The Good Girl (14 page)

It was 7pm before I returned to Wyatt’s place. While everyone else had gone home, I had stayed around the office for hours, just piddling around. Even Jacqueline left before I did. She smiled at me approvingly as she passed by on her way out. In reality, I was a fraud. My reason for the long hours at the office had little to do with devotion and everything to do with avoidance. All afternoon and into the dinner hours, I had watched my phone. It never rang, or chimed, or vibrated. He never reached out…not all day.

Sure, he hadn’t ever, but now…the distance between us was palpable. It was all I could feel. Though I had been trained to survive and thrive in any conditions…such was the way of the Stone…I didn’t know how to survive this. Stones never had to handle heartbreak because…because we never followed our hearts. Maybe it was time to break that pattern.

Slowly, I stepped out of my vehicle and pasted a smile on my face. This was one of those ‘fake it ‘til you make it’ moments in my life. At least that was in my training. So, I walked in and hoped for the best.

To my surprise, Wyatt was sitting at the island with a bunch of games set out before him. “What’s all this?” I asked completely confused.

“I thought we needed to lighten up. Things have been entirely too intense lately. Tonight is Naughty Game Night,” he announced.

“Okay, I’m looking at Monopoly, a deck of cards, Uno, Phase Ten, Skip-bo, and Yahtzee. Where’s the naughty come in?” I asked with a laugh.

Smirking, he said, “I figured that rather than keep score, we’d strip.” Then he winked at me. “After all, it is on the list. #23: play strip poker/Monopoly/card game.” He gestured to show that he had given me an abundance of options. “Pick your poison, doll.”

Shaking my head, I couldn’t believe this was what I had avoided. No matter how well I like to think of myself, when it all gets boiled down, I’m just a silly girl. “Well, I should warn you, I’m really good at Phase Ten.”

“How good?” He asked, leaning toward me.

“I’ve never lost,” I announced proudly. Then I blew on my knuckles and rubbed them on my chest. “I’m just saying.”

Walking away from the island and closing the distance between us, he stood directly before me. “We’ll see about that.” He chuckled. “And I should remind you, this is Naughty Game Night. There are no losers. We all win in our own special way.” He leaned in and rubbed his nose against mine. “The winner,” he said using hand quotes, “is the one with the most clothes at the end of the game. He…”

“Or she,” I interrupted with a nod.

“Or she,” he said intentionally without conviction, “will get to request a sexual

favor.”

“It just so happens, I know precisely what to request,” I joked.
In reality, my mind was reeling. What the hell would I ask for if I won? A Stone never threw a game, but at the moment, I was tempted. “Let’s play Skip-bo.”

Soon we were seated on the floor. Wyatt had laid a blanket out near the bay of windows on the back of the apartment. We had settled into a rousing game of cards. The first hand went to me. With great pleasure, I smiled as he yanked his shirt up over his head. Then I frowned when I realized he was wearing a wife beater under it.

“Seriously? Since when?” I asked in frustration.

“Since I knew we were playing strip something and I suck at games,” he teased.

“
You
suck at games? Please. You seem to be playing me pretty well.” The words came out of nowhere and I clamped a hand over my mouth. When I finally met his eyes again, he was staring at me, trying to decide if I was being funny or if we were about to get into something deep and ugly. “I’m joking!” Then I smiled at him, leaned over and gave him a peck on the lips. He didn’t seem to notice that the smile never reached my eyes.

Thus the game continued…and with all his layers, it lasted for hours. By the time I won, because Stones always win, we had played roughly fifteen hands. Would you believe that rascal wore two pairs of socks, boxers and bikinis under his shorts, and a watch and bracelet?

“I didn’t even know men wore bracelets,” I commented with one eyebrow raised. By now, my humor was genuine. He knew how to rouse me from my funk.

