Page 43 of Come Find Me Tonight

“You fit perfectly right here,” I murmur into her hair.

“Mm, I love how warm you are,” she says. “Have to ask. What’s the deal with the scar?” She lightly traces the raised skin along my side.

I laugh, knowing the outlandish theories floating around the internet. I pull the duvet over our shoulders and trail my fingertips down her waist. “Burst appendix a few months after I graduated college,” I say.

She giggles, pressing her face into my chest. “Is that really it?”

“Yeah, it sucked, but I survived.”

She lightly brushes her fingertips over my nipple. “And these?”

I sigh. “When I started the Rook account, I felt like I needed something to make me seem edgier, and I hate needles. Tattoos were out of the question, but I thought if I kept my face out of the videos, pierced nipples would be edgy. And I got the rook piercing because…I don’t know. Just had to. It inspired the name.” I wince at the thought of being in a tattoo parlor getting my nipples pierced. The rook piercing was more painful, though. “I usually keep silicone barbells in them, but when I film, I switch to the metal.”

“I see…I like ’em,” Appa whispers. I take her hand that’s been grazing my side and hold it in mine.

I was so wrong before…she’s still the girl I met in college. Fame hadn’t tainted her like I thought, and she was only matching Rook’s energy the whole time. I came way too close to losing her again, and I’m going to make sure that I never do.

Chapter Eighteen

Appa

Robby said he could make better pizza, so the following weekend, we make plans for me to find out. Am I nervous about going to his house for the first time? Of course. But not in an ‘I’ll end up in your basement’ way. More first-date, if you can call it that, jitters. Going to his house feels so intrusive, ironically, and I’m not sure what kind of bachelor pad to expect.

As I get ready to leave, the past week replays in my mind. Robby came over Wednesday night after work with a bag of takeout in hand, and we watched a movie in the living room.

He winced when he walked past the high-backed chair in my living room. The same chair I dug my nails into when he robbed me of my innocence. I feel pride when I walk by it as it’s a reminder that I feel like a real woman now. Finally in touch with my sexuality.

“You okay?” I asked as I opened the containers of Chinese takeout.

Robby glanced back at the chair as he plopped down on the couch next to me. “Yeah, just that…” he trailed off and rubbed the back of his neck. I knew differentiating between himself and Rook would be challenging as we tried to balance both sides, and it had only been a few days.

“I can get rid of it? Or put it in storage?”

He shook his head. “I’ll get over it.”

I nodded, but I didn’t really believe him.

After gorging ourselves with takeout, we spent the evening watching a movie that led to another movie…that we didn’t really watch. It was background noise as we found out we had the self-control of two horny teenagers.

“Fuck it, neither of us is watching this,” Robby said abruptly. He ripped his shirt off. I was pinned under him within two seconds, and I could already feel him straining against his joggers. “Why are there fucking shorts under this skirt?” he complained when he found out my slutty little tennis skirt was actually a skort.

“Patience, mister,” I teased.

He pressed his lips hard against mine and gave my bottom lip a little nibble. “Patience? We haven’t fucked since Sunday, and you do this to me.” His tone stayed playful, but I knew he was more than eager. He sat up and slipped his fingers under the waistband of my skort. “Lift,” he said, referring to my hips.

But sex was still as Robby. He was more aggressive than Saturday morning but not at the same level Rook would be, and I quickly came to terms with wanting it rough. When I felt comfortable that I could ask for more without tapping into the Rook side of him someday, I would. I wasn’t afraid of Rook and was excited for his next appearance, but after so much time obsessing, it was time to let Robby shine. Truthfully, I don’t think I would have ever fallen for Rook, but Robby has potential.

For the past couple of days, work has kept him busy, but we had some private sexts.

Robby, on Thursday: Wish you and that mouth were under my desk right now.

Me: Sure about that? I bite.

Robby: That makes me harder.

I rolled my eyes at his response but smiled, despite myself. I might have to try carefully grazing my teeth down his length; he might like it.

Robby, yesterday: You’re gonna fall asleep with me still in you and wake up in my bed with me back in you this weekend.