NERTHUS
The week starts as badly as it ended.
I feel exhausted as I didn’t sleep well another night. Expecting Arawn to come over to collect his debt, I’m practically useless for anything as I feel as if running on adrenaline.
As days pass, my subtle fear turns into frustration as I don’t even get a text from him.
And soon enough, I find myself feeling disappointed as he doesn’t show up.
But still manages to steal my sleep this way.
In a weak moment, I am tempted to contact him, but Jenna saves me from my embarrassment as she tells me that he must have gone out of the country for some meeting as Dario had to go with him.
At least a text!
I go through my days with my shifts in the cafe and the bar as well as casual dinners and drinks with Gigi and Jenna.
Not that it helps a lot.
Sitting on my bed, I chew on the skin around my finger as I bob my leg up and down. Turning my phone in my hand, I fight with myself and try to convince myself not to text or call him.
I’m not his wife.
Nor his girlfriend.
He doesn’t owe me any explanation.
This time I don’t want to show him any signs of desperation. Also, I don’t want to give him the impression that I am actually waiting for him to come and take me.
So, I do the only thing reasonable.
“Oh my God, Looooove! How are you?”
I laugh as I have to pull my phone away from my ear because of the high-pitched greeting.
“God, Bridget. What did you take?”
She giggles at my question before she moans, “Well, I took a pill this morning, and a few lines in the afternoon. And now, I’m on my third scotch.”
“Oh, babes. That isn’t healthy. Do you need something?” I scrunch up my nose, but she just giggles again.
“Of course, it is not! That’s the whole reason for taking all this shit. And I need nothing, babe. I have everything a girl’s heart would desire.” She sighs as I hear the clinking of ice against a glass.
Hugging myself, I speak through her snickering. “Do you want me to come over?”
I know exactly that this is just a normal Thursday for her, but I still have to ask.
“No, no, babe. I can’t tonight. But come clubbing with me on Saturday night, will you?”
Throwing my head back with a short laugh, I close my eyes. Clubbing with Bridget is always something else. “Sure, love. I’d come clubbing with you on Saturday.”
She celebrates with a small ‘yaayy’, and I can see her sway her hand in the air before my inner eye.
“Can’t wait, love. See you then.” Her giggle reaches my ears for the last time before she cuts the call.
I sigh, letting my hand slump into my lap.
Well, shit.
Laughing to myself, I’m about to get up when a text reaches me.
Mr. Entitled Asshole: You already have an appointment Saturday night.
I groan as I see the incoming text. “Are you for fucking real?!”
Mr. Entitled Asshole: And you won’t have the energy to go clubbing after it.
Hating how I can’t prevent my smile from growing automatically at this, I type an answer hastily.
Amber: First come, first serve.
Mr. Entitled Asshole: We will see about that. But I’m betting that you will be the one to come first.
My gasp is followed by laughter as I actually love this answer.
Biting my bottom lip, I try to take another step towards him and dial his number. He picks up the call nearly immediately, taking me by surprise.
“Oh, I didn’t think you were actually going to take the call.”
His deep chuckle vibrates through the phone, covering my skin in goosebumps. “I would be an idiot not to.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that you were going overseas?” I ask, letting me fall back into my bed.
“Didn’t think you would care about such information,” he answers nonchalantly.
I laugh, shaking my head. “You are an idiot.”
“Were you this expectant for me to come and claim my night?” Hearing the smirk in his voice gets me to smile stupidly myself.
“Idiot,” I whisper again, making him chuckle.
“Tell me anyway.”
“Of course. While you are jet-setting, I’m over here getting withdrawal symptoms.”
He laughs, and I hear him shift in his bed, making my heart beat faster. “I would have taken you with me, Nerthus. But I wouldn’t have gotten any work done.”
“Pervert,” I whisper, hearing him shift once again.
Biting my bottom lip, I gather all my courage to ask him what has been lying on my stomach the entire week. “Were you just playing with me? Or were you waiting for me to open the door the other night?”
“What do you think?” He asks with a sigh.
“I don’t know. That you were playing me, I guess.” I pull my lips to the right side of my mouth, fearing I might sound too desperate.
He hums while my heart increases its beating pace. “I didn’t play you. I was there, and it was the longest night of my life.”
Holding my hand in front of my mouth doesn’t help prevent the bubble of laughter that just exploded from my chest. “I’m so sorry. I really didn’t want to laugh.”
“Sure. Go ahead. Mock me,” he says, trying to sound offended, but by the smile I hear in his voice, it seems as if he doesn’t matter.
He waits patiently for me to calm down, and we stay silent for a second more.
