“I think maybe I should go,” Rose says quietly. My body goes cold for a moment. It’s late. Very fucking late. And a part of me was looking forward to having her available to me in the morning.
“Do you want to leave?” I ask her as I walk slowly to the bed and stand next to her. She looks at the bra in her hand and doesn’t respond. I cup her chin in my hand and force her to look at me. “Or do you think I want you to go?”
Her lips part slightly, and her eyes tell me everything I need to know.
“I want you to stay,” I whisper against her lips and then kiss her gently. “I want you here naked in my bed, and I want you to use me for your needs. And I want to do the same to you.” It’s the truth. Every word.
She blushes and gives me a soft smile, pulling out of my hold. “Well, I wasn’t sure how needy you were,” she says playfully. It brings a smile to my lips.
She looks good in my bed, but this is an exception. The reminder makes me question if I should bring that detail up now. I imagine it won’t go over well. This… relationship needs to stay at the office. We can’t get close, this is just sex, and limiting the arrangement is the best way to ensure it doesn’t get out of hand.
As I climb into bed and debate on telling her just that, she beats me to it.
“Don’t expect me to be at your beck and call. I don’t think sleepovers are the best thing for this…” She doesn’t finish her statement, and I simply nod as she motions between us.
Although I was going to tell her the same damn thing, I don’t like hearing it. And I sure as fuck don’t like that she said it first.
I should be happy about it. But I’m not. And that could be a problem.
Chapter 21
Charlotte
What the hell have I gotten myself into?
I look out the window of Logan’s stretch limo as it rolls through the downtown streets back to my apartment, thinking about the night before and trying not to bite my fingernails. The whole morning I’ve been struggling with the feeling of regret. For having an affair with my boss. It sounds stupid for even thinking of it that way, but it’s his power of authority over me that makes this so uncomfortable.
Our little tryst was definitely mutually beneficial. I’m just not sure if it’s a mistake.
At least I get to drive home in luxury. Although it’s one of the reasons I feel cheapened. I can’t even make eye contact with the driver. I’m sure he’s not thinking the best things of me right now.
I need to make a choice. Either accept this lifestyle and our arrangements, or cut it off. I swallow the lump in my throat. The lines are drawn and I have a better understanding of everything. But I’m still unsure. It won’t be just sex for me. I can’t imagine this ending well.
My eyes meet the driver’s as we slow in front of my apartment.
“Here we are Miss Harrison,” he says easily.
I give him a warm smile and say, “Thank you.” I wish I could remember his name, but I don’t. I climb out and wince. I’m sore and aching, all thanks to Logan. My smile grows. It’s a good feeling, being deliciously used. I shut the door and give the driver a polite wave.
As I walk up to my apartment, I slowly feel better. I think it was just the drive maybe? The idea that it was a walk of shame of sorts. But being back here and knowing it was my choice makes me feel more at ease with the decision. The keys clink in my hands as I unlock the door.
I freeze when I open the door, nearly passing out onto the floor.
Ian and Sarah are sitting on the living room couch, practically making out. Sarah, who’s dressed in the skankiest outfit I’ve ever seen, has her hands on Ian’s crotch, rubbing it like it’s a pot of gold and Ian is running his hands all over her body.
What the fuck?
They stop when they see me standing in the doorway, glaring at them with a mix of hatred and shock. My gut reaction is to scream at them and tell them to get the fuck out, but I know better. Ian isn’t going anywhere, especially with Sarah here, and he’s more liable to throw me out than to sit there and listen to me badmouth him.
“Do you mind?” Sarah snaps nastily, her hand still on Ian’s crotch. Tears prick my eyes. She was my friend for so long. My grip on the doorknob tightens as Ian grins at Sarah, kissing her on the forehead as if she’s done a good job snapping at me.
I grit my teeth and then bite my tongue, chanting internally to myself to stay calm, cool and collected. Ignore the pain and be the bigger person. I need to call the fucking landlord again, too. I swear to God if he put his name on the lease at some point when we were together I’ll loose it, but I can’t imagine there’s any other reason that he’d be in here right now.
Fuck this. I don’t have time for this. I need to get to work.