Chapter Text
Robbie Williams wailed about something inane at an ear-shattering volume from the music express, and the scent of cotton candy made the corner of her mouth twitch.
He must despise living here right now, she thought. Even more than usual. A teenage boy bumped into her, and copped a feel of her ass.
“Sorry ‘bout that, love,” he said.
“No worries,” she said.
His companion gave him a sour look, and they moved on without another word. She shivered in the cold wind blowing in from the bay, and kept her eyes to the ground. She didn’t want to be noticed.
She rubbed her palms along the top of it, and stared into the darkness beyond. The line of cottages was far enough from the carnival that the smells were different - the scent of actual food drifted in from the homes instead of popcorn and fried things.
He said he was very busy, and that it was best that she find something to do. He was adamant. But she was tired of it. For over five weeks now, he told her the same thing. He would come over after school for a quick fondle since her flat was close to the station. Then, they talked for hours afterward. It was all well and good, but when she suggested acting like an actual couple in other ways, he was skittish.
She stared down at the rusty gate and sighed. It was a strange old thing, since it stood alone. There was no solid fencing on either side of it to keep outsiders from just slinging their legs over and walking in. Now, the Spice Girls moaned about two becoming one. At a distance, the melody was haunting. She bit her lip.
They met during the murder case, when he was making the rounds asking questions at the secondary school. She taught sixth-year chemistry, and he met with her more than once, despite the fact that she didn’t know anything. When he asked her out for a drink, she didn't hesitate. Maybe that was her problem. It was too easy, and now she was no more than an afterthought. She hunched over and moved the gate. The rusty hinges squealed enough to make her jump.
Maybe she should go home, like he wanted. Sit and wait for him to make up his mind.
She sniffed, and bitter saliva flooded her mouth. After a failed marriage, she’d had more than enough of that for a lifetime. She yanked the gate open and walked resolutely to his cottage in front of the water. It was brightly lit, and he hunched over a cluttered table at the back, with a cuppa beside him.
Again, doubt crept up her spine. She took a step back. He was obviously working. She never thought there was another woman involved-
“Come in,” he said, not even turning around to address her. He sounded tired. Or irritated. She couldn’t quite tell with him.
She opened the back door - which was unlocked, of course - and stood in his minuscule front room, hands stuffed in her coat pockets. She looked into the kitchen. There was nothing but an electric kettle and a toaster. The stove glistened with disuse.
“How’d you know it was me?” she said, after a few seconds.
He nodded to the window directly in front of him. “Saw your reflection.”
“Oh,” she said. She sat down on the lumpy sofa and looked around her. Like him, it was well-appointed, but a bit dusty. She looked down at her shoes. Her heels caught on the rag rug in front of the sofa, and she kicked them off.
He sighed. “What are you doing here?” he said.
“I know you said I should find something else to do…”
“Yes, I did,” he said, pointing at his papers. She was irritated by his tone, and her temper flared.
“Why haven’t you ever invited me here?” she said.
“This isn’t my place. The service pays the note,” he said, referring to the local police.
“And?” she said.
“And, as you can see, it’s not really the ideal place to receive guests, casual or otherwise,” he said.
Otherwise, she though. It was a good sign.
She stared at his pile of papers. “You know, I get most of my grading done at the school,” she said. “Bringing your work home with you only causes unnecessary stress.”
Again, he stared at her with his fathomless eyes. “You feel untended, don’t you?” he said. He wasn’t one to mince words. And, in his case, it wasn’t the first time a woman had given him that complaint.
“I’m not some silly young broad. You don’t need to go to the shops with me when I’m picking out shoes,” she said defensively.
“I never said that,” he said. He closed the blue folder he was working in and turned to her.
“You come to mine and … get what you need. But then you leave and act like that’s all there is. We don’t ever do anything but that.”
“That?” he said softly, and rose to pour out his cold tea.
“Yeah. That,” she said, pulling her coat more tightly around her. He stood in front of her and tucked her hair behind her ear.
“I thought it’s what you wanted. That’s why I did it,” he said, with his usual economy. She ripped off her coat and threw it on the sofa.
“For you to come over, tease me ‘till I’m crying, then go? How’s that what I want?”
He tilted his head to look at her. He couldn’t begin to understand women. If he didn’t give them what they wanted, they whinged. If he did, they whinged harder. But he was curious about her. There was something in her character that hinted at steeliness, right where it mattered. Her being there proved it. He couldn’t be absolutely sure, though. She panted, although she didn’t feel explicitly angry. Something made her chest tight. Her bare toes dug into the rag rug.
