Page 36 of Tips and Trysts

I’m about to take more of her thumb between my lips when she pulls it out. Gone. An unusual feeling passes through me—the electricity of lust and adrenaline.

If Cora is as affected as I am, she doesn’t show it. Cool as ever, she lays two quick taps against my cheek,pat pat. “Good boy.”Good boy. “Next time, you’ll do better.”

The statement is like a bucket of ice water. “Better? What should I do next time?”

“You’re smart,” she replies before putting her lips by my ear and whispering, “You can’t figure it out yourself?”

My brow knots. “I said I would do anything you told me to.”

Cora sighs and glances at her fingernails like she’s bored. “And yet you haven’t attempted my list.”

“I just begged.”

“Baby boy, you know that wasn’t begging.” She forces a chuckle. “You’llneverfinish.”

“Then change your list.”

“I’d rather die.”

My eyes trail down her arm. “You’re remarkably bad at dying. Based on your success as a camgirl, I have to assume you’re much better at fucking. Maybe stick with what you know.”

She jams the tip of one of her black fingernails into my chest. “Sounds like you’re out.”

“Never.”

The challenge in her expression is equal parts audacity and heat—and my god, it’s sexy. “Then block off Thursday night on your calendar to watch me,” she instructs before shoving my chest, forcing me to take a small step back from her. “Then you can see how good I am at fucking.”

Eleven

EVERETT

On Monday, we spentan hour together and she only told me to leave once.

On Tuesday, she texted me and asked if I wanted coffee. Two hours.

On Wednesday, we sat on her couch and read. Four hours. A record.

But even when we weren’t together, the Halcyon’s thin walls let me feel close to her. The plinking water droplets in her shower. The idle hum of her music. The toaster springing when she made breakfast. I savored every moment.

Now, for the first time, I finally understand how Lander could live next door to Valeria for an entire year, practically gnawing at the metal bars of his enclosure to be with her, and still do nothing about it.

The banality of listening to someone live her life is satisfying.

But it’s Thursday, and tonight will be anything but banal.

Username: FuckingMyOwnFace

Password: Cor@i$Be@utiful

Once I log in, it doesn’t take me long to find her. Right now, she’s featured as one of the most popular cam models on the site, partially due to infamy from getting shot, but also because she’s well-known. She has devotees.Whales.

Then I click her profile and realize her user picture is from my apology shoot, and my heart starts racing. This is all becoming incredibly real. Watching her stream for the first time is seven months in the making, and there’s a reason I’ve avoided this for so long:

I know I might hate this.

And if I do hate it—the other men, their money, their demands—I’ll be absolutely fucked because I’ll still want her, but I’ll know exactly what goes down during a stream.

My apprehension is unprecedented. Unnerving. Still, I inhale and get ready to meet Lilith Lace.Shit.

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