Page 60 of Fate In Fiction

havent heard that one from a guy before…

Me:

Tell me his name and I’ll kick his ass for you.

Josie:

irrelevant, rookie

She still hasn’t spoken a word about her past relationships, yet I have so many questions and concerns as to why they didn’t last.

Me:

I am a damn Rookie when it comes to you, little darlin’.

Josie:

im freezing from this hike. Gonna go home and have a bath

Me:

Buzzzzzzz

Josie:

stop wasting time with texting me and get to work.

That’s my cue to get my ass back in gear. I sort through accounts, but my mind keeps drifting to Josie and wondering what she’s doing. She’ll probably be curled up on the couch when I get home and shoot me her sweet smile as her soft eyes drift back down to the cute romance book in hand. Fuck, I need to snap myself out of this. She’s way too good for me and needs to follow through with her own mission.

I dive into work and clock out early for the day. I’m fine with coming in an hour early to get work done, as Josie’s alarm will go off bright and early as always. Heading down the elevator, I look forward to my evening with her.

“Josie?” My voice projects through the suite in a happy song filled tone.

I’m home an hour earlier than expected, and the smell of lasagna engulfs me like a cloud. I wish I could keep her around all the time. The yummy meals she’s been making are just a bonus to having her presence to come home to.

Walking down the hall to the spare makeshift closet she calls a bedroom, I feel my lips tug into a smile. A new warmth spreads through my chest at how low maintenance she is. Josie’s not as clingy as I imagined living with a woman would be. We both have kept to ourselves until as of late. I should upgrade her to an actual bed, but it won’t leave any room for anything else. The comfy chair she’s obsessed with would have to go, and I know how adamant she is about keeping our cover if someone ever randomly stops by.

Stepping into her room to look for her, the flower-covered book catches my eye. Taking a seat on the chair-sofa, curiosity spikes my brain to what a book with faded roses holds inside. Clearly, they can’t all be about gardeners. A gentle cover for a gentle girl. I swear she lives in these pages more than reality. I open to a tabbed page as my eyes skim over the lines. Pausing, I double skim the page before bringing my finger to point to each word like a damn child. My heart thumps when I know the words I saw were indeed not just my perverted male brain making the dialogue more suited to my taste.

Holy fucking shit, Josephine…

“What––” Josie draws my eyes from the pages as she stands in the doorway wearing only a tiny white cotton towel.

Her eyes grow wide as she sees my gaped mouth as I look back at the book. Dumbfounded with who she really is, I trace my eyes down her body as her arm whips behind her back. Her cheeks hold a tinge of red, and I know she hopes I didn’t catch a glimpse of her hand. Too late to hide, little darlin’. My head dizzies as I decipher how the soft-spoken, shy girl in oversized sweaters is also the same girl who walks around the suite with a sex toys and reads romance. No, not romance… there was nothing romantic about the scene I read a moment ago. Josie’s lips part, bringing the innocent look across her face again.

“What are you doing home at this hour?” she stammers as her eyes dart from the book, to the chair, then to me.

“I said I wouldn’t be late. I ended up finishing even earlier.” I shoot her a sly smile. “Have you had the chance to finish yet?” I nod toward her hidden hand and open the book to continue reading.

“Emmett, close my book.” Her voice is weak and not nearly as demanding as she wants it to be.

“You read this in public.” I shut the book and stand, rolling up the sleeves of my white shirt. “You have such an expressionless face too. You’re so sweet and innocent looking when you’re curled up in the chair in the lounge near the fire.” I watch her chest rise and fall more quickly. I need to crack this enigma in front of me. “This is legit porn on paper, Josephine.”

“You have never entered this room before.” She swallows, avoiding my statements, and continues to hide the toy behind her back.

“I walked past, and the book cover caught my eye. You’re so obsessed with them, and after seeing what you read…” I lean forward, pulling the toy from her grasp. “I haven’t even grazed the surface of your filthy, explicit mind.” Her jaw drops and clamps shut, unable to speak. “I’ve seen this toy in videos before.” I examine the small wand. “Who are you?”

“Someone who has certain needs to be met.” She takes a breath, eyeing my hand. “I need something I know I can rely on.”