Page 132 of Nothing to You
“You tried that in New York, how’d it work out?”
Fair point.“New York is an amazing city,” she said to be greeted by a crooked brow.“Okay, yes, it would’ve been better if we were there together.”
“That’s the rule now, right?”
“Depends.”
“On?”
“If you can scratch my itch before the sushi gets here.”Because she needed something else first, something more urgent, and only he could give it.“Timeout over.”
“I know how you feel about sushi.”
Trying her best to move against him, it wasn’t easy to do much arousing while pinned in a corner.“Did you miss me, Hotshot?”
“I haven’t decided.I’ll tell you after the ink is dry and I’ve subjugated you.”
“Are you afraid, Boy Scout?Worried I might see your vulnerable underbelly?”
“Problem is, around you, that’s all I am.”
“Stop it,” she said, trying her best to push at his body with hers.
“Stop what?”
“Shit, how didn’t we see it?”Was there ever a chance they hadn’t been meant to be?“You’re trying to romance me with that gooey shit.My guy doesn’t do mushy.”Pushing hard against her, he was thinking dominance, it was in his eyes, but she could only smile.“You want me bad, don’t you?Say it.Tell me.”
“Not a fucking chance,” he said, swooping down to plant his mouth on hers.
Taunting was par for the course, but fuck, it was more now they had forever.Together, they could handle anything.
THREE
LATER, AFTER SEX and sushi, they lay spooned on the couch, her in front of him, the rum bottle on the floor beneath them.Die Hardsome number or other played, but she wasn’t watching.The sensation of his heartbeat on her back matched the rise and fall of his chest.It captivated her.Consumed her.Gave her such peace.
Could be he was asleep.They hadn’t said anything for a while.But with the movie on, she’d bet he was paying at least a little attention.
Xavien Rourke.Hotshot.Forever.Like no one else ever forever.Why wasn’t she worried?Hesitant?Scared?The truth was, she’d never been more at peace.Just like he’d said about ultimatums, it wasn’t even a question.She didn’t have to wonder.Xavien Rourke was the half of her she’d never known was missing.The only person, object, presence she needed to make sense of the world.
“What if we did get pregnant,” she said, resting her hands on his forearms.“If I did want to have a baby.”
“Hmm,” he said like he might’ve been dozing, then cleared his throat.“Then have the kid, won’t make any difference to me.Raising kids is women’s work.”He kissed her head.“Whatever makes you happy, Babycakes.”
And then because she liked to look at an issue from all angles.“What if I wanted to abort it?If we got pregnant and I didn’t want to have it.”
In the silence, she couldn’t see his face or hear his voice.Her avenues for reading him were too limited.After he had way more time to process than he needed, she shifted onto her back to look at him.
First thing he did was kiss her forehead.“You want to give it up, give it up.”
“Really?”
All the times he said chauvinistic bullcrap, she assumed him playing a misogynist dick was just a role.A comedic, ridiculous role.But they were in it now, headed for forever with vows and contracts, the full deal.The politics could matter one day.
“Yeah.”
“Rourke, are you—”
“Pro-life, pro-choice, I’m pro whatever the situation requires.Do I think women, or couples, should use abortion as a form of birth control?No, I don’t.It disgusts me actually.But do I think abortion should be freely available to all?Yes.You know why?Because it’s not up to one person to tell another person what they can and can’t, should and shouldn’t, do with their body.I’m free sanity, free speech, and free do whatever the fuck you want providing it’s not hurting anyone else.Allowing a woman the right to choose is the way I’m sure I get to keep my rights to my body.Creating laws against that is a damn slippery slope and who says stop?I should be allowed to choose or refuse surgery, amputation, a vasectomy, any and all medical care.I should be allowed to decide if I shave my head or tattoo my body.
