Page 33

A dinner meeting. I wonder if that’s true or if it’s really a date with someone.

“All right. I just finished dinner, so I’m just going to watch some television.”

“Sounds good.” He pauses. “I love you. You know that, right?”

So much power there in those words. Yes, those words are true. But the weight behind them has crumbled to dust beneath us. These words are admission. Omission.

I do the same in return. “Yes,” I say. “And I love you, too.”

I probably always will. Just not the way I did.

Four hours ‘til midnight when I can call Storm and learn about this bunny device. I can’t understand the significance of the bunny ears. What does it mean? Quick like a bunny? Energizer Bunny? Maybe it’s just there to be cute.

I debate calling Amy to ask her what this thing is. Maybe taking a picture of it and texting it over to her. I decide not to, as this might be some kind of cute personal thing that Storm is attempting to do, and I don’t want to bring Amy into it if it is. I will just have to wait and see.

At eleven-thirty, I crawl into bed naked and prop a pillow up behind me so I can sit up, the glow of the television the only light. I open the pink box and pull out the dildo. There is a tiny tube in there with it that I didn’t see before. I squint at it and try to read the label. Silky Slidey lube.

Silky Slidey lube? I’ve never seen or used lubricant before. I pull the cap off and sniff it. It has no smell. I put a dab on my finger and rub my thumb and forefinger together. It is slippery and silky. I kind of want to rub it all over my hands like lotion, but that’s probably not a great idea or its purpose.

I check the box to make sure nothing else is hiding in there. I want to keep the note that came with it. I wonder if Storm wrote this himself or if whoever packed this thing up did. The writing is artistic, like an architect or artist would write. I raise the note to my nose to see if it smells of Storm’s cologne. It doesn’t.

I stare at the long thick vibrator, ignoring the unfortunate little rabbit head and ears stuck to it. This thing is huge, way bigger than Michael is. There is no way I am getting this in me, if that’s what Storm is thinking of.

You. Are. So. Stupid.

At times like this, I am honestly shocked by my own stupidity and naivety. If I were friends with myself, I would be sitting here laughing and shaking my head and asking me what the hell I thought he wanted me to do with it? Of course, he wants me to use this thing. Why else would it come with lube? And direction from him for me to be in bed, naked? Which I am.

I bite my lip as unease sparks and then ignites inside me. It’s two minutes after midnight. I don’t know if I can do this.

I can turn my phone off and just tell him tomorrow I fell asleep. It’s a valid excuse. He is probably tired from being on the road all day, too. He probably would like to just go to bed himself, rather than be messing around with me on the phone.

My ringtone goes off.

Well crap.

I slide my finger across the screen and hold the phone up to my ear.

“It’s twelve ‘o four.”

“I know,” I say like a guilty child.

“You were thinking about not calling, weren’t you?” His voice is accusing yet playful.

I don’t answer.

“Wow, Evie. You’d really do that to me? Just blow me off when you know I’ve been waiting all day to talk to you?”

“No... I’ve been dying to talk to you, too. I just...” I give the vibrator the side-eye.

“The toy made you nervous?”

“Yeah, kind of.”

He lets out a little laugh. “Trust me, Evie. You’re going to love that thing so much that I’m going to have to hide it from you.”

“I really doubt that.”

“Before we get into all that, tell me how your day was.”

“Boring. I hate Monday’s and Jack accused me of being unfocused.”

“Are you? Your mind does tend to wander.”

“Yes. How can I focus on work when you’re sending sex toys to my desk?”

“Well, I didn’t want to send it to your house. I figured your office was safer.”

“Good call,” I admit. “Where are you right now?”

“In a hotel room somewhere in Colorado.”

“Alone?”

“Yes, alone. I told you I wouldn’t be with any women, didn’t I?”

I bite the inside of my cheek. “Yes... I thought maybe one of your brothers shared a room with you.”

“We’re not twelve, Evelyn. We all get our own rooms like big people. Some of the guys have girlfriends or women they bring with them sometimes. Or groupies. That sort of shit.”

I don’t want to think about that. I hope Juggsy has her own room on the other side of the hotel. Or the other side of the continent would be even better.

“Maybe next time you’ll come with me?”

Go on tour with him? With Ashes and Embers? Is he high?

