you get so fucked up?” She chuckled. “You don’t have the stereotypical messed up family. You’re not living in poverty. The only thing left is some woman broke your heart and now you want revenge.”
“Nah, that’s not it, either.”
“Never had your heart broken?”
“Maybe. Maybe not. I’m just telling you that’s not why I am the way I am. I doubt there’s one solid reason. One incident that made me the man that I am today. It doesn’t work that way, ya know? At least not for most of us in this world.” He shrugged. “I just like what I like. My sexual proclivities have nothing to do with trauma.”
“But we all have trauma. You said so yourself.”
“We do. Without trauma, we wouldn’t understand the gift of normalcy. That’s just the problem though, I hate everything normal. I don’t do normal. I like enigmas, puzzles, challenges, natural disasters… like me. Like you. So either this shit is going to work perfectly between us, or it’ll be a cataclysm, leaving neither of us unscathed. Your comebacks are too funny and witty, your audacity hilarious, your smile too fuckin’ pretty, and your pussy too primo for me to turn you loose. I’m invested. I have to keep you on a short leash.” She inhaled deeply as he wrapped a hand around her neck and squeezed. When he let go, she surrendered… How sweet it was. “I have to win you over. By any means necessary.”
“Like another black belt. Challenge accepted, right?”
She glided away from him, giving him a moment… or perhaps the space was for her? She felt her lungs caught in a vise, her breath cut off, her heart beating so damn fast. This wasn’t bullshit. This wasn’t filler or space to fill. A void. This was real shit. A conversation to be had. Sharing. An even exchange. She walked back over to the desk and paused, seeing that the binder was still open. She closed it and placed it back where it was. As she did so, she could hear him approaching, but didn’t look up. He made his way past her, walking in his usual commanding way. She chased him with her eyes as he pulled out a drawer, found a gold lighter, and lit a fat cigar.
“Do you still do it?”
“Do what?”
“Judo?”
“Yeah, but it’s been a while. I work out in the mornings practically every day here at home. Used to prefer public gyms but it’s more comfortable taking care of it here now.” He pointed to a small area of the bedroom that she’d mistaken as a closet. The door was slightly ajar, and inside, she spotted a selection of exercise equipment.
“I remember you telling me you like to work out.” She scanned his form. “It shows. You know what’s strange to me, though?”
“What?”
“You smoke, but care about your body and health. You’re a walking contradiction.” She picked up the blanket from the floor and wrapped it around her body.
“Aren’t we all?” He shrugged as he blew out puffs of smoke.
She plopped down on the chair, rolling over his question in her mind.
“Yes. I agree with that.” She waved her hand in the direction of the cigar and he grinned. Walking to her, he handed it over and she took a draw then returned it to him. He stared down at her. They exhaled at the same time, the smoke they emitted rising and merging, becoming one. After a while, he rested the cigar in an ashtray on the nightstand and flopped down onto the bed.
“Come here. Get your sexy ass in this damn bed with me.”
She stood and did just that. He picked up a remote and clicked a button. The window opened, and the outside world came in. He then pointed the same remote towards the wall, pushed a different button, and just like in the living room, a fireplace appeared. Beautiful. Once she was beside him, he gently nudged her aside, yanked the sheets back, and allowed her more room to draw closer. They looked at one another, lying on their sides. Gliding a finger along her jawbone, he imprinted her lips with a soft, sweet kiss. The sounds of traffic and a nice breeze began to fill the room as he kissed her again, in the same gentle way. She sighed, shaking in his grip as he hooked his hand around the back of her head and slid his tongue into her mouth.
His need and desire poured out, refuting his easygoing attitude just moments