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“Why did you take me off?” Especially after we worked so hard to get me on.

“I had to pull out.”

He goes to kiss me, but I rear back, out of reach.

“Why?” And couldn’t he have waited just a few seconds longer? I was almost done with my orgasm but then it was just…gone. Ripped away from me.

“What do you mean?”

We regard each other with what I’m sure are equally confused expressions.

When it becomes clear he’s genuinely clueless, I specify, “Why did you have to pull out? Did I do something wrong?”

“No. Jesus. Kota, you were perfect. Better than perfect. I only pulled out because we didn’t use protection.”

“What about birth control?”

“What about it?”

“Is that not protection?”

“Are you on birth control?” he asks, drawing the question out.

“Yes.”

“For how long?”

“I don’t know. Years.”

“Years?”

“Since the beginning of high school.”

“But…” His eyebrows creep lower and lower. “Then why still use condoms?”

“With…”

“Yeah. With him.”

“It was for my pleasure.” I can’t help the scoff that accompanies that.

“You mean you like them?”

“I mean that’s what they’re called. ‘For her pleasure.’” I even use finger quotes.

Confusion stains his features all over again.

“So he knew you were on birth control?”

I give an exaggerated nod.

“And he still used condoms with you…for your pleasure.” It’s not posed as a question, yet somehow still sounds like one. It also feels accusatory.

“Okay, I get it. It couldn’t have been more obvious that he was cheating.” God, I feel even dumber now. The signs were all there. I was just too scared to acknowledge them.

To his credit, Khaos doesn’t gloat, just tips his head sideways.

“But he made me believe the condoms were for my benefit.”