Page 32 of Sold By The Siren

“Wait,” I say.

“I’m sorry. I got carried away,” Josef says and moves back to his side of the car.

“You’re not the only one who was getting carried away. This isn’t the right time or place, though,” I say, admiring his big boyish smile as he nods and pulls back onto the road.

We drive for about ten minutes before I realize neither of us has spoken. I’m content sitting in silence, basking in Josef’s presence, and confused by how I can feel this way with someone I've just met.

“I can’t stop thinking about kissing you. What’s on your mind right now, Mari,” he asks. He hasn’t stopped smiling since we started driving again.

“It’s funny. I’m not even supposed to talk to you, and I just shoved my tongue in your mouth. What’s the deal with that, anyway? Why am I not allowed to talk to you?”

“Sonomi doesn’t own your contract anymore, so you are free totalkto me all you want.”

“Unless the new owner of my contract doesn’t want me totalkto you, right?”

“I’m going to find out who that is and what game Sonomi is playing. Let me take care of it. You can stay at my place or with your family until I straighten it all out.”

“Bullshit! I’m part of this just as much as you are, Josef, if not more. I can handle myself too.”

“I know you can. Speaking of which. My turn with the questions. Where’d you learn to fight? Jiu-Jitsu, you mentioned.”

“I told you I’m a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, though I’ve only used it on people outside of sparring in class twice now. I've practiced it most of my life, and it helps a lot with balance for swimming. I also hike to the lake near your place whenever I get the chance and stretch and practice my moves before I swim.”

“I’d like to see that,” he says, raising an eyebrow.

“Well, we are going back to your place, aren’t we?” I ask. His smile turns serious, and his eyes widen.

“If you want to,” he answers.

“I do. Hey, slow down!

14

JOSEF

After grabbing a beach towel and my swim trunks at my house, Mari takes my trunks from my hands and tosses them aside.

“I’m not going to be the only one skinny dipping,” she says. What was I thinking? We start on our way to the lake hand-in-hand. I’m wearing black cargo shorts and a white T-shirt. Mari is wearing light green cotton shorts and a light purple T-shirt. All of which will all be coming off soon. I can’t get down this trail fast enough.

“Slow down!” she yells for the second time in half an hour. “You’re going to pull my arm out of its socket.”

“I’m sorry. I’m used to running on this trail,” I say as we slow down to a walk.

“That’s right. You, and Brenda, run on this trail. Which reminds me, this might not be the best time to discuss it, but I need to know. What is the deal with her?”

A sigh escapes my mouth. I’m embarrassed, but I told Mari I would answer anything I could. I’m just not sure what to say.

“You don't have to tell me,” Mari says. “I mean, as long as she’s really not your girlfriend or a friend with benefits or something like that.”

“No, it’s not like that. Brenda is sort of a paid consultant. She’s tried to help me with a problem I’ve had, well, pretty much my whole life. That is, until the last time I was here with you. You’re the only one I’ve ever, as you said, dry-humped out here. Or anywhere for that matter. You are the only one I was able to. The only one I ever really wanted to,” I say nervously.

“That is actually flattering. The first time you mentioned it, I didn’t put together what you were talking about since you decided to mention Brenda while kissing me,” Mari says while rolling her eyes a little, then she continues. “So, I got it right, what I was starting to explain to Connie. You had that stuff in your shed for therapeutic reasons because you can’t tell any secrets to a professional.”

“Yeah, that’s pretty much it. Brenda reallyisgoing to freak out when I tell her I have a new therapist, though. Ouch!” I say, more out of surprise than pain.

“I saw you do that to her out here,” she says with a mischievous grin.

“Yeah, but I have to pay her fifty dollars every time I slap her in the back of her head,” I say, straightening back up.

---