Naughty Match

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 13

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While I definitely wasn’t nervous about the event, I still didn’t really want to be there. I actually had entertained the idea of skipping the exhibit altogether. A couple hours after arriving I

almost wished I had. I was entirely unimpressed with the process of having to mingle with a bunch of rich dicks and keeping up with pretentious conversations about what they thought the art around them was supposed to mean instead of enjoying it for what it was.

No matter their medium, artists were always a conundrum to people. Brooding talents full of anguish and love and a thousand other things all at once. These assholes could chat for hours about the texture of my brushstrokes and my use of colors and never understand what went through my mind as I created.

It wasn’t that I didn’t appreciate the opportunity, I would have been an idiot not to. Grayson Contemporary was one of the most well respected art galleries in the city. They’d housed and sold the work of some of the greatest contemporary artists in the country and I knew my piece was going to sell for a pretty penny tonight. Both the cash out and the exposure would do nothing but good things for me. Still, every time I had to stuff myself into some uncomfortable

suit and chat with some walking checkbook about the merits of Basquiat’s early work, I felt like a sellout.

Rosie, of course, handled the entire affair beautifully. She mingled, keeping her small talk to generalized topics, charming everyone with her beauty and charisma. She was a fucking force to be reckoned with, just like I knew she would be.

“So that’s her, huh?” I grinned as I heard my best friend’s voice behind me. “She’s hot.” Turning around to give him hug and a flick on the head. “Watch yourself you fucking prick!”

Cam laughed before stuffing his hands into his pants pockets as we both watched Rosie chat with a curly- haired woman across the room. I couldn’t help but laugh at how uncomfortable he looked in his suit. Cam, like myself, had always been more of a jeans and t- shit kind of guy. He hated it when I made him don a “monkey suit for one of my events.

“C’mon, I’ll introduce you.”

Practically dragging Rosie away from her conversation, I gestured towards Cam. “Rosie, this is Cameron, my idiot, piece of shit, best friend. Cam, this is Rosie, my angel of a girlfriend.”

Rosie looked over at me shocked, her eyes almost comically wide before Cam knocked her out of

her stupor by enveloping her into a hug, lifting her slightly off of the ground, causing her to laugh.

“It’s nice to meet you too, Cameron.”

“I’ve got to say, Rosie. You’re definitely the prettiest out of all Dex’s girlfriends.”

She looked over at me, one perfectly shaped eyebrow raised and her arms crossing across her chest. “Oh, really?”

Her face, while seemingly angry, was still playful, those big brown eyes were full of mirth. I played along.

“Absolutely.” I nodded my head enthusiastically. “You’re the prettiest one in my roster, by far.”

Rosie let out a bark of laughter, drawing the attention of some of the patrons standing near us before throwing her hand over her mouth and reaching out to punch me in the shoulder.

“Ow!”

“Oh, shut it.”

Our antics were interrupted by the gallery owner, Carrie, approaching us. The large smile on her face clued me into exactly what she was about to tell me.

“You’re not going to believe how much it sold for, Dex!” She could barely contain her excitement enough to acknowledge the two people standing next to me.

I let Carrie drag me off to chat with the buyer and finalize some paperwork, leaving Cam and Rosie to talk amongst themselves. I could only imagine the type of shit he would be telling her about me.

The buyer was a nice, middle- aged woman with fiery red hair, a fat wallet, and a penchant for spoiling herself with fine art. She was perfectly pleasant, content to compliment me on my work and get straight to business.

After paying the gallery their commission I ended up pocketing about 15 grand. As much as I hated to admit it, it always felt good to be acknowledged for my work. Especially when that acknowledgment came in the form of a big check.

I played the role of the starving artist for years, working shitty job after shitty job, barely being able to afford enough paint to fill a canvas; I more than deserved this.

In that moment, the only thing I wanted more than to cash my check, was to take my girl out to dinner.

Rosie and Cam were laughing and stealing leftovers from the snack table when I made my way

back to them.

I grabbed her up, taking her mouth in a victory kiss. That gorgeous mouth tasted heavily of the red wine she had been sipping on all night.

“Come on, baby. Say goodbye to Cam. We’re going out to celebrate.”

She didn’t protest as I practically dragged her back towards the Porsche, the grin never straying from my face.

14

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Rosie

“I think Nora and Cam would be cute together.” I gently broached the topic as Dex drove us home after our late dinner.

