Page 40 of Duplicitous
“Tell me one thing about your life, and I’ll give you an orgasm. How are your studies going for your MA? Are you enjoying your classes?”
She frowns. “That’s two things about my life, not one.”
It’s good that she can’t see my scowl through my mask.
“Alright,” I allow, but my voice is too close to a growl. “Tell me about your classes, then.”
Her hand drops from her breast, and she eases away from the phone screen, as though she can put physical distance between us.
“This isn’t how I want things to be between us, Bones. I don’t want to hurt you, but I can’t offer more.”
“Why not? It’s hardly intimate information. You can share a little about your life with me.”
She lifts her chin. “You’ve never shared anything with me, either. I don’t even know what you look like.”
I want to challenge her, to demand what she wants to know about me.
But I can’t tell her anything about myself. Not now that I want her to choose me as Rand.
“Is that really all I am to you?” I can’t hold back the anguished question. “A mask on a screen? An anonymous toy to get you off when you’re horny?”
Her eyes tighten with her own pain. “That’s not fair. I’ve never used you. We want the same thing out of this relationship.”
“You don’t know the first thing about what I want,” I snap back.
“And whose fault is that?” she demands hotly. “You’ve never told me anything about yourself. I don’t know why you’re making me feel like shit for acting the same way.”
I’m losing control, getting swept up in my emotions. I’d intended to tease a little information out of her before rewarding her with an orgasm, but somehow, we’re arguing.
“Goodbye, Karolina.”
I end the call before I can say anything else I’ll regret.
My phone immediately buzzes. She’s trying to call me back.
I decline the request.
She texts me.
Karolina
You did not seriously just hang up on me.
I don’t reply. I can’t.
Karolina
You’re being an ass.
Is this it, then? Are we over?
My fingers hover over the screen.
No, we’re far from over. We’ll never be over.
A decision settles over me.
Shewillaccept me.
