I bend forward, grab one of his ankles and pull, sending us flying to the ground. He lets go of my waiststraight away this time, and I flip onto all fours, grinning down at him. He’s blinking at the ceiling, hands held in surrender.
“You’re picturing it, aren’t you?”
“Just wondering where this club is. Maybe I need to come down and make sure my girlfriend’s safe.”
“Aww. And the fact that I’ll be in nothing more than my underwear has nothing to do with it?” I offer him a hand, helping to pull him to his feet.
He clutches his chest in mock offence. “How dare you suggest my intentions are anything less than honourable?”
“I bet you fool all the girls with your good manners, don’t you, Thief?” We start to circle each other again. “But they don’t know about those romance books you like to read.”
He shrugs. “Maybe if you date me after all this, you’d be able to see how much they benefit you as much as me.”
When Westley springs towards me, my heart leaps with excitement, not fear. And when his arm hooks under my knees, the other one cradling my head as he sends us to the mat, I swear I can feel myself grinning.
His hips are cradled between my thighs as his palms land on the mat beside my head. My right hand grips his left forearm, my left arm reaching up to grip his right shoulder. My left foot goes to his hip, my other leg hooking around his back, then my first foot swings around in front of his face so I can lock my ankles together and push.
Westley falls to his back, his head locked under my calves as I clutch his arm to my chest.
“Good god, you’re a ninja,” he says, full of surprise, but the way he looks at me is something else. It’s admiration and pride. It’s something I’ve never felt before. I’ve never dated, never had a boyfriend, but if this is the way Westley fakes it, I wonder whatrealwith him looks like. I’ve survived a lot of things in life, but I’m not sure Westley will be one of them.
Maybe this time, it’s not about survival. Maybe I want to surrender.
19
ME:
Are you a spender or a saver?
TRICKSTER:
Definitely a saver. I like to be prepared. You?
ME:
I save, but I’ll also treat myself every now and then. If something needs replacing or upgrading I won’t hesitate.
TRICKSTER:
What was the last thing you bought for fun?
ME:
I don’t know… probably some new running shoes.
TRICKSTER:
Boring*sleeping-emoji*
ME:
*smile-emoji*What about you?
TRICKSTER:
A double penetration vibrator. Told you I wantedto try anal.
ME:
