Someone Else's Ocean

“Slow day. The boss told me to take the rest of it off. How long did you play?”

“Just through grade school.”

“That was grade school level?”

“I was a bit advanced.”

I harrumphed. “You think?”

He ignored my compliment as he stalked toward me, his eyes darkening.

“So lucky me,” he said moving to stand in front of me before he took a squirming Disco from my arms to grant her freedom. “You’re home early and it’s raining,” he murmured leaning in, “what shall we do?”

I swallowed. “I was thinking we could start our book club?”

“Sure,” he said with a smirk, pulling my purse off my shoulder and tossing

it on the couch behind me. “After.”

“After?”

“After,” he whispered, crushing me to his chest before capturing my mouth.

Hours later, I lingered next to a hot running shower, my whole body vibrating as I stood in a daze, my hair a sex afro. My abdomen was screaming, and I winced at the pinch I still felt from his size. The man fucked like Tarzan.

“Hey,” he said in a raspy voice behind me. I turned to see him darken my doorway and took a step back. “I, uh… I can’t do it again, sorry.” I jumped into the shower and ducked under the stream as the door open and he joined me. He chuckled as he turned me to face him. “What’s with the brush-off?”

The banging began below, and I knew I was in a world of shit. I winced as I ducked for the shampoo.

“You’re hurt?”

“I’m sore.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, tilting my chin. “I’m a little rough.”

“A little,” I said with wide eyes.

“Shit, I really hurt you?”

“No, I mean I’m hurting, but it doesn’t really have to do with the sex. I mean it does but…”

“Koti, spit it out,” he said impatiently. “I’m feeling like an asshole here.”

“I have a condition that can make sex painful at times, well after sex.” I glanced at the tile floor. “Sometimes during.”

“You were hurting during?” he asked confused. “Those screams?”

“Were orgasms,” I assured. “Ian, you’re fine. It’s called endometriosis. That’s why I was on the hammock that day crying. It’s awful to endure and a shitty subject, so let’s not talk about it.”

He let out a breath and gripped my shoulders. “Be honest, did any part of that hurt during?”

“No, I swear. I like you but not enough to hurt myself.”

“Okay, so what do we do?”

I laughed. “What do you mean, what do we do? We do nothing. I just have to deal with it.”

I lathered up his hair while he studied me and gave him a faux hawk. “Sexy.”