Page 39 of Unconditional

Iletherwashmy hair.It took entirely too long and there were too many steps for me to be able to retain any of it, but she seemed to have such a good time doing it that I let her, pretending to listen.The reality was that I was entirely too engrossed in the way she smiled at me when she explained how shameful it was of me to use my usual soap.

In the feel of her long nails against my scalp as she lathered in her shampoo, which smelled so much like her that it was going to be impossible for me to concentrate on anything else until I could use my old stuff again.In the way she had to arch up onto her tiptoes despite those long, long legs, in order to reach the top of my head.Just in her.In everythingher.

By the time we stepped out, the water had long since run cold, but we’d been so pressed against one another that we hadn’t even noticed.I’d fucked her into a frenzy against that dingy shower wall, then let her wash my hair with a smile on my face—who gave a shit if the water was ice cold?Now she set to work on her face, rubbing creams and serums into her skin with sharp precision while I towel dried and dressed.

She was mesmerizing to watch, so well versed in her process that she barely had to look at the labels before moving onto the next step.By the time she finished her beloved skincare routine, Misely glowed.She was a goddess, clearly having just taken on the illusion of a human woman.How could anyone possibly be so beautiful?

It radiated out from her like a bright light of warmth and goodness.Everything I’d never known.Now that I’d had a taste, I wondered how badly the comedown would be.Because there would be a comedown.I’d been around enough addicts in my life to know what addiction looked like, and I was there.I knew it didn’t matter how long or little you were exposed to something—addiction could dig its claws into you whenever it felt the urge, just as it had here.I was hooked.And the withdrawals from this woman would not be pretty.

Having been so ensnared in observing her, I’d paid no attention to the time.It had passed by too quickly for my tastes, but in the outside world, outside this dingy truck stop bathroom, our playful little interlude had gone on long enough.

There was a sharp rapping on the door, the sound of the gas station attendant’s impatient voice snapping through.“Are you guys done yet?There are other people waiting.”

Misely startled, her elbow jerking, causing the black stuff she was putting on her eyelashes to smear across the bridge of her nose and sending a bottle of clear liquid flying off the counter.It hit the floor with a loud crash, shattering into pieces.Misely barely cared to see the makeup smudged on her face, immediately scrambling to the floor and whimpering.

“Damnit!”She began picking up the pieces, her bottom lip pouting.

Bending over, I shooed her away, worried she might cut herself on the sharp edges.“I’ve got it,” I told her, trying not to notice how glassy her eyes had become.

“That’s my hyaluronic acid.I use it every day,” she whined, standing and turning back to the mirror.

“You putacidon yourface?”

Her glare was halfhearted.“Yes, but it’s not what you think.”I hated how defeated she sounded.

Cleaning up the rest of the pieces without another word, I snapped a picture of the label with my phone while she miserably wiped at the makeup smear on her nose.Misely went quiet again and I knew she was brooding.I could understand her frustration—this would impede on her routine.My own had been heavily thrown off base by this trip and I felt it like a crushing weight on my chest, so I empathized.

When we were back in the van, I didn’t tell Misely where we were going because I didn’t want her to make a fuss out of it.She barely passed me a glance when we pulled into the pharmacy parking lot, but when I told her to stay put, she stared like I’d grown a second head.

“You’re really going to leave me in here by myself?”

I blinked.“Yes.”

“Unattended?”

“Yes.”

“No handcuffs?”

I felt my lips twitch.“Do youwantthe handcuffs?”

“No!”she protested loudly.“Listen, I like some kinky shit as much as the next person, but I am well and truly sick of handcuffs.”

I chuckled, reaching out to tuck a stray piece of hair behind her ear.“Be good.”

She smirked.“I’m always good.”

“Debatable.”But I was already climbing out of the van, locking the door, and taking the keys as I went.I felt her eyes on me as I walked into the pharmacy but I resisted the urge to look back at her.

“Hi!What can I help you find today?”a woman with blinding white teeth announced the moment the door slid closed behind me.

I offered her the friendliest smile I could muster, but didn’t answer her.Instead, I made my way over to the cosmetics section, completely oblivious to what I was about to get myself into.There was so much.Why was there so much?

Different products in all different bottles and tubes, in different colors and mediums.I was out of my depth.Nothing in front of me looked even remotely like the serum that had broken.I stared at the long aisle ofstuffin front of me and had no idea where to start.How was this not overwhelming for cosmetic users everywhere?

Ten minutes later, the cashier I’d blown off approached, a cautious expression on her face.“What do you seem to be looking for?”

Her tight smile made my embarrassment grow, but I'd been standing here long enough to know that I wasn't going to find it on my own and Misely was sitting out in the van without the heat on.I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and brought up the picture of the label.“My girl dropped this today and was upset.Do you have it?”

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