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My elbows almost give out as the toy comes to life within me, this time pulsating with different levels of vibrations, starting low and building high before dropping again. I take deep breaths, intent on holding the pose for ten more seconds. I manage to do it, dropping to my stomach as soon as the count is over, and pull out my phone.

“You’re the worst.” I type, squeezing my legs together and willing myself to act normal.

James’ text comes quickly. “It’s fun watching you struggle.”

I roll my eyes and bite back a smile, the toy quieting again within me, and start my next stretch. But the lack of vibration is now almost as torturous as when it’s turned on. It feels like a ticking time bomb, one that could go off at any second with no warning.

I decide that with this toy inside of me, I probably shouldn’t be lifting heavy weights today, so I head to the free weights section and grab two light dumbbells to do walking lunges. I’m sweating before I even start, and I don’t think it’s because of the exercise . . .

Once I finish my first set, I sit on a nearby empty bench and check my phone. Another text from James: “I let him in for now. Just tell me if he bothers you and I’ll kick him out.” What the hell is he talking about?

Before I can type a response, I feel a presence standing over me and already know. Brady. Why the fuck would James let him back in here?

I level him an annoyed stare. “What do you want?”

“I just wanted to say I’m sorry,” he says, putting on a slightly pouty face that makes him look more pathetic than apologetic.

“Okay, thanks. Again, I appreciate your apology. Is that all?” I really don’t want to be talking to him right now. I take a long swig of water as I watch him think of what else to say.

“Um, I guess I just wanted you to know that I really am sorry. For everything, I mean. I tried to come back to your apartment this weekend after I blew up on you the other day, but you weren’t home at all.”

“Oh, yeah, I — ” Wait, why am I trying to explain myself to him? “I was out.” I move to stand, but all of the sudden, the toy starts buzzing, high and fast. I fall back onto the bench and wrap my arms around my torso, trying desperately not to double over. What the fuck, James? I glare at him across the room, and he looks like he’s holding in a laugh as he starts walking toward us. Oh, god.

“Um, are you okay?” Brady is staring at me as if I just grew another head, and I try to think of a fast excuse.

“Yeah, just period cramps. They’re pretty bad today.” I choke out. The vibrating stops.

He looks at me with concern but continues. “Okay, well. Like, I’m sorry again for everything that happened with our relationship and with me being a dick last week.”

I’m not really sure what to say; I don’t forgive him, really, but I can’t bring myself to care a whole lot about it anymore now that I have James.

“Everything okay over here, babe?” Speaking of James . . .

“Yep,” I respond, feeling awkward as hell that I’m sitting while these two tall men stand in front of me. Then I realize, he called me babe. My eyes flash to Brady, who’s looking between us, emotions flitting across his face: confusion, then understanding, then annoyance and anger.

“Babe?” Brady mimics with venom in his tone. “You can’t be fucking serious.”

I stand and face him, done with all of his bullshit and halfhearted apologies. “Yeah, you heard him.”

He scoffs. “So, what, you’re his girlfriend now? Is this some sort of joke? He’s old enough to be your dad, Ivy.”

I’m about to tear into him, furious that he thinks he has any right to comment on who I’m with, but James speaks before I can. “Yes, she is my girlfriend.”Wait, I am?“And I may be a good deal older than her, but now she’s learning how it feels for a real man withexperienceto take care of her.” He stresses the word “experience,” his meaning clear.

The jab doesn’t go unnoticed by Brady, and he looks ready to explode when I see the flash of James’ phone in his hand right before the toy inside me goes wild.Fuck. I bend slightly, willing myself to stay upright as much as possible, and I let out a whimper which I try to hide with a cough. It doesn’t work.

Brady’s eyes go wide as he looks from me to the phone in James’ hand, then back to me as I dig my nails into James’ bicep. Realization dawns on his face. “No fucking way,” he spits. “You all are fucking sick.” He storms out of the building, and I know that’s the last I’ll hear from him. But it’s okay, because that’s a bridge I’d happily burn one hundred times over again.

James clicks off the vibrator again, and I glare up at him.

“I think I’ve had enough of this for today, thanks to you.”

He chuckles. “That’s okay, I figured I can steal you away later and finish things off anyway.” He leans down and places a kiss on my forehead.

“You don’t care about people finding out?” I ask, realizing he just showed me affection in public, in his own business, for the first time. I assumed he would want to keep our affection private, with the age gap and with the fact that I’m technically a customer of his. “Is that because I’m yourgirlfriendnow?” I tease, repeating his words from a few minutes ago.

“I don’t care about people finding out,” he says, pulling me closer to him, “and I don’t want to hide you. In fact, I want to show you off to everyone I possibly can. I didn’t expect to feel this much so fast, but I can’t fight this constant urge to be with you all the time.”

A smile breaks across my face. He wants to be withme.

“I know neither of us really came into this with expectations of this lasting longer than a couple nights, but I don’t want this to end. I want nothing more than for you to be mine. As long as you’ll have me,” he adds.

I think of everything I’ve done and felt with him in the past couple of weeks. Not just the mind-blowing sex, but the way I’ve felt safe in his arms, the way I haven’t felt the urge to hide myself or be someone I’m not. The way I feel confident and heard and loved.

And for the first time in a long time, I feel genuine excitement for the future. And not just the future, but the potential of a future withhim. Who knows what time may hold, but I can’t wait to find out.

The next five words I say are the easiest ones that have ever passed my lips.

“I would love nothing more.”

THE END