Page 66 of Renascence
It’s all I can think about as Rianne takes me through my paces. That and trying to figure out what I’m going to get him for Christmas. I know we’re not a couple, but still, it’s only a Christmas gift. I don’t even care if he gets me anything; I’d say fulfilling a girl’s every fantasy is more than enough. Not to mention all the clothes and lingerie he bought me. It included new sets of workout gear, one of which I’m now wearing. I was fine with my T-shirt and leggings, but apparently he prefers the close-fitting sleeveless tank—which, thank God, covers the hickeys he left behind—and capris. He threw a bunch of stats at me and reasons why the material is better, but he doesn’t know I heard the comment he whispered under his breath about how great my ass looks in them. For once, I’m inclined to agree. Or maybe it’s knowing that’s whathethinks. The look in his eyes last night when I stepped out of the bathroom… never in my life have I felt that desired, like I was the only woman in the world, the only one who mattered.
My first boyfriend, we were each other’s firsts. Nick was always eager, but after the first couple of times, it seemed he was more interested in the act itself than in me. Still, I thought I was in love and willing to work on our relationship. When I finally tried to talk to him about it, he confirmed I was right. Turns out I was practice for the girl he really wanted. He needed to get his virginity and awkwardness out of the way so he wouldn’t embarrass himself with her. Needless to say, I was crushed.
Enter James.
We worked together at a fast food restaurant one summer in high school and kept in touch after. When I went off to college, he enrolled in an automotive technician program. After what happened with Nick, I went home for a weekend and James and I ended up meeting for drinks. One thing led to another and we hooked up. I wasn’t proud of myself, but at least he wasn’t some random guy. We kept seeing each other, stepping things up when I moved back home after graduation. To be honest, I was shocked when he asked me to marry him. We had nothing to build a marriage on, but I figured I could do worse.
We were doing well at first. I had no delusions that he was hopelessly in love with me, and I knew he wasn’t Prince Charming, but we were okay. Things began to go downhill after our third year when money became tight. By year five, the verbal abuse began. Year seven, I found out he was cheating. I still don’t know why I stayed. I was going through the motions until the threat of losing the house sobered me up. I was on the mortgage, too, and I couldn’t risk the damage to my credit. Once I had it sorted out, I concentrated on fixing my life. I left him, even gave him the house. There’s no way I could live in there with all the bad memories. Nick may have cracked my shell, but James broke me. Getting away from him was the best decision I ever made.
Coming to Stony View is a close second.
If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have met Venom. I probably wouldn’t have found out that men like him exist. He’s my very own knight on a shiny black mechanical stallion. In this story, Humpty Dumpty is made whole again. He’s slowly helping me piece my life back together, and it’s not just the sex. He’s funny, kind, caring, smart, and amazing in bed. If he was the relationship type, he’d be the perfect boyfriend—a man you can bring home to your parents, but who will tie you up and do soul-stealing things to your body.
I’m seriously going to sit and make that fucking list. Now that I know he’s serious, I need to put some thought into it, rank everything by order of importance. After all, I don’t know how long this thing is going to last.
“Good job, Emily! You did great today.”
Rianne’s bubbly voice pulls me out of my head and I flash her a smile. That smile gets brighter when I notice Venom approaching from behind her.
“Thanks, Rianne. You’ve been awesome.”
“Aww, thanks! See you tomorrow.”
She waves at us both, practically jogging out of the room. I slide the towel around my neck, using the ends to dry my face.
“Hey, darlin’.” Without missing a beat, he leans down and plants a kiss on my lips. I blush, looking around the room to see if anyone noticed. “Ashamed to kiss me in public, Em?”
Horrified he thinks that’s what the action meant, I step back. I’m about to protest when I look up to see the smile on his lips.
“Asshole.” I smack his chest. “I really thought you were offended.”
“But I am. Lucky for you I know how you can make it up to me.”
“Let me guess, it involves us being naked.”
“Oh, it involves a whole lot more than that. Come home with me and I’ll show you.”
“You weren’t kidding about that frequency thing, were you?”
“You’ll quickly learn, Em. I never joke when it comes to fucking.”
“Trust me, I have. My body is feeling the effects of my… um… education.”
“Good.” He takes my hand, leading me out of the room. “Maybe it’s time you graduated.”
“Graduated?” I stop walking, making him jerk back.Does that mean… is he ending this?
“Em? What’s wrong?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean”—he presses against me—“it’s time to take you to another level.”
Whew.
“What level is that?”
He doesn’t answer my question, only asking one of his own. “Want to go to a party?”
