"What brings you to this seductresses door so late?"

"About that. . . I am sorry. I do know it is late. But I have a flight early tomorrow. So here I am to give you this." I sigh as he holds out a small box in front of me. He always does this. Bringing me gifts as if we’re dating. Chocolate boxes, stupid artifacts, flowers, Jewelries. I had trashed every single one in his presence to prove my point of never accepting him in this lifetime or in the next. But it is like he does not see or hear my rejection. He is blind, deaf and stupidly immune to it. I collect the small rectangular box from him, glancing around for the waste disposals in the hallway. I frown when I don’t see any. There used to be two lining this hallway. "Looking for the waste disposals? I put them away.

You see, in that box is a rare topaz gem that was mined in eastern asia. It is very rare and believed to be the very last of it there. Trashing that would mean throwing away the effort of the miners who mined it with their blood and sweat." I can’t believe I am listening to this rubbish. He catches it when I throw it at him. "Sounds like some important shit. Why are you giving it to me? I have told you countless times you—"

"You are not my type. Never will you be. Find another pussy to chase after. Both of us? Never in a million years." I listen in surprise as he quotes all of my rejections without missing out a single one. Meaning he does hear and has been paying attention. "And yet you keep coming back. Do you like hearing rejections much?" He gives a half shrug. "What can I say? I like you so much that I don’t mind." That sort of get to me. A little. Before I know it, he has put the box in my hand and is walking off. I am left yelling out his name. He waves but does not look back. I blow out a heated breath. Stupid jerk! I was awed when I open the box. The light brown crystal is beautiful. It does looks rare and special. Okay I will not trash it. I won’t be returning it face to face either. I will hire a delivery person to deliver it for me. As well as a handwritten letter of five thousand words stating why I would never be with him. I nod to myself at the splendid idea. I go in and lock the door, hoping to find some peace that was said no to by another disturbance. A call from a person I so detest. It ends. But she calls again. I did not save her number but I know it is her the instant I look because of the last three digits. She still uses the same one. I have changed three times. I know exactly why Briar is calling. And I am very great at being natural.

I received. "Oh, look who finally answers." Her cynic tone says. "Why have you been avoiding my calls?"

Listen to this bitch talking as if we have such great relations that would cause one of us to jump in happiness when the other is calling.

"Avoiding? Don’t you know what time it is? Still as inconsiderate as ever." I respond.

"I did not call to exchange words with you. Where is my husband?"

"Husband. You mean Nate? Why are you asking me such an idiotic question?" I feign ignorance.

"Nice try playing dumb. I know he went over to you. I have got a tracker on him. So don’t even try." Her words confirms what Gweneth said that day when she scolded me for not turning his phone off saying that there could be a tracker on it. I had thought it far-fetched as not something Briar would do. Turns out she was right. So denying that I never met him and feigning ignorance would be dumb.

"Yes. He did come over to see me." I admit. I go to the couch and sit down crossing one leg over the other to better get comfortable to lie. "I knew it. You bitch! You still have your claws on him!" 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"Stick to the facts Briar. You are speaking as if I am a snatcher. Let us not forget who the snatcher is. And besides, he is the one who has his claws on me and not the other way around." She is so mad right now. I can almost feel it coming off the phone’s screen. I wish I were a fly on the wall over where she is to see her expression right now. I continue. "This isn’t the first time. He used to always come to me before." I pause to let the blow land.

"I chased him away every time because I was still mad at him. But when he came for my birthday two weeks ago, he cried and pleaded saying he had no choice but to choose you. I relented and let him in. He was with me for about. . ." I pause again to think. "Three hours. Want to know where he was and what he was doing in those three hours?" I say the last part in a breathy voice to further give her ideas.

There is a satisfying silence on her end before she speaks in a restrained voice. "Where is he right now?"

"I don’t know. He must have gone back. My pussy isn’t a house that I can keep and lock him in unfortunately." The next is a beep. The bitch has ended the call. All of my composure melts away like it never existed. I pace about the room anxiously. That was natural right? She would not think that I have a hand in Nate’s disappearance now right? I breathe in and out. Another ring of the doorbell has me marching towards the door angrily. "Who the fuck is it now?" I thunder.

I saw Kyle again outside my door. "Hey, it is me again—sorry. I forgot to tell you that you have to put the Topaz under your pillow for it to be effective." He explains. My eyes were more focused on his thin lips moving as he spoke than the words that was coming out of his mouth. Those milliseconds were enough for me to decide that I needed a distraction.

"Goodnight. See y—" I did not let him say anymore. The rest were swallowed in my kiss. I had closed the gap between us to meet our lips together. He freezes in shock and surprise before kissing me back. His hands cradle my face as he deepens the kiss. He is. . . . . really good kisser. I did not expect him to be. He sort of gives the vibe of a guy who has never dated before.

We both pull away, breathing erratic. Our mouths hovering close to each other. I can feel his hot breath on my face. He is staring at me with hooded eyes. I am staring back. His heart is beating fast under my palm.

"Why is beating so fast? You are not having a heart attack, are you?" I ask. "Did you really just kiss me or am I dreaming again?"

"I did."

"Why?"

"Is my mood not clear enough? Do you need another invitation?"

His face brightens with a smile. "No. This is more than enough."

He kisses me this time. In a deep, rough way that says he’s been waiting for a long time. I put my hands around his neck and draw him inside and close the door with fumbling movements. We kiss all the way to the couch, knocking over God knows what on our way. I push him to sit down while I climb on top of him, bringing down the straps of my camisole to reveal my breasts. He sucks in a breath as he sees them. Lust and the need to touch them are reflecting strong in his eyes and growing at his crotch. But he doesn’t touch them. I slightly frown. "What are you waiting for? Do I spell it out?"

"Something tells me that this is just fun to you." He said.

"What else would it be?"

"You are not doing this because you like me. You are doing it because I am available. Is that right?"

"I can’t say you are totally wrong."

"So if we do this, it will just be nothing more than sex to you?" He asks.

"I don’t do romance, honey."

"I don’t do casual hookups either." A loyal lover, I see.

"You are the one getting a better deal here. I am giving you a chance to taste what you have been pining for." I can’t believe I am here giving myself to Kyle of all people. The guy whom I swore to never accept.