Brazen Bossman: A Hero Club Novel, стр. 25
“Then why did we do what we did?” She doesn’t seem upset, not in the least actually. I’m so used to women losing their fucking minds when I tell them we can’t continue on our path.
“I told you that. I needed to do that for you. I needed to know what you looked like, sounded like when you come… tasted like… or I wasn’t going to be able to function. You invaded my brain and wouldn’t leave.”
“So what you’re saying is… thanks for letting me stick my tongue in your pussy, but I’m done with you now?” She crosses her arms over her chest.
“I wouldn’t say it as brashly as you just did, but in a sense, yes. I’m not done with you, Piper, I’m just trying to make sure you don’t suffer.”
“Suffer? How could I suffer?” Her perfect brow rises in an arch.
I sigh a heavy breath, scrubbing a hand over my face. “I want to continue seeing you, touching you. Christ, Piper, I want you, but this can’t happen. We can’t do this. I don’t want people to think negatively of you.”
“Wait, okay.” She laughs. “You are essentially… rejecting me… but trying to say you’re doing it for me? Am I understanding that correctly? Surely you can’t be that typical of a dude, can you?” Her perfectly sculpted brow arches, and I’m struck with a sudden urge to kiss it. It’s a very odd desire, but I think I just want to kiss every part of her.
“I don’t think you’re understanding.”
“I think I understand fine. You’re taking away my choice in the matter. What if I want you too? What if I want to do whatever I want without fear of being slut shamed? I know the risks of every decision I make, Mr. Lennox. You’re telling me how things are going to be without truly talking to me about it. You’re rejecting me, but trying to be a hero about it.”
“I’m trying to talk to you right now, aren’t I? I’m not rejecting you, Piper.”
“It seems like you’re telling me you made the decision, and that’s the final word on the matter.”
I sit silently, struggling to come up with something to say… anything to say… that will prove her wrong, but I’m not sure I can. I did come here with the intention of telling her how we’d be progressing, never once did I consider hearing what she wants.
“Then you tell me what you want out of this? Things are clearly different between us now, aren’t they?”
“Mr. Lennox, by treating me like one of the bevy of blondes that carousel in and out of your life instead of your equal, I think what I want is to leave and go home.”
She stands before I can even respond. Why is she so frustratingly stubborn?
“Maybe I’m overreacting, in fact, I probably am, but I’m high-strung right now, and for the first time in months, I felt a release today. I felt good. I felt powerful and strong and in control. You tried to take that from me without even understanding what you were doing.”
She squares her shoulders, looking as beautiful and strong as ever. She wants me, and I’ve fucked it up.
“Goddamnit, Piper, sit down. How did this even spiral this far out of control?”
“I suggest you enjoy the rest of your sushi and reflect on this conversation and maybe you can figure it out. Thank you for dinner. I really appreciate it. I’ll see you at the office tomorrow.”
She stomps out of the restaurant, leaving me alone and wondering what the fuck just went wrong.
Chapter 9
Piper
Was I within my rights to get up and leave?
Yes.
Did I overreact?
Probably.
Was he being a rude asshole?
Kind of.
But mostly, I was embarrassed. I still am.
I don’t take kindly to people making decisions for me and that’s exactly what he was trying to do. He wasn’t talking to me about it. He was telling me how it was going to be and that’s not cool. To be fair, my emotions and hormones are so confused right now, I’m not even sure I’m making sense. I cannot be held responsible for my actions or reactions.
I’ll call it the Nathanial Lennox Syndrome. Symptoms include: anger, frustration, unclear thinking, overreaction, aching body, and chills. Wetness and boosted libido likely.
I know, even as I sit on the subway train, heading home for the night, I shouldn’t have walked out. I should have calmly stated my opinion on the matter like an adult, but there is no turning back now. At least I’m not too proud to admit I’m way too stubborn to backpedal on this.
Plus, I kind of want to see how he reacts to this. Is it a game? Meh. I don’t think so. I call it curiosity.
My phone vibrates in my hand and I look down at it to see an incoming text from him.
I sigh heavily and contemplate not even opening it, but curiosity gets the better of me, and I do just that.
Asshole: I don’t know how this went so badly. I’m not sure you do either.
I type out many responses.
Fuck you, jerkoff.
Ha. That’s laughable.
Me neither, I’m sorry.
I shouldn’t have left.
But at the end of it all, I just close out the texting app and fire up my email, sending another to the Ask Ida account.
Ida,
Well, I’m not sure what just happened.
I stomped out of dinner with my boss after throwing a temper tantrum on him.
He was trying to make decisions for me, and that’s just not something I can ever be okay with.
But was it childish of me to just leave him like that?
He was telling me that HE was deciding how we proceed, rather than asking me what I wanted.
Please agree with me that he was an asshole so I can stop feeling so guilty.
I look sullen and sad in the middle of the subway at night, and we both know that’s asking for trouble.
Why is he making me crazy?
Piper.
By the time I am