Sweeter Than Fiction

Chapter Fifteen

Abby

“So, why aren’t you hanging out with Mr. Perfect tonight?” Jenson asks from the other end of my couch.

“He went back home to Nebraska because his niece broke her leg. He wanted to go surprise her to make her feel better.”

“Okay, gorgeous, you have to stop telling me things about this man. Just when I think he can’t get any more perfect, you go and say something like that. I am already shitty he’s batting for your team instead of mine. It’s just not fair. All the good ones are straight.”

“Uh, Jenson, I think every female in the world would disagree with you.” My phone chimes with a text. “Speaking of Don, I told him I would watch for a package he was expecting and take it into his apartment for him. He just texted telling me that it’s been dropped off.”

“How are you going to get in?”

“He gave me a key.”

“He just gave you a key? How can you say it like it’s no big deal?” He practically squeaks.

“He didn’t give it to me permanently. It was just so I could grab this package.”

“Speaking of which, have you grabbed his package yet?”

I sigh. “No, Jenson. I told you that our relationship isn’t like that.”

“I just can’t with you. Do you know that?”

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” I groan. “Okay, I do need to grab this package, though, so that no one steals it from the hallway.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“No, you don’t need to come. I am more than capable of grabbing a box by myself.”

I quickly put on my slippers and grab Don’s key before walking into the hallway. Sure enough, the box is on his doormat, so I pick it up and head inside. The apartment looks just like it did before. Neat and tidy. Nothing out of place. No clutter or nonsense.

Pretty much the opposite of mine.

As I’m walking over to set the box on the counter, a voice from the doorway startles me.

“Whoa, look at this place,” Jenson says, walking inside.

“What are you doing here? I told you I got this.”

“Honey, I’m aware you are more than capable of grabbing a box. I just wanted to see Mr. Sexy’s apartment.”

“Okay, you’ve seen it. Can we go?”

“In a minute. Calm down.”

“What if he has cameras?” I ask, internally freaking out.

He looks around as if scanning for cameras. “Well, I don’t see any, but on the off chance that he does, you can blame it all on me. Be sure to tell him he can punish me if he wants to.” He shoots me a wink.

Before I can say anything else, he walks down the hallway toward the bedroom.

“What are you doing?” I spit through gritted teeth.

“Aren’t you even the least bit curious?” He asks.

I follow after him, not because I’m trying to be nosey, but because I need to get him the fuck out of this apartment.

“Whoa!” He calls once inside.

With some pep in my step, I hurry to see what he’s referring to. Once inside, I see that this is the only room in the place that actually has some decoration and warmth to it.

The comforter is a deep shade of red. Candles are scattered around the different surfaces of the room. Nothing seems worthy of a big “whoa”, though.

And then, I see them.

Black leather cuffs are attached to each of the four posters of the bed. My eyes get big as I have no idea how to respond.

Jenson says, “Looks like Mr. Perfect has a bit of a kinky side.”

Oh yeah, this man’s sexual escapades are far greater than my own. Is this what he’s into? I mean, it has to be good, right? I’ve heard the sounds that his dates make while in the throes of passion. They all seem to be really enjoying themselves.

Grabbing Jenson by the back of his collar, I pull him out of the room and straight out of the apartment.

I don’t speak a word until we are back at my place with the door firmly shut and locked behind us. “Why did you have to do that?” I ask.

“You can’t tell me you weren’t curious.”

“Even if I was, I wouldn’t have snooped through his home. That’s a serious invasion of privacy.”

He waves me off like what I just said doesn’t matter. “Stop being so anal. It’s fine. No harm, no foul.”

“That’s what you have to say?” I shriek. “No harm, no foul? Now, every time I see my hot as hell neighbor, I will picture him using those handcuffs on his bed.”

“What’s wrong with that? Nothing wrong with a little fantasy. I think it could do you some good to branch out a bit. Maybe get a little freaky for once.”

“Hey,” I point my finger at him. “I have no objection to getting freaky. I read about things that are the freakiest of the freaky. I just haven’t actually experienced much of it because your kind can’t seem to get their shit together.”

“My kind?”

I nod. “Men.”

“Sister, if you think that I count myself in the same category as all the asshole straight ones, you’ve got another thing coming. But from everything you’ve told me about Don, it sounds like maybe he’s one of the good ones. Maybe he’s one that won’t disappoint you.”

His phone chimes from his pocket. “Speaking of men who will disappoint me, Todd wants to meet up for drinks.”

“Go on. Get out of here.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to leave you hanging.”

“I’m sure. I’m probably going to pass out soon anyway.”

But when I finally get him out the door, I know that I’m going to do anything but sleep. I can’t stop thinking about what I saw in Don’s apartment.

And I know that my dirty thoughts are going to keep me up all night long.