His look sours and he pouts to Gil. “Why do I feel like you’re totally going to Dom my whole way through this education?”
“Because that’s totally what he’s gonna do, bro,” Jonah says with a dirty smirk.
“Punishment for failing assignments,” Dean agrees.
“Tutoring by a sexy roommate,” Gil says as his eyes linger on me.
“Oh, can we dub one of the flogs the study flog?” I squeal excitedly. “Like we flog his ass to get back to work.”
“God no,” O groans.
Edith sticks her head around the book cabinet we’re still standing behind. I kind of forgot we’re still in the middle of a bookstore, and there’s nothing to silence the sound going through the whole room.
“Is this the dynamic you want to write about?” she asks curiously.
My cheeks heat quicker than I thought would be possible. Sure Mor, reading smut and pitching reverse harem to my editor is no problem, but then speaking about it out loud while my very own harem surrounds me is making me uncomfortable? I need to get my priorities straight. But we’ve all established that I still don’t know the difference between left or right, so my priorities might be a little lost too.
“Well, kind of,” I stumble. “But with plot of course.”
“Of course,” Edith says, letting her eyes roam over all my guys but with a completely different look this time.
“We’re going to go home now,” Gil tells Edith. “And we’re stealing your little money maker.”
“Is that supposed to sound so dirty?” Edith asks me.
Laughter leaves my mouth. “Probably.”
“And you’re sure there’s a market for these porn books?” she asks with red cheeks.
I just give her a wink as I let Jonah guide me out of the book store while he gives Earl a wave.
Dean wraps an arm around my shoulder as we start making our way back home. Somewhere in the last few months I’ve started thinking of O’s and Jonah’s house as my home. Or actually, it’s something fucking sappy, that I’m home wherever these guys are. But it doesn’t make it any less true.
“So, that was your last conventional romantic novel book launch?” Gil asks.
“I guess,” I answer, and suddenly I feel sad. It’s like the end of an era and I’m bad with goodbyes. Not to mention it’s a goodbye I instigated and crave more than anything else.
“Do you need any help with research for your new books?” Dean asks while he pulls me closer. I start laughing.
“No worries, I’ll call for your help whenever I need it.”
“I once read this book, where the main character fell in love with a dinosaur, and they made these clicking noises to let the others know there was danger. Are you willing to help her with that too?” Gil asks with a spark in his brown eyes.
“Click-click-click,” Dean says while making T-Rex arms.
“Oh my fucking god, get that image out of my head,” O laughs.
“You’re saying you wouldn’t do it for Mor?” Jonah asks.
“Hell no, I embarrassed myself with a boombox out in the pouring rain. I’ve paid my dues.”
“Well, not to burst anyone’s bubble, but I’m never writing dino books,” I say while I inwardly cringe. I’m not kink shaming, but I don’t have to have all the kinks, now do I? “I might need all of your help on dirty pirate lingo though.”
“We arrrr very on board with that, lass,” Gil replies.
For a while I listen to the guys making all kinds of pirate jokes, while I take in the sunbeams of the setting sun and just feel grateful for everything I have. It’s like a happy ending I would write for one of my characters. And that’s kind of all anybody can ask for, right?
Six months later