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“You know that’s bullshit, right?” I can’t help but say.
Kipp rolls his eyes. “Of course I do, Teddy. Not only is his implication that women are lesser downright archaic and misogynistic, but being a man or a woman or any combination or absence of the two has nothing to do with what someone chooses to do in the bedroom. Gender isn’t a status, a box to check, or a certain standard to live up to. It’s whatever it means to each individual person. I’m proud to be a man who takes it up the ass. There’s no goddamn shame in that.”
“You,” I say slowly, “are quite possibly the most magnificent creature I have ever met.”
His smile is instantaneous, lighting up his whole face. It dims quickly, however. “Teddy, I’m sorry. After all that… I guess there wasn’t really a reason for us to stay married, was there? We should’ve just gotten the annulment in the first place. Not because I was coerced, obviously, but…” He shakes his head. “We can get divorced now if you want. This whole idea was stupid.”
I bite back my instinctual response that I don’t want a divorce. That none of this is stupid. That it feels terrifyingly, utterly real. Because how could I admit that? We’ve been pseudo-together for mere weeks, and I’m the one who implied this needed to stay casual. That sex between us would be only that, and when we did get a divorce, we’d be done. I had to. I had to try to keep up some semblance of a wall between me and Kipp.
But this isn’t casual. Not for me. And I can’t try to convince myself otherwise anymore. So, no. I don’t want a divorce. I want more time. But that might not be what Kipp wants.
“If you want me to get the paperwork started, I can do that,” I tell him softly. “But there’s no rush. You should probably at least wait until you’re thirty to get divorced, don’t you think?”
Kipp huffs a laugh, his smile back. “Yeah, I think you’re right. I’m way too young to be a divorcé. I should get over the hill first.”
“I think that’s forty.”
“Well, shit,” he says. “I think you’re stuck with me for a while, then.”
I bark a laugh, but damn if that doesn’t sound perfect.
Kipp lets out a small sigh. “Take me home, Teddy?”
There’s only one answer to that. “Happy to.”
Letting Kipp go, I start the car and get us on the road. When we arrive back at the apartment, I divert to the kitchen with the intent of starting something for dinner, considering we walked out on our meal. Kipp heads straight into the living room, sprawling onto the couch. He lays his head on his arm, and my chest aches. He looks so dejected.
“Okay?” I ask.
He nods, but there’s a frown on his face. “I’m just…” He doesn’t finish his sentence.
“It’s okay to be upset, Kipp. They’re your family. That had to have hurt.”
“Yeah,” he says, voice small.
I abandon dinner plans and head his way, sitting near his feet and removing his shoes.
“Sorry,” he mumbles. “Forgot.”
“It’s fine,” I assure him, setting his shoes on the area rug before climbing over his body. I settle myself at his back, hand on his chest. “What do you need?”
Not all that surprisingly, Kipp presses his ass back against my crotch. “You made promises.”
I huff a laugh. “That I did. Need me to take care of you, doll?”
“Yeah. Yes. Please. Can you…”
“What is it?” I ask, sliding my hand downward, toying with the buttons on Kipp’s shirt.
He blows out a breath. “I sent you my STI results at lunch.”
I hold back my groan, but just barely. “Yes, you did.”
“Can you fuck me?”
My eyes slip closed, my nose resting against Kipp’s hair.
“Please don’t say no,” he whispers.
