Taking a deep breath, I pick the phone up again when it buzzes.
On a less sexual note, I’ve been tested recently, and am perfectly willing to show paperwork to that effect.
“Oh. My. God.” I look over at the doorway to see Elle staring at me with a giant grin on her face. “You actually did it? I’m so fucking proud of you!”
I shake my head. “I mean, I’m not sure you will be. I basically said that I wanted a one-night stand. Because you’re right. I need to get some action and release some of the stress.”
“Girl,” Elle says, “believe me, I’m not judging. It’s been long enough. I’m just happy that you’re taking the step at all, frankly.”
I laugh. “Am I really that bad?”
“We both know that you are. Someone messaged you already?”
“Yeah,” I nod. “Sounds like he could work pretty well. But am I really going to do this? Meet a stranger and just let him fuck me?”
“There’s a reason that I recommended this app,” Elle says. “I’ve been using it for a while. And unlike other apps—I know it sounds crazy because it’s anonymous—but I’ve never had a bad experience. No one has ever been creepy or ever made me feel unsafe. Which feels like a miracle.”
“Yeah,” I admit. “That really does.”
“So go get some!”
I shake my head. The phone buzzes in my hand, but I don’t look down at it. Not yet. “Are you going to do that thing for me where if I don’t text you in a certain amount of time you’re going to call the police?”
“Of course. But I mean, I’ll be honest, you were up front about the fact that you wanted sex. Men love that. I doubt that this guy is a murderer.”
“You never know,” I mutter, glancing down at the phone.
I’m imagining pinning you to the bed with my mouth and tasting you until you scream. It doesn’t matter if you’re not a screamer. You will tonight.
Shivers run across my skin, and a visceral image of that floods my mind. Yes. I blush red, and Elle sees. “What did he say?”
“Nothing,” I say.
“Bullshit.”
“Fine,” I say. “He said something very sexual that I would prefer not to share at this moment.”
She raises an eyebrow. “Was it good at least?”
I nod. “It certainly…stimulates the imagination.”
“You’re killing me here.”
“If it happens, I’ll tell you later.”
Elle points at me. “I’m holding you to that, you know. Now go, get out of here and go get laid. I’ll finish up.”
“Are you serious, Elle? There’s so much to do.”
She shakes her head, “No, there isn’t. Now get out of here. If I can’t finish it all, I’ll come in early. You never take a break and you deserve one.”
“Remind me to buy you a present,” I say, gathering my things.
She smirks. “My paycheck is present enough. But text me and let me know what’s happening so that I know if I have to call the authorities. You know, normal best friend things.”
I laugh as I head out of the store, peeking at my phone again.
I’ll be ready in ninety minutes. I type. Does that work for you?
Perfectly.
I text him the address as I slip into my car. Crossing my fingers that this isn’t the stupidest decision that I’ve ever made in my life.
3
This is insane. I can’t believe I’m doing this.
As soon as I got home I jumped in the shower. I quickly shaved, then put on a comfortable but pretty shirt and some leggings. I did my make-up, too. God, I hope he’s attractive. Cause even though I don’t owe this stranger from the internet anything, that’ll be awkward, and I don’t want that.
He’s supposed to be here in five minutes, and I don’t know what to do with myself. I keep pacing around my living room, watching through the cracks in the curtain to see if a car pulls up outside my house.
My cat, Ursula, senses my distress. She jumps up onto the windowsill on my latest pass by it and rubs her head against my hip. I run my hand along her back, accepting the comfort that she’s offering.
What am I doing?
I want this. I can’t deny that I do. The commanding tone that VonRedwood used in the text messages spoke to me and woke my arousal. And the sexual frustration from this morning still has its hold on me. That still doesn’t change the fact that this is absurd.
I can fully admit that.
A set of lights runs across the window as a sleek car pulls up alongside the curb. Oh shit, this is real. This is actually happening. I see him get out of the car, but it’s already getting dark outside, and I can only see his silhouette. He’s tall, just like his profile said, and clearly fit. So I don’t have to worry about that.