Page 63 of The Unlikely Pair
“Do you like women at all?” he asks.
Bollocks.
But I can see no point in not answering his question honestly.
“I like women a lot,” I say slowly. “But not in that way.”
Toby blinks at me.
“People deserve more than a lavender marriage, Harry. People deserve a rainbow glitter marriage if that’s what they want,” he says softly.
“I’m not sure if all members of the Conservative Party agree with you there,” I say stiffly. “Besides, I’m not sure you’re one to give advice on romance. You go through men and women like trendy restaurants. What is it, six months tops, then you ditch them?”
“I didn’t realize you’ve paid such close attention to my romantic life.”
I strike the ferro rod viciously. “I wouldn’t call noticing a very obvious trend playing close attention.”
The flame sparks, and the paracord starts to burn.
“So this whole time, you’ve been pretending to be married to a woman while getting it on with guys on the side.”
“I haven’t beenpretendinganything. I have been married to a woman. And I have not been ‘getting it on’ with anyone.”
Toby pauses. “No one?”
“Not since I married Prunella fifteen years ago.”
“Oh my God, Harry, that’s a long time to go without one of life’s necessities.”
“I think most survival experts would agree that sex is not a necessity,” I say stiffly.
“No wonder you were so…”
“So what?”
“So…pent up,” he says.
I harrumph. Because I can’t exactly deny I was pent up when he saw obvious evidence of it less than half an hour ago. I occupy myself with adding more pine needles to our growing fire.
“Personally, I’m all for whatever.” Toby shrugs. “Being out here has definitely given me a seize the moment, enjoy every second mentality because, let’s face it, who knows how long we’ve got left to enjoy life. So if something feels good to both of us, I don’t see why we shouldn’t do it.”
It takes a moment to process his words and grasp their meaning.
He’s offering to do that again.
I feel my whole body flush at the thought of another encounter with Toby.
Toby, with his flushed cheeks and bright eyes, the way his breath hitched, the expression on his face when he came. The feel of him in my hand, his mouth under mine.
I don’t think I can handle keeping this going with Toby. Not without forcing myself to reevaluate all the decisions I’ve made in my life. And then where would I be?
“I think it’s probably best if we refrain from a repeat.” I studiously keep my tone neutral as I brush the dirt from my hands and stand abruptly, moving away from Toby. “We need to focus all our attention on survival. We don’t need any other distractions.”
Chapter Seventeen
Toby
I’ve had some extremely awkward endings to hookups before. Like the time I got my foot stuck in my trousers while trying to make a suave exit and faceplanted on the floor or when I tried to impress my date by cooking her breakfast but ended up setting off the smoke alarm and evacuating her entire building.
