Page 45 of Taming Her Temptations

“Fucking perfect,” Dean knocks twice on the glass. “Let’s do it.”

We might not be getting our names tattooed on each other, but I’m pretty sure I prefer matching pink piercings, anyway.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Ruby

I sit down awkwardly in the cafe chair so my jeans don’t pull against my new belly button piercing. It’s been a week, but it’s still a bit painful. But despite that, every time I’m reminded of the piercing I can’t help but grin. And not because it felt good to do something so totally and completely against what shithead Steve would want, although that did feel good, but because I can still see Levi, Dean, and Asher proudly showing off their new pink piercings after they were all done. All three of them somehow manage to look even sexier with the pink gemstones blinging out their various body parts. The sexiest part is their raw confidence, unafraid of a little pink threatening their masculinity.

I take a sip of my coffee, trying to control the foolish grin all over my face. I just finished a lesson with my middle school students and I’m treating myself to a cappuccino and a chocolate croissant at my favorite local bakery. I’ve been so tight on money that I haven’t done anything like this in a long time. And even though pretty much all my money is going into my savings account so I can hire a divorce lawyer, I really needed to get out of my dad’s house and give myself the luxury of this eight dollar moment of peace.

I check my phone, scrolling through social media. I tend to stay away from social media these days because it’s filled with women whom I used to consider my friends now hanging out without me.

The thing that I’ve really had to acknowledge recently is that I don’t have many friends. If you had asked me this question four months ago, I would have said I have a ton of friends. I likely never would have been at this bakery alone. I’d be with someone planning the next event or discussing the last one.

But all these “friends” were wives of men who have money invested with Steven. And the wives who make their own money? They’ve never seemed interested in knowing me. And then there are the women busy with kids. I think they saw me as not relatable anymore when I didn’t have kids, too. Even though I desperately wanted them for myself.

But hey, at least I have the internet. I’ve been more active in “Fun and Filthy Forums” than usual. I asked for advice on what the hell I should do about the fact that I’m sleeping with not only one man younger than me but, uh well, that part about it being three men.

And while the answers were both hilarious and helpful, one user in particular has been chatting with me on the side. She wrote me a message saying I’m her role model because she’s obsessed with three guys she’s talking to online. They’ve never met and she’s nervous she wouldn’t be able to choose. I can certainly understand the dilemma and she’s become the only person I can talk to about the crazy situations I’ve been getting myself into. I check to see her latest message.

YOURINTERNETBESTIE88: I am laughing so loud at work right now envisioning the pink piercings. You should have let him get his dick pierced! I’ve heard the benefits are worth it.

I laugh out loud before I can bring my hand to my mouth. Of course, she has no idea who the three guys are, but other than that, I don’t hold back on the details. I type back.

TRAMPINTRAINING: I’ll remind you that you said that when your mysterious mountain men want to get their dicks pierced. Let’s see if you’re a fan then…

She starts typing. A message from her comes through and I open it.

YOURINTERNETBESTIE88: Well, first I have to meet them. Did I tell you I think they know I’m talking to all three of them? I might need to get some advice from you about the stretches you’re doing before accommodating all three. And I’m not talking about muscle stretching…

My chuckle is overshadowed by another woman’s loud, piercing laugh as the bakery swings open. I look up.

My heart drops.

Walking through the doors is Dean. Which usually is a happy sight. But he’s not alone. On his arm is Petra Collins. She looks as gorgeous as ever, wearing long silky cream high-waisted pants that show off her impeccable figure and a boat neck white cotton t-shirt. Gold earrings bring out the golden hues in her perfect blonde hair. She looks striking next to Dean, his rugged and dark handsomeness to her prim and proper elegance.

I have no reason to be mad at him. We’re not technically anything. Not to mention, he’s doing exactly what we agreed he should be doing. But that doesn’t stop my stomach from feeling like it was just sucker-punched.

I look around anxiously for an escape. But the only way out is through. Should I wait until they’ve gotten a little further in their date? I really should have prepared Dean better. I was way too distracted, getting… well, railed by him and then matching piercings.

A girl like Petra doesn’t want to hear him talk about his music. She prefers not to think that someone has to actually earn their money, because that would imply that they weren’t born with it and they might not die with it. People like Petra can only like to conceptualize money when it’s in endless, infinite amounts.

And he needs to dig for hints about Steven’s business relationship with them. She’d probably enjoy questions about investment tips. For her, that’s just like me talking to my dad about Uno, a fun game we both play.

Oh well, too late for all the advice. I was too distracted and now I might have screwed up our only chance.

Another thought makes me lose my appetite for the rest of my chocolate croissant. This might not be our only chance because it might not be Dean’s last time seeing Petra. Maybe they’ll exchange secrets while rolling around in bed together…

Stop it, Ruby.

I shouldn’t be feeling this way. We are just having fun with each other, nothing more. Plus, I’m sure as hell not ready for more, anyway.

That thought hits me hard. I’m not even ready for my own happiness if it comes my way. I have no real friends, no money that won’t be tied up with a divorce lawyer soon, and not even a real career. Of course, I’m not ready for a relationship too.

I’ve been so blinded with rage that I haven’t even really thought about what I want for myself besides a little bit of justice.

So yeah, Dean looks good beside her. He probably would do better beside her in life, too. No matter how surprisingly delightful my time has been with them, it’s a job. A job that has gotten extremely complicated. But a job nonetheless.

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