Page 32 of Almost True
“Yeah?”
“It’s nice having a housemate. D’you think we could come to some arrangement where we give up on this competition and just live together? We can get you a sofa bed if you’d like.”
Korren gives me a look. “Is this because you’re scared of sex?”
“No.”
“Because that’s not how the game works. I want that cabin all to myself. No sharing. That was the deal, and I’m not giving up until you’ve dropped out completely.”
That hurts. I should’ve known better, but I’d hoped Korren wouldn’t want to push me away so quickly.
“Fine,” I say, trying to act as thought I don’t care. I don’t think Korren is fooled. “In that case, I’ve been doing some research, and I’m game to let you fuck me tonight.”
The flicker of anxiety in Korren’s eyes tells me he never thought I’d go through with it.
Chapter 23
Korren
I can’t focus on a word of Chief Rhodes’ debrief. All I can think about is that I’m going to have sex with Dex tonight.
I know it was my fucking dare. But I seriously did not think things through.
I don’t know if I can do this.
I’m stressing the fuck out.
My skin is crawling through the whole team meeting, and it’s all I can do not to keep itching at my arms. Especially my wrists—it’s like my scars have scabbed over again and the skin is tugging at the edges like it used to.
What the hell was going through my head?
And why the fuck am I getting horny just thinking about it? That scares me even more than the idea of hooking up with Dex.
I’m definitely straight, but if I get really worked up and end up enjoying myself, I’m never going to be able to convince Dex of that. And it doesn’t help that I’m the one who keeps coming up with the more extreme dares. He’ll never look at me the same way again.
I glance around at the rest of the crew, wondering what they’d think if they knew half of what we’ve gotten up to. We’ve taken this a lot further than I’d ever imagined—it’s like the game is turning into a whole thing instead of a means to an end.
My head is such a mess that I don’t even register when Chief Rhodes dismisses us. Instead I stay where I’m sitting like a dumbass until Dex comes and gives me a nudge.
“You look a bit distracted,” he teases.
“Fuck you.”
“Isn’t that the plan?”
I whip around to make sure no one is listening, which they’re not. The station is empty.
Still.
“Don’t say things like that,” I hiss.
“Not in public, you mean. I bet you’ll be all about the dirty talk tonight.”
I surge to my feet and clamp a hand over his mouth. “I’m fucking serious.”
He pokes his tongue between my fingers, and I give up. I know he’s as worried about his reputation as I am, so he’s just winding me up.
“Anyway, you’ve got your pay from last week. I’m going into town to see how fast I can spend mine.” Dex dangles an envelope in front of my face, and I snatch it roughly.
