Page 17 of October

“And now you know he feels the same.”

“No, no. He doesn’t.” I shake my head. “He just… I don’t know.”

“You’re already doing it.”

“What?”

“Self-sabotaging. He literally said he wanted to spend the week with you and see how it goes. That’s not a bad thing and it certainly tells me that he feels the same way you do. Men don’t want to play house for no reason. That’s all I’m saying.”

“I guess I’m trying not to get my hopes up.” I flop back on the sofa and sigh. “I could easily go too far and not be able to get myself back.”

“That’s why you have to protect and look out for yourself, and if you feel like you aren’t being met halfway, in anything, you get out. You deserve more than that. Right?”

I nod. “Absolutely.” I pout. “God, I really like him though, Lyla.”

“Then have fun. Spend the week with him, but please be careful. Promise?”

“I promise.”

She hugs me tight. “Good. Now, when do you go back?”

“He’s on shift for the next couple of days so I’ll be here until then. I’ll head over a little before he gets home. We’ll just… see how it goes.”

It leaves my mouth so easily, but on the inside, I’m absolutely terrified.

I’m so rarely nervous around men and I hadn’t been with Ash at all, until now.

He’s broken me open and is going to peer inside.

I just hope he isn’t disappointed in what he sees.

Chapter 10

Ash

I’ve just come offof a very uneventful forty-eight-hour shift. I’m thankful for the boring downtime in the station house, because that means everyone in our rescue area was safe for the last two days. However, I’m bitter about it because it gave me too much time to think.

All I’ve thought about is her. It was my turn to cook dinner for the house, and I thought about her the entire time. While I was trying to sleep, I could only think about her laugh. While I was spraying down the truck, her perfect little moans were in my ear.

I’m totally fucking obsessed with her.

The anticipation for her only grew when I got a text a few hours before the end of my shift.

Wren: I’m heading over to your house soon. You’ll find me in the pool ;)

I counted down the seconds until I could leave.

I am standing at the edge of the pool, watching her float, outstretched on a bright pink blow-up lounger. Her sunglasses are covering her eyes, so I can’t see them, but her lack of movement and expression tell me she is either asleep or deeply relaxed.

The sun is casting an orange glow over her skin that is now a bit red.I wonder how long she’s been out here?

As much as I’d love to stand here and gawk for hours, we only have this week alone to indulge ourselves. I certainly don’t want to waste a second.

I look around for something for a moment, before my eyes settle on a small water gun Casey plays with in the summertime. I move quietly to pick it up, open the cap, and dip it below the water to fill the chamber.

I stare at her for another moment, smile on my face, before I take aim and shoot a stream of water directly on to her chest.

She gasps and screams, “Oh my God! Holy shit!”

---