Page 24 of Analysing Her Assets

“First, we avoid each other at work,” Tamar began. She almost lost her thread of thought, just admiring his even teeth.

“Of course, goes without saying.” Gideon nodded, making a wayward lock land on his forehead.

“And...?” he asked.

“Yeah, so, second, like I said, we’re not in a romantic relationship. This is for mutual sexual satisfaction only.”

“Agreed. No romantic gestures. No relationship. No need to have one. Even if all looks idyllic, it’s not.” Tamar heard bitterness in his voice. She wondered what disappointments golden boys like Gideon experienced.

“But we’re exclusive,” Gideon added, more vehemently than she believed the matter warranted.

“One man is more than enough for me.” She had no intention of bringing another man into the mix. “It’s usually one man too many.”

Gideon laughed.

“You’re funny,” he blurted, and her cheeks grew warm, but it wasn’t with embarrassment, it was with pleasure.

Giddy chose this moment to run to them with a smashed tennis ball he found. Gideon patted Giddy's head. “Good dog, Giddy.” He flung the ball far. Giddy ran like the wind, Shemesh after him, both barking furiously.

“Okay, next. We meet only in my place, we do what we do. Then we sleep apart. That means you go back to your place, because I like to sleep alone.”

“Why?” He didn’t sound hurt or aggravated, just curious. “Why do you like sleeping alone?”

Golden Boy probably loved to cuddle. Waking up in his arms might confuse her into thinking they were in an actual relationship.

“Men take up way too much space, they leave smelly drops on the toilet, and they fart in bed.”

He laughed. “Okay, no problem, I’ll sleep in my bed, but I want to meet at my place as well. I’ll walk you home afterwards.”

“Then why do you want to meet at your place? It’s more work for you.”

“Because it’s not fair that you always have the home advantage.”

He had a point.

“Perhaps time boundaries?” Gideon asked. “We have until midnight. Is that enough time, say, if we meet at nine?”

“Perfect.” It would leave most of her evening undisturbed.

“Anything else?” he asked.

Tamar would go for broke. This was negotiations time and if she didn’t get what she wanted now, later would be awkward.

“We take turns telling each other what we want. I tell you what to do, and you follow it to the letter. The next night, you tell me. Until we know what we like. No kink.”

In all her previous, albeit scant, relationships, she was always worried about what her partner was thinking, wanting, loving, or not loving. Trying to shape herself to their requirements. She never got what she wanted in the sex department, because she never felt comfortable enough to direct her sexual partner. She was going to change that with Gideon.

He could end up being as unsatisfying as the men who preceded him, but she would give him a chance–and clear instructions.

“What do you consider kinky?” Gideon asked. “Bondage? Doing it in public places? I don’t mind that, I think.” Tamar checked to see if he was joking, or flirting, but he maintained a neutral expression on his face.

“I don’t know. I guess if one of us doesn’t want to do something, we should just say it. Also, we need to check for STDs and such.” Tamar was proud of herself that she remembered. She sounded like a pro. “Afterwards we’ll start.”

“Done,” Gideon said. Tamar exhaled, and he grinned. “Do you want to go first?”

Tamar’s nerves, having relaxed after his final acquiescence, had finally left her.

“No, you go first,” she stammered.

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