Page 22 of Ashes of Saints

Still, when I raised it with Mom, she was irritated with me. Her refusal to tell me who my father is, or answer any of my questions rather than supporting me, made me even more mad.

Then there was Don—Donald. He was controlling and hated the nickname I gave him. My name is Donald. Please don’t disrespect me by shortening it. Jeez, okay. But then he’d flip and be lighthearted. In the end, I had whiplash from his personality (personalities!) while he got frustrated with my free spirit nature.

Clearly a bad match.

Finally, there was Joseph, who I dated until about a year ago. For a brief time, I thought he might be the one. The CEO of a small engineering company, Joe had his life sorted out. I spent five nights a week at his house and was preparing for the upcoming should we move in together conversation.

Until he asked me how I felt about swinging.

“Like on a swing?”

“Babe. That’s hot. If you want,” Joseph replied, tugging me against him.

“What?”

“What?” He leaned back, his hands dropping.

I blinked and continued blinking as he explained what it meant.

“We’ve been together three months. You want me to fuck another man?” I gasped.

“It’s not cheating. It’s consensual.”

I shoved him. “It’s not if I say no.”

“Come on, babe. Don’t be vanilla. Let’s try it. He can just fondle your breasts to start. Fuck, that would get me off.”

“Gross.”

I hadn’t fully meant it. The idea did create some arousal in my body. I was just offended. I thought we were falling in love. Then he decides to share he has a kink.

I didn’t want to share him with another woman or have another couple in our bed. That wasn’t for me.

We eventually parted ways, but the thoughts of having multiple sex partners had played around in my mind. I wondered what it would be like to have two men or another woman in the mix.

Maybe I wasn’t vanilla after all.

It left me feeling confused, but I’d never shared my thoughts with anyone.

Still, whether I was more adventurous than I’d given myself credit for, I knew I wasn’t a one-night-stand girl.

Then thoughts of Parker return and I wonder if I’d have the willpower to stop him should he make a move.

The man is a sex god.

I’d noticed the ink on his wrist when he lifted my hand to his mouth, and more on his neck. Not even his expensive suit was able to hide it completely. He also wore a black ring on his middle finger with some kind of design. I’d yet to have a good look, but it all added to the mystery of this otherwise well-polished man.

“Who says I want to get laid? He might not even kiss me goodnight on the first date.”

Chloe blows chunks of potato chips out of her mouth.

“You said he looks like Damon Salvatore and wears a Rolex. If you don’t ride that pony tonight, girl, I am friend-divorcing you.”

Ride that pony?

“How are we even friends?” I stand and grab the green dress again.

“No idea. Maybe it’s fate’s way of introducing me to Parker’s friends. Then I can ditch you.”

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