She takes a sip of her juice. “Oh, I think I do. We should do this every day.”
“Breakfast?”
She takes a bite of toast and smiles. “Sex, lots of sex, then yes, you making me breakfast in your boxer briefs without a shirt on.” Licking the butter off her lips, lustful eyes fall to my chest and she smirks. “When I came down the stairs and saw you looking like this, I wanted to eat my breakfast off your naked body.”
I choke on the bite I’m trying to swallow.
“You okay, Oli?”
Covering my mouth with my napkin, I nod while fighting to clear my throat. In a world where guys brag and share stories, the events of this morning would be met with laughter and filed under big fish stories. Women like Vivian just don’t exist in the real world. They don’t look like her, act like her, and they certainly don’t talk like her. In fact, I don’t believe it myself. I half expect to wake up alone in my bed, covered in sweat with my hand fisted around my dick.
“I’m fine.” I clear my throat once more and take a drink of juice. “So dinner at my parents’ house tonight?”
There’s that blinding smile again. “I’d love to.” She takes a bite of her omelet. “Mmm, this is so good.”
“Better than Boston Kreme doughnuts?”
She laughs. “Down boy, don’t try to compete with the official doughnut of the Commonwealth.”
“You do realize doughnuts are high on the list of the unhealthiest foods.”
“Of course I know. I’ve been trying to cut back.”
“You have?”
“Sure. Look at the clock. It’s almost ten and I haven’t had one yet. Now, the question you should have asked is if I like sex more than Boston Kreme doughnuts.”
My forkful of omelet stops halfway to my mouth. “And?”
“Yes.” She winks. “I like sex with you so much more. So if you’re concerned about my health then I suggest you do your best to keep me preoccupied with the one thing that trumps the Boston Kreme.”
I grin and mentally pinch myself because there’s no way she just said that. “So we should treat this like AA. I’ll be your sponsor. When you have a weak moment and temptation strikes, you call me and I’ll meet you.”
“You’ll meet me for sex?”
I nod.
“Any time, any day?”
I nod. “I love you, so whatever the sacrifice, I’ll do it. We can do this, babe. I realize it could take a long time and like most addictions, you may always struggle with it, but I’ll do whatever it takes to help you through.”
“You’re a real gem, Oli.” She bats her lashes at me and grins. “So on to the next issue. This might sound funny, since I practically sleep with you every night anyway, but I need a place to stay next weekend. Alex’s parents will be in town for two nights before they leave for Europe. Normally, I would go to Kai’s but since I ended things with him—”
“Wait. What do you mean you ended things with him?”
She tears the last piece of toast into little pieces. “Well, after what he said to you and then what he said to me, I told him we’re over. I can’t be his friend anymore.” She looks up at me and I see her eyes fill with tears and a sad smile pulls at one side of her lips.
“What did he say to you?”
“He said he loved me and that he wanted to be with me. He said the words I’ve been waiting to hear for what seems like forever.” She sniffles. “But I don’t love him anymore and when I’m with you I question if I ever really loved him because what I feel for you is so much more than I’ve ever felt before.” Using her napkin she dabs at her tears. “But it still hurts. In spite of everything, he’s been my friend forever.” She shakes her head. “Things just haven’t been the same since the accident.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
Glossy green eyes look at me. “I was with Kai that night. We went camping and that was going to be our first night together. He stole a six-pack of beer from his parents and I had one, he had the other five. It was late and he wanted to get in the tent. I was having second thoughts, given his inebriated condition. He tugged the button to my shorts then he tried to remove my shirt. I backed away, insisting he stop. I tripped and fell backwards onto the coals of our campfire that had started to burn out. He landed on top of me and struggled to get off. I don’t remember much after that, but later I was told that the people camping next to us saw the whole thing and rescued us before calling 9-1-1.”
She releases a sob and I hurry to pull her into my arms. “He spent every night at the hospital with me until I was released. I promised him I would never blame him for it, but I do. It’s not just the scars. I blame him for the way I feel about them. A year later we found ourselves alone at my parents’ house and I wanted to have sex with him. I needed to know that he still wanted me that way. I needed to feel beautiful in his eyes.” Another sob escapes and I’m torn between wanting to comfort her and rip Kai’s heart right out of his chest. “All I saw in his eyes was … pity. That moment ended our romantic relationship, but looking back, I think that moment ended our friendship. We’ve just been in denial over the past two years.”
Cradling her face I wipe her tears and kiss her soft cheeks. She sniffles again. “So can I stay next weekend … with you.”
“No.”
She physically deflates even more. I smile. “You can stay forever.”
Her forehead wrinkles. “What?”
“Move in with me.”
“What?”
I laugh. “You heard me. Move in with me.”
Her eyes search my face like she’s unscrambling a puzzle. “Are you serious?”
With those three words it hits me. No, I’m not. The magnitude of my proposition starts to sink in. Where did that come from? What the hell was I thinking? Forever? Move in? Shit!
Eyes wide, she’s holding her breath … I’m holding her breath. “Yes, I’m serious.”
She hugs me and squeals. Then her lips attack mine with purpose as her hand slides down the front of my briefs. “Boston Kreme me, Oli,” she whispers with a naughty seductive voice.
Okay, this might work out after all.
Chapter Fifteen
Cohabitation
Vivian
I’m not sure what “the dream” is, but I’m pretty sure I’m living mine. Oliver asking me to move in with him, forever, has dissolved my reservations about us. Dr. Jekyll cannot ask someone to move in unless he intends to expose Mr. Hyde. Oliver’s invitation feels like a promise—a promise to share everything with me, maybe not overnight, but soon.
“What is half your rent and utilities?”
Oliver gives me a sideways glance as he drives us to his parents. “Why?”
“I want to figure out how much I’m going to need to work when I start school in the fall.”
He laughs. “I don’t rent.”
“Then what’s half of your mortgage?”
He shakes his head. “You’re not paying my mortgage.”
“Then I should take care of all the utilities and groceries.”
“No.”
“Oli!”
“I asked you to move in with me because I want to be with you, because I love you.” He squeezes my leg. “I wasn’t looking for a roommate.”
I entwine my fingers with his. “I’m not going to move in and mooch off you. I want to contribute.”
“You can pay me back when you conquer empires after you graduate.”
“I’m not living with you for free.”
He smirks, keeping his eyes on the road. “I’m sure I can think of something you could do to earn your keep.”