Page 35 of Drive Me Wild
“Your hand. Rough, but not scratchy. Warm. And big.”
“What else?”
She stops moving, and her eyes fly open. “I like that you’re big. It makes me feel safe. It makes me feel like I can let go.” She pulls her legs off of me and I feel naked where her body was just touching mine.
“I think I’m starting to understand now.” She looks at me earnestly as she sits up and straightens out her clothes. “If I feel safe, I can let myself enjoy what’s happening. With Jeremy, I felt like I was under a microscope. You know, the first time we did it, he actually said that he hoped I wouldn’t suck?”
Her throat catches, and she swipes at her eyes.
“But with you… you’re here to help me and not make me feel stupid if I do things wrong. So I feel more free to do what feels good in the moment.”
I nod my head and adjust myself.
“Caleb, I want you to teach me the other stuff.”
My throat is dry. “What other stuff?”
“What guys like.”
“Each guy is a bit different.”
“So what do you like?”
Even though she stopped touching herself, her nipples are still pressing against the fabric of her shirt, and she’s looking at me with hooded eyes. My mind and body still aren’t syncing, so I do everything I can to keep my hands to myself while my brain is thinking about fucking her five ways to Friday.
“I like a lot of things.”
“Show me.”
Chapter Seventeen: Zoe
Caleb doesn’t show me anything. He grunts about fixing a car and leaves me in his apartment with my vag still on high alert.
So, I do what any self-respecting woman would do. I masturbate on his bed, and then I pull out the binder of materials that Mabel gave me about the bookstore.
As I read it, I think that she and I must have been related in another lifetime. There’s a page about the history of the building and the business. There are tear sheets from any press she’s gotten locally, as well as information on authors who’ve given talks over the years. There’s information about insurance, periodic inspections, building repairs, and upgrades. Then there’s the cost of goods, her annual sales broken down by month for the last ten years, income from the rooms on the third floor, property taxes, and utilities.
These pages answer every question I could possibly have, including the final page, which is how much she wants to sell the house and business for.
Half a million dollars for the whole thing. The house, inventory, and reputation.
I have some money saved, but even if I sell my online business first, it wouldn’t be enough for a downpayment.
But as I look over these pages, it’s as if my whole being is screaming for me to take a leap of faith. I think about what my mother said the last time we spoke, and I know I have to go for it.
I put the binder and my laptop in my backpack and throw on my shoes to head downstairs. I want to talk to Serena. If anyone in this town knows who can help me write a business plan to convince a bank to lend me money, it’s her.
When I open the door to leave, Caleb is standing there with his hand reaching for the knob.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
“You’re leaving.”
“I’m done working and need to see someone about something.”
“Sounds important.” He winks.
