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‘I didn’t like what I was subjected to earlier, either, Gregory’

There’s silence down the line for a few moments before he speaks ‘Sassy,’ he retorts sullenly ‘Please hold on to that if you’re giving him more of your time, Livy’

‘I will,’ I assure him ‘I’ll be fine I’ll call you Is Ben okay?’

‘No, he’s still not got his colour back’ He laughs, lightening the mood ‘He’ll live’

‘Okay I’ll speak to you tomorrow’

‘You will,’ he confir up, slue of Miller’s desk, where there’s no paperwork, pen, computer or stationery, just a cordless phone set precisely to the side His chair is tucked under, perfectly straight, and as I gaze around the whole rooisters It’s just like his ho has a place

Except htclub?

My head snaps up when thesatisfied, until he sees ’

‘Will you forcesome bravery into me

He seems confused byI know you don’t want to, Livy’

‘You forced me down here,’ I point out

‘I didn’t force you You could’ve battled with led froh his hair and takes a deep breath, then brings hi between theer slides under my chin and pulls my face to his, but he’s a little blurred I squint, frustrated that I can’t fully appreciate his features ‘You’re drunk,’ he says softly

‘It’s your fault’ I’ise’

‘Did you tell your girlfriend about irlfriend, Livy But yes, I told her about you’

The thought thrills me, but if he’s felt the need to tell her, then there’s more to it than business

‘Is she an ex?’

‘Fuck, no!’

‘Why the need to tell her about me, then? What business is it of hers?’

‘None!’ He’s exasperated I don’t care It’s quite satisfying to see soht face and clipped tone

‘Why do you keep doing this?’ I ask, pulling away ‘You’re tender, sweet and affectionate, then hard and cruel’

‘I’m not ha--’

‘Yes, you are,’ I interrupt hiet chastised for my lack of manners It wasn’t very polite of hiht, I could’ve tried harder to stop hi to fk me?’ I ask, barefaced and co his face ‘You’re drunk,’ he hisses ‘I’ to you when you’re drunk’

‘Why?’

He pushes his face toless than worship you, that is why’ Taking a moment to calm down, his eyes close briefly and reopen lazily He hits aze ‘I’ll never be a drunken fumble, Olivia Every time I take you, you’ll remember it Each and every moment will be etched on that beautiful ently taps my temple ‘Every kiss Every touch Every word’

My heart rate accelerates It’s too late, but I say it anyway ‘I don’t want it to be that way’ He’s already got a perh luck, because that’s how it’s going to be’

‘It doesn’t have to be,’ I goad, wondering where these confident words and tones are co from and if I really mean them

‘Yes, it does It has to be’

‘Why?’ I’ to sway a little, and he notices because he takes my arm to steady me ‘I’m fine!’ I slur insolently ‘And you haven’t answered my question’

He clenches his eyes shut, and then slowly opens the me back with blue puddles of sincerity ‘Because that is how it is fors I have no reply, not now, perhaps not even when I’m sober ‘You want me’ My drunken mind still wants him to say the words

He takes a deep breath and aze ‘I Want You,’ he confir’

I throw

A cuddle

My heart is free-falling