Page 97 of Degrees of Control

What will happen if he leaves? Will I even want to have sex ever again?

That was enough to get her mind off the hundreds of gloriously rough fucks they’d shared and onto the reality of their situation. They were in a bathroom at Sophia’s party with a storm-cloud of problems surging overhead. This wasn’t the right time to have sex.

“Thank you for noticing me,” she said, keeping her voice a whisper. “But I should probably get back to—”

“Your boyfriend?”

“What?” she asked, genuinely confused.

That professionally polished smile flashed out at her again. “You’re taken, aren’t you? Brown hair, green jacket?”

Charlie knew he meant Freddie but still couldn’t figure out what the hell James was saying. “I…?”

He jerked a thumb toward the door. “The guy you came here with, the pea coat and the stupid shoes. He’s your boyfriend, ain’t he?”

Then Charlie understood, though it only ratcheted up her nerves. James had always liked casting himself in the role of the other man. It was a powerful drive for a dominant guy like him, the idea of stealing what belonged to another and making it his own. Charlie also thought —though she’d never told James this—it might help with his jealousy. That being both her boyfriend and the man she cheated on him with made James feel as though he could be everything to her.

It was an understandable impulse and Charlie was happy to accommodate James’ fantasies, but she wasn’t sure about this set up. Location aside, placing Freddie in the role of her boyfriend gave the fantasy a twist of realism that made her feel a little guilty. It also reminded her of something, the same thing from before. God, why couldn’t she—

“No need to be nervous baby, I won’t hurt you.” James’ hand brushed her shoulder, sweeping her hair aside and sending sparks skittering across her skin. “But that is your man out there, ain’t it?”

Charlie wanted to resist, or maybe shewantedto want to resist, but it was too much—the undivided attention from her boyfriend, the knowledge that in his jealousy he was entirely hers, was intoxicating. His incredible scent filled her nose and she decided to go with the game. Sex this hot was always worth perusing, and besides, they could talk afterward.

“Yes, that’s my boyfriend,” she said, edging closer to the door. “But I don’t think his shoes are stupid, I think they’re nice.”

James leaned up against the sink, casually blocking her path. “Well ain’t that sweet? Pea-Coat know what a lucky man he is?”

Charlie crossed her arms. “I know he’d be mad if he found out I was talking to you. And don’t call me, ‘baby.’”

She didn’t normally sass him from within these roles but the confusion that had come before now wasn’t easy to put aside. James, for his part, seemed to be enjoying it. He threw his head back and laughed. “Sorry, Peaches.”

“Peaches isn’t any better. Why are you in here with me?”

He shrugged his powerful shoulders. “Thought you might like it better this way. A little privacy so no one can interrupt us while we’re talkin’ or whatever else we’re gonna get up to.”

Charlie’s belly tightened and she knew it was time to launch her last resistance. She straightened her spine and gave him the fake smile she used when yoga client’s payments weren’t coming through. “Okay, so we’ve talked, but I should get back to the party now.”

“I disagree, darlin’.” He took her wrist again. He’d always had rough hands, but where his fingers had been callused from weight lifting, now they were hard from working on engines all day. The strength beneath them was both obvious and intimidating. “I think we should get to know each other a little better.”

Charlie trembled a little at the suggestion of force. She’d been screwed by James a million times, but this was different, there was some electricity in the air tonight that made everything between them spark new.

What does this remind me of?

“I can’t be here,” she whispered. “I don’t even know you.”

James leaned down and nuzzled his mouth along her cheek, raising goosebumps as he went. “That’s got its own appeal, baby. Don’t tell me you’ve never fantasized about bein’ fucked by a stranger.”

Charlie flinched a little at his crudeness. “You know I have a boyfriend.”

“I do. I also know he looks about as fun as a mop and bucket. Bet he bores you to tears in bed. Bet you get more excited eatin’ your anniversary dinner than you do when he’s fucking you afterward.”

It was just macho posturing, the kind of thing James usually said when they played ‘steal the sucker’s girlfriend,’ but this was rubbing her the wrong way. Mostly because she and James had celebrated their three year anniversary a few weeks ago, and it felt like he was taunting not only Freddie, but the version of himself who held her hand and took her to vegan tapas restaurants.

Charlie made a snap decision. He wasn’t going to control this scene, mold it to serve whatever bad thoughts were whirling around his head. She held up her hand and displayed the silver band on her ring finger, a gift from her childhood best friend, Britney.

James grinned. “You tryna tell me you’re engaged?”

Oh yeah you’d just love that, wouldn’t you? Screwing Freddie’s fiancé while he stands around eating increasingly warm hummus. Well you can just think again, James Hunter.

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