Page 38 of Rafferty's Rules
‘What now?’ I ask on an aggrieved sigh.
‘I’d feel like I’d be taking advantage of you,’ he says, stepping farther away.
‘For Pete’s sake. Didn’t we already establish that I came onto you? Women are allowed to do that these days, you know? And slut shaming is a nasty, terrible thing.’
His back against the wall, he kicks one foot over the other and folds his arms. And the man is smiling.
‘What? What’s so funny?’
‘The idea of me calling you a slut when it should be the other way around.’ He narrows his eyes, and somehow, I know he’s trying to make me cross. Like he needs totryright now. ‘You’re a prim little thing.’
‘Prim on the outside,’ I reply, making my way to where he stands. ‘A tigress underneath.’ And it’s pretty hard to embody a tigress when you’re wrapped in a duvet, even a summer weight one. And also more than a little awkward when you’ve only just discovered your inner tigress. ‘This strait-laced woman hashidden depths.’ They’re more like hidden shallows, but I’m working on them. But novice or not, as I reach where he lounges, I’m a little thrilled to see the depth of blue in his fierce gaze. I place a finger against his sternum and trail it downwards. ‘And you’re just the man to explore them.’ Honestly, I don’t know where these words are coming from.
‘I still don’t think this a good idea.’ As I reach the waistband of his shorts, he twists away. You’ve been hurt in the worst way a man can hurt you. You’re not gonna be here long, and—’
‘Exactly! I’m your fake temporary girlfriend.’ I turn to face his retreating form, and I’m ashamed to admit, I stomp my foot with each delivered word. ‘What are you afraid of?’
‘Complicating things,’ he grunts as he escapes through the door.
‘Complicating what things?’ I follow him out, still wrapped in the quilt. ‘I’m only here for two more weeks!’ I sound like a fishwife as I yell after him as he disappears down the stairs. ‘How can that be complicated?’
Gathering the quilt in one arm because it’s either that or going naked, I follow him. When I don’t see him on the next floor or out on the deck, I tread carefully down the next flight. This only stops when we’ve gotten to the bottom of this. Or when he steps out of the front door.
‘How can it be complicated?’ I say a little less shrilly as I find him in the kitchen. He stands by the window, looking out at the yard. The morning sun highlights the gold and red in his hair, a shaft of light cutting across his body, the shadow of the frangipani leaves dancing across the skin of his arm.
‘Things just get complicated where I’m concerned.’
‘Are you saying you’re worried I’ll fall in love with you?’ He’s good looking and all but hello! Woman scorned!
‘Look, I really need you to come to my brother’s wedding with me.’ His hand on the edge of the sink, he drops his head. ‘Can’t we just leave it at that?’
‘I know you want me to come along but—’
‘No, Lissa. Ineedyou to.’ His fingers tighten, turning pale.Frustration, not anger.
‘Okay,’ I answer, feeling the tug of my brows. ‘But I don’t understand what that has to do with... with.’ What a time for my prissy self to show up once again.
‘I need you to come with me. Stay with me, and I don’t want to frighten you off.’
‘Are you telling me you’re kinky?’ A worried thrill runs through me, my nipples suddenly hard and rubbing against the quilt.
‘What? No. No more than the next bloke.’ He turns, pressing his butt against the edge of the sink as he folds his arms. ‘But whether I frighten you off or piss you off, it’s all the same. I’m not the right bloke for a holiday romance.’
‘You’re saying you’re not great boyfriend material?’ He nods just once. ‘Good, because I don’t want a boyfriend.’
‘And I don’t want a fuck buddy.’
‘Oh, I think I kinda do,’ I reply tartly, planting a hand on my hip. You want this little fuck buddy who’s never been fucked. ‘We were getting along fine yesterday.’ My hand slips from my hip, my tone suddenly plaintive. ‘Why does a little sex have to get in the way?’
‘Fucking always complicates things.’ With a scowl, he turns and pulls a glass from a nearby cabinet before filling it with water from the fridge dispenser, downing it so as not to have to look me in the eye.
On another day, with another name or another place, I would not be working so hard for this. This isn’t me—I’m not demanding or brave, and I’ve certainly never been anyone’s fuck buddy. But I have been someone’s no fuck fiancée.
‘Being intimate would only enhance things, Rafferty.’
‘See? You’re already confusing intimacy with fucking. Women say they can cope with casual sex, but they can’t. I like you, Lis, and I don’t want to end up adding to the things that have pissed you off on this holiday.’
‘Too late, buddy. Guess what, you already have. Women can’t cope,’ I mutter. ‘Where do you get off?’ He quirks an eyebrow that I completely ignore.