“I’ve never been dishonest with you,” he said.
“Okay,” she said. “What does that have to do with what we’re talking about?”
“I told you to give me some time,” he said. “But you’re here.”
“Because I’m confused,” she said. Her voice rose. “I couldn’t endure sitting alone for another night, wondering what we are.” She gesticulated wildly. Again, she didn’t know where her passion came from, but it was on the surface now.
“We’re friends,” he said, not matching her volume. He walked into the kitchen to make himself a fresh cuppa. He waved an empty mug at her. “Want one?”
“Okay. Fine. Friends,” she said. She wasn’t as stung by the revelation as she was by his tone. “Got it.” She put her shoes on, grabbed her coat, and yanked the cottage door open.
“Did you want more?” he said softly, just as she was walking out. He didn't meant to be cruel - it was a real question. She froze. The breeze carried Britney whisper-singing about being a slave.
She closed the door and walked into the kitchen. He was pouring milk into his cup. As she watched, her poured a finger of vodka into another cup, and handed it to her. She drank it, savoring its syrupy coldness.
“I keep a bottle in my freezer too,” she said as it burned its way into her stomach.
“That’s why I did it,” he said, and blew into his hot tea. “I don’t like hard liquor much myself.” He poured another finger into the mug and handed it to her. She drank it down and wiped her lips.
He was watching. Still, she felt petty.
“I’m not an alcoholic or anything,” she said, putting the cup in the sink.
“Did I say you were?” he said. He loosened his tie. Her eyes traveled down his body, stopping at his hips, and moving down to his feet. He still wore his work shoes. It was strangely formal for such an informal place. The liquor worked its way into her blood quickly, since she hadn’t eaten. She stared longingly at his hips again.
“What did you mean earlier?” she said. He didn’t shy away from her gaze. He put his hands in his pockets and crossed his ankles.
“About you wanting more?” he said. He played with something in his pocket.
“Yes. More what?” she said.
“More of me, I suppose,” he said. He sipped the milky tea slowly, looking at her over the lip of the cup. She looked down at her own feet, then kicked her shoes off again. They bumped up against the cabinet. “Again, I thought we were doing exactly what you wanted. You seemed to be enjoying it well enough.”
“I do … enjoy it,” she said. “You’re amazing.”
“I can make it last longer,” he said. “I can stretch it out for days, if you like.”
Her pussy contracted at the thought, but also at his casual delivery. Stretch it out for days. Damn it to hell.
“Um … wow,” she said. “It’s not that I don’t love it. But, what about you?”
“What about me?” he said, in his maddeningly soft voice. She leaned into him and cupped him over his pants. He twitched underneath her hand.
“Don’t you need tending too?” she said.
He gave her a ghost of a grin, gently moved her hand, and walked back into the front room. He leaned against the small table by the door and kicked off his shoes.
“You’ve been climaxing, haven’t you?” he asked as he unbuttoned his sleeves and rolled them up.
She threw her coat on the sofa again. “Yes. Multiple times. You ... make sure,” she said. The last three words caught in her throat. God, he did. Every single time he came to her little flat, when he left, her sheets were soaked.
“Haven’t I made you tremble, and moan, and beg?” he said. Her eyes widened. Sweat trickled down the valley of her back.
“Yes,” she said.
He unbuttoned his collar and rubbed his bristly neck. The gesture was unconscious, yet intensely seductive.
“You said, and I quote:’You better be careful, or I might just become addicted to your mouth.’”
She was confused. “I did.”
“Ah.”
“We haven’t … you haven’t wanted to-” she breathed deeply.”Do you like … me?” She wanted to stomp her foot for making her use that schoolgirl tone with him. But she needed to know.
“You’re a lovely, kind, intelligent, incredibly sensual woman. Of course I do.”
“Then why haven’t we … um …” she waved at her middle.
“Use your words,” he said firmly. He crossed his arms over his chest.
“We haven’t made love since the first few times at my place. Do you not like what I do?”
“You’re delicious,” he said.
“Then why don’t we do it anymore?”
He sighed. “I think maybe you should go. We can talk about this more tomorrow afternoon, at yours.”
“You know we won’t talk,” she said, looking down at the floor.
“Won’t we?” he said.
“No,” she said softly. He wrapped his arm around her waist and cupped her chin.
“Why?”
