The XOXO New Adult Collection: 16 Full Length New Adult Stories (265 page)

“Mmm, you’re so sexy,” he said in a low seductive voice. I threw my head back as I reached the point of no return. Waves of thunderous pleasure came over my entire body.

“Oh, Anderson!” I cried and he held me tighter and let out a sexual grunt. He had made it too. A relieved laugh left my lips as I stared into his eyes. He joined with an exhausted smile. I rolled over on my back and looked up at the ceiling. It was truly amazing. Never before had I been able to reach an orgasm with someone that I wasn’t in love with. It was a liberating accomplishment. The same exhilarating feeling I had when I finished
Unspoken: The Secret Lives of Men
.

Anderson lay next to me. “That was great,” he said, trying to catch his breath.

“Yeah.” I looked over at him. The buzz from the sex was starting to subside. I wanted more. I traced my finger around his chest and looked into his eyes.

“Wanna go again?” I asked, lifting a single eyebrow.

“Now?”

“Uh huh,” I said and climbed on top of him kissing his chest.

“Okay,” he said and rolled me on my back as I let out a playful squeal. After a couple more rounds, he left my apartment. He said he had to work over the weekend, but would plan to see me again on Monday. That night, I slept like a baby.

The next morning I went for a power walk with Telly and Holly in the park. I was in a brilliant mood over the night’s events and the prospect of starting my mission. Anderson was perfect. He was a gorgeous surgeon, and I had no doubt he would eventually cheat on me. Since I’d know it was coming, I could enjoy the other things about Anderson like the sex, and well, the sex.

“Anderson and I had our date last night,” I said.

“How did it go?” Telly asked.

“Great! He’s perfect.”

“Did you sleep together?” Sex was among Telly’s favorite subjects.

“Telly!” Holly said.

“Yep,” I said.

“Really?” Telly asked. “And?”

“And it was amazing. He was so, ya know, grrr, about it.” I tried to articulate the feeling.

“Marin, you barely know this guy,” Holly said.

“I know him enough. He’s going to be my new boyfriend.”

“They’re having a fauxmance,” Telly said, holding her interwoven hands up to her face and batting her eyelashes.

“You know, when you start dating someone, even if it’s fake, you have to play by the rules. If you give it up too early it won’t last,” Holly said.

“I’m not looking for it to last. I’m looking for him to prove my point.”

“The only way he can prove your point is if he is really with you. Exclusively.” Holly made an excellent point. Infidelity can’t exist without first establishing fidelity.

“Don’t worry. I sleep with all my boyfriends early on,” Telly said, but her words only invoked panic.

Telly hadn’t had a real relationship in four years. Most of her “boyfriends” were gone within a couple of months. She was a relationship nomad, never stayed with anyone too long. I always thought it was because she was afraid to get her heart broken, then I understood it was because she knew better. Holly on the other hand had one boyfriend in high school, another in college, and her last boyfriend, which ended about a year ago. She didn’t have much of a desire to get married, but when she was with someone she was committed. Holly could keep a guy around for years. I had to heed her advice. The damage, if any, had already been done. I hoped that it hadn’t set me back too far.

I tried to keep myself busy that weekend by spending as much time with Holly as I could. She would be leaving Monday night, and I knew she was feeling tense about being gone for so long even though she tried to hide it. Anderson didn’t call, but sent a few sexy texts. He promised we would get together on Monday for another date. His interest seemed strong enough, but I wouldn’t know for sure until I saw him again. I tried not to sweat it since I wasn’t interested in him for real.

––––––––

O
utside of a little bistro, Holly and I enjoyed iced tea and warm weather.

“When does your flight leave tonight?” I asked taking a bite of my panini.

“About nine o’clock,” she said.

“Is it one of those flights you can sleep on?”

“Yeah, thank God. I’m exhausted from all the preparations.”

I imagined her flying across the world not to be heard from for six months and felt the pangs of her absence.

“I’m gonna miss you, Holly.”

She grabbed my hand. “Me too.”

Afterward, we walked back to my office, our pace slow and our words few.

“Will you stop by before I leave tonight?” Holly asked as we approached the building.

“Sure.”

“The cab gets me at seven.”

