Page 83 of Rebound
“Why would there be a naked woman here? We’re married.”
Lavinia opens the freezer and rummages around for the ice pack. She hums thoughtfully and I wonder what’s in my freezer that makes her curious. I let my eyes drift down to the perfect curve of her ass and those thick thighs I want to bury my head between.
“Oh yeah, I forgot about that,” she says, head still buried in the freezer.
“Did you?”
“Don’t blame me, I’ve never been married before!” Neither have I, but I didn’t forget that I’m married.
Lavinia straightens with the ice pack in her hand and gasps, taking a startled step back. “Oh, you’re, like, right there. Okay.”
A flush creeps across her pale cheeks as she realizes I have her trapped. I place a hand on the fridge, leaning down toward her. Her breath catches in her throat and her lips part softly.
Lavinia’s the most mesmerizing woman I know, and I’ve never wanted to know someone the way I want to know her. If she ever finds out how desperately I want her, she’ll definitely regret agreeing to this plan and run away. Then again, Lavinia’s a constant surprise.
“I’m not going to forget we’re married, Blossom. You don’t ever have to worry about coming here and finding some unknown woman.” I place a finger under her chin and tilt her head back. Lavinia’s throat bobs with a swallow. “But since we’re on the topic, let’s make one thing clear. You’re my wife, and I don’t share.”
“Are those the rules, then? We’re stuck with each other however long our relationship lasts?” Her eyes hold mine.
“There’s no one else I’d rather be stuck with.”
“Because you know I’m competitive as fuck and if you stick with me, we’re going to win and I’ll make the boys like you,” she says.
“Obviously, winning is the whole point of playing.”
I lean in slightly, until our noses brush and I’m a breath away from kissing those perfect, plush lips. We’re already so close our chests brush each time we breathe in. Her scent explodes around me. I’m going to smell like her long after she leaves, almost like she’s marking me as hers. My delusions know no bounds when it comes to this woman.
“You haven’t proven to be a team player in the past,” Lavinia reminds me.
“Blossom, if I’m part of your team, I’ll do anything you ask,” I say.
I don’t let my eyes leave hers as I close the gap between us. A scream startles us apart before our lips even touch. Lavinia makes a screeching noise not unlike my cats when they’re startled and pushes me away from her.
“I’ll try not to be offended by that,” I say. She rolls her eyes and looks behind me. In my hurry to follow her, I forgot to lock the door and Kita has walked in, like she usually does at this time. My neighbor’s eyes are bouncing between Lavinia and me, a look of absolute horror in them.
TWENTY-EIGHT
LAVINIA
The woman standing in Roman’s kitchen appears to be in her sixties and she’s watching us with a mix of confusion and horror. Has she been in the apartment the whole time? See, this is why announcing myself is important.
“Roman, why aren’t you wearing anyclothes?” She sounds so scandalized it takes everything in me not to giggle.
Roman blushes, his head dipping down. He’s only wearing sweats.
“Kita! I just got out of the shower. This is Lavinia.” Putting a hand at my lower back, Roman ushers me forward. “Lavinia, this is my neighbor, Kita.”
This must be the neighbor teaching him Polish. My fingers are freezing and I put the ice pack on the counter. I smile at Kita because what else am I supposed to do with Roman’s neighbor who walks into his apartment without knocking? I realize I’ve learned more about Roman by coming here than by anything he’s told me.
“Hi, I’m Lavinia, obviously.” I give her an awkward wave and she continues to watch me suspiciously. She has short, dark hair that has gray in it now, and lively brown eyes that appear to reflect a life lived to the fullest.
“You’re the girl Roman married,” Kita accuses. She’s about half my size.
“Yep, that’s me.” I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear.
Kita crosses her arms and comes closer, looking me up and down. “What do you do?”
“I host a podcast with my best friend,” I reply. “I’m also a content creator.”