His solid warmth against her made her want to cry. “Because I want you, and your eyes when I open my door …” she swallowed hard. “I can’t resist. I’ll take what I can get, as long as you give it to me.” Fuck.
“I look at you like that because of how beautifully you look at me,” he said, tipping her chin up to meet his gaze. His tea-scented breath was soft on her face. “What did you mean by ‘I’ll take what I can get?’”
“I want you,” she said, and clung to his hips. “I want you to take me. Have me. Not only make me wet, but wring me out.”
His eyebrow rose, and there was a subtle change in his gaze.
“Wring you out?” he said lightly.
She blushed and looked away. “I’m not that good with words,” she said. “I dunno.”
He tipped her face back up. “Yes you do. Tell me.” He canted his hips forward, and she felt him against her belly. She spread her legs to let him slide his thigh between hers. Her skirt rode up to her hips, and he slowly walked her against the door.
“I can’t be sure, but sometimes, I get glimpses of something in you-” she started, but he moved so that her cunt ground against his thigh. She moaned.
“I can feel you. You’re already throbbing,” he said softly in her ear, then licked it. She clung to the back of his shirt. He wasn’t wrong. She looked up at him, and his belly tightened. She was so beautiful. Her hungry, curious eyes most of all. She opened wider, and lifted her leg for a better fit. His hand went up her deliciously bare thigh and squeezed. She squeezed back, grinding higher.“Glimpses of what?” he said.
She shook her head.
“Speak, or I’ll stop,” he said.
“No!” she said. She clung to his hips. “You’re not-” she groaned as he licked behind her ear, then grazed his teeth on her neck. “You don’t seem to want things like other men want them.” Her head bumped against the glass, making the frame click.
“Oh aye?” he said. His fingers slid into her panties and squeezed her ass. “How?” He was fully erect against her belly. She tried to unbuckle his belt, but as ever, he slapped her hand away. She grunted. He stopped and gave her a meaningful look. She licked his lips and moved her hands to his ass.
“You’re not as … desperate to fuck,” she said. She moved her hips with his, and the friction made her shiver.
“I’m not?” he said, and pressed his cock painfully into her hip. His hand played in her hair. “You speak of men. But what of you?” Again, she tried to touch him over his pants, but he moved her hand away. She pouted. “You don’t touch until I say you can,” he said.
“But why can’t I?” she said, bucking against him. He stopped moving.
“Because it’s my cock,” he said sharply. She pouted, although he obviously made sense. It is his cock. But she wanted it. In her mouth, in her cunt, in her ear-anywhere he wanted to put it.
“I’m sorry,” she said. Her cheeks burned. He hadn’t softened a bit against her. In fact, he felt harder. He guided her into grinding her cunt high on his thigh. She couldn’t think clearly. “Kiss me.”
He licked her lips like she had licked his, but he didn’t kiss. She wrapped her arm around his neck and followed his maddening rhythm. Her lips trembled, and he rubbed his lower lip on them. She yipped and sucked it into her mouth, and he let her. His fingers dug almost painfully into her ass.
“Does it feel nice?” he said into her mouth.
She made a sound and nodded.
“Unbutton your blouse. Show me your tits,” he said. His fingers caressed now. She leaned back and unbuttoned slowly for his gaze. Her nipples poked through the soft cups of her bra. His eyes went hungry.
“Uhuh,” she said, and lowered the cup to expose her hard nipples. She tugged them, and the sensation made her thighs tighten around his hips.
“Don’t stop if it feels good,” he said.
She pinched them between her index and middle finger.
“That’s so pretty,” he said breathlessly, and ground against her quicker. “Suck your fingers wet and tease.”
She smiled, then slid her middle and index fingers in her mouth. She sucked slowly, sliding them in and out.
“Fuck,” he said, and bit his lip. “That mouth.”
She licked her fingertips and teased her nipples with them, making her skin glisten.
“You like it?” she said. He caressed closer to her cleft, but his steady rhythm didn’t stop. Her clit pulsed against his thigh.
“It’s beautiful. You’re beautiful,” he said, and pulled her panties aside. She stopped grinding.
“You’ll ruin your trousers,” she said.
“Don’t act like you give a damn,” he said, and his fingers slid down to her cunt and massaged. She groaned and licked her lips. They were against the cottage door. Anyone passing on a boat could see them. Anyone passing, in general. “You want to ruin them. Admit it.” When he leaned into her, his fingers went deeper, then stilled.
“Yes,” she said.
