Ends of Being (Ends Duet Book 1) by MercyAnn Summers

Author:MercyAnn Summers [Summers, MercyAnn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MercyAnn Summers
Published: 2023-07-12T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Toni

When I wake in the morning, I’m not surprised to find I’m alone. Disappointed but not surprised.

Once Dare felt he’d taken care of me properly, he helped me out of the tub, dried me off, and even went so far as to slather me with moisturizer. Which just happened to be the same brand and scent I typically use. I probably should be annoyed or at least slightly creeped out, but I’m not. I actually think it’s kind of funny. Which means I’m likely losing it.

I was annoyed, however, that he refused to fuck me in the tub, no matter how much I taunted and teased him. I recognize that he was probably right, that my body had been put through enough for one session, but that didn’t stop me from pouting for a few moments. But then he kissed the pout off me and slapped my ass, which perked me right up. Again, I must be losing it.

Eventually, he helped me into bed and then went about tidying up a few things before joining me. I figured my brain would start to overthink and second-guess and question anything and everything I could possibly nitpick, but to my great surprise, nothing happened. It was all quiet—peaceful, even.

So, I let him gather me against him and hold onto me tightly from behind. I allowed myself to sink back into him and enjoy the feel of his face pressed into my hair, his exhalations hot along my ear and neck. He murmured quiet words of affirmation and reassurance, and I fell asleep, seemingly at peace with the situation.

I’m not exactly at peace now, in the light of day, but there are still remnants of a fire burning inside me at the thought of him, like actual butterflies in my chest.

I grimace. Butterflies. Ugh.

I have no idea how we jumped from bickering coworkers to this fire-injected inferno of near obsession, but here we are.

Or at least, here I am.

I suppose if we’re having a contest on who could possibly be more obsessed, he would win, given how long he’s been keeping tabs on me and the lengths he has gone to pursue me up to this point.

But I may not be too far behind him, and I worry this inferno will burn out, and I’ll be destroyed. Or I’ll destroy him because that’s what I do—destroy people.

I let people get close to me, and then I shut off and close down; push them away until they finally get sick of my shit and stop trying to make it work. And that’s not just with men; that’s with everyone.

It’s one of those situations where you’re fully aware of your many toxic personality traits, but you can’t be bothered to even attempt to fix them. Because that’s just who you are at this point in your life, and fuck everyone who can’t accept the bad with the good.

That’s what’s funny about this situation with Dare. All he has known of me is my complete toxicity, and he doesn’t give a fuck.

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