Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 62056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
All I need is just one huge distraction to keep me from pointlessly stressing myself.
Just one thing...but can that something truly be sex?
Three
Io calls me up just as I join Nik and Daria for dinner, and I soon find out that my sister's been made to think we've got an infestation problem in our apartment.
"Promise me you'll behave while you're there?" Io pleads.
"I don't get why you think you have to say that. I'm always a good girl."
Io rolls her eyes, and so do Nik and Daria, since my sister's FaceTime call is on loudspeaker.
The rest of the evening goes by smoothly, but not for a second do I let my guard down. Nik is never the one to be underestimated, and if I just make one mistake...
Nik will eventually realize what's wrong, he'll insist on getting involved, and I'll end up being another person's burden...just like I've always been.
My friends shamelessly insist on dropping by as soon as they learn I'm staying over at Nik's. The two are huge fans of Nik's wife, and just like they always do, Andie and Madeleine act like a couple of starstruck fangirls as soon as they see Daria.
It was about eighteen months ago when Daria made a Tiktok series called 28 Frogs, which basically shares her love story with Nik. It had tens of millions of hits under twenty-four hours, and it's still raking in views to this day. Both of my friends are huge fans of it, and Madeleine says it's what gave her the courage to tell her grandpa she wants to marry for love. Andie, on the other hand...well, she's already outrageous to start with, so I'm guessing Daria's Tiktok videos simply gave her a reason to stay the way she is.
Nik's wife convinces all of us to take a dip in the Jacuzzi after dinner, and I feel like a little girl again as my friends and I go through Daria's huge, huge closet in search for the perfect swimwear. Madeleine goes for a bikini top with a matching frilly skirt, Andie opts for a daring two-piece, while I end up with the standard one-piece that you often see competitors wear in swim meets.
The Jacuzzi is already running when we return, and deliciously hot water laps against our skins as we take a seat on a corner each.
When Nik sees his wife breaking out the champagne, he seizes his chance to excuse himself so we can have some "girl time" alone. Translation: he'd rather spend his time working than listening to my friends talk about boys.
And that's totally understandable, since the last time we all got together, all Madeleine did was gush over her royal sheikh while Andie overshared about her most recent attempts to catch the attention of her "Daddy".
I think we were on our third or fourth glass of bubbly when Andie accidentally lets slip about her (real) Daddy and (fake) Daddy's newest business venture, and the details are too juicy to ignore.
"Smut Fantasies Incorporated?" Daria echoes in amazement. "Is it some kind of porn theme park?"
We all can't help laughing over this, never mind the fact that I'm unable to even imagine what such a theme park would offer. Would a merry-go-round have you trying different partners in one go? Or would their rollercoaster offer the quickest way to have an orgasm?
"Daddy is going to kill me for this," Andie is groaning. "It's the one and only thing he's asked me to keep a secret—-"
"We promise we won't tell a soul," Madeleine swears fervently.
"Wait, wait." Daria clearly wants another crack at guessing what SFI's nature of business is. "Since both of your daddies are in the entertainment business, have they decided to give Netflix a run for its money? Is it like a hardcore version of Passionflix?"
"No, no, no." Andie shakes her head so vigorously that the wet blond locks of her hair splatters water all over our faces.
"Then what is it?" I'm starting to feel really curious myself. Or maybe that's just the champagne talking, since sex wasn't ever something I've spent too much time thinking about.
Andie eyes us over the rim of her champagne flute. "Pinky swear it's going to stay a secret?"
We come up with a chorus of 'yes', and a playful little smile slowly curves over Andie's lips.
"Before I tell you what it's about, I want you to think about your favorite kinky fantasy—-"
Daria is already grinning before Andie's even done speaking while Madeleine's cheeks are now rosy.
Andie looks at me expectantly. "Leah?"
"Um..."
Lemme see.
"I know you didn't have any time to date when Io was sick," Madeleine says, "but surely you've had time to imagine yourself having a boyfriend?"
I shake my head. "Not really."
"Then try coming up with something now," Daria suggests slyly. "Think of something really forbidden—-"
An idea pops in my head out of nowhere, and a gasp slips past my lips.