Page 26 of Shut Up and Bite Me

Glancing at the clock on the nightstand, I shift my arms tighter around her. It’s only six thirty, but knowing that she’s right here makes me not want to go back to sleep. For the first time, the reality is better than the dream.

Am I reading too much into this? Am I romanticizing everything that’s happened so far? Is it bad that I don’t care if I have been?

All I know is that my entire life, I have been searching for a greater purpose. I knew in the pit of my stomach that there was something bigger waiting for me. I survived the early years of my life, then spent the following decade yearning for consistency and comfort.

I reached the stability I was after, and I convinced myself that it was enough. I chose a realistic career path, one that would guarantee high salaries. My extracurriculars didn’t involve heavy drinking or drugs. I made smart decisions. I did everything right…right?

But now, looking back, I can’t pinpoint a single time where I chose something because I wanted to. Carefully, I crafted my future with logistics instead of passion.

Where has it gotten me? I’m months away from graduating with a degree that I don’t really even want to use. I’m not passionate about finance; I’m simply good at it.

I keep to myself because the fewer moving factors, the more predictable an outcome. I have no friends, a roommate I despise, a future I’m not sure I even want, and a life that is about to change with the money I’m getting from Vivian.

For the first time, I feel like I have the freedom to chase what I want because I already have what I need. After this arrangement is over, I won’t need to pursue a job simply because of financial reasons.

I’ve spent my life reading stories to fill the void of excitement and adventure. I read to discover more in this world. But I never knew that I would stumble into the making of a story of my own.

Even though I know what Vivian and I have will come to an end, for the time being, I want to pretend there’s a chance it might not. No matter how much it may hurt afterward, I wouldrather open myself up to her, be raw and vulnerable, and enjoy her time while she gives it to me before it runs out.

“You’re awake,” she states rather than asks, her voice as smooth as silk, drawing me away from my rambling thoughts.

Nodding, I nestle my head into the crook of her neck, trailing kisses from the base to her ear. “How’d you know?”

She softly melts in my embrace. “Your heart rate spiked, and your breathing became uneven.”

“Hmm. Sounds like you made that up,” I tease her, knowing damn well that she is telling the truth.

My arm falls, bouncing off the mattress. She’s gone. Instead of snuggled in bed with me, she’s across the room, leaning against the dresser with a devilish smirk on her lips.

Her arms are crossed over my T-shirt that she wore to bed, completely oversized on her body, stopping just on the tops of her thighs.

Rolling over onto my back, I stretch my arms up and tuck them beneath my head, my elbows jutting out to the sides.

A cool breeze skates across my abs. “You look better in my shirts than I do.”

“Yeah?” she murmurs, playing with the bottom hem.

Running my stare from her painted toes up her long legs, I study her more intensely than anything before, trailing high, and right as I’m about to lock with her gaze, I suck in a breath.

Perhaps it’s because I’m starting to get used to this little trick of hers, but I know my gaze won’t fall on her. Because she’s already moved or teleported. I laugh to myself.

“Ugh,” I grunt with surprise as she lands on top of me, straddling my waist and planting her hands lightly on my chest. My hands fall to her hips. “Do you want to start your day with a sip from your new favorite drink?”

She chuckles softly. “You just woke up. I thought I would give your human body a moment to adjust.”

Digging my fingers into her bare hips, I grind upward into her center. “Oh, don’t worry. I’m adjusting just fine.”

A red flush flickers across her cheeks, and a coy smile lifts her lips. But as her eyes fall to mine, I can’t help but notice a swirling darkness dance deep in her gaze, one that only someone else who’s experienced the true pains of life can recognize.

Lifting my hand up, I tap the side of her head. “What’s happening in there?”

Whether she doesn’t want to talk about it or just doesn’t want to tell me, she dismisses my concern with a wave. “What? Nothing.”

It’s not my place to push the topic, so I let it go. At least for now.

She changes the subject with a smile. “I deposited the first part of your funds into your account this morning.”

“Thank you,” I tell her honestly. She has no idea what this means to me. She is single-handedly changing my entire life.

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