“That’s my naughty girl,” he said. He used the language before, and she was surprised how much it inflamed her. His voice was never harsh, never proud. But the things that came out of his mouth - at least, when it wasn’t occupied - kept her fingers busy on nights when he wasn’t around. “Keep moving,” he said. When she ground against him, one movement made his fingers slide inside her, the other dragged her swollen clit against his thigh.
She sucked her other two fingers, flicking and swirling her tongue on them for his eyes, then tugged her nipples. His rhythm quickened again. Her lips pursed with longing.
“What is it?” he whispered. He tickled her hole with his other hand.
“You want my mouth,” she said. “I can tell.”
He slid one pussywet finger inside her ass. She arched and grabbed his hips, grinding more desperately. Her clit was on fire.
“If I told you this was all you were getting tonight, for defying my request-” She groaned and hugged him. “-could you come for me, just like this?”
“I’m … sorry,” she said. His finger slid deeper in her ass, and was joined by another one. Her body was molded to his, and she clung to him. He smelled so good. Like living, breathing masculinity. And his body. Damn it, she wanted to feel its weight shake her bones. He wasn’t small. Not light. Just slim. But his power made her breathless. She bucked and rolled her hips against him without shame.
“Could you, baby?” he said softly.
Her keening moan made him want to have her fully against the door, but he didn’t want to ruin the moment. He knew he couldn’t be impatient. He learned from experience that he needed to vet and prepare a woman for his kind of passion. And, not all of them were cut out for it. He had tested her for the last four months, and she passed every challenge. She spoke of him not wanting things like other men want them, and it was true. But, to his deepest pleasure, he saw that she was more similar to him than he thought. And it made him tremble with excitement with the pleasures that lay in store for them both.
“Ungh…” she was reduced to noises as she rubbed against him, eager for release. She soaked through his pants completely, and her scent, perfume and sea and sweat, made his cock pulse dangerously. She had no idea how many times he had climaxed when his mouth was between her thighs, completely drunk on her surrender. He was starved for her. He bit her neck. It wasn’t hard, but he held her soft flesh in his teeth for a few seconds, knowing it would be an ache that bloomed into pain. She gasped, and stopped. He let go. She pulled his shirt out of his pants to caress his bare back.
“Don’t stop,” she said softly.
He searched her gaze. She dug her fingers into his bare back. Hard. Steady, knowing it would have the same effect. He sighed.
“If you don’t want to, don’t stop,” she said. She turned her head to expose the other side of her neck. “Take what you need from me.”
He gasped. He navigated suspicious personals, seedy fetish sites, and sticky-sour bars for the last 20 years before and after his marriage to find a sympathetic soul. But no one - not one woman - had ever said those words to him. They might’ve said to take what he wanted, when it fulfilled their own fantasies. But never, ever, what he needed almost as much as nourishment. Natural, eager, open-hearted submission.
“Then, come for me,” he said, guiding her hips with his hands. She hid her face in his chest and ground, whimpering with frustration.
“I don’t think I can,” she said, but instead of irritation, her voice was sad. She couldn’t do what he wanted, and it distressed her. He moaned softly in her ear, then bit the same tender spot he bit before. She shivered, and fresh wetness spread on his thigh.
“Sweet girl,” he whispered, and sucked at her bruise. She moaned, and her pace quickened. She was hot, everywhere.
“Sweet,” she said, and her grip on his hips tightened.
“Yes,” he said, and bit firmly, right underneath where he bit before. His hands traveled up her sides to her bare breasts and squeezed. She grunted and bucked against him.
“You’re so eager you’d come on my thigh, just like this,” he said, and pinched her nipples painfully. She bit her lower lip and focused. She wanted to please him.
“Concentrate,” he said, and unbuttoned his pants and pulled himself out of his underwear. “I can feel how swollen and needy your clit is-”
She let out a long moan and grabbed his ass with both hands. He licked her lips, and she opened her mouth to him.
“-you’re almost as wet as you are when I’m swirling my tongue in your sweet cunt-”
“Suck,” she said between gritted teeth. He ghosted his lips on hers.
“Suck what?” he said.
“Me,” she said. She came complaining about the their long frustrating afternoons, but now she wanted to make a night of it.
“Here, against the door?” he said. She was so far gone she didn’t notice his naked cock rubbing against her belly.
“I don’t care,” she said. “I want you.”
“You don’t tell me to suck, little one,” he said. She opened her eyes and stared at him.
