of lubrication on the mattress. Then he held up a sex toy, still in its wrapper.
She bit her lower lip. “Seriously? They make toys for this?”
He tilted his head, studying her face. “Of course they do. They have toys for sex acts I’ve never even heard of before. Don’t move. I want to wash this off real quick. Then we’re going to have some fun.”
Josie twisted, lying on her back. She reached over to pick up the lubrication. “Couldn’t get a bigger tube of lube? I mean I’m not sure this will last us more than six or seven years.”
He chuckled, calling out from the bathroom. “The giant size was on sale. Guess I should warn you, that was actually one of the previous girlfriend’s complaints. What I call thrifty, she called cheap.”
“Good information to have, but not a problem. I’m pretty cheap myself. Curse of being poor. Hey, my TV is going on the fritz. You have an inside track on where I can find an inexpensive one?”
“Actually, I do. But are you sure you need a new TV? I’m pretty good at fixing stuff. I could take a look at it if you wanted.”
“I’m not sure it’s worth fixing. The thing is ancient. I’d really like to replace it with a flat screen. My damn living room isn’t that big as it is and the old TV eats up a lot of space.”
Jake returned to the room still talking about the TV. “Gotcha. I’ll do some checking around for you if you want. I have a buddy who works at Best Buy. Maybe he can get you a deal.”
“That would be great. Thanks.”
Such a mundane conversation considering their nudity and sexual props. Josie turned her head to hide her smile, lest he misread her response. Jake was carrying a butt plug, while she toyed with the cap on the lubrication.
Jake picked up on her mirth and grinned as well. “Three full moons in and the magic is already waning. We’re getting worse than an old married couple.”
Josie waved the lube around. “Maybe this will help.”
Jake approached the bed, stopping her when she started to resume her previous position on her hands and knees. “Changed my mind. Stay like that.”
Josie lay back down. “Won’t this make it trickier?”
He climbed onto the bed. “Depends. How limber are you?”
She laughed. That had been one of her reasons for compiling the Howl List. Trying new things while she was still able to strike the poses. “I can hold my own.”
“Good. I like seeing your face when you come.”
Josie fell silent, uncertain how to reply to such a lovely comment. Jake was a master at sweet compliments. They warmed up all the cold, lonely places inside her, making it hard to remain aloof, distant.
Jake lifted her legs, crawling between them. “Hold them up.”
She grasped them beneath her knees, surprised when Jake grabbed a pillow and thrust it beneath her ass. Nothing like being on display.
Ordinarily she would have been mortified, but everything was different with Jake.
He took the lube from her and uncapped it. “This is going to be cold.”
Placing the tube at her opening, he squeezed some of the gel into her anus. She shivered, but Jake soon warmed her up.
He pressed one finger inside her slowly, his gaze never leaving her face, and she realized he didn’t want to watch her come. He wanted to make sure she wasn’t in pain. Had anyone had ever shown her such care? In her entire life, she’d run her own show, taken charge of her own destiny. Her mother hadn’t wanted a daughter, she’d wanted a girlfriend, so Josie had assumed that role. Tony had always needed a mother figure, looking to Josie to pay the bills, to make the household decisions, to be the responsible adult. And Tommy just needed her. She was his mommy and she’d never let him down. Never.
In all her life, she couldn’t remember a single time when someone had taken charge and simply let her be.
Jake stilled. “Josie? Are you okay?”
Clearly she’d given something away in her face and he’d misunderstood.
She shook her head.
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