Page 29 of Dirty Husband
"Thank you." Her voice drips with hurt. Her expression stays calm. All that emotion, whirling beneath the surface.
Her poker face is perfect. It's hard to believe.
Yes, she was a talented actress when we were in school. Especially for her age. But she wore everything all over her face. In theater and in life.
I guess things have changed.
"I don't need to tell you how scary it is." She takes another sip. Lets out a low sigh. "And how little time there is to consider that."
"Is he doing well?" I pretend as if I don't have all that information. Residents are underpaid, especially considering the cost of living. It shouldn't have been so easy to find a source, but it was.
"As well as he could. But…" She breaks off a piece of her scone. Places it on her tongue. For a moment, her eyes close and her features relax. Then she swallows and that pain is there. "He always liked you."
"He liked my parents' success."
"Yes, but that's the same thing. Good family, good manners, good future. All the traits necessary in a husband."
"Good father?"
Her eyes fill with surprise. "We never talked about that."
"We were young."
"I do wish things were different… I wish he could meet his grandchild."
My cock whines. Some primal urge to pass on my DNA. But the shit in my head—I can't go there. "Is that what you want?"
Her tension eases enough for her to shoot me aseriouslylook. "Pregnancy and child-rearing aren't included in our arrangement."
"No, those are perks."
She half-smiles. "I don't think you're getting past my IUD." Her cheeks flush. "I mean. We're not going to have sex. So it's a moot point."
"We'll see."
She clears her throat. "We're not."
"I am safe."
"You're what—"
"I don't have any STDS—"
"That's not…" She clears her throat. "We're not."
"Have you been tested?"
"Yes. And I'm safe. But that doesn't matter." Her blush deepens.
"Okay. We won't. But if we did… we wouldn't have to use a condom."
Her blush spreads to her chest. "I suppose that's true."
"Unless you feel differently."
"No. I prefer… without. But it doesn't matter. We're not." She clears her throat again. "It won't happen."
She takes another bite of her scone. Then another. She chews and swallows a little too fast. Coughs.
