Page 36 of Dirty Dylan: Dirty Dusters

“Can I have a word, please?”I’m standing in the doorway of Dyl’s apartment. I’ve never been up here before, but he’s avoided me long enough.

Today’s meeting saw him not look in my direction once. Pretty soon, it will be noticeable to others, that’s if it isn’t already.

He’s dressed down in grey jogging pants and a black crew neck tee. His feet are bare, and his black hair is wet from the shower, so he’s obviously been working on those mouth-watering abs of his.

Meanwhile, I’m still dressed in my office finery, having just left a meeting with Paddy and a very grumpy Eoin. It’s my guess, despite outward appearances, that the eldest brother’s arranged marriage contract is chaffing him somewhat.

Dyl’s face is impassive as he motions for me to step inside. I walk straight across to the window to take in the visual it affords, but also to distance myself.

Well, there’s no point asking for trouble.

The view from my apartment is exceptional, but from his penthouse, it’s truly breathtaking. Only the best for a Duster. I glance around his monochrome living space. It’s immaculate and minimalistic like mine. Something else we share in common.

My gaze finally lands back on him. The man who’s been haunting my every waking and sleeping thought since I first laid eyes on him all those months ago.

The man I almost fucked.

The man who’s a bonafide virgin.

I still can’t wrap my head around it, but he wouldn’t lie about something like that. I doubt he’d lie about anything, but then, what do I know?

He could be lying about absolutely everything.

The truth is, I thought we were on the same page. We weren’t. We never have been.

It should have been casual sex. Nothing more. A fuck for a fuck. An exchange of no-strings pleasure. A simple case of wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am.

Yes please to all of the above and with no emotional entanglement, thank you.

But that’s not possible, is it? Because I’d be his first. And firsts are always messy. Because firsts trigger something emotionally. And that right there? Well, that’s dangerous territory.

But not for him, for me.

Because it’s not him that’s in danger. I’m the one at risk of falling even further than I already have. Because, unlike him, I’m not pining over anyone else. Unlike him, I have no male secret who could appear at any given moment and whisk me off my feet.

So I can’t be his first. Because Jaine’s right.

Unlike him I could lose my heart.

“How long has this cold shoulder treatment to go on, Dylan? I’m sorry I didn’t sleep with you. Is that what you want me to say?”

“I don’t appreciate being led on, Jessie.” He remains expressionless as he stands with his hands stuffed in his pockets. There’s a dark confidence emanates from him these days. I realize it’s his Duster mode. Let’s face it, it was always going to be there. He just needed someone to activate his dark side.

Lucky me, I found the hidden switch that turned this bad boy on.

“I didn’t lead you on, or at least not intentionally. You should have told me.”

“What difference would it have made? What differencedoesit make?”

I get why he’s asking the question. I really do. He’s a man. From his point of view, sex is nothing more than a physical act.

A form of release.

And if he hadn’t mentioned it, would I have realized it was his first time? No, I wouldn’t have. Because despite him having zero practical experience, from what I could tell he’s way more than capable of carrying out the act without any guidance or tips from me.

But he did say, so emotionally, for me, it’s a disaster waiting to happen.

I just know it is.

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