“Storm, I don’t think I could ever do that. I have a job and... I’m just not the groupie type.”

He coughs. “A groupie? You’re not a fuckin’ groupie, Evie. You’d be my girlfriend.”

I play the word over in my head. Again and again and again. My girlfriend.

“We’ll talk about that another time,” he says. “Tonight we have fun. Are you in bed?”

“Yes.”

“Describe your surroundings for me.”

“Um. It’s a room with a bed basically.”

I hear the tell-tale sound of him puffing on his e-cig and blowing the vapor out.

“Baby, let your mind go. Seduce me with words. Like this, I’ll go first. I’m lying in bed with the comforter thrown off to the side.” His voice is low, and he talks slowly, deliberately. Bringing me into his world. “I’m warm thinking about you, and I don’t want anything on top of me. The lights are off, but I have several candles lit, one next to the bed, one on the dresser in front of the mirror, one in the hallway. The room is glowing a soft amber. Right before I called you, I undressed, so I’m naked on the bed. My cock is already hard just thinking about you. I was turned on all fucking day thinking about you with that toy, imagining it in your hands. So much I wanted to jerk off, but I wanted to save it for you so I could hear your voice and your breathing in my ear when I come.”

Whoa. My core quivers and contracts just hearing those words and his sexy voice luring me in.

“I wish I was there.” My own voice is soft with lust, my breathing slightly faster and deeper.

“I do, too, baby. You have no idea. But for now, while we’re apart, I’m going to fuck you with my mind and my words, and you’re going to help me. Okay?”

“Okay... yes.”

I will say yes to anything you want. Just keep making me feel this way. Don’t stop the tingling butterflies.

“Have you ever played with sex toys before?”

“No... Never. I don’t understand the bunny.”

His laugh is sweet. “You are so damn adorable, Evie. I swear you fucking wreck me with your cute weirdness.”

Cute weirdness? No, please not the cute...

“I’m glad you’ve never done this stuff before. I want to be as many firsts for you as possible.”

I take a deep breath. “That’s going to be pretty easy, Storm. Considering, I’ve only slept with one guy, and we basically did nothing. I’ve never even given a blow job.”

I immediately regret saying that. Dammit! He’s going to think I’m a freak and run straight back to Juggsy.

“Wait, what?” He sounds shocked and confused.

“Let’s just forget I said that, okay?”

“No. No fucking way are you back peddling from this one. Are you serious, baby?”

I feel myself shrinking. I am a loser freak.

“Yes, okay? I’m a sexual loser, I know. And we all laughed. Thanks.”

“Evie, I ain’t laughing.” His voice has turned dark, sensually serious. “Do you know how much that turns me on? You’re practically a virgin.”

“Storm...”

“Don’t worry, baby, I’m going to show you everything. I’m going to make every part of you mine.” He pauses like he’s catching his breath. “I can’t wait to touch every inch of you. Fuck. I want to fly back there right now and just get my hands on you. This is killing me.”

“You can’t do that.”

“I know. But I fucking want to so bad. I’m going to teach you how to suck me, and you’re going to completely shatter me with those eyes of yours while you’re doing it. You really have no idea the power you have over me, Evie. It scares the shit out of me.”

My heart lurches at his words, the depth in which he says them.

“I wouldn’t hurt you, Storm. I don’t want any power.”

“That’s good, baby, because I intend on taking it away. Are you naked in bed right now?”

“Yes.”

“Tell me.”

I take a deep, trembling breath. “I have a light comforter over me, up to my waist. I have one of the pillows propped up against the headboard, and I’m leaning against it. The lights are off, but the TV is on. The toy is lying on the bed next to me.”

“I want you to do what I tell you to do, okay? Will you do that for me?”

“Yes.”

“Good girl. I want you to touch yourself, slide your finger over your lips and tell me if you’re wet.”

I slowly follow his direction, transfixed by his voice.

“Yes, I am,” I tell him.

“Pick up the toy and spread the lube over it.”

I do as he says. “This thing is huge,” I whisper.

“Is it bigger than his?”

“Um, yeah. Quite a bit. I don’t think this will fit in me.” I think I need size S.

“It better, because it’s smaller than me.”

Holy shit!