Throwing his head back, he let out a huge laugh and replied, “Bad boys especially wear bracelets.” Then he sat and looked at me seductively. “So, how can this bad boy be of service, doll. You won fair and square.”

It was my turn to laugh. “You call that fair? You had on multiple layers of clothing. I wore a shirt, skirt, shoes, panties, a bra, and a hair tie. I fail to see how this was fair.”

“You still won, Willow,” he said seriously as he leaned closer to me. “Now it is my duty to serve you, service you…call it what you will. You said you knew just what you wanted.” He studied me. “Or were you just toying with me.”

Blushing some, I admitted, “I have no idea what to ask for. You should know that by now.” Shrugging helplessly, I asked, “What do you recommend?”

Standing before me suddenly, he held out his hand. “Come on, doll. I know just what you need.” Then he lifted me off the floor.

At the moment, I was wearing nothing more than my skirt, having lost enough games to be topless. My hair flowed down my back because the hair tie was the first item of clothing that I had removed. Really, I was too tired to worry over what he had in mind for me. Every moment had been an adventure thus far. What was one more?

Standing close together, he kissed my forehead in a way that suggested he might hold a deep affection for me. His hand held mine and I was suddenly aware that he was looking at our fingers intertwined and rubbing the back of my hand with his thumb. “Oh, Willow,” he said quietly. Then he scooped me up in his arms. Instinctively, I threw my hands around his neck and gave him a lingering kiss on his lips before burying my head in his neck.

Wyatt carried me over to the bed and laid me ever so gently upon it. “Roll over, doll,” he murmured. Once I had, he unzipped my skirt and tugged it off my body. My panties were next.

“Hey,” I teased lazily, “this is supposed to be
my
sexual favor.”

“Give me a minute. You’ll soon see that it is,” he assured me.

So, I laid my arms by my side and waited on my stomach. Soon he was straddling my ass and rubbing my back. “Is this a massage?” I asked in delight.

“You know it, doll.” He murmured into my shoulder as he kissed and rubbed me down.

As a Stone, I had enjoyed countless massages. This one, however, pleased me more than any before. This one was more relaxing, more refreshing, and more pleasurable than any previously. This one was wholly memorable because Wyatt was my masseur.

Apparently, I fell asleep because the next time I opened my eyes, it was morning.
Still, I hadn’t felt that refreshed in so long. To my surprise, when my eyes fully opened, I realized that Wyatt was still in bed with me, lying on his side, staring at me wearing a still sleepy smile. “How is it that you can wake up looking so beautiful?” He asked.

“You are blind,” I said seriously. “How is it that I can wake up and still find you in bed is the real question?” Then I rolled onto my side to mirror him.

“Well, as you are aware, tomorrow is Friday,” he began.

Nodding, I said, “Yes, thank goodness. What a week.” My face felt slightly heated, like I was blushing happily.

“Yes, quite the week,” he agreed as he leaned in and kissed my shoulder. “You may recall that we met up with my mother on Monday?”

“Why, yes. And she is a lovely woman,” I said with a nod.

At that moment, he began to look uncomfortable. “It seems I am required to attend the annual gathering in the Bahamas.”

Staring at him, I waited as patiently as possible for him to finally spit everything out. “Faster, Wyatt. I have a final in an hour and a half.” Tapping at my wrist where no watch had ever been, I added, “Tick tock.”

Smiling widely, he said, “Okay. Here it is. When I offered to help you, you agreed to stay with me for an agreed upon period of time. Since we didn’t specify the location, you will be going with me for the weekend. There.” With that, he sat up and looked entirely too satisfied.

Maybe I should have been happy that he wanted me with him, but to me, it felt like everything I was so used to and completely over. It felt like the worst parts of being a Stone. Once again my life felt out of my control. I was just a puppet. “Really. That’s what you are going with. “ I ripped the covers off and stormed out of the room and into the bathroom, slamming the door behind me.