“Nora…” He paused for a moment, his brow furrowing hard as he tried to remember who I was talking about. “Your friend, Nora? Why do you say that?”

I immediately remembered that Dex and Nora had never formally met. Their short encounter in our apartment building had left a good impression on both of them, but they’d yet to sit down and have an actual conversation. If they had, Dex would have seen that she and Cam were practically perfect for each other.

My short time spent with Cameron was filled with laughs and jokes. His big smile was incredibly infectious and his humor, while definitely reminiscent of a dirty high schooler, was much appreciated. I was surprised when he showed up. Dex talked about him, of course, about the trouble they got into as kids and how Cam had always been there for him. The two men

complimented each other perfectly: their comfortable camaraderie was amazing to watch. I was intensely happy that Dex cared for me enough to introduce me to someone so close to him so soon in our relationship.

During our short conversation, Cam alluded to being “painfully single.” And while he hadn’t dropped any hints that he was actively looking to be set up, I couldn’t shake the feeling that he and Nora would be great together.

I hoped I wasn’t overstepping; it was true that I hadn’t known Nora long, but I felt a strong connection with her and I hoped that entertaining the thought of setting her up with Cam wasn’t

disrespectful in some way.

“They’re both funny and when I was talking to Cam tonight I realized they had a lot in common.” I thought back on my previous conversation with Dex’s handsome best friend. “Plus, they’re both gorgeous. I think they’d make a good fit.”

“You think Cam is gorgeous?”

I moved my hand over to Dex’s strong thigh, feeling it clench under my fingers as soon as I touched him. “Sure.” I stroked my hand along his clothed flesh.

Dex groaned softly.

“But not as gorgeous as me right?” I rolled my eyes. “No, Dex. Not n early as gorgeous as you.”

I turned my head back to the window, watching the Miami lights fade as we drove farther away from the city, my left hand still stationed on Dex’s thigh, the tips of my fingers rubbing

mindlessly along the inseam of Dex’s pants.

“I’m gonna need you to cut that shit out.” His deep voice chimed out a couple minutes later, slightly strangled and gruff.

Looking over at him curiously, I questioned, “Cut what out?”

Dex said nothing but his eyes drifted down into his lap, I followed his gaze, laying eyes on the prominent bulge tenting the front of his trousers.

I couldn’t help but chuckle a bit. “Seriously?”

He shrugged. “How am I supposed to concentrate when you’re that close to my junk?”

I held in a laugh, seriously amused at his predicament but also turned on by the fact that I had such an effect on him with so little effort.

My thoughts buzzed with thoughts of something I had only read about, I wanted to pleasure Dex the same way he had pleasured me the day before. Pushing down my slight feelings of insecurity I reached down to unbuckle my seatbelt, turning towards him in my seat and trailing my hand up to the belt stationed firmly around his hips.

“What are you doing?” Dex’s voice sounded even deeper this time, but I didn’t respond.

Making quick work of his belt and zipper I slide my hand into his pants, working his black boxer briefs down a bit to get more access to his cock before fully pulling him out. Even only half hard, his dick seemed huge in my grasp. It’s girth completely unable to be contained in my fingers and

the length of him perfectly proportioned with the rest. It was the first time I got a real look at his cock and the sight of the perfectly cut, dripping head had my mouth watering.

I stroked him a few times, coaxing him into full hardness before lowering my head and taking a tentative lick from root to tip.

“Jesus fucking Christ, Rosie.” Dex spat out, his breathing going shallow. “You’re gonna make me crash this fucking car.”

I chuckled before laying a wet kiss to the top of his dick, dipping my tongue into the little slit there and tasting his precum on my tongue. The taste was salty and heady but not at all

unpleasant. Craving more, I took him into my mouth, wetly swirling my tongue around the head. Letting my spit ease the way, I worked my hand up and down his hot shaft.

Dex’s large hand moved off the steering wheel to rest on the back of my neck. “That’s right, sweetheart, get it wet.”

My pussy thrummed between my thighs at his encouragement. I paid no attention to my uncomfortable position or the prospect of ruining my new dress as I sloppily worked his cock

with my mouth. Switching between working the shaft with my lips and tongue and coaxing more of his hot come out him.

The man beneath me let out a steady stream of groans and pants, completely unafraid to let me know just how much I was pleasing him. “Are you going to let me fuck that pretty mouth, Rosie?”

