Page 13 of Present Tense

“Shit, fake girlfriend, queen of the spank bank Jillien?”

“Yes. She inexplicably wants me.” My phone dings and I show it to Mark.

JILLIEN: Your boy James is driving hard to the hoop. He’s vaguely amusing. Tick tock. He might make a better offer.

LIAM: Impossible. Working on a plan now. I should be in you within the hour.

JILLIEN: Not sure I can wait that long. My pussy is a bit demanding.

LIAM: Tell her I’ll take care of her as soon as possible. I’m good with cats.

“Help me out, brother,” I implore Mark to help.

He laughs and bolts to the bar, discreetly hiding all the bottles. I scour the room for others. Then he grabs his wife’s hand and starts bellowing into the crowd, “Hey, everybody! Asshole Liam’s out of liquor. I’m headed to Dirty Frank’s, and I have lots of cash.”

Mark plants himself in front of me with an open hand. I have eighty-seven bucks in cash, and he can have it all. Get them out of here.

LIAM: I’m paying for Mark’s silence and for dragging all these people with him. I need cash.

JILLIEN: Gray Michael Kors clutch in my coat. There’s a hundred or so. Wait, so now we’re paying for sex?

LIAM: I want you so badly. I don’t care what it costs.

JILLIEN: Then so be it. I’ll happily fuck you for your money. Or get fucked any way you want to fuck me.

LIAM: How badly are you pulsing right now? Think about what my fingers could do to you. Can you reach her? Rub something right now on her to get her ready for me.

9

JILLIEN

Oh, she ready. She does not need any prep. But I’m totally into this. I love dirty talk, but never expected it from him. His blue-eyed intensity is palpable even fifty feet away. There are people everywhere hugging and making plans. I pick up a rectangular bolster pillow next to me on the couch and hold it vertically as if I’m searching for the tag. I scoot to the edge of the couch and spread my legs.

People are all up and putting their coats on and no one is looking at us. I smile at him without breaking my gaze as I plunge the corner of the pillow into the exact spot I want. His mouth opens. My breath catches as the thick, stiff upholstered corner finds its way between my thighs. I hold it there as I exhale loudly and watch as Liam stumbles backward.

LIAM: Good girl. So fucking good. Stand up, make your exit. Come in the back door and go upstairs.

I set the pillow aside as I try to shake off the urge to run to a dark closet.

JILLIEN: Fletch. I need to come. I need it so badly. I’ll be thinking of you.

I’m hurrying but his text stops me in my tracks.

LIAM: NO! Your orgasms are mine tonight. Hands off my pussy. Keep your fingers to yourself, sexy beast. I’ll get you off soon enough.

JILLIEN: We’re both in pain, right?

LIAM: My balls haven’t been this blue since my junior prom when you wore that fucking green satin dress on the arm of Brady Walton.

I grin.

JILLIEN: Loved that dress.

LIAM: Loved the dress. Hated Brady Walton.

JILLIEN: If it helps, he went home with blue balls too.

It’s fun to be Jillien Thompson again and not Ms. Meier. My ex wouldn’t even commit to what he wanted for dinner. I decided everything and I didn’t realize how exhausting it was until Liam delightfully began bossing me around. There’s such freedom in this. He’s taken the choice away from me, and I’m happy to lay down my sword and Google calendar for once.