Page 44 of In For a Penny
We lie panting on thebed next to each other without saying a word. Suddenly, we burst out laughing. For the second time in under an hour, I can’t breathe from sheer laughter.
“That was fun,” he says with a final chuckle.
I take a deep breath. “Yeah, good times.”
We look over at each other, and he raises his hand, palm up. I high-five him and chuckle again. My skin feels tingly, and a sheen of sweat covers our skin. It feels like every joint in my body has come a little loose, and dammit, if it doesn’t feel incredible.
“Did you know you have amassivebruise on your ass?” he says while getting up to dispose of the used condom and wrapper. “It almost distracted me from the whole situation.Almost.”
“Situation? Sex with me was a ‘situation’?” I snort, unconsciously rubbing my butt cheek, feeling how sore it is. “Ugh, I didn’t know it had actually bruised. It’s from last night, I guess. I will never attempt to pole-dance ever again—especiallynot on a moving tube.”
“I mean, you can pole-dance for me any time you want.” He laughs at my expression. Oliver slips back into bed with me.
I raise an eyebrow. “Really? Still? I thought you would calm down if I ever slept with you.”
“Never,” he says with a smile, putting his hands behind his head.
“Right, well, that was fun, but I’m going back to sleep.” I pull up the covers and turn over on my side, ending this conversation. I need a few more hours of sleep, especially after our little tryst. I’m finally comfortable under the comforter in a ball when I feel Oliver’s arm snake around my waist. My whole body tenses as I feel the front of his body press up against the back of mine.
“Um, what do you think you’re doing?” I ask as nicely as possible. I’m about five seconds from elbowing him in the balls.
“Um...I don’t know. Spooning you?” he answers, confused.
“Whyare you spooning me, exactly?”
Oliver senses my panic and gets the message, releasing his hold on me. I turn around, half in his arms, to face him and look him straight in the eye.
“Ah,” he says, nodding in understanding.
“Spooning is for lovers, for couples. We are not lovers, nor are we a couple. We’re friends who happen to find each other attractive and decided to have sex. So please don’t ever fucking spoon me ever again,” I say as gently as possible. I know that there are no romantic feelings involved here, but I don’t want to put either of us in a position that will lead to deeper intimacy. I don’t want to set a precedent.
“Noted. No spooning. Ever.” He rolls onto his back and stares up at the ceiling. “What about cuddling? I’m a fantastic cuddler,” he says with a smile.
Is this man incapable of having a serious conversation? I sigh. I can easily imagine laying my head on his chest and cuddling him. He looks comfy. But no—hands down, no. Oliver and I get along all too well, and it would just be playing with fire. He’s a man with a million red flags, but you never know—it’s easier than we’d like to admit to fall for the wrong ones (please see dreaded ex as example).
Boundaries, boundaries, boundaries.
“Fantastic cuddler or not, it might make things complicated. Who knows?”
“Just from cuddling? Jesus, you areseriouslyfucked up, you know that?”Duh.“Itispossible to have a casual cuddle without it leading to a marriage proposal, you know. And need I remind you that I have a girlfriend?” he adds. “Not that she would be opposed to this little assignation between you and me, but you don’t need to worry about me catchingfeelingsor anything,” he says with mock disgust, making fun of me.
I roll my eyes at him. “It’s not justyouhere. It’s me. I might be stupid enough to catch feelings foryou.” I snort at the idea. “Also”—I sit up, holding the comforter to cover myself—“why are we even discussing this as though this is not a one-time thing?”
Oliver snorts. “Penny,please, you know for a fact that this was not a one-time thing. It was fucking great and will only get better with repetition.” He sighs and turns on his side, closing his eyes. “And there will belotsmore repetition,” he adds with a smile on his face.
I love Oliver as a friend, and we’ve gotten very close in a short time, but right now, I want to murder him. “You’re being a bit presumptuous, aren’t you?” Anger courses through my veins. I don’t like how arrogant he’s acting.
He sighs and sits up again to look me in the eye. “Penny. Answer the following questions for me. Did you have fun?”
I think of the back-bending pleasure that was this morning and the freedom of doing it with someone I trust but have no romantic feelings for whatsoever. I didn’t feel self-conscious ever. I was never concerned about whether I might be bloated from alcohol or anything. It was just fun.Oliver had become a good friend—and a trustworthy one, at that.
“Yes,” I answer.
“Have I given you any indication that this is something more than it is?” he follows up.
“No.”Thank God.
“I realize that you are, at present, not emotionally available, and please let me reassure you that neither am I.” I realize his tone has evolved into a more formal one. For my sake? “I am in a committed open relationship and have been for several years. So, you shouldn’t worry.” His expression is serious, official—must be all of his training as a civil servant. I appreciate the effort, as it removes the emotions from the situation—or at least attempts to. I’m trying to remain as emotionally detached as possible.
