in their lives, and they know anything less would be a pale imitation, mocking what they know they can have if they find the right person. I have the equipment and the imagination to take care of myself in the meantime, and I did.”

There it was.

The perfect scheme to get my mind off all that was happening.

Putting in it visions of Harry’s amazing chest flexing and swelling as he jacked off.

Harry shifted, and I felt his nose skim my jaw until his lips were at my ear.

“I’ll demonstrate for you someday,” he whispered there.

Oh my.

Proof my good guy could be bad.

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