The Arrangement

“Anyone else need a drink?”

Thirty-Two

KAYLEEN

The world was brighter, greener, and happier than ever as I strutted my way through town. It might’ve had something to do with my mood, which was exceptionally cheerful.

It might’ve also had to do with the pleasant soreness between my legs.

Last night had been beyond ridiculous. I’d been taken by each of them, again and again, in the collapsed pillow-fort of the living room floor. At one point I rode them, one at a time, while the others rested. Straddling their hard bodies. Running my hands down their wide chests, my fingers tracing every peak and valley of their magnificently cut abs as they thrust upward, into me.

It was exactly like a dream. A lazy, euphoric half-sleep in which we were connected in the most intimate of all possible ways. I reveled in feeling each of my lovers buried inside me. Enjoyed watching their eyes roll back as they thrust upward, playing with my breasts, my nipples, shoving their come-coated fingers into my mouth…

I’d moaned and sighed and whimpered my way to another few orgasms. Then I fell asleep against them, between them, all warmth and flesh and heat. The cool breeze wafting in from the open atrium felt orgasmic on my skin. It washed away the heady scent our sex, bringing the sweet, earthy smell of the garden with it.

This morning, I’d taken the mother of all showers. The steaming water had been baptismal, and I’d emerged a whole new woman. I’d even made breakfast for the boys, while they still slept, crashed out on the floor. The living room looked like the most perverted of all possible sleepovers, and I left the house giggling.

Right now I’d run five out of six errands, and was feeling pretty damned productive. I’d called my parents, like a good daughter. I’d even talked to Marcy, and arranged lunch for tomorrow.

I was considering rewarding myself with another coffee when I noticed something strange. A car… rolling alongside me. Following along at the same speed I was walking, almost as if trying to get my attention.

An internal alarm of danger sounded, but I shut it down. I was on a crowded street. In the middle of the day. It wasn’t like—

“Hey! Kayleen!”

I turned, and the car’s window was rolled down now. A short, bearded man in a white collared shirt was leaning my way. I had absolutely no idea who he was.

“You’re Kayleen, right? Nathan’s roommate?”

I stopped and nodded. “And you are—”

“Jay,” he said, dividing his attention between me and the road. “Jay Summers. I’m the publisher. Nathan’s friend. I—”

A car horn honked, and he placed both hands back on the wheel.

“Oh, hey,” I said. “Hi.”

“Hang on. Let me park this thing.”

I stopped walking, and watched as he took the next available spot. He had one of this super-fancy, ultra-expensive cars that parallel parked itself. Two minutes later he was on the sidewalk before me, extending his hand.

“Sorry about the roll-up,” he smiled. “Didn’t mean to freak you out.”

“Don’t apologize,” I smiled back. “I just—”

“Didn’t know me,” he jumped in. “Totally understandable.” I could tell right away Jay was an interrupter. He also spoke very quickly, which was usually a sign of nervousness.

Only this guy didn’t seem nervous.

“Anyway, I wanted to call you but I didn’t have your number. And then boom — there you are! Walking though town. So I just figured I’d stop and—”

“How’d you even kno

w what I look like?”

The question just popped out. It might’ve come off a little rude, which I didn’t mean of course. But it was still a good question.

“Oh. Nathan told me.”