“Okay,” she said. Technically, she never had to, since he always volunteered. But when she wanted to take him in her mouth, it was always time to leave. She finally felt him against her, and let out a strangled cry. When she tried to touch, he shook his head. “I won’t. May I suck you?”
Again, she slayed him with her choice of words. May, instead of want, or can.
“First, you must come for me,” he said.
She pouted. “I think it’s the angle,” she said, and looked down at his cock again.
“I’ll be nice,” he said, and sat on the sofa. She blushed redder when she saw how wet his trousers were. Her pencil skirt was a wrinkled mess on her hips, and her panties were pushed aside to expose her swollen, rose cunt. His cock twitched. She moaned.
He patted his lap. “Come. Sit, baby.” She obeyed quickly, and scooted until her pussylips spread on his upper thigh. His cock throbbed against her slick inner thigh, but she focused on his eyes. “Better?”
She nodded.
“Move for me,” he said. She wrapped her arms around his neck and concentrated on the sensation. He was hard. Her thigh, firm and slippery, rubbed against the underside of his cock as she ground against him. She felt the far away tingling that signalled orgasm and opened wider. He caressed her as her whole body bucked on him. She was so sweet with her eyes tightly shut, chasing after sensation. He knew where she was, and what she wanted.
“That’s right. Grind your soft, wet pussy on me,” he said, in the gentle voice that made her shiver.
“Yes,” she said. Her beautiful breasts jiggled with her eagerness, and his balls tightened with desire. “Feel me.”
He bent to suck her nipple, and she cried out. He sucked and tugged at the same time. She grabbed twin handfuls of shirt at his back. She was close. He kissed his way back up to her neck.
“You wanna feel me?” he said.
“Please,” she said.
“Where?” he said.
“Anywhere,” she said. It was the right answer.
He grabbed her ass and shifted so his cock slid easily between her swollen folds. She stiffened as if hit by a bolt of electricity.
“God, please,” she said, and wrapped herself around him tightly.
“Only grinding, little one,” he said, but his brow furrowed with sensation. “If you try anything, we stop.”
“Yes,” she said, nodding. She buried her hands in his hair and started a slow, deep grind. Every inch of him was sucked and kissed by her pussy. When her clit caught on the crown of his cock, he hissed, but pressed her closer. She played with it, then continued her teasing. “Like that?”
He breathed deep through his nose. “Don’t stop.”
She tucked her face in his neck. “I love the way you feel on me,” she said.
“Yeah?” he said. He wanted to bury himself in her cunt and pound into her until she cried. Her softness tempted his steel. His grip on her ass tightened to pain. She just moved even more deliciously.
“You want it inside you?” he said. He squeezed hard, then slapped. She groaned into him.
“I want to please you,” she said, and licked the sweat off his skin.
She wants to please. Come started to move up his shaft. He felt it, slow as ice-cold vodka, but if she kept doing what she was doing, it would burst out of him hard and plentiful, on her sweet twitching pussy.
“Then grind it like you want it,” he said. She hugged him tighter and settled into a steady movement that stimulated him from his balls to his crown. His toes curled on the rag rug. She was so good. It was so good, and he could feel her - her hungry cunt - with every thrust of her hips.
“I want to feel you come,” she said into his skin. “It’s been so long, baby. I need it-” Their friction sounded obscene, wet and sucking and desperate.
“Come for me,” he said again. He needed it more than her. She reached between them and stroked as she ground, pressing the crown of his cock against her clit. He was so overcome he didn’t think to tell her to stop. She looked down at them, at his pussyslick cock and herself, so swollen her lips nearly made him disappear, and licked her lips. She was completely in the moment. She pressed her finger on his peeslit, watched it seep fresh precum, then sucked it as she threw her head back and rubbed him against herself. She leaned back so he could see the head of his cock nudge her clit rhythmically.
“Come, like this?” she said. Her swollen flesh swirled on his frenulum, and he was so close he could taste it.
“Yes,” he said. She closed her eyes again and moved with purpose, rubbing the crown of his cock between her clit and her opening. He pinched her nipples, then caressed her thighs.
“I’m almost-” she took a deep breath through her nose.”I’m there god I’m gonna-” she cried out and pressed his cock against her twitching opening, rubbing, teasing as her orgasm dripped down his shaft. He shifted so his cock popped out of her grip and slid two fingers deep inside her. Her curled them and began milking her, expertly, as she grabbed at him. She was still orgasm-tight but she opened up to him quick. She rode his hand shamelessly, sinking her teeth into his shoulder.
