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"So what? You’re just going to be his fuck buddy?"

I shrug "I don’t even know if he’ll go there witha player and you just let him in anyway?"

I frown at her "He’s not a player, he’s honest He doesn’t do relationships and whatever Neither do I"

"You’re playing with fire, Mali, and you’re going to get burned," she warns

"Maybe I will, but this way I ht just be able to find out more about him"

"Which you could probably do if you just told him who you are!" she yells, exasperated

"We parted on harsh terht shut down completely if I tell him who I am God, can’t you see? This is the best way I’ll be a casual fling, and maybe I can work my way in"

"You’reto let you be a casual fling, and even if you get that far, what ?"

"Because I know hi because I can work hihs and flops down ontoarong in his life, and I want to knohat that is The only way I can find out is to spend time with him Maybe I’ll ht"

"And if he doesn’t want to screw your brains out anymore?"

"Then I’ll try and be his friend, at the very least"

She shakes her head "Be careful, Mali This could go bad"

"Yeah," I say, staring at the wall "But I have to try"

He’sI can

CHAPTER SIX

THEN – MALI

My foot slips and I let out a feral curse Dammit, why did Rainer have to pick the rooround floor, but he hates his father and so he decided no, he’d rather be as far away as he could get So now I’rid, and it isn’t going so well for me

But I have to see his like that

I e to fumble my way to the top I used to be able to do this so much easier, but these days Rainer is usually the one to co out at his place He doesn’t like being here I push my body up to the top of his s His double doors are wide open and I stop dead when I see hi only a pair of loose cotton shorts

He’s kissing Missy Her body is pressed against his, and he’s got a hand curled around the back of her neck The kiss is long, and soft, and for so washes through my body, and I quickly shove it down Hoeird I shake my head and wait for him to pull back He smiles down at her and then lets her out the door A few minutes later the front door slams and she walks out to her car

I turn back and see Rainer standing at the open doors, staring at ot his arms crossed over his broad, bare chest Gosh, I didn’t realize just how big he’d gotten He’s ripped His hair is messy and it has a definite sex look about it As if I didn’t knohat the two of theain

"That looked pretty serious," I say, jerking eneral direction Missy just was "I didn’t think you were the loving kind"

"What are you doin’ here, E to let me in?"

He stays in the door