“I’ll be there.” I gave her a big hug and waved goodbye.

I settled back into work with plenty of time to catch up on some paper work before my last two appointments. Then my cell rang. It was Anderson.

“Hey, you.”

“Hey, beautiful,” he said.

“Are we still on for later?” I asked.

“Actually, I have to cancel. I had an emergency surgery come up, and I’m not sure when I’ll be able to leave tonight. Can we reschedule for Wednesday?”

“Of course,” I said all the while thinking Holly was right. We moved too far too fast, and now he would probably put me off a couple more times before he stopped calling all together. Damn.

“Good. I can’t wait to see you again. Especially after the other night,” he said. His words were a little encouraging.

When my three o’clock appointment ended, I got the message that my four o’clock had cancelled. Relieved to leave early and spend more time with Holly, I hurried down the hall, then froze. Anderson? Could it really be him, I blinked my eyes for reassurance. Yes, it was definitely him.

Anderson sat in the waiting room next to a small-framed woman. She leaned close to him with her hand resting on his wrist, and flipped her shiny black hair. Her eyes flirted with him in a familiar sort of way. Only one reason for them to be sitting in my waiting room. Couples counseling.

Emergency surgery, huh? I tried to remain calm and not jump to conclusions. We had barely started dating, and already I was getting duped. I should’ve known with all the “emergencies,” the lady bic razor, and the need to take me home so early in our fictitious relationship. He was trouble, and I knew better. Instead, I let my ambition get in the way of my judgment.

After cursing him ruthlessly to myself, I realized that a rare opportunity had presented itself. It was my chance to get even. I ran back into my office and called Diana’s desk.

“Hellooo,” Diana said almost in a yodel.

“Diana, that couple in the waiting room, who are they here to see?”

“Dr. Barrett,” she said.

“Does she know they’re here?” I tried to keep my composure, but the sound of a ticking clock echoed in my mind.

“No, I was just about to tell her—”

“Diana, don’t call Katie. Make sure those patients stay put.”

“Okay, but—”

I hung up and made a mad dash for Katie’s office. My heightened adrenaline from seeing Anderson in the waiting room and my mini run had me gasping to catch my breath. I shot Katie’s door open. She was madly filling out paperwork with folders and loose paper cluttering her desk. Her eyes glanced up at me for only a moment, then went back to her consuming task.

“You okay?” I asked.

“No, Cooper’s going to a new private school. I have a million and a half forms to sign and it’s all due tomorrow. Plus I’m behind on all my files because I was out of town a couple of days last week, and I feel like I will never leave this office again.” She slammed her hands on the desk.

“Oh, okay . . . I just wanted to tell you Anderson Harper and the other woman, are out front.”

“What?” she whined. “Is it four o’clock already?”

“Yep,” I said.

“Shit,” she said under her breath. “I really don’t have time for new patients right now.” She took a moment to think. It could not have worked out any better if I had planned it.

“Listen, my four o’clock cancelled. Let me take these two off your hands.” Relief spilled over her face as the words left my mouth.

“Really?” she said almost in tears.

“Of course. That’s what we do. We help each other out.”

“Thanks, Marin, I really appreciate it.” She smiled.

“Don’t mention it,” I said, and dashed to my office.

Diana brought me their file, and I told her I would be out to get them momentarily. I took a deep breath as I read the names, Anderson Harper and Miko Wada. Sounds Japanese. Boy, did he have a type. My hands trembled as I walked out to the waiting area. I paused to gain control and took a deep breath, relishing, and yet fearing, the potential outcome of the moment. Then, I strolled in confidently, smiling at them. Anderson looked up and his face turned alarmingly pale.

“Hi, I’m Dr. Johns. Dr. Barrett had an emergency come up,” I darted at Anderson. “So I’ll be seeing you today.” I shook their hands.

“Nice to meet you, Dr. Johns. I’m Miko, this is my boyfriend, Anderson,” Miko said, about a week too late. We were already acquainted. Three times in my apartment acquainted.

“Hi . . . Dr. Johns,” Anderson shook my hand slowly, shocked to say the least.

“Anderson, have we met before?” I asked.

“I . . . um . . . don’t think so,” he stuttered, then cleared his throat.

