Page 44 of Between Desire and Denial
“I already fucked that pretty pussy of yours?”
“Oh my God. Do you always get like this after sex?”
“I’m not sure. I’m not usually around women much after I sleep with them, and you left me fast the last couple times we screwed.”
“Great that I know how to leave right?” She shrugged and I wasn’t sure if she meant it.
“No. I want you staying and cuddling—”
“I don’t want to cuddle,” she clarified. “Let’s just practice not talking about it and try to avoid the topic in the future. You can sleep in the king with me. No wandering hands though. Got it?”
I looked her up and down and contemplated how long I would have to play this fake dating game. For the time being, I would. “As long as yours don’t wander either.”
“Please. We got that out of the way. It’s not like we’ll want to screw again anytime soon.”
She knew how to take my ego down a notch or two, but when I glanced at her, I saw how the blush stained her cheeks. She shook her cute curls in front of her face and continued. “Believe me, we’ve done enough to tie us over for the time being.”
She left the room to get dressed as I grumbled to myself, “Speak for yourself, Honeybee. Speak for yourself.”
Chapter Fifteen
OLIVE
Dimitri wastrue to his word that he wouldn’t have wandering hands in the bed we shared that night. Or the night after that.
He left for a week, and I told myself it was for the best. We’d had our fun. When he didn’t text me the first day, I decided I needed to work on establishing even a small relationship with my brother while rekindling other friendships in town.
My brother didn’t answer my texts or calls, but Lucille did. She talked my ear off about how my mother would be so proud of me having a hand in Paradise Grove’s magazine. Then, she invited herself over but gave me until the end of the week. She was a busy woman, she reminded me.
So, for the next six days, I tried to keep busy without texting Dimitri. What he was doing wasn’t my concern. Instead, I made it my mission to walk past my father’s house once a day in hopes of talking with Knox.
He was never there.
I worked on my thesis, unpacked all my clothes, and shoved the little box of keepsakes I had under the bed. I watched TV and texted Kee probably too much about the dating app I was on.
That day, I’d even texted her pictures of all the guys I’d thought would be worth a date.
Kee: Yes to all of them if they get you out of your Rufford slump.
Me: I’m not in a slump. It’s been a month now without him, and I’m completely fine.
Kee: That’s what I like to hear. You need to get back in the saddle with someone else.
Me: You’re one to talk.
Kee had pretty much saved herself for her high school sweetheart and it worked out for her. Not so much for me and Rufford.
Kee: You’re right. I’m not. But Pink says it’ll help. Get over someone by getting under someone.
Me: I’ve been on dates. Gotten under someone too. Don’t worry.
Kee: I hope you’re being careful though! I haven’t worked much lately and recently gotten into documentaries about dating apps and some of these men are spreading diseases. Birth control and freaking wrap it up, Olive.
I winced at her lecture text because I’d let Dimitri have me without a condom.
Kee: How is your birth control by the way? Still getting migraines on that pill?
Me: Yeah, I think it’s mostly stress though.
