Silver Elite

by Dani Francis

“Does it get you off, the idea of forcing women to do things they don’t want to do?” “I didn’t realize you were so interested in what gets me off.” I recoil. “I’m not.” His gaze locks with mine. “Are you sure?” “Fucking positive.” “That’s a shame. I’d be happy to satisfy your curiosity.”

“Are you going to be a problem for me?” “Probably.”

I wish I had a mother to comfort me and tell me I’ll survive this. A father to tuck me in and tell me he’ll stay with me until I fall asleep.

“You sent him away?” “Yes.” “Why?” “Because he touched you this morning.”

“You were jealous,” I say. “Yes. It’s not an emotion I enjoy.” “I’m sorry.” “No, you’re not.” “You’re right. I’m not.”

“I know you don’t. You have no expectations, and you always keep people at arm’s length. But that only makes me want to impress you.”

Yours is the only life that matters. I will rip anyone’s throat out, burn the entire fucking world down, if it means keeping you safe and—”

“We spent our whole lives loving each other from a distance. We can do it for a little while longer.”

When I asked him why he was dropping Ivy, he got this really serious look on his face and then said, Because she’s not the girl of my dreams. And I laughed and said, Okay, then who is?” “What did he say?” “He said the girl of his dreams loves daisies.” I smile in the darkness. “Said he’d loved her his entire life. I thought he was just talking crazy, drunk off his ass, so I laughed and said, Sure you have, buddy.”