“Are you sure?”

“Yep, I’m pretty sure.”

“Oh, never mind. You just look so much like someone I know.”

I asked them to follow me back to my office. As we walked, I overheard Miko ask Anderson if he was feeling okay. That he looked like he was going to be sick.

They sat down on the sofa, and I sat across from them in my usual chair with a note pad and whistle. I played my role as the uninterested third party couples counselor, while Anderson squirmed and fidgeted. It seemed like it was really getting to him, and I was glad.

“So, why are you here today,” I asked.

“Well, we’ve been together for two years, and I feel like our relationship has hit a road block,” Miko said.

“Wow, two years,” I replied and raised an eyebrow at Anderson. He put his head down.

“Yes, and I would like to take our relationship to the next level and move in together, but he feels like it’s too soon. I wanted to have a professional settle the argument for us and help us move forward.”

I felt sorry for her. She probably had no idea he was a cheater, and likely a serial one. Not to mention the fact that I was actually the other woman.

“So, Doctor, do you think it’s too soon to move in together?” she asked.

“Every relationship is different. It really depends on when the couple is ready. The time to wait before moving in is all relative.”

“Oh,” Miko said, pouting her lip slightly. Obviously, not the answer she was looking for.

“Anderson,” I said. His head shot up as if he was startled out of a nightmare. He looked alert yet frightened and blinked intermittently. He was in the spotlight now.

“Yes?”

“Is there any particular reason you don’t feel you’re ready to move in with Miko?” He looked at her, then me, then her again. We stared at him, anxious to hear what he had to say.

“I just, um, I like to have my own space and privacy. Is that so bad?”

“Well that depends. Do you need all that privacy and space to hide something?” Like another woman, I thought as I stared him down. Anderson’s mouth gaped for a moment, then he began to stutter. Normally, I’d never say something so accusatory to a patient in couples therapy on the first day, but I wanted him to squirm a bit. Miko shot impatient eyes at his hesitance, waiting for him to come back with a quick rebuttal.

“That seems like an inappropriate question,” he said, deflecting my inference.

“Dr. Harper, are you questioning my ability to counsel and ask questions?” I gave him a severe look and so did Miko.

“Anderson!” Miko yelled. He looked at her then looked at me. He was outnumbered, so he slouched back into the couch and lowered his head.

“No,” he said. A moment of silence created an unnerving wave of tension. I relaxed for a second and tried to think of how I could make Anderson’s torture just a little more entertaining.

I snapped my fingers in recognition. “I know why you look familiar,” I said. Anderson’s eyes widened and the color drained from his face. Surely he thought I was going to blow him in right then.

“You look like this guy I dated. Geez, that guy was an asshole.” They cocked their heads. “He had trouble committing too.” Suddenly, Miko appeared interested in my paralleled tangent.

“So, what happened?” she asked.

“Oh, you’re not going to believe it.” Miko and I leaned in as I continued. “Turns out the reason he didn’t want to commit was because he was already with someone else.”

“No,” she gasped.

“Yes.” I nodded.

“How did you find out?” she asked. I smirked and looked at Anderson, who had sweat beading along his forehead. For a moment, I thought he was going to pass out.

“That’s the worst part. I ran into him and his real girlfriend in this very building.”

With wide eyes she asked, “Oh, my God, what did you do?”

“I did what any sane woman would do. I confronted him right there in front of his girlfriend. She was furious and totally clueless.” I let out a deep sigh at the thought, “I don’t think they lasted much longer after that.”

“Did you ever see him again?” Miko asked.

“No, and I hope I never will.” Miko’s eyes were fixed on me, mine were fixed on Anderson, and his were on the ground. “Well, enough about me, let’s talk about you two. That’s why we’re here, right? To talk about you and your two year relationship?” I faked a warm smile.

Miko sat up straight appearing eager to resolve her own non-committed boyfriend issues while Anderson remained stiff in his petrified expression.

“Are you alright, Anderson?” I asked.

“Yeah,” he said and gave a nervous smile. “I’m fine.” Miko took one look at him and grabbed a tissue from the box sitting on the coffee table.

“Why are you so sweaty. It’s not even that warm in here,” she said wiping the perspiration off of his head and neck.