Page 40 of Surviving the Merge
“Not really. I returned because I wanted a connection to you, somehow.” Shrugging, I said, “But I can spin on a pole anywhere.” To purposely rile him up, I added, “I’ll get one installed in my new place.” As expected, the mention of my apartment set him off. I yelped as he smacked me hard on the ass before getting to his feet, throwing me over his shoulder, and racing upstairs.
Damon tossed me haphazardly onto the bed, then hooked his thumbs in his boxer briefs to pull them off.
“Those aren’t what Blake went to sleep in,” I pointed out.
“Those silk shorts were too pretentious. I found these with a pile of new stuff in the closet.”
“Yeah, he bought some things he thought you might prefer when you’re here. When you’re... home.” The silence stretched.
“Is that what this is? My home?” He looked around as if seeing the place for the first time.
“I’d like it to be.” I got rid of my shorts and grabbed his hand, pulling him under the sheets. “I can’t tonight. Not so soon after last night.”
Wrapping my hair around his fist, he tugged, licking from my collarbone to temple. “I have other ways I can punish you.”
“Pleasedo,” I said, desperate for it.
* * *
“You look tired.”I slid Blake’s coffee to him across the kitchen counter. “Had I remembered you had an early morning at the office today, we wouldn’t have stayed up late... talking.”
“Yeah. Talking.” He smirked before taking a sip.
I blushed.
“It’s fine, really. Aside from a meeting, the rest of my day is easy. I’ll take the seproxetine this afternoon and meet you at Julie’s office.”
My face fell at the reminder that today Damon would be attending his first therapy session and that he and Blake would be trying this new drug for the first time. So many unknowns. What if something went wrong?
“Love, you’re as pale as a ghost,” Blake said coming to my side. “I’ll be fine, I swear. Okay?” Softly cradling my face, he leaned down for a kiss and gazed at me expectantly.
Tracing his wet lips with my fingers, I nodded, not trusting my voice to not betray my fears.
“What are your plans for the day?” He stacked his scattered paperwork into a neat pile before packing them into his briefcase.
“I’m meeting Sam to get the keys to the apartment.Myapartment,” I corrected myself. I had to get used to saying that. “Then she’s taking me to some furniture store she loves, to pick out a bed and maybe a few other things.”
“Well, have fun and don’t forget not to worry.”
Walking him to the door, we hugged, inhaling each other’s scent before parting.
* * *
After a failed attemptat getting more sleep, I danced for a few hours before heading out to meet Sam. She waited outside my new apartment building, dangling the keys at me like you would a treat to a puppy. She had no idea that me accepting them felt like one of the worst mistakes of my life.
“Oh, don’t look so glum. This is a big day!” A few passersby startled from Sam’s exuberance.
I snatched her hand, tugging her into the building. “Let’s go before you get me kicked out of the neighborhood.” I introduced myself to the cheerful, stout doorman before dashing with a giggling Sam at my heels to catch the closing elevator doors. I pressed rapidly on the call button, and through the half-opened doors I could see an elderly man snarling while smashing his gnarled finger on what I guessed was the door-close button.
“Be nice, Mr. Newton,” Sam chastised. He let go, grudgingly, wrapping a leash around his wrist before backing into the far corner.
We entered. “You must be Old Man Newton?” I asked pleasantly. “And this”—I bent to get a good look—“must be the mute dog that I’ve heard so much about.” The small brown terrier hid behind its owner's legs.
Sam groaned. “I saidtheycall him Old Man Newton, not thatyoushould call him that—to his face.” She spoke from the side of her mouth, trying to muffle her words from the man who I’d unintentionally insulted.
“Oh…” But before I could apologize, the doors opened, and he hustled himself and his dog down the hall.
We made quick work of taking the bedroom measurements, leaving out with a game plan and time to spare before my appointment with Julie.