Again I said nothing, choosing instead to rest my hands on his thighs for leverage and envelope as much as his cock in my wet mouth as I could, prompting him to fuck his hips up into my mouth. His thrusts were shallow, so as not to cause me any discomfort but just enough that he could easily chase his pleasure between my lips.

“I’m about to come, baby.” He fucked into my mouth at a faster pace, encouraging me to continue sucking at him without abandon. What I lacked in practical experience I more than made up for with enthusiasm. The way Dex’s strong thighs were clenching under me and the slight revving of the car every time I worked my tongue along the vein on the underside of his shaft more than indicated that.

Dex gave me fair warning of his orgasm before I tightened my spit- slick, swollen lips around the pulsing head of his cock, letting his long spurts of come squirt into me with no resistance.

Feeling especially proud of myself for not spilling any.

Leaning up I looked into Dex’s eyes, his dark pupils slightly blown and his eyes a little wild. “That mouth of yours is going to send me to an early grave, Rosie.”

The morning after the exhibit, Dex and I decided to take another day off. When I expressed my

concerns about missing out on another day of work he immediately shot down my concerns. Stating that he felt so good about his most recent sale and progress on other works that he wanted to celebrate. And apparently his idea of celebrating was the two of us lying around his house half naked all day.

Not that I was complaining, of course. It felt like I had more earth- shattering orgasms that morning alone than I had experienced my entire life.

“I’m so goddamn hungry,” Dex’s deep voice sounded into my neck as he lie on top of me in his rumpled bed. The thought of food immediately causing my stomach to rumble as well. He rested his warm hand on my soft stomach. “And so are you.”

“I think I’d rather just stay here actually.” I couldn’t genuinely think of a time I had ever been so comfortable or content. “Let’s just starve.”

Dex laughed, a hearty chuckle from the back of his throat. “Nah, I need to be alive and strong for the next time you feel like attacking me.”

Pushing him off of me slightly I stood up from the bed. “Alright, I’ll go see what you have in that barren wasteland you call a kitchen.”

Halfway to the kitchen I heard the shrill ringing of my cellphone on Dex’s bedside table, without thinking I yelled out to him. “Hey will you get that, it’s probably a work call.”

Three crunchy saltine crackers and a spoonful of peanut butter later Dex joined me. I didn’t look up at him as I focused on the task at hand, spreading a thick helping of smooth nut butter onto slices of celery and slightly stale crackers.

“Who was it?”

He remained silent, causing me to look over at him questioningly. His strong jaw was clenched and his eyes angry in a way I had never seen them. At least not directed at me.

“Who the hell is Daniel and why is he calling himself your fiancé?” 15

Dex

Rosie froze, the content smile on her face immediately disappearing into a frown as I questioned her. I was desperately trying to reign in my emotions but I could feel my facade slipping. As much as I hated it, I couldn’t help but be angry at her.

She lied to me.

I let her into my home, my bed, my fucking art, only for her to conveniently leave out the fact that she had a goddamned fiancé.

I tried to calm myself, rid my mind of the rushing thoughts of betrayal. There had to be some explanation. Some perfectly reasonable reason that she had kept something like this from me. Maybe this was what she was running from.

The short conversation with the man on the other end of the phone had only lasted enough time for him to introduce himself as her fiancé. His tone, while slightly angry and anxious, definitely hadn’t indicated any extreme hostility, but that didn’t mean there hadn’t been something

slightly more unhinged lurking underneath. Something angry and violent enough to cause my Rosie to run away from him. To outright refuse to speak of him.

My mind was racing, filled with all kinds of awful possibilities. Had she been abused? Had he cheated on her? Had I been wrong all along, had I been ensnared by some pretty young rich girl looking for a good time away from her privileged life?

It was time for her silence to end. I was done waiting for her to open those pretty lips and tell me the truth about herself.

“So?” I tried my hardest not to raise my voice at her but my self- control was hanging on by a thread.

Rosie refused to look at me, staring instead at her white, painted toes on the kitchen tile.

“So, what?”

“Who was the man on the phone?” “It was no one.”

“Goddamn it, Rosaline!” My voice climbed higher, tone angrier and more desperate than I ever wanted it to be when directed towards her. “It’s time for you to stop lying.”

She looked up at me, those big brown eyes wide in shock and full of unshed tears. “I haven’t been lying to you, Dex!”

