Role Playing

by Cathy Yardley

“I don’t like leaving the house, though. In fact, I’ll do a lot to actively avoid leaving the house.

Ordinarily, with anyone else, this would be the moment that he felt a bite of panic and guilt. Because he rarely felt attracted to anyone, for whatever reason. He didn’t know why, and while he’d made peace with it, around other people it could be a cause of great discomfort.

“No sexy fun times until you feel close to someone. And even then, not everybody you get close to. Just some people.” He felt gobsmacked. “That’s a thing?” “Yes, it is.” “Huh. Demi,” he said, testing the word out.

“Oh my God,” she said as he pressed hot kisses against her throat and held her waist. “I could fucking devour you. Are you okay with this?” His laugh was wrecked and light and tinged with shock, the good kind. She hoped, anyway. “I am so turned on, I would let you,” he responded.

He’d had a rough morning with family from the sounds of it, but he was here, and he seemed . . . happy? She loved when he was happy. She loved him.

“My point is, I . . . um. Fell in love with you.” He felt a stubborn bubble of hope. “That’s kind of fast, but I don’t care. I love you.” She blinked. Then he watched the delicate column of her throat work as she swallowed convulsively. Then she tackled him.

“That’s cool,” Kit said. “I should let you know, though. If you do anything that hurts her, I will make your life incredibly, creatively, and unbelievably painful in the short time between my finding out and your body going mysteriously missing. Just so you know.” Aiden paused in scrubbing the roasting pan, staring at him. Then he started chuckling. “Kit!” Maggie chastised from the living room. “I heard that!”