From Bully To Beloved

I may not be able to fuck her, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still have fun.

“Yeah…” she says. “But if we do, I know myself. I know I’ll want more, and we can’t.”

“Fine. I’ll go grab some and be back in ten minutes, tops,” I growl, already yanking up my jeans. “You stay here. You wait here. Don’t you go anywhere.”

“Wait, no. I’m already overthinking it now.”

Think, I tell myself.

Think.

Luckily, I knowexactlywhat to say. “Let’s risk it. I’ll pull out. I’m clean, if that’s your concern,” I say, my last line muffled by her hand.

“Well, yeah, so am I, but-”

“Then we’re good. It’s just one time, Sera. Come on, don’t be a goody-goody tonight.”

Sera’s eyes narrow.

I instantly know I fucked up.

“Hang on now,” I say, knowing exactly how to salvage all this. “It’s just sex.”

“Get off me,” she snaps, pushing me back to break all contact.

I stumble, grabbing my jeans to stop myself from tripping over them. Sera hops off the counter.

Fuck. Dumb move.

I yank my pants back up. “Shit, sorry, Sera, I didn’t mean-”Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

She adjusts her dress, hiding those magnificent curves. “I don’t evenwantto know what you meant.” She picks up her underwear and starts to storm away.

“Wait, hold on.” I grab her arm to stop her. Not hard, just enough for her to turn around to face me. “I didn’t mean it that way. I only meant that sex betweenusdoesn’t need to mean more than just two friends having fun. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

Her eyes widen.

Sera slips her hand out of my grasp. “Friends? Who says we’re friends? We were neverfriends, and newsflash, we will neverbefriends, Colton.”

“Did you ever stop to think that you take things way too seriously, Seraphine?”

Her lips purse. “Newsflash: I’m a woman. So maybe I do. But one of us has to.” She turns on her heel, and this time, I let her walk away.

Over her shoulder, she says, “Enjoy the couch tonight.”

Watching her disappear down the hall, I lean against the island, cursing in my head.

The last thing I hear is the bedroom door closing.

And the distinct click of the lock.