Page 18 of Semi-Rejected Life

“You’re being nosy,” he said, cutting me off. He picked up the glass and brought it over to me, his still damp body glistening in the light. “You don’t have to pretend to get to know me. I’m an adult and I understand what’s going on.”

“I’m not pretending.”

“Oh no? Are you saying you care about me now?”

“No! But… I… I don’t want to just treat you like an expendable…thing!”

Vincent sighed, taking a sip of his drink. “You want to fuck me, yes?”

My eyes trailed down his body again. “I… wouldn’t be opposed.”

“And you’re leaving at the end of the month with no intent to see, speak, or come near me ever again, right?”

I sighed. “That’s the way it has to be.”

“So tell me, what about that is supposed to make me feel like more than a hole for you?”

There was no anger in his voice or reprimand, just honesty. And as much as I tried to come up with a good answer, there really wasn’t one to give him. I didn’t really want to explain all the uncomfortable details of my personal life to him. How do you tell someone that you’re willingly trading your identity for an inheritance and a lifetime of ease because standing up to your father is too hard? Or because the thought of living an unplanned life scares the shit out of you? No, I wasn’t ready to admit I was a coward to Vincent. And I probably never would be.

“You’re right,” I nodded at last. “I’m sorry I made you feel that way.”

“There’s no feeling involved. It’s the truth. Plain and simple.” He took another drink. “I’ve had to face harder truths than just being a piece of ass to you. And, to be perfectly honest, I don’t know you and you don’t know me. In order for this to be fun and to meet your requirements, that’s the way it has to be.”

“So… you still want to do this?”

“I didn’t just spend the last twenty minutes prepping to not get fucked.” He reached down and tugged at the knot of his towel. It crumpled to the floor in a heap and my eyes widened as I stared down at his beautiful half-hard cock. “I accept your terms, River,” he said at last, a tinge of sadness to his tone. “I’d rather have good sex than a relationship, anyway. It’s less messy and I won’t get hurt at the end when you inevitably don’t want me anymore.”

He leaned close, his lips inches from mine as he stared at me. That sweet licorice scent of his filled my senses, the world around me falling away until all I could see was him. At the same time I felt his hand grope the front of my shorts, getting a handful of hard cock in the process.

“So, if you can guarantee me good sex and no messy feelings, then I’ll be in the next room waiting. If not, thanks for the vodka and don’t bother me again.”

With that, he let me go and walked into the next room, leaving me standing hot and bothered in the middle of his living room.

Chapter Nine: Vincent

As soon as I was in my bedroom by myself, I breathed a sigh of relief. Standing out there and talking to River in that way was fucking terrifying. I’d never spoken to anyone like that in my life. And pretending to be cool and collected the whole time while standing there butt ass naked in front of him? Forget it.

I collapsed onto the edge of my bed, spreading my arms wide as I fell onto my back. I closed my eyes, just waiting for the sound of the front door opening. If I was being honest, I’d been a bit standoffish on purpose. I wanted sex, don’t get me wrong, but I knew it was going to be impossible not to end up liking River. Because well, I already fucking did. All the man did was the decent thing and not let me drown. Since the first moment I’d laid eyes on him and smelled the earthy scent of his skin, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. I was already hooked and I knew it. So I needed him to go away. He wasn’t going to stick around anyway, so it would be best just to never start to begin with.

But the longer I laid there, the more nervous I became. He wasn’t leaving, and I knew that if he stepped into my bedroom, I wouldn’t be able to tell him to leave. My cock was already lying hard against my belly. It took everything I had to walk away the first time. I wouldn’t have the fortitude to do it again.

The apartment was dead silent for at least a handful of minutes. Did he leave so fast I missed it? Maybe he snuck out the slider instead. Or maybe he was robbing me blind. Not that there was anything I really cared about in the apartment. I’d mostly just furnished it so I didn’t look like a broke college student when I had friends over. Not that I ever did that either.

So, when a warm finger brushed against my torso, I nearly jumped out of my fucking skin. Literally. The wolf inside me nearly forced a shift in that moment as a defense mechanism. Then. I almost fell off the bed as I flailed, a cry of surprise echoing off the walls. My foot nearly connected with the side of River’s face as I kicked out instinctually, but he caught it before it could do any damage.

“Sorry,” he muttered, putting my foot back down. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Christ… You couldn’t have cleared your throat or something? You almost scared me into shifting!”

“You’re right…” He kneeled down on the floor in front of me. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah?” I lifted an eyebrow as I stared down at him. “What are you doing?”

“Making it up to you,” he replied, his eyes flicking between my face and my cock. “If you’re still interested.”

Yep. There was no fucking way I was gonna say no to that handsome face and those deep blue eyes. His musky scent washed over me and I was caught in his spell in an instant. All I could do was nod and pray that I survived whatever sexual torture was about to befall me.

“You’re really beautiful,” River said, tracing his fingers down my torso once more. “And you’re so soft…”

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