Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 61591 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 246(@250wpm)___ 205(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61591 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 246(@250wpm)___ 205(@300wpm)
To me, that meant he wanted to call it a day, so I nodded. We both said good night and went off in opposite directions.
Since I was feeling grubby, I took a shower before getting dressed in a tank top and pajama pants. Then I stretched out on top of the covers, put on my reading glasses, and opened an ebook on my phone. For the first time since he’d moved in, the cat didn’t join me. Apparently I was on his shit list too, along with Ever.
After reading the same paragraph four times, I placed the phone on my chest and touched my bottom lip. I couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss, and the way we’d both reacted to it. Like the first time, it had ignited instantly, like a match thrown into a pool of gasoline. In a matter of seconds, we both got completely turned on and wanted to rip each other’s clothes off. We probably would have, too, if we hadn’t been at our friends’ house.
It startled me when my phone vibrated on my chest. I picked it up and saw that Ever had sent me a message: You’re probably asleep, but I just keep thinking about that kiss.
I replied: I was doing the same thing.
He started writing something, paused, and began again. Finally, he wrote: Where do we go from here? I don’t think either of us is looking for a relationship, but there’s definitely something between us that needs to be explored.
I was glad I’d talked this through with Vee. It had helped me sort through how I felt about all of this, so it was fairly easy to come up with a game plan. I’d love to get a second chance at our failed hookup. After that, let’s see where we’re at. If we want to give being friends with benefits a try, I’m all for it, but I think we should agree on an end date. Maybe that should be the day you move into your new apartment. At that point, we’ll go back to being friends only, with no hard feelings and no explanations needed.
Ever sent a response right away: I like everything about this, especially the part where we’re going into it with clear expectations. So, when should we get started?
I shifted around, so I was sitting up and leaning against the wall. We can do that right now if you want to. Are you down for a bit of chat to set the mood and then a living room rendezvous, Sven?
He sent a smiley face emoji and the message: Hell yes.
Then he wrote: Side note, I brought up the mail the other day and you had something from the Veterans Administration, addressed to David T. Garcia. When we met online, did you give me your real name instead of a fake one, which was the assignment?
I explained: I did. That may be my actual first name, but I’ve gone by my middle name all my life—except when I was in the Army, because they insisted on using my legal name.
He replied: I assume there’s a reason you chose to go by your middle name.
Long story short, Tracy was the name my mom wanted for me, but my dad tried to override her decision by insisting on David, which is a family name. I went with that when we met online because I figured I might actually respond to it.
Ever’s next text said: I’m glad I know that about you. However, I need to point out we’re failing hard on the sexting front. Hold on, I’ll get us on track.
He texted again with: Hey baby. What are you wearing? That message included the purple devil emoji.
I chuckled at that and told him: Nothing.
Really?
No, of course not. Like I’d be sitting here all buck-ass naked in my room.
Why not? I am.
Now it was my turn to ask: Really?
No.
I grinned as I wrote: We’re still doing a terrible job sexting.
We are! Is it because we’re friends now, so we’ve lost the spark?
No, definitely not. Not if our earlier kiss was to be believed. It hadn’t been missing a damn thing. I sent another text and asked: What made our conversation so hot last time?
He responded: You opened up to me about your biggest fantasy, and it happened to align perfectly with mine. It all came down to giving me control, which is a huge turn-on.
My cock stirred just from the mention of it, but this topic made me self-conscious enough to tell him: I don’t mind going there now. But to be clear, I never, ever want to talk about it outside of this context.
The thought of him casually bringing this up over dinner, or at any other time when I wasn’t expecting it, made me cringe. But he obviously already knew that. He’d never even alluded to it in all the time we’d spent together over the last few weeks.