“I have lots of somethings,” I tell him and head over to my bedside table. “Are you looking for something that will knock you the fuck out and let you sleep like the dead, or do you want something that will make you forget how to feel feelings first?”
“Knock me the fuck out,” he says after a brief pause. “As much as I want to just forget everything for a while, I’m not in the right headspace to have the rest of my inhibitions stripped away. I’ve already done one insane thing tonight when I was completely sober. I don’t even want to think about what I might do if I get high off my ass and stop giving a fuck about anything.”
I pull the drawer of my bedside table open. “What did you do that was crazy?”
His cheeks and neck flush bright red. “Oh, um,” he stammers. “You know, just breaking off my engagement and all that.”
I know he’s talking about when he let me fuck him in his room earlier, but I don’t call him on it. And as much fun as round two would be if he did decide to text me later tonight, I don’t want it to happen when he’s high.
Not for any altruistic reasons. As far as I’m concerned, West is mine until I decide I’m done with him, but I want him to remember every second of it, and it wouldn’t be the same if he didn’t.
“So you want something that will knock you the fuck out?” I ask.
“Yes, please.”
I pull a pill bottle out of the drawer and wave him over. “Two of these will do the trick.”
“You’re a lifesaver,” he says, quickly crossing the room.
“You’ll have between ten and thirty minutes before these kick in.” I tip the pills into his outstretched hand. “Make sure you’re somewhere comfortable because you won’t have much time once they do. And you’ll need at least eight hours before anyone comes looking for you because you’re not going to be easy to wake up until they wear off.”
“Thanks,” he says, his tone soft. “For…everything.”
“Anytime, partner.”
He smiles, and I don’t miss the way his eyes drop to my mouth and linger for a few beats.
“I should go,” he says, his voice heavy with regret. “I have a hot date with some tranqs I don’t want to miss.”
“See you around,” I say, using my sex voice again.
He mumbles something that sounds a lot like “Later” as he scurries away, and I’m chuckling as my room door closes behind him.
Messing with West is way more fun than it should be, and a better man would tell him the truth about who he’s been messaging while he’s going through all of this.
Too bad I’m not a better man, or even a good one, and I’m going to keep playing this game for as long as he keeps coming back for more.
16
WEST
My phone buzzeson the bed next to me, and I reflexively glance down at the screen to check the text notification as it pops up. My entire body relaxes when I see it’s from Damon, and I pause the movie I was watching so I can answer him.
Damon: I’m coming by after my class tonight
West: you don’t have to
Damon: I know but I’m still coming over
West: I’m fine
Damon: did you go to class today?
West: no
Damon: have left your room in the last 24 hours?
West: no
