Page 35 of Deeply Examined

Sarah: I know. Love you.

Jessica: Love you back.

I sigh and set the phone aside. I should be devastated that I haven’t heard back from the school I applied to in New York, but honestly, with all the Brad drama and moving in with West, I’d almost forgotten about it. I’ve been so distracted looking for a new place to live here in Chicago that I’ve let my job hunting in New York slip.

No more,I tell myself.You can’t live like a queen here forever. Soon, West will get tired of you cramping his style. He’ll want to bring other women here. He’ll ask you to leave.

My vision blurs as I contemplate that moment, when West says he doesn’t want me here anymore. That he doesn’t wantme. Maybe it’s already happening. Maybe that’s why he’s never home.

Confront him. That’s what I need to do. Living here and not seeing him is driving me crazy.I’ll talk to him tonight,I decide over my morning coffee.

He can’t hide forever.

Adam

It’s 3:00 a.m. I’m in my study, researching a new cryptocurrency I’d like to buy, when she walks in.

Jessica.

Dressed only in a short white nightgown, so translucent I can see the outline of her legs, illuminated by the tall floor lamp by the door. I like it bright, even though by this time of night my eyes are dry and the contacts I wear all day burn. I blink, watching as she crosses the room, headed straight to me.

“Aha!” she cries out, waving her finger in the air. “Gotcha!”

She sways unsteadily, and I suppress my smirk. I already reviewed the security footage from the evening. She drankthreeglasses of wine tonight, and, judging by the glassiness in her eyes, this lightweight is tipsy.

I put down my pen and lean back in my chair, letting it tilt. “It’s late. What’re you doing up?”

An exaggerated pout from her plump lips. “Can’t sleep. My mind keeps worrying about everything.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “Like what?”

There are two large leather chairs in front of my desk. She flops into one dramatically and slings a leg over the armrest, followed by her other leg, until she half reclines, lying sideways. I try to ignore the flash of pink panties I got during that movement. My dick definitely noticed, though. It twitches and stiffens.

“I need a place to live. I can’t mooch off you forever. But there’s nothing I can afford. The neighborhood by the school is awful, and anything beyond that is too expensive. It’s all renovated brownstones and modern apartments. I don’t want to commute two hours every day, but that’s what I might have to do.” She sighs mournfully.

“You’re fine here,” I counter, alarmed by the idea of her moving into that derelict neighborhood or so far that she has to spend hours on the bus. “I’ve arranged for that car service to take you to school and back. Isn’t that working out?”

“It is, but I can’t accept your handouts forever.” She slumps further in the chair, her chin falling to her chest. “Besides,youdon’t want me here. You’ve been dodging me.” An accusatory pointing finger jabs my way. “Don’t try to deny it, mister. I’ve barely seen you.” One leg slips off the chair and again I get that tantalizing flash of underwear. A thong from the looks of it.

“You’re right.” I rip my eyes from the sight. “I’ve been staying away on purpose.”

She stares down at her toes and asks in a small, sad voice, “Why? Do you not like me?”

“Come here.” I hold out my hand and beckon.

Jessica rises and comes over to where I sit. I grab her by the wrist and pull her into my lap so suddenly that she lets out a startled yelp.

Raising my hips, I press my erection into her rounded backside. I lower my mouth to her ear and whisper, “Does it feel like I don’t like you?”

She shivers deliciously in response.

“Just because that one part of you likes me,” she says, pushing her butt down on my hard-on as I groan at the sensation, “doesn’t mean the rest of you does.”

She grinds against me, and it releases something primal in me, making my heart rate spike. For the past few weeks, I’ve been holding back. I’ve suppressed my desire for her, worried about getting too close, but now with her in my arms all that lust roars to life. I stroke my hand from her cheek, down her neck, and finally to her breast, which I cup. Her eyelids flutter shut, and her breathing picks up at my touch. It’s a powerful thing, to affect her like that.

“All of me likes you, Jessica,” I breathe into her ear as she swivels her hips, digging into me harder. “I’m just not used to sharing my space. I haven’t lived with anyone since I was fifteen.”

That makes her eyes pop open. “Fifteen! Why so young?”

---