Page 40 of The Liar's Reckoning

“Dinner?”

I shake my head. “Let’s just meet here.”

He steps closer to me, and some stupid part of me wants to close the distance, absorb his warmth. Let it seep into my bones. Apparently I need a hug, but I’ll die before I ask Ben for one. I’ll go on a spree once I finally get back inside. Get all my physical closeness needs met platonically. Maybe someone will take pity on me and give me a really long, lingering one.

“Thank you,” Ben says. “I know I don’t deserve it.”

I don’t agree with him, out loud or in my head. He’s not a bad guy. He just fucked me over. If he’s sorry, great. Maybe it’ll help me move on.

“Good night, Ben.”

“See you soon,” he says.

I step away, turning my back on him and re-entering the bar, looking for someone to hold onto.

14

GRAHAM

Iwake with my dick throbbing. My room is dark, and I hear soft breaths—feel them, too—on my shoulder. There’s a hand on my inner thigh, rubbing along the crease of my groin. And then I smell her perfume…and rum.

I gasp, gripping my cock, shifting away.

“Please, babe. Let me touch you.”

“I don’t—” Words won’t come, and my thoughts feel like they’re moving through sludge.

“Graham, I need it. Please. I’ll make it so good…”

What the fuck is happening? Sheneeds it?Me? Since when? I’ve known Avery nearly two years, and this has never once come up.

“How much did you have to drink?”

She gloms onto my back, her hand sliding between my thighs again. I close my eyes, and the ache in my cock intensifies. What did she do to me?

She rubs her body sensually against my back. A grind. “Liquid courage,” she murmurs. “I didn’t know you slept naked. Can I touch it?”

I don’tnormallysleep naked. I fell asleep after…well… It was another lonely night while she went out with friends we don’t share.

In a moment of weakness, I give in, needingsomething. “Yes.”

The burn of Silas hasn’t worn off even after five days. I cancelled my gym membership, and while I didn’t expect to hear from him, I think part of me hoped I would.

I’ve felt so fucking alone since our last training session. Alone in my desires, alone in my life, alone in my bed.

I don’t know how drunk Avery is, but I trust her. She’s all I’ve got, and maybe she can ease some of this ache that only seems to keep piling up inside me.

Her thin fingers wrap around my length. “Fuck…” she sighs. “You’re huge.”

I’m nothuge, but she does seem impressed. I wish she’d stop talking, though. It’s impossible to pretend she’s not a woman with her bony, hairless, sweet-smelling body pressed to mine, but her obvious desire is appreciated.

I ignore my misgivings and thrust through her small fist, the same way I do my own. Should I touch her? Do I want to?

“Use your mouth,” I tell her, my voice rougher and huskier than I intend. I’m thinking of the blow job that never was from Silas. Also, if her mouth is full, she won’t be able to talk. Maybe then I can imagine someone else is sucking me.

“Mmm…yes, sir.”

She disappears beneath the covers, and I part my thighs to let her between them. She runs her hands up my legs and swallows half my cock.

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