My reaction shocked him. I didn’t have to see him to know it had. He was still sitting on the bed or I would have heard some noise on the other side of the door. Disgusted, I finally hopped in the shower. Might as well make my tantrum productive. When I finally emerged all clean, damp, and towel clad, he was pacing in the kitchen.

“Let me try again,” Wyatt said. “I know I messed this up. You don’t like being told what to do anymore than I do. I get that now.” He took a deep breath before he strode over to me and dropped down on both knees before me. “Willow Stone, I would be honored if you would join me on the family trip to our island in the Bahamas. Pretty please.” He batted his eyelashes as me a few times and effectively thawed me.

“Fine,” I said, pretending to pout. “I’ll go, but you are going to have to work overtime to make sure I like it.” Then I batted my eyelashes at him.

He stood slowly before me. “I will, starting tonight even.” Then he kissed my lips and reminded me why I feel the way I do about him. “Seriously, I have plans for us tonight. “ Holding me close, he murmured into my hair, “I can’t wait for you to come home. I know you have to go. Just…have a nice day. Okay?”

Smiling, I said, “Of course, now you be sure to do the same.” With that, we embraced once more before I grabbed my bag and headed out for the day.

“Gawd, can you believe this is the last day of our internship?”
Molina asked when I joined her in the cubicle.

Shaking my head, I agreed, “It went fast. It really did. Life…is going fast.” For days I had been coping with that realization. My time with Wyatt would be ending entirely too soon.

“So soon one of us will have a permanent job and one of us will have to have a Plan B,” she said, still focused on work, bless her.

Leaning back, I realized that it would be just easier to work with her on all of this. “Do you have a Plan B?” I asked.

Scratching something off a list before her, she looked up and frowned. “No. I don’t. I can’t get past how much I want this. Really, I’m rather perfect for it,” she said sadly. “No offense. You are very talented, too, Willow.” Then she shrugged.

Suddenly, I felt really badly for going after this position, for competing with her. She was right. This position
was
perfect for her. She didn’t blush when talking about sex acts. She didn’t flinch when describing sex toys. How many times had I overheard her giving actual real live sex advice?

What was I doing? How could I accept that position if it was offered to me? This wasn’t where my heart was. This wasn’t following any advice. This was just plain selfish.

“I guess it’s time to start considering a Plan B,” I told her. Then, I put all my efforts into being mindless, into editing and reading. Somehow, I couldn’t even fathom what a backup plan would be.

“Wyatt, prepare to start working overtime!” I called as I walked through the door. Without even glancing about his place, I had dropped my bag on the island and was suddenly distracted by the list on the counter.

There was a rustling of sheets, then I heard him from across the room. “Doll, I would love to, but I’m a little tied up right now,” he said playfully.

When I looked up, I realized that he genuinely was, with silken restraints securing him to the headboard. “Been like this for long?” I asked with a smirk.

“No, I had it all set up and finished it when I heard you come in,” he said proudly.

Laughing, I sat beside him on the bed. He was still completely clothed. “So you think you had this all planned out?” I asked him as my fingers walked up his inner thigh.

His eyes had closed the closer I had come to his groin. Nodding, he said, “Yup.”

While he spoke, I had leaned over him, hovering just out of reach.
“Fantastic,” I murmured against his neck. “Then why aren’t you naked?” With that, I sat back wearing a Cheshire cat grin.

“Dammit!” He shouted. Then he pulled his hands closer together and untied himself. Sitting up, he grumbled as he started yanking off his clothing. “I thought this through! Really I did,” he growled in frustration. “Tonight was supposed to be perfect for you!” He looked at me imploringly.

“Whoa, calm down!” I urged putting my hands up and trying to soothe him. “Do you have any idea how perfect you have made everything up to now?” I asked quietly.

He paused and sat heavily on the bed with his shirt off and his pants undone. “I’ve been perfect?” He asked sadly.