“Gimme another one, little one,” he said, as his fingers moved quickly inside her as his thumb rubbed her clit. “Let me see how pretty you come.”
“Yes yes yes,” she said, and raised her head to meet his gaze. She was so open, so ready. “I feel it-” She tightened around his fingers again and bucked with another orgasm.
“My turn. On your knees.”
She obeyed without a word and settled between his legs.
“You already know what I want, hmm?” he said and caressed the hair from her face.
“I know what I want,” she said, smiling slow. “Tell me what you want.”
Clever girl. He squeezed his cock at the base, and pearly precum dripped down his shaft. “I’m on the knife’s edge, baby.” He sucked his pussywet fingers clean and closed his eyes as her musk went to his brain. It was all he needed. "Lick me clean. See how good you taste.”
She started at his balls and licked up to his crown. Her own musk made her mouth water. She wondered whether its strength was commensurate to her desire. He pressed himself onto her lips. She opened her mouth to receive him.
“Soft, short licks. No sucking yet,” he said. She nodded and licked the tip of his cock even more shiny. He gasped and bucked. “There, little one. Lick me there.” The last word turned to a long groan as she obeyed and swirled her tongue from his peeslit down to his frenulum and back. She closed her eyes and smiled. His thighs trembled, and his balls tightened dangerously. She moaned and licked slow. This is what it felt like on their lazy evenings when he spent an hour between her legs. He licked her just as teasingly, just as slow. His precum was a different musk, and she licked her lips wet and kissed the tip of his cock, slowly, over and over while stroking his shaft until his thighs tightened around her ribs.
He threw his head back and whimpered, and his hands went to her cheeks to guide her. He thrust past her lips and to her throat. She cupped his balls, then massaged as he made love to her mouth, moaning endearments.
“Little one, your mouth is almost hot as your pussy- so delicious so soft -”
His hips rolled into her face until her nose was pressed into his silky pubic hair. Her pussy throbbed for him, despite her orgasms. She needed him inside her, whispering and moaning like that. Fresh wetness dripped from her slit and stuck to her thighs. His hands went in her hair.
“Sweet baby suck my cock just like that - take all of it in your mouth - oh I can feel you want it - suck the love outta me - i’m gonna fill your mouth with it-"
She moaned into him at the last utterance, and nodded into his flesh. God, she wanted him. Her mouth watered so profusely it dripped down his shaft. She wanted all of it. All of him.
“You want it?” he said between sighs. She sucked harder, stroking him firmly. “You do.” He was so deliciously ready she saw his nipples poking through his dress shirt. She rubbed his chest and moaned into him. “Oh damn it, sweetie. That’s it - suck and stroke - suck and-”
He arched, and the first spurt of come hit her soft palate. He thrust into her mouth with sweet little grunts that got deeper as he filled it. She was so eager he had to gently move her head so she’d stop sucking. She sat on her haunches and stared up at him with gratitude and adoration.
He stroked his still half-hard cock. “Are you satisfied now, baby?” She put her hands on her knees in a position she didn’t even realize was beautiful to him. She licked her comesticky lips.
“About as much as you,” she said, staring at him.
“You’re greedy,” he said, but he smiled. It was a clever response, and very true.
“I just want all of you, Hardy,” she said. “I don’t want you to be afraid to show me. If it’s anywhere near as beautiful as what you’ve already shared…” she lay her head on his knee, and caressed him.
“Then, what?” he said, caressing her cheek.
“Then, I can’t wait to know you,” she said, and kissed his hand. “I’m sorry I came here when you asked me not to.”
“It wasn’t a demand,” he said. “I wondered when you’d finally come looking for me.”
“Is it an ego thing?” she said.
“Maybe. But not only women like to be pursued,” he said. “It’s nice to know when someone wants me enough to step out of their comfort zone to seek me out.”
“You’re barely a mile away from mine. It’s hardly out of my comfort-” she said, but something in his eyes silenced her. She wasn’t a fool. Not after these four months. Definitely not after tonight.
“Exactly how far?” she said, raising her head.
“I don’t know,” he said. “It depends on you.”
“It does,” she said, nodding. She was secretly relieved the encounter had finally opened him up to speak frankly about what she felt about him. “But also on you.”
“Really?” he said. It wasn’t disbelief. It was him needing reassurance.
“If you’re ready to share, I’m ready to listen,” she said. “And learn. I’m not completely ignorant of such things.”
He smiled. "That's good to hear, Pru. Really good."