Page 94 of His Turn

“He’s a player. He’s into the game, but only as something on the side.”

“And I’m…” I laugh. “Too involved? You want me to ignore you for days at a time? Keep you hanging? That’s funny since you were pissed off when I was twenty minutes late the other day.”

“Almost thirty. And Jordan would’ve called. Which is why I expect more of you.”

“Oh.” I shake my head in disbelief. “I’m not living up to Jordan’s standard of care?”

“Not even a little bit, Elias. I have no idea who you are or what you want. Jordan is just a guy who likes a lot of dirty sex and wants to play a game with me. You’re… you’re in this for something totally different.”

“What’s that?” I ask, but halfheartedly. I’m losing interest.

“You want to break people.”

“Do I?” I can’t stop the guffaw that bursts out.

“Yes,” she says, wiggling that pinky toe at me. “You want control to prove something. Jordan wants control so he can help me.”

I have no words for how ridiculous that is.

“Why can’t you just enjoy it?” she asks. “That’s the part I don’t get.”

“I enjoy myself plenty.”

“No,” Nadia says. “You don’t enjoy any of it. Maybe you did once. When you were playing with your other friends. The ones you used to love.”

“The ones I still love.” It comes out before I can think to stop it.

“Yup,” Nadia says, picking a piece of lint off her sweatshirt. “The ones you still love. You don’t love Jordan. I can see that now. He’s just a replacement. Like me. I think that’s the biggest difference between the two of you. He’s invested in me. You’re not. Not even a little bit. I know this because if you were, you wouldn’t want to break me. You’d want to help me.”

“Like Jordan does?” I ask, mocking her with my question.

“Like Jordan does.”

Just as that last word leaves her mouth, Jordan walks through the front door calling, “Honey, I’m home!”

He almost walks right past my open office door, but slides to a stop in front of it. “Jesus, Bric,” he says, smiling as he walks into the room. “This fucking place, man. It’s amazing.”

“Yeah,” I say, grabbing the third glass on my desk and pouring him a drink. “It’s pretty fucking nice.”

Jordan takes the drink and sinks into the chair next to Nadia. “So what’s up? Did you guys eat? I had a late lunch, so it’s cool if you did. When’s bedtime?” And then he laughs into his glass and almost spits out his drink. He recovers, wiping his hand across his mouth, and leans into Nadia’s space to kiss her on the lips. “I’m sorry I was gone all week.”

Nadia kisses him back, her lips glistening with the brandy still on his mouth. She looks at me and smiles when he pulls away, swiping a finger over her upper lip and then licking off the brandy. “That’s OK,” Nadia says, her voice sweet and soft. Nothing like the voice she uses when talking to me. “Bric kept me busy.”

“I’m sure he did,” Jordan says, standing up and taking her hand. “And I plan on making things up to both of you tonight. Great fucking house, man,” he says, pointing a finger at me as he pulls Nadia to her feet. And before I know what’s happening, he’s got her sweatshirt off. “You look hot, Nadia. Let me help you out of these clothes.”

She giggles.

Fucking. Giggles.

He kisses her neck as he drags the thin string of her tank top down her shoulder. She throws her head back, mouth open, and moans a little.

Really? One neck kiss is enough to bring her to orgasm? I sigh and roll my eyes. She’s fucking with me. I know it. She’s trying to make me jealous or angry. Whatever it is she’s doing, it’s pissing me off.

“Nadia,” I say.

“What?” she breathes. But she doesn’t open her eyes.

“Look at me when I talk to you.”