“Why is it that we can talk normally if it’s through the phone, but not when we are standing in front of each other?” I ask, making him chuckle.
“I don’t know, Nerthus. Maybe it’s the fact that I want to have my hands on you at any cost.”
Shaking my head, I get up to sit in the middle of my bed.
“You can’t see me, right?” I ask, my fingers gracing the lace of my lingerie.
“No,” he answers, and I can practically see the frown on his face.
I hum, tilting my head pensively. “That’s a pity.”
“Let’s change that then.” He says with a groan, hanging up on me.
I don’t get to look at my phone surprised in time as he is already Facetiming me.
“What? Oh my God, no.” I say to myself before I drive my fingers through my hair and pick up.
He is already laughing as he must have heard me, and I’m about to retort something sassy as my words get stuck in my throat. Even if the lights are low on his side, I can see his sculpted chest that he has on display for me as he lowers his blankets. His tousled hair and the stubbles around his tempting lips are making it hard to breathe.
I’m a lost cause.
“You are so fucking beautiful,” he compliments me, making my heart skip a beat. “Is this new?”
I look down at my sexy pajama top and caress my hair out of the way. “Oh, yeah. I bought a few of them as I was thinking you would appear in my bedroom one of these nights, so… Do you like it?”
He hums as I pull my top down, letting my red bra show through the white lace. “Very much, yes.”
“What time is it there?” I ask, scooping myself up to the headboard of my bed.
Checking the clock on his nightstand, he gives me the perfect opportunity to ogle him. “A quarter after three.”
He chuckles, driving his hand through his hair. “And there is no devil who appeared to take me by the way.”
“Don’t say that.” I shake my head, looking away as his smirk is too much to bear. “It brings you bad energies.”
“Bad energies my ass. Your voice was the first relaxing thing I heard today.” Nearly missing his murmuring, I act like it gets my heart to beat wildly in my chest.
Forcing my eyes back onto the screen, I take a deep breath. “You wanted to talk… Maybe it’s stupid because it’s late. But I’d be listening if you wanted to.”
“Not now, Nerthus. I want to talk to you when I have you in front of me. When I can actually touch you.”
I laugh awkwardly, pulling at my shorts. “Talking, not touching, you pervert!”
“Well, I’m sure I can keep my hands to myself until we are done talking. Maybe.” He grins as I purse my lips.
“Even if it will lead to us fighting again?” I ask, pulling my right leg to my chest.
He smirks, my core responding to his husky whisper automatically. “It’s going to be worth it either way, beautiful.”
“So, you will take me out to have our talk the next time I see you?” I ask, moving my knee from side to side.
“Oh, no. The next time you’ll see me, I’ll get my night back. And the next time after that, we will have our talk.”
It’s impossible to keep my laughter back as I can’t wait to see him again.
Clearing his throat, he shifts to sit up slightly more, his blanket gliding deeper.
Oh, heaven.
“Is there anything that will gross you out less? Something I’m doing, maybe?” I’m still focused on his abs as his question tears me out of my thoughts.
“Huh?” He passes his hand over his face, his sorrowful gaze making me want to be able to touch him to cheer him up.
“Every time we fuck, it seems like I’m putting you through the worst experience ever.”
My breath hitches in my throat as I realize that he isn’t joking.
“I mean, lately. Not while at it. But afterwards, you…” He moves his hand dismissively before burying it into his hair again. “Ah, forget it.”
“Erm… It’s certainly nothing you do. It’s the way you treat me.” I shift, scooping my hair behind my shoulder. “Since we had this fight in the venue of your poker nights… I have been feeling like an affair. An affair you have been having while you love your wife. You used to be rougher though. I like being fucked you know.”
He bursts into laughter, making me jerk up before I laugh as well. “I got too soft?”
“No, soft really isn’t the right word. But softer, if you want to use that word. I miss having trouble sitting down after an engagement of yours,” I answer, clearly blushing.
“Oh, you are lucky there is an ocean between us right now.” His chuckle got deeper again, making my skin tingle. “I would risk splitting you.”
Closing my eyes, I moan. “Lucky. Using the wrong word again, big boy.”
His groan vibrates through me, and I see him sit up, moving his blankets off him.
Oh, fuck. Me.
“Lay on your back and pull down your bra for me, beautiful.” I gulp but comply without a protest as my heart beats into my throat. He shifts, laying his phone on his mattress, making it look like he was above me.
“We are going to try something now,” he growls, a sly smirk playing on his lips. “And we surely are going to sleep perfectly after this.”
Oh, yes.