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“The hell you haven’t. Lying by omission is still lying, Rosie.” It took everything I had to keep my distance from her. I had to stay away. The closer I got, the more I would want to touch her and I couldn’t bear to have her in my arms right now. Not when I wasn’t sure she was really the woman I thought she was.

Rosie’s jaw twitched and her little hands clenched at her sides. “I didn’t omit anything, Dex,” she spat my name out harshly, her lips curling even farther downward. “It just wasn’t your business.”

I stared at her in disbelief. “The fuck it isn’t- ”

She cut me off, her face twisted into a scowl but still unable to meet me eyes. ”What was I supposed to do? Spill my life story to some guy I had just met?” She threw her arms up. “My fucking boss?”

“So what, Rosie? You thought you could lay up in my house, get fucked a few times by ‘some guy you just met,’ and run back to your fiancé?”

Rosie said nothing, her head shaking slowly back and forth.

“Then what, Rosie? What the hell is it?” I was officially fed the fuck up. “You can fuck someone you barely know but you don’t have the decency to tell him you belong to somebody else?”

“It’s complicated, Dex. But I promise,” she took a long pause. “I swear, Daniel isn’t my fiancé. He isn’t my anything.”

“He seems to think he is.”

“Well he’s a fucking idiot,” she snapped, her voice suddenly acrid with disdain.

She sounded so sure in her declaration that it gave me pause. Barely a couple minutes in and I was already growing tired with this argument. Fighting with her wasn’t going to solve a damned thing. She needed to talk to me. I needed to finally make her talk to me. No deflections, no side stepping, no more fucking bullshit.

“I want the truth, Rosie. All of it.” 16

Rosie

I didn’t know what to say

. I barely knew where to start with my explanation. There was so much garbage, so much fog, clouding my perfect little life that I could hardly sift through it all. Daniel Bennett, my father, school, everything was a mess and I only made things worse by running away.

I moved to Miami in attempt to live for myself. To forget the expectations and pressures forced on me by my family and find out who I really was. Dex had been completely unexpected. The beautiful man with all of his passion and goodness completely trampled all over my carefully

laid plans. Join our WhatsApp and telegram page for more stories through kwaku ome on+233544142683. Though he had yet to say it, he showed me more love and kindness than I ever felt or expected to feel.

In all of my eagerness to explore my newfound feelings of love and security, I outright refused to acknowledge my past. Choosing to forget all of the painful things I left behind. Hoping that, with enough willpower, all of my problems would disappear, leaving me free to ride off into a perfect watercolor sunset with Dex by my side.

It was becoming clearer by the second that wouldn’t be possible. I was naïve to think my dramatic past wouldn’t catch up to me sometime. But it had, much too soon for my liking, and with a vengeance that threatened to ruin my relationship with the only man I had ever felt some semblance of love for.

I couldn’t hide it anymore. Couldn’t hide behind pretty smiles and coy deflections, Dex deserved to know everything. Every ridiculous, messy detail from my past that brought me to him in the first place.

“I…” I took a moment, pausing to get my bearings. “I don’t know where to start.”

“At the risk of sounding like an asshole, the beginning is probably as good a place as any. Why did you come to Miami?”

That one was easy. “I came to Miami because I needed a fresh start. Isn’t that why everyone moves to a new place?”

Dex chuckled humorlessly. “It’s more than that with you though. I can tell.”

“You’re right.” I sucked my bottom lip into my mouth, chewing on it furiously to keep myself from crying prematurely. There would, no doubt, be tears by the end of this conversation, but it was

still too soon to fall victim to my emotions. “I was… Am. I am running away from something.” Dex suddenly looked alarmed, I reached out to touch his arm, attempting to soothe him.

“Nothing like that! I wasn’t in any physical danger, I was just profoundly unhappy.” I knew it sounded terribly dramatic and childish but there was no other way I could explain it.

He stared at me patiently, his eyes dark and expectant but somehow still the most comforting things in the world.

“My father has… All of these plans for me. For my life.” I was fumbling with my words. It was the first time I had ever outwardly discussed the topic and I wasn’t entirely sure how to fully express my thoughts. “He’s a senator.” I spat out a laugh. “Completely unremarkable, but you’d never guess it by his ego.”

Dex’s dark eyebrows furrowed, confusion taking over his handsome face. “So you ran away because your father is some asshole politician?”