Page 41 of Fracture

“No, I haven’t. Why? Have you?”

“Yes.” His voice drops low. “It’s fun.”

“I bet it is.” I knew Dylan had a lot of sexual experience. But this line of questioning feels leading, and my stomach does a pleasurable flip as Dylan reaches over to put his warm hand on my thigh. “So, two men and a woman, or what have you done?”

“Once with two men, and once with a woman and another man.”

I want to clench my thighs together, because the rush of arousal between my legs has me puffing out a little breath. But Ican’t move, because Dylan will feel it, his hand still on me. The image of Dylan and Levi in bed with me makes my clit throb.

“Well I’m not a fan of anal, so I guess that wouldn’t work for me,” I say lightly.

“Lots of other things you can do besides that, you know.” His hand squeezes harder, and I swear I’m going to combust.

We come to a stop at a red light, and when I look over at him, his jaw is set, his eyes filled with desire.

“There are things I want that are wrong, Dylan.”

“Says who?” He leans closer to me.

“Everyone.” Dr Varden’s words echo in my head, and shame takes over again. “I’m trying to be better, I’m trying to get over it, but…”

“Stop worrying about what everyone else wants, what they say, and just do what feels good for you.”

“That’s how people get hurt.”

His eyes drop, and he removes his hand from my leg. He falls back into his seat, and runs a hand over the darkening shadow of stubble on his head.

“Stella, I have to-”

A car horn blares behind us, and I turn to see the light is now green. We continue on our way downtown, but the mood has shifted. I wish I could tell him the truth, but it would hurt him. And Dylan’s been hurt enough.

I bring the car to a stop on Main Street, and turn to him with a bright smile.

“Come on, let’s have fun and not get weighed down, huh?”

He opens his mouth to speak, and stops to look down at his hands. “You have no idea just how good you are.” He raises his eyes back to meet mine. “I mean it. I know you don’t see it, but you’re incredible. Do you have any idea how lucky I feel to know that you love me?”

I want to tell him that my love is sick and twisted, and will do nothing but hurt and poison him. But I once again just put my arms around him, and hold him close, knowing it won’t last but I need it to for now.

“I don’t deserve you,papi.”

He kisses the top of my head. “Come on, books are on me today. Buy as many as you want.”

I grin up at him. “You’re gonna regret saying that.”

“Not if you take me home and read me your favorite parts.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “Come on. Let’s go.”

We walk down the street hand in hand, and it feels so blissfully normal and wholesome to have my fingers wrapped in his. I lean against his shoulder, and he chuckles.

“Coffee?” He asks as we pass the Elephant Bean cafe.

“Not from there.” I wrinkle my nose. “I don’t want to see him.”

Dylan’s eyes glint deviously. “Oh, but I do.” He leans over me, stroking my cheek with his fingertips. “I’m just enough of an asshole to want to torture Jared fucking Marshall.” His mouth quirks, and his dark eyes glint dangerously. “Just a little.”

I lift my eyebrow. “Aren’t we too old for childish high school games?”

Dylan narrows his eyes as he smirks, then shakes his head. “Nah. Come on, play along like a good girl.” He drags me into the cafe, which is packed with the early afternoon crowd. Dylan wraps his arms around my waist, walking behind me to the counter.

---