“Oh yes. You have been beyond perfect. You…are the stuff that book boyfriends are made of!” His face perked up as he listened. “You made breakfast! You set up an Arabian oasis on an island! You gave me a massage! I swear, I could go on and on, but you must get it.” Wrapping my arms around his neck, I spoke once more, “You are amazing. You have made this experience amazing…” Sighing, I let go. For the first time in my life, I spoke my mind. “You made me fall for you! That was never supposed to happen. You were safe because there are a million reasons why I shouldn’t love you, but all I can do is think of all the reasons why I do. I never meant to fall for the bad boy.” Standing, I began to walk away, get some of the space I craved after that unplanned confession.

It wasn’t to be, however.
Wyatt grabbed my upper arm and spun me around. “I’m not that bad!” He complained. “You built me up to be that way in your head. You thought you knew who I was from what you had seen living in the same dorm four years ago!”

Staring back at him, I realize that he missed the point, my confession. “Right, it’s all me,” I began. “The tattoos...the motorcycle...the shunning of the family expectations? You didn’t embrace the image just a little bit? You may not have done anything with the bulk of the girls who stayed in your room merely slept there, but you didn’t mind what it did for your image?”

“Listen,” he said seriously, “you should try shunning family expectations once in a while. It’s very liberating. Why don’t you start by coming with me, Willow?”

It was tempting, really tempting. Ah, but after years of doing what was expected, of living by a perfectly crafted plan, it was going to be incredibly difficult to suddenly fly by the seat of my pants...especially if those pants were on a motorcycle. Licking my lips before I spoke, I said, “Where are you going?”

Shrugging, he looked at me, “What? You want an itinerary? Everywhere. I’m going to see the world.” He waited for an answer. Like I had one right now.

It was too much, too scary. There was no foundation, nothing to hold onto. I’d be solely dependent upon him. It felt...doomed! The relationship was doomed before it even began. “Why would I go with you?” I asked as my heart threatened to burst forth from my chest.
Give me a reason,
I mentally pleaded.

“Because you are hopelessly in love with me. Don’t get all ashamed or anything. It happens to a lot of chicks.” He crossed his arms over his chest looking incredibly self-satisfied.

Yeah. That wasn’t it. “Chicks?” My cheeks were warming and my blood was beginning to boil dangerously. So, I was just another chick to him. Finally I’m ready to give my heart away and I choose this dope. Awesome move, Willow.

“Yeah, you females, women.” There was a look on his face. It was obvious that he was being playful and not intentionally offensive. The heat that had been rising in my face started to cool down. Two could play this game.

“Honestly, I may have developed some feelings for you, but like the after effects of a good orgasm, I’m sure they’ll fade.” I smirked at him and raised an eyebrow in challenge. “After all, we practically completed the list. What do I need you for?”

Clearly that did it. “What do you need me for? Seriously?” Closing the distance between us, he leaned dangerously close to me and spoke once more. “I can think of a million reasons you need me. Time and again you have proven you can’t be left unattended. You
do
need me.”

“Nah. I’ve been without you longer than I’ve been with you. I’ll survive.” Pulling back, I began humming Kelly Clarkson’s
Stronger
before I turned to walk away.

Grabbing my upper arm, he spun me towards him.
“You’ll never find another man like me,” Wyatt said seriously.

“That is getting old, “ I commented, looking down at his hand on my arm.

Dropping his hand, he lifted both hands in a sign of surrender. “I’m sorry,” he said.

Shaking my head, I said, “How will I know there’s no one like you if I don’t have a chance to look?” The way he was looking at me, I knew my face was giving me away. Apparently I was enjoying this just a little too much.

“You think? You think you can ever be this happy with anyone else? You think this chemistry between us happens with just anyone? I’ve been with enough girls to know that isn’t the case.” He frowned. “Come with me. Travel with me, make a life with me, love me. We have so many adventures left to experience. We have so much list left…” It was obvious he was struggling to get me without giving too much away.