Built to Fall

by Julia Wolf

Our marriage wasn’t perfect, it wasn’t bliss, but it was nice. We made love almost every night, had a tight group of friends, made each other laugh, and still held hands whenever we went out.

.....uuuh this sounds like a Wonderful marriage?? da fuck

Before my wedding, Annaliese had held my hands, told me I looked beautiful, then told me we could escape in an Uber in under five minutes. She’d been neutral on Derrick, but vocally against me getting married at twenty-two.

I like this sister.

“Whenever I’m in town, I always have to get a taste of honeysuckle. Come here.” Pulling the stamen from the center of the flower, Dominic sucked on it, humming softly, then repeated his action.

omfg She smells like honey suckle!

She turned her head sharply. “There’s a difference between being intimidated by how gorgeous and cool another woman is and being genuinely fearful of a man. You know that, right?” There was no anger or admonishment in Claire’s words. If anything, she’d said them gently, like I was an idiot who wouldn’t understand the difference.

Marta was a pure delight. Annaliese would adore her, and if this Iris thing didn’t work out, maybe I’d introduce them when we went home.

...ma'm is your sister gay?? And I'm just now hearing about it?

Derrick would have seethed until we got home, then lectured me about my friend making a fool of him. It took leaving him for me to see how controlling he’d been during our marriage, and I was still getting used to the fact that his behavior wasn’t normal.

He tugged one of my damp waves. “Hit me up if you’re not quite ready to sleep. I’ll be around.” Marta and I watched him amble down the corridor, then she shot me a wicked grin. “That boy is lovestruck.” I rolled my eyes. “He isn’t. I barely know him.” “Well, he wants to know you. And have your babies. And take your last name.” I snorted.

This man should have been a mob boss or a king of a small country instead of a rock star. He thought he ruled all he could see. Put a scepter in his hand instead of a guitar, and he’d be right at home.

Her scent was everywhere, though. Honeysuckle invaded my senses, scrambling my synapses. Memories were becoming mixed up with the here and now. I’d always associated honeysuckle with warmth, love, safety. Now, I couldn’t seem to separate sex from it. Maybe that was what drew me to Claire. She was sexy as hell in this completely unexpected and really fucking exciting way, but she also reminded me of a time where everything was simple and easy—when

Dominic spent the ride sitting across from me, staring out his window, one of my feet tucked between his. He hadn’t even looked at me when he’d done it. His large, brown leather boots had closed around my rose gold oxford and kept it there the entire way.

“You’ll have to let go of my foot, though.” My request drew his eyes down to our feet. He stared for a moment, then flicked his eyes back to mine. “I like when you wear these shoes.” “I wear them every day.” He finally released my foot, so I slowly drew it back. “But thank you.

Annaliese said everyone hated at least one part of themselves, and having a fairytale ending didn’t erase that hatred, unfortunately.

“I’m sorry I didn’t hear it ring. We might have been laughing too loud.” Dominic’s head cocked slightly. “That’s the finest excuse for missing a call I’ve ever heard.”

I’d never felt so warm and cozy with people. I hadn’t known that was an option, outside of family members. But when Rodrigo cuddled with me or Iris called me honey bunny, I felt genuine affection from them.

Her name is Annaliese and she’s a femme lesbian gardener.”

OMG IM SO HAPPY

Eyes wide and almost startled, she watched me as I touched her.

“You’re like a dream, Claire.” I cupped her breast beneath her shirt, rolling her nipple between two fingers.

I’d gotten this tattoo a month after I left Derrick. He’d never liked them, so getting one was a great act of defiance for me—especially since I’d always wanted one.

am...I am flummoxed. Truly.

were peeking out from the sleeves of his button-up shirt. Or how I wondered if the heavy silver watch on his wrist would feel cool on my heated skin if he touched me. No, I’d keep that to myself.

On the ride back to the hotel, I kept Claire’s foot between mine.

“Being hurt by the man who’s supposed to love you doesn’t mean you’re not a strong woman. It means the man is weak.”

He growled and sucked at my flesh like I was his favorite flavor. Sometimes I thought he got off on going down on me almost as much as I did.

He had demons he’d never dealt with. Deep wells of sadness I knew nothing about. He didn’t see himself the way I did. Or Marta did. I couldn’t fix him or heal him—even if I had all the time in the world with him, it wasn’t something I was capable of—but damn if I didn’t wish I could.

As a woman who had never been tiny, sitting on boy’s laps wasn’t something I’d ever been comfortable with. But the first time Dominic pulled me into his lap and I tried to protest, he very quickly reminded me he was a man. So now when he made the request, I readily complied,

He dipped his head to nibble on my neck. “Can I watch you get ready?” “Only if you promise not to derail me by luring me into bed.”

I’m glad you’re not heartbroken at least.” “No, because you’re going to hook me up with your sister.” Her eyebrows shot up and down.

Is this going to be it's own book? I need to know!

Was every man really a monster waiting to be unleashed?

yep

“Okay, your sister is gorgeous. Is it going to be weird for me to ask her for her number?” I shook my head, happier in that moment than I’d been in ages. “It won’t be weird in any way. I’d be disappointed if you didn’t.”

Two nights later, while Annaliese and Marta were out on their first date,

Do.They.Get.Their.Own.Book??

His foot slid forward until the toe of his boot touched mine. My heart hammered so hard, I wondered if he could hear it.