Library
Home / Steamy Ever After / Chapter 12

Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

JANE

" W hat are you watching?"

"One of those ghost hunter shows," Joe replies, his long body spread out on my couch.

The sun lights up the living room and little flecks of dust float through the air, but all I can stare at is the way the sunshine brings out hints of copper and gold in his eyes.

"Fun," I say, feigning interest, and drop the laundry basket at my feet. "Have they found any proof or just your run-of-the-mill floorboards creaking?"

"They heard a doll say something, but other than that, it's a bunch of nothing."

He stretches, folding an arm behind his head. The sleeve of his dark gray T-shirt strangles his bicep, the cursive writing of his tattoo peeking out enough to entice. I turn my attention back to the laundry and start folding.

We haven't spoken about last night and the lump lodged in my throat has gotten as big as the elephant sitting in the corner of the room. A sheen of sweat forms on the back of my neck, which I blame on the warm towels and not because the sight of Joe makes my insides melt.

"Joe?" My voice cracks.

"Yeah, hun'," he replies, keeping his attention on the show.

The lump in my throat gets bigger. The casual way he throws that nickname around blurs the line between him as a roommate and him as more.

"Are we going to talk about last night?"

"What do we need to talk about?"

I purse my lips. "Well, something major happened… and almost happened."

I'm still annoyed that Gaby interrupted Joe and me last night, but she was beside herself. I'm glad we talked it out, but super irritated because she texted me this morning to inform me and she and Zach were back together. So, she made me miss out on what would have likely been spectacular sex for nothing.

Joe remains silent, so I go on. "And we said we'd take a rain check, so I figured we should?—"

"Actually, you said rain check. Not me."

My chin drops into my chest. "Oh, right. That's true, I guess."

Amused, he smiles, then glances over his shoulder, one eyebrow lifted. "Janey? Do you want to ask me something?"

I shrug, avoiding his heated stare. "I thought that maybe we would… Do you still want to sleep with me, Joe?"

"I thought you wanted me to fuck you," he replies dryly.

"Ha-Ha. I guess you have no interest in doing it anymore," I state.

"Did I say that?"

"No, but you're not saying anything."

"Jane, I would gladly sleep with you. Or fuck you. Or eat that pretty little pussy. Name the time and place."

"You know what? Forget I brought it up."

"If you say so." He turns back to the show, dropping his hands onto his flat stomach.

Without his warm honey gaze on me, I have no trouble finding my words. "I thought what we were doing was…"

"Was what? What exactly were we doing?"

"I think you know what I'm saying."

He mutes the TV and rolls onto his stomach, looking up at me through his thick lashes. "No, really, Jane. I don't have any idea."

I understand what he's doing and tilt my head, then give in. "All right. Since you're going to make me come right out and say it. I thought we were starting something… some sort of… sexual relationship?"

An intense grimace fills his face. "Please. Let's not call it that."

"Then what do you want to call it?" I ask, trying not to sound too hurt.

After giving it some thought, he answers. "Boinking?"

Ignoring his hearty chuckle and the obvious attempt at making me more uncomfortable, I roll my eyes. "Technically, we haven't. So, we can't call it that."

"Again, Jane, name the place and time. I'll be there. If that's what you want."

The heat in my cheeks is unavoidable, so I rifle through the basket for the biggest towel I can find and hide myself behind it while I fold.

"And if we were to, you know, start some sort of… thing. How would that work?"

"Sort of like last night, I guess. We get an itch. We scratch it."

My lips curl in disgust. "Do lines like that usually work?"

"I don't usually have to use lines," he replies with a wink.

"Gross."

He sits up and looks me straight in the eyes, his brow dipped. "Honey, I had fun last night. Did you?"

Fire consumes my face and body. I clear my throat. "I think you know the answer to that."

"So, then, if you want to do it again, I'm down. We're just two people having sex. Nothing more."

"Nothing more?" The lump seems to move up my throat.

He shakes his head. "Nothing more."

"Okay. Thanks."

I'm not sure why I thank him and dart my eyes away. I hear him chuckle and return to his show.

"But, Joe? While we're doing what we're doing… Can you not hook up with anyone else?"

"Obviously. That's a no-brainer." His tone is grave, as if I insulted him. "Do you seriously think I'd keep sleeping with other women while you and I are?"

"Why wouldn't you? We're not exclusive."

"Jane, come on. I wouldn't dare." He looks at me over his shoulder. "But you have to promise me the same thing."

A snort-laugh bursts from my mouth and I shake my head. "Oh, no worries there. As if there would be others."

His exasperated sigh fills the space between us. The severity in his expression doesn't falter, and his searing gaze sinks into mine. "One day, Janey, maybe you'll see what everyone else does."

Confused, I frown. "And what does everyone else see?"

Without answering, he rolls his eyes with a chuckle, unmuting the television.

Dumbfounded, I stay silent and line up the edges of the towel, trying to stop wondering what Joe sees in me and why I can't see it in myself?

Comments

0 Comments
Best Newest

Contents
Settings
  • T
  • T
  • T
  • T
Font

Welcome to FullEpub

Create or log into your account to access terrific novels and protect your data

Don’t Have an account?
Click above to create an account.

lf you continue, you are agreeing to the
Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy.