Page 15 of On My Side (Quiblings #3)

Audrey

Playlist: Lay It on Me | Vance Joy

Ren parks his car in the inn parking lot and I’m filled with an uneasy sense of disappointment. This was as close to a perfect night as I’ve ever had.

Except for Ren’s apartment flooding and Piper’s apparent audition for Yente, the matchmaker from Fiddler on the Roof . Those things were less than perfect.

“They know you’re coming,” I say, averting my eyes. I don’t want to face him, face the midnight of this Cinderella-like experience. “Show your ID at the front desk and Nia will give you your key.”

“Thank you,” he says quietly, and I dare to glance at him out of the corner of my eye. He’s studying his hands in his lap, like he’s avoiding my gaze, too.

I clear my throat and unbuckle my seatbelt. “I hope you have a good stay. Let me or any of the staff know if you need anything.”

“I will,” he answers as I climb out of the car. Piper is out, cradling Princess Leia’s carrier securely in her arms.

“Let’s go, I have to set up her litter box,” Piper says solemnly, walking towards the cottage.

“ Shit ,” I hiss as I come to a stop. “We don’t have a litter box.”

“Yes, we do,” Piper calls over her shoulder.

I stare at the back of her head. “Why on earth would we have a litter box?”

Piper stops walking and turns around, eyebrow raised. “It’s called manifesting , Mom. And yes, I have the actual litter and a scoop, too.”

“Where are these alleged cat supplies?”

“Under my bed, duh.”

When I was her age, I was hiding romance novels I got from the library under my bed.

I’d tell the librarian I was getting them for my mom, and looking back, she had to know I wasn’t.

Meanwhile, Piper is keeping a litter box and the supplies that go with it under her bed as an attempt to manifest a cat in her life.

When we’re in the house, Piper springs into action, setting up the food and water bowls Ren provided in the kitchen. She fills them and we head to her room where she sets up the litter box before crouching next to the carrier and unzipping it.

Leia’s little calico head pops out of the opening, curiously taking in her surroundings.

“Hi, pretty kitty,” Piper coos, a huge smile on her face. Goddammit. I’m gonna have to get this kid a cat, aren’t I?

“Be gentle with her, Piper. She’s in a strange place with strange people so give her time to…” My voice trails off as Leia gingerly climbs out of the carrier and into Piper’s lap. She kneads Piper’s thigh, a purr as loud as a motorbike reverberating through her little body.

Piper looks at me smugly. “You were saying?”

I roll my eyes. “Okay, cat whisperer. You got everything under control?”

“Yup.” Piper pops the ‘p.’

“Great. Wait, what’s that Leia?” I cup my ear and lean in. “You want to hang out with Piper’s very cool mom? Flattery isn’t necessary, but…”

“Oh my god ,” Piper groans, rolling her eyes at me. “Don’t you own an inn? Shouldn’t you be busy with something? Your new grand-kitty and I are bonding .”

I lean down and press my lips to the crown of Piper’s head, and this time, it’s my turn to roll my eyes. “I love you, stop stealing my good shampoo.”

“I didn’t!” Piper exclaims, way too quickly to be innocent.

“I have a nose, birdie.”

“It makes my hair shiny!” she whines.

I stroke the back of her head. Damn, her hair is softer than usual.

“We’ll talk later. Tomorrow, maybe, when you hang out with your very cool mom.” I kiss the top of her head one last time before walking to my room.

I close the door behind me and wait until I hear Piper’s bedroom door close, too.

Now that I’m alone, I’m surrounded by the memory of Ren holding my hand.

How strong and soft he felt, how his breath felt on my neck.

How if he had leaned over merely a few inches more, I could have felt his mouth on my neck. I shiver, squeezing my thighs together.

What would Ren feel like on top of me? Saying the words Sky says and making me feel the way he has for so long without knowing?

It’s because he’s Sky. It wasn’t like this before you knew.

I slowly run my hands over my dress, feeling each and every bump, every curve and roll. I’m hot, needy—all because of the memory of him.

I don’t bother taking my clothes off, instead burrowing myself beneath the blanket fully clothed.

Sky released a new audio a few days ago, but I haven’t had time to listen yet, which is opportune considering how desperately I need a quick release.

Plus, it’ll be a good reminder that this overwhelming attraction is solely because of Sky.

Sky is the one doing this to me, who makes my body ache and thighs quiver. Sky is the one I want.

Sure, Audrey. Whatever you say.

Shut up, brain.

I put my headphones over my ears and pull my fully charged—thank god —clit-sucking vibrator from my nightstand, sliding it beneath my skirt.

At first, I don’t turn the toy on, teasing myself along my inner thighs with it before pressing play on the audio.

“Good morning, beautiful.”

I want to be able to disconnect Sky from Ren, to disconnect my goddamn attraction .

“Waking up next to my beautiful wife never gets old.”

My eyes fly open and I grab my phone with my free hand. Fuck, it’s a married audio. Those always get me. Being called wife gets my gears turning, maybe because it’s not something I’ll ever be called.

“I know we just got married but… ”

Sky’s laughter fills my ears and I relax. That’s not Ren’s laugh. It’s Sky. Sky isn’t real. Ren is real.

I close my eyes and slip my vibrator under my panties as I turn it on.

“Oh, you like it when I call you that? My wife. My wife. My good, beautiful, sexy wife.”

My back arches as I place it over my clit, the sensation overwhelming my body.

“Yeah, I’m hard already. You try sleeping next to your naked wife and not waking up hard.”

I try to imagine Sky the way I’d imagined him before knowing his real identity.

Before I knew he was Ren. Faceless and tall, maybe some tattoos, because who doesn’t love a bad boy.

Growly voice and forearms that make me want to scream.

Brown curly hair and green eyes that make me want to get lost in a forest and…

That’s Ren. I’m literally imagining Ren hovering over me, thrusting into me at the perfect pace, because somehow this man would know how I like it better than I do.

“Fuck, baby. Your pussy is heaven,” Sky says.

“You’re not broken,” imaginary Ren whispers in my ear. “You’re not damaged goods, no matter what they say. Your body is so good. You’re fucking good.”

I jackknife into a sitting position and violently yank my headphones off my head.

What the hell ?

Is that the dirty pillow talk my subconscious wants? To be wanted even when I’m known? That the things I’ve put so much energy into hiding are beautiful and worthy of light?

Why can’t I be into light degradation or something? Nope, I need my sexual partner to fucking therapize me.

I snatch the vibrator I’d dropped and turn it off. Somehow, I’m even hornier than I was before, and also have zero desire to continue, because who knows what other bizarre kinks will be unlocked. Who knows how else I’ll picture Ren.

I swing my legs over the side of my bed and get to my feet.

Ren is a person. A human being. He’s not a concept and not automatically tied to Sky and I shouldn’t know he is. He obviously doesn’t want people to know, probably so his student’s invasive moms don’t get off to him.

Ren is a person. A good, generous person. He’s not a fantasy. I have to keep reminding myself of that.

I take a deep breath and swap my contacts for glasses. I change into bike shorts and a t-shirt before leaving my room and grabbing my keys.

“Come in!” Piper calls when I knock on her door.

“Hey, birdie.” I poke my head into the room.

She’s turned her fairy lights on and is snuggled under her weighted blanket, her iPad leaning against her giant metal cup on her nightstand.

Leia is curled into a donut shape beside her, on top of the blankets.

The feline meets my eyes and I narrow mine at her.

Stop it! I tell her psychically. I know! She needs a goddamn cat! You don’t have to make me feel bad about it!

Leia stares at me, unblinking.

“What’s up?” Piper asks, pressing pause on whatever she’s watching.

“Nia texted, and she locked herself out of the system and needs me to reset it,” I lie. “I’m going to run to the inn for about an hour, are you okay on your own?”

“Yup,” she answers, pressing play on her iPad. Familiar music plays from it.

“Are you… watching Star Wars ?”

“Yes. Leia wanted to see her namesake and since I’ve never seen it, I thought it was the perfect activity for this evening.”

I shake my head. “Mr. Q is a bad influence on you.”

I can’t see her face, but I know this little brat is smirking. “Sure, Mom.”

Ten minutes later, and I’m knocking at room 215, a stack of towels tucked under my arm.

When Ren opens the door, I literally drop them.

Like, literally. It’s embarrassing.

He’s freshly showered and wearing an oversized t-shirt and forest green boxers that match his eyes.

His hair is wet and he’s drying it with a towel.

He must have brought his own shampoo and soap, because he doesn’t smell like the subtle cotton and tea tree oil of the toiletries we provide, but instead like sandalwood and sea salt and… is that peppermint?

“Oh, shit,” he says, bending down to grab the towels at the same time I do. Our heads collide with a loud thwack . My phone falls from my hand, and we simultaneously groan and pull away from each other.

“Ow,” I groan, covering my forehead with my hand. That’s going to leave a bruise.

“I’m sorry,” Ren sounds truly contrite, or maybe he’s in pain. “I was just trying to…”

I start to laugh, because god. It’s ridiculous. We smacked our heads together like it’s some poorly-written meet cute in a Hallmark Christmas movie.

He starts to laugh too, and my entire body is flooded with warmth at Ren’s laugh. This laugh I’ve come to love and be comforted by.