Page 4

JULIA

The water out of the bathroom faucet is scalding hot. So, no—the heater isn’t broken. Tonya’s just a fucking angel, and too smart for a dick like Jaegoff Duke. She texted me that she was okay. He split before he even got her to her car, then she asked me how I was.

I’m fine. That’s what I told her. It was even kind of true. I’m just scrubbing Duke’s DNA off this poor screwdriver as if it’s a surgical instrument coated in shit.

“I don’t even want his money,” I mutter. “He can shove it all up his ass.” I run my thumb along the edges of the divots that encircle the handle, pushing the soap out so I can see the bright color in the deepest part. I wonder, will those ridges feel like they did in the dream?

“Sorry I left you,” I say. “And then forgot. I knew something was missing but…”

I’m apologizing to a screwdriver. Jesus.

After I rinse off the soap and dry it, I slap the handle in my palm. The toolbox is in the storage closet by our spot in the garage. I don’t want to go all the way down, unlock the cage, blah blah et cetera, just to deliver one tool.

Still and again… would I feel those ridges in real life the way I do in the dreams?

Only one way to find out.

I slide off one leg of my jeans and pull my foot from my underwear. This should take a second, then I can prep for the job tomorrow.

“Don’t worry. I’ll clean you when I’m done.”

With my toes around the bed’s footboard, I touch myself. I’m wetter than I should be for a hand tool, but it’s been a while, and that dream is still fresh in my memory.

I lower the screwdriver between my legs, but stop before it touches me.

This is stupid.

I have a vibrator already. I’m not going to abuse my screwdriver.

I toss it on the bed and peel off my clothes from the waist down.

My Lily triple-action, double-penetrating vibrator with its third arm in front for clitoral stimulation is going in for a quickie.

It has fresh batteries, so it’s buzzing like a chainsaw when I run the center bulb from clit to ass.

Once I’m fully lubricated, front entrance to back door, I lower myself onto it.

It stretches me out, pulling the skin on my clit, but before it’s all the way in, I direct the beaded rod into my anus.

Ah, completion. My favorite thing. It’s almost too much, but I hold my orgasm, humping the three arms of the vibrator until I can’t bear it anymore.

I flop down on my back. The top of my hand hits my screwdriver. I pull it from under me.

“Sorry you had to see that, buddy. But hey, I didn’t defile you.”

Spinning it on my fingertips, I get off the bed so I can clean up.