had no reason to be. I made my voice husky, “Maybe the girls weren’t doing it right.”
“Hey, I’m not saying I didn’t get off. I am a guy, but it wasn’t my preference.”
“Well, I bet if I was there you would have had a better time.”
He dropped his chopstick and actually looked irritated. He didn’t seem shocked or aroused as I’d expected. “Marley, put aside your misguided perceptions for a second and trust me when I say this because I’m being completely honest—I wouldn’t share you with anybody. No matter what gender they were.”
The butterflies fluttered in my belly all at once then went completely still. He actually made me feel guilty about the flippant way I’d been talking. “I’ve never had an orgy, or been with more than one person at a time.”
He nodded. “Thank you for telling me that.”
“Did you think I had because I’m a slut?”
Rick sighed and his expression softened. “Don’t call yourself that. I don’t think that at all, Marley, but I can see it’s how you perceive yourself. I only assumed an answer because you refused to give me one.”
How did we get so off track here? “I don’t think that either.” I tried to sound haughty, but it came out weak and pathetic.
“Good, I’m glad we agree. For the record, I think nothing but good things about you. I see it every day, despite how you try to hide it. I know that you make sure Dillon takes his pills, and as neurotic as Dillon is, I’m sure he needs them. I know you’re nervous about your sister’s wedding because you want to make it the best day of her life. I know how you help Edna when she can’t comprehend a concept.” It shocked me how he figured out these things about me. Edna was an older lady that had returned late in life to the workforce. She had trouble with simple stuff like how to transfer a call or work the copy machine. She often called me for help and I would walk over to her desk. I’d had no idea Rick was aware of this too.
“Edna just needs help sometimes.”
“Relax, Marley. I’m not going to fire her. I just wanted you to know how I saw you.”
That relieved me because it was exactly what I’d been thinking. He had insights about me, despite my attempts to remain private. He smiled at me reassuringly and held out a piece of his steak with the chopstick. I opened my mouth, accepting his offering. “You’ve got impressive chopstick skills.”
“I got used to it. I lived in China for a year.”
“Really? Did you like it?”
“Yes, I was there for work. I like to travel to new places. It’s one of the benefits of my job. I think it makes a person…fulfilled. I’m going to England for my next job.”
I looked away, not because I wasn’t interested. We were having an intimate conversation about personalities and orgies and all sorts of stuff. I had to keep my guard up. Rick would be leaving, and I was already a total mess.
“Have you travelled?” he asked me.
“No, I’ve never been out of the state actually.” It was a sad statement, but an honest one.
“Do you want to?”
“Sure.” I did, so badly, but it was difficult to explain this to him. Instead, I turned around the conversation asking him to describe all the countries he’d been to. There were many, and he kept me entertained with his stories. I could imagine them all in my head as I sat there, completely enthralled with his every word.
That was until we finished eating then I was enthralled by something else while I stared into his piercing green eyes and clung to his neck, screaming out his name.
* * * *
We spent the whole week like that. Rick would order us food and we’d chat, but I was very careful about revealing too much of myself. Afterwards, we’d make passionate love. He referred to me as ‘baby’ and ‘sweetheart’ and other terms of endearment when we were in the throes of passion. Something that usually turned me off, but coming from him, it had the opposite effect. Everything with him felt different. It felt special.
Most nights, Rick insisted I ride with him to his place, since he was coming back to the office to work anyway. Truthfully, any ride he offered me was satisfying. If the weather became questionable, he’d follow me home. He didn’t ask any more, he just did