Page 82 of Melted by a Man

Mariam gagged dramatically, “Sorry, it’s a reflex whenever I hear his name,” that made a small laugh sneak out of me, “How did that conversation go?”

I caught myself grinning before I tried to relax my facial expression, but Mariam caught the smile, and she pointed an accusing finger at me with a wide grin on her face, “I saw that. What did he say?”

I rolled my eyes and snuggled into the blanket more, “He seemed furious on my behalf.” I remembered how safe I felt with him. “It was kind of nice to see. How he sided with me, even though I’m sure my perspective of that relationship is completely biased—”

“Stop it,” Mariam lifted a hand, “Whatever you said about that little man, I’m sure you did so with fairness he didn’t deserve.”

I looked back out the window, “I did call him an asshole though.”

“He’s called you worse,” Mariam reminded me, “It’s fine. I’m glad Leo understood what an asshole he was.”

“Yeah…” I sighed, “And then we had sex afterward.”

“And did you orgasm that time?”

I blinked, thinking about it, “Yeah, I did.” I scratched my chin before tucking my hand underneath the blanket again, “I thought that maybe opening up to Leo about my ex somehow took away my ability to orgasm. But that couldn’t be the case, because I orgasmed hard almost immediately after the conversation.” I sighed, defeated, “Now I’m not sure why I didn’t this time. And I’m kind of freaking out about it.”

Mariam sighed, setting her iPad pencil down and giving me a direct look, “How’s work going?”

I blinked at the sudden conversation change, but I went with it. I trusted Mariam, “Um. Fine. I interviewed more employees to add to the HR department this week.” Then I bit my lip, a familiar swarm of nerves filling my chest, “…I received a weird email from Brandon.”

“Why was it weird?” Mariam pressed, crossing one of her jean-clad legs over the other.

“It was cryptic,” I frowned, “Vague. He said he wanted to meet with me next week about potential changes and to keep him updated on who I chose to hire next.”

Mariam raised her eyebrows, “Interesting.”

“Yeah,” I gnawed on my bottom lip, “You can see why I’m kind of stressed about that.”

“Definitely,” Mariam nodded, crossing her arms and leaning back in her chair to summarize the situation, “You received a vague email from your boss, and now you’re going to be spending the next week spiraling about what he’s going to say in the meeting.” Mariam lifted a shoulder, “When did you get this email?”

I quirked my lips to the side, “A couple of days ago.”

Mariam nodded again, “Before or after you had sex without orgasm with Leo?”

I stared at her, because the way she said that sentence stuck out to me. She didn’t say “failure to orgasm” or “inability to finish.” It was such a clinical description of what the situation was, and for reasons I couldn’t explain, I felt a little less insecure about it.

“Before. I got the email the day before Leo came over this last time.”

Mariam stared at me.

And stared.

And stared some more.

I shifted under her gaze, “So…” I slowly raised my eyebrows at her, “Are you saying that Brandon’s email maybe had something to do with—”

“Do you know,” Mariam interrupted me, “what the largest sexual organ in a woman’s body is?”

I shook my head, visibly clearing my thoughts in an attempt to catch up with the whiplash she was giving me during this discussion, “Um…the clit?” I immediately tried to think of something else. There was the labia, but was that considered sexual as insexual?

Mariam shook her head, “It’s an important organ, but no. Any other guesses?”

Heat burned my face and neck,Shit, did I not know my own fucking body? I needed to get home and start researching women’s anatomy—

“Before you panic,” Mariam interrupted my train of thought, “Don’t. The answer you’re seeking is…” she leaned forward and drummed her two index fingers on the side of her desk, making me relax from the theatrics she pulled, “The brain.”

What?

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