Page 30 of The Thorne at My Side
MAGGIE
I woke up bright eyed before my alarm at 5:02 am. Austin is supposed to be here at 6:00 am. Do I shower? I definitely need to brush my teeth. What about make-up? Should I make breakfast for him? Coffee?
I've never been in a situation like this before. But as soon as Austin said the words “sleeping together” I realized that I wanted him. I wanted the stress release of no strings attached sex. And I know I won't catch feelings because he's the opposite of what I want in a partner.
I mean, not in the looks department, he's definitely nice to look at, but I am interested in making a name for myself based on my positive influence on people. He’s from an influential family, he runs a giant company, and believes in profit over people. Yuck.
He gets driven around town in a space car by a freaking driver. I doubt he's ever really had to work for anything in his entire silver spoon life.
Nope, not for me.
After I brush my teeth and work on my hair so it looks like I just woke up when really it's been manipulated by brushes and dry shampoo, I slide back into bed. To soothe my nerves I pull mySMS Connect phone out of the drawer in my nightstand. I exhale a shaky breath. There's a message from DCFox.
DCFox:Have you ever thought to yourself “I know this is a bad idea but I’m going to do it anyway”?
And then later when the consequences hit, all you can do is just nod your head and think, yep, saw this coming a mile away.
I got some bad news at work this morning but it was followed by some really good news. Some plans that I can get behind even if they’re not the best strategic move.
I think this new venture got me excited because I’m tired of having to make the smart choice. Of having to out-perform everyone around me. Of having to be the best.
Today I just want to show up as me and have that be enough.
Gosh, he just gets me! There's something about his words that make it feel like he’s in my head. He soothes concerns and anxieties in me that I wasn't even sure I had.
I'm smiling contentedly with the little device pressed to my heart when there's a knock on my door.
I squeak in surprise and toss the phone in the drawer. Tipping over to perk up my boobs in my bralette before reaching for the knob.
Austin is leaning against the doorframe in gray joggers and a slate blue t-shirt. The intimacydials up to a thousand because of his casual outfit. His suit yesterday was drool inducing but it made me want to admire him from afar and let my eyes drink him in.
These joggers? These I want to get my hands on and, more importantly, use my hands to take them off.
When I move on from the flood of lust his outfit produced in me, I see that in one hand he's got two coffees and in the other a bag of pastries from Sunrise. I feel my eyebrows wrinkle, "Why did you bring me coffee?"
"And, good morning to you, too," Austin says as he steps into my apartment. He leans over, pecks me on the cheek and hands me the pastry bag. "I figured it would satisfy the buddies part of our arrangement. I want to hold up both ends of the bargain," he says with a wink.
"Oh, okay." I mumble as the shock of this greeting falls away. I step past him to the kitchen.
"I like your place," Austin says.
"Yeah, well, it's not much and I'm sure nothing compared to wherever you live but, I like it."
When I step back out of the kitchen Austin is staring at me. He laughs to himself and closes his eyes in a heavy blink as he goes to set the coffees down on the little table in front of my beloved oversized chair.
"What? What's funny about where I live?"
"Nothing." He says but I don't believe him for one second.
I cross my arms and jut a hip out to the side, "C'mon Thorne, I can take it. I already know, on so many levels, that this is a bad idea. So you might as well insult the studio hovel that takes up much more of my monthly income than it should."
He looks up to me and I feel his eye contact in my solar plexus. "Maggie, I like your place. Real estate in DC is ridiculousand you've turned this apartment into a warm and inviting live/work space. The giant whiteboard really pulls the whole place together.” He smirks and my thighs clench. “But seriously, I can see how you would enjoy coming home here at the end of the day and waking up here in the morning. Take the compliment."
"Oh," is all I can manage to get out. I blink a few times and shake my head before admitting, "I don't know what to do with you being nice to me."
"Would you rather I be mean?" He asks with a laugh. "I'm not that kind of lover."
"Ew, don't say lover."
