Page 56 of Dirty Husband
Her fingers linger on my wrist as she picks up her purse. Then she moves away from the table. Around the corner. To the hallway with the restrooms and the coat check.
My heart races. My thoughts get loud. Too loud. That bastard is here again. He's everywhere.
He's always fucking things up.
"Excuse me." I don't wait for a response. I move toward the bathroom. Around the corner. To the dark, quiet space.
The weight of the wall is comforting. But it's not enough. It's not getting my thoughts straight.
I need a drink. Or a woman under me. Jasmine under me.
I try to find steadiness with my exhale.
Then the door to the women's room swings open. Jasmine steps into the hallway. Looks me dead in the eyes. "Are you all right?"
"No."
"Was he—"
I'm not answering that question. I can't think about that question. I can't think. Period. "Did you wear that dress for me?"
"I don't know what you mean." She plays coy. Moves away from the door. To the space on the wall, next to me.
I let my hand skim her wrist. "Yes, you do."
"Shep—"
"Tell me to stop."
Her eyes find mine.
"If you want me to stop, tell me to stop—"
"I thought you wouldn't touch me until I begged you."
"Am I touching you?"
She motions to my wrist.
I raise a browreally.
She nodsreally.
I pull my hand away. She's right. Rules are rules. Right now, I need rules. "You're daring me."
"I don't know what you—"
"Yes you do, princess."
The pet name makes her pupils dilate.
"You know what you're doing. But you don't know me anymore. You don't know how dangerous this game is."
"I can handle it." Her voice lifts to that proud, defiant tone. She thinks she can handle me. She thinks she can dare me and walk away.
She's wrong.
"You have no idea who I am now. You have no idea how rough I like it." I move closer. Close enough to smell her shampoo.
