His steps halt. They both turn, drawn like magnets, as his eyes narrow. “Why?” he asks. But she can see he knows why. Perhaps he heard her using her toy, or perhaps he can feel her need vibrating between them.
She shrugs, trying not to look like a guilty child. She wants to yell,You had your chance, but she doesn’t. Still, she thinks her frustration with him is entirely justified. As if luck has anything to do with her circumstances.
“K8,” he presses. “Where are you going at this hour?”
“It’s none of your business,” she says. Why is she giving this conversation any energy? She could have lied and said she was meeting Jett or Lessa. She sighs. She isn’t a liar. It goes against her nature as ascientist.
He gives her a disgruntled look until she can’t take it anymore. He’s repeatedly offered to bring her to the boxing matches, which she’s declined. Was it fair not to return the invite? She should probably let him come.
“Fine, go change,” she says, waving at hand at his bedroom.
When he enters it and closes the door, she hesitates, only for the briefest moment before convincing herself her trick doesn’t qualify as a lie.
Then she slips out.
25 – The Slip
James
When James exits the bedroom, wearing the tailored black suit he now knows was a splurge, Kate is nowhere to be found. He checks her bedroom and the kitchen, then his device. Nothing. She gave him the slip. Clever, difficult woman.
Surely she didn’t think he was oblivious enough to not recognize her intention. That dress and her sexy scent that still lingers in the air. And the come-fuck-me heels. He was right there.
But no, he’s come to some ridiculous determination. He was thrown into the orbit of a woman who he’s determined is the perfect package. Now he’s attempting to be a good,unselfishguy. Trying to make himself a little less monstrous in her eyes and admittedly his own, which means for him, she is off-limits.
He became even more resolved after seeing her pure, unadulterated longing upon receiving Lessa’s news. He was so close togiving in, well before her insult about him beinghim—an utter disappointment. But he would have easily gotten over that, because she wasn’t entirely wrong, if her reaction didn’t . . . what, scare him? Make him wonder if he could give that to her . . . if he wanted to. That is, if she wasn’t off-limits to him. If he could somehow become exonerated enough to pursue her. It’s possible that he wants the same things as her. Even the baby part one day, which she was clearly lying to herself about—he always expected to have children. Yet if this was the one thing he failed at, Kate would be collateral damage. The thought of disappointing her further makes him feel queasy. That is exactly why it is better to stay friends and grin and bear this lingering attraction between them. He is doing it for her sake.
But that fucking dress.
And it’s not like she’s stopped wanting him. He knows this because she’s taken to staring. The temperature in her unit is slightly warm, but he wears the pants for her benefit, like he wishes to tempt fate. Or to get her to throw herself into the muck with him. His reasoning is not in control when it comes to her. And time has done nothing to dampen his interest. He thought maybe after they’d felt each other out—they were living together, after all—he’d develop some sort of immunity. Especially after that day she came out of her room with sleep still in her eyes and hair piled on top of her head. No makeup and a baggy sweatshirt that fell right below the curve of her ass. Her littlelounge around the houseoutfits are a poison to his resolve.
Now he is practically a salivating animal. Hungry and struck stupid, while she’s off to do things he refuses to think about. And he’s stuck in an apartment he doesn’t even own with nothing but his resolve.
I’m here, his device reminds him.
Oh God, not that again. This is going to be a long night.
He sits there staring blankly ahead, repeating all the reasons in his head that he pushed her away. His knee vibrates in time with the buzzof the particle panes. They say,Even if you aren’t a bad person, you have nothing to offer. You’re broke. And our Kate likes pretty things.
“Stupid electronics. What do you know?” he asks, taking the remote and turning the windows off. He may not have earned enough to contribute significantly, which weighs heavily on him. Since his conversation with Jett, he’s considered his self-reliant streak that the future is trying to beat out of him. Left with no choice, he relies on Kate for everything. He hates it. At least he’s earning something. It’s not as if he is sitting on his ass, and soon he’ll have enough to extend his lease. Pay her back with interest, then capitalize on it. Barely two more months, but he can do it. Sure, what they’re doing is illegal, but what other choice does he have? It’s not like it’s hurting anyone. Well, maybe the losers, but it is gambling, after all. Had Kate never read those stupid articles about him, he probably wouldn’t even be considering it.
The point is, he’s well on his way. Fuck resolutions and restraint and all the meaningless drivel his guilty mind made up. If she wants a lover, he’s the man for the job. That he can give her. And eventually, he’ll be able to earn his keep. Then she can buy whatever her heart desires.
Then maybe you’ll be worthy of her.He scans the room, searching for the inanimate object he’s projecting onto.Good luck, the overhead light says.
Ignoring it, James picks his device up and dials Jett. He answers on the first ring. “James, is something wrong?”
He’s never called Jett before, so his concern is understandable.
Jett gasps. There’s a slurping sound in the background. “What did you need?” Jett’s voice is a little high-pitched.
“God, Jett. I don’t want to know what that sound is or what you’re in the middle of.”
Jett grunts, then must mute the device for a moment because the line goes silent. He comes back on, but not before James hears him say, “You can finish when I’m off the call.”
James’s stomach rolls. Not because of two men, but because of the sex clone thing. He’ll never get used to the idea of manupartners.
“Jett,” he says, letting his irritation bleed into his voice. “Kate went out without me. Where would she have gone?”
