Page 87 of Charming Deception

“You mentioned.” His voice is low and rough. If I’m not wrong, there’s a note of pain in it.

Am I making him uncomfortable?

Wait. Does talking about sex things make him uncomfortable?

Thinking back, it kinda seems so. Not that we’ve talked about much sex stuff.

Though maybe that was because he was uncomfortable…

“I was kidding,” I clarify.

“Okay.”

“I mean, I like to look at men. Attractive men. You know what I mean.”

“You don’t have to explain.” The pained note is still there.

“He’s attractive. It was a joke. I know he’s married.”

Silence.

But I just can’t keep my mouth shut.

“I guess that was bad form. Telling my new fiancé, on our first night in our shared bed, that his neighbor is attractive and I want to spy on him. You know, sexually.”

“It’s okay, Megan,” he grits out, which probably means Shut up, Megan.

Unfortunately, Megan isn’t so good at shutting up when she feels like she just put her foot in her mouth. “I’m not gonna spy on him.”

“You don’t know where he lives.”

“Yet.”

He groans quietly.

“It just didn’t occur to me that you might feel… bothered,” I offer.

Silence again.

“I mean, since we’re not even having sex. We don’t have a sexual relationship. You know. For now.”

More silence.

“But… I know I’m supposed to act like it’s real, in public. At least, in terms of that kind of thing.”

Just stop talking, Megan.

“Other guys, I mean. That’s the thing I was referring to.”

Stop digging this grave. You’re way too uncool to make it better.

Somehow, I seem to think I can.

“I’m not… I’m not looking at other guys.”

He sighs softly. “I didn’t think you were. Until you said it.”

Oh. Oops.

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