John steps beside me, turns the toy off, and swipes the ruined envelope from under my hand.
“I didn’t realize just how much I was going to like not touching you.”
Austin plucks the remote from his hands and my insides buzz to life again. He taps a button and the vibration pattern changes. “You hold all of the control, Kitten.”
I appreciate his reminder. I could ask them to stop, or simply remove the toy, but I grab another stack of mail. They’ve found a way to help me forget about my drab, soul-deadening surroundings.
Seven
Austin
Another day at the office. Another day to be so close yet so far from Lexi. She sent a text explaining that she wasn’t going to wear the toy today. She feels bad that it creates a one-sided relationship, but we’re willing to wait for her to be ready for more.
In the meantime, we’re inspired and we don’t want her to think our relationship is all about sex.
I smile as Lexi watches John enter the mail room. Step one of our plan is unfolding.
“What’s that?” she asks, staring at the book John is setting on a shelf in his locker.
“A book I checked out from the library.”
“You check books out from the library?”
“Are you judging me?”
“Yes?” She extends a hand and we wait anxiously as he gives it to her.
“The History of Roller Derby?”
“I want to learn more about what interests you and reading is one of my hobbies.” John generally reads on his phone, and not usually entire histories of sports.
“Oh, is it? Very cute. I won’t ask to see a list of titles that you’ve read in the last month.”
She winks at him and hands the book back. “Reading…that’s cute.”
“And helpful. The librarian didn’t know we had a roller derby team. She’s been fascinated by the sport but had a strict upbringing—no sports. We had a little conversation and I helped her look up the Hot Rollers. She said she’s going to join. So if Belova Solonik shows up at practice…” He points at himself. “That’s because of me.”
Step two of our plan falls into place as we proceed to have a normal workday. When our first break comes around, I eagerly await step three.
We sit around the table and Bear angles his phone to her. “Which meal would you prefer? I’m taking cooking classes and haven’t decided which avenue to pursue.”
“You’re taking cooking classes?” Lexi narrows her gaze then shifts it to John. “And you read?”
She sits back in her chair and crosses her arms. “I think you guys are up to something.”
“You can bet your ass we’re up to something.” And we rarely fail to meet our goal, but I leave the last part off.
“Fine.” Lexi helps Bear pick which meals to pursue in his class, clearly skeptical of his intentions.
As scheduled, we continue with normal mail sorting and delivering.
When I notice Lexi can’t reach one of the top mail slots, I seize the chance to step close behind her. I pluck the envelope from her hand, read the name, and put it in the appropriate slot.
Here we go with my part of the plan. I brace my hands on either side of her then press my hips into her. “I learned that in roller derby, hip contact is permitted, but hands aren’t.”
“You read roller derby rules?” She angles her head over her shoulder.
“Like you said, I have to know the rules in case you want me to play.”