Page 36 of Shame

“How about you let me decide when it’s been too much, yeah?”

“But I—” I press my finger to her lips and she stops talking.

“I like doing things for you. I like spending time with you. I know that’s crazy since we hardly know each other, but trust me, I know what I like. And you’re it, sweetheart.”

I kiss her before she can try arguing with me some more. When I pull away, she rests her forehead against my chest, rocking it back and forth.

“This is a lot,” she says quietly.

“We can take things slow.”

“No, I meanme. My life.”

I cup her face and make her look at me. I fuckinglovewhen she looks at me. There’s something in her eyes… this look she has when she looks at me. I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s only there when she looks at me. Trust me, I’ve watched her for a while, and I’ve never seen her look at anyone like this.

“You have no idea what I deal with on a day-to-day basis. Trust me, this is nothing. Besides, like I said, Ilikebeing with you.”

“That isn’t quite what you said,” she whispers.

“Well, I’m saying it now.”

It falls silent, and all we do is stare at each other. I wait for her to argue with me some more. I feel like she wants to, but I see it the moment she gives up.

I grin, brushing my fingers along her cheek. “There’s my good girl.”

Her eyes widen, then she bites on her bottom lip, ducking her head.

“You can fix the washer, but I’m paying for the hose.”

“Fine.”

“And I am paying you back for my car. So you need to tell me how much it was.”

She steps back, holding my gaze.

“Already told you I don’t know a damn thing about that car.” I hold in my grin.

She huffs, shaking her head. “I’ll find out one way or another, believe you me.”

“We’ll see about that,” I call after her when she heads for the stairs. I follow, not hating the view of her ass right in my face as she goes. Once upstairs, she locks the door up and we go to the living room.

We settle on something called The Menu. Neither of us have heard of it, but it looks kinda interesting. Before starting it, though, Cora decides she wants to make us popcorn.

“I should have grabbed beer or something. You like beer?” she asks.

“Yeah, I like beer. What man doesn’t?” I chuckle. “I’ll bring it next time. But what do you like?”

“Not sure I know anymore.” She pulls a pack of popcorn from the cabinet and rips open the plastic around it.

“There are the classic mixed drinks, of course, if you want me to bring vodka or something. But they have all these new seltzers now. Supposed to taste like soda, if you like soda.”

She shrugs, putting the bag into the microwave, closing the door, and pressing the button.

“I don’t hate it.”

“Then that’s what I’ll bring.” I walk to her, putting my hands on the countertop to cage her in. I can’t seem to keep my hands to myself tonight, and she doesn’t seem to mind. Which only makes it worse for me. I like seeing how far she’ll let me go. If I have the space to play, I’m gonna play.

She leans back, looking up at me. So I kiss her. When I pull away, meaning for it to be a quick, chaste kiss, her hand is around my neck, pulling me to her again.

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