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"What will it take then?" I call again "Grace! What will it take?"

She stops and turns "Why? Why do you give a shit about me? Just stop and leave y--"

"I’ sexual fantasy I--"

"See," she says cuttingself-absorbed, you assu about you But I’m not, OK? Did it ever occur to you that I haveto do with you"

What?

"And you’re so fking clueless Trust? You’re telling me to trust you when you’ve never earned it Why the fk should I trust you? Who the hell are you? I mean, yeah, I admit I’ve stalked you relentlessly online I’ve tweeted shit about you that would make pn stars blush And it would be very easy to just let you fk me sideways, as you put it, and then walk aith the movie-star feather inprick"

I laugh I can’t help it

"I’lad you think that’s funny" And then she turns and starts her trek down the beach,out, "Asshole"

I run to catch up to her and then I grab her ar her hands up in some kind of fake karate stance "Don’t," she orders "Back off I’m a certified Tae Bo specialist at the Wo you, I will not be held responsible--"

"Tae Bo? What the fk--"

"Yah!" She sraspfor air "Tae Bo!" she screams as I fall to my knees and choke "Oh, shit, Asher! I’m sorry! I’ve never done that to a real person before! Are you OK?"

I lower ot me

"Asher? Asher? Oh my God, talk tobreath of air, let rab her lethal little wrists, forcing her down to the sand, and pinning them above her head as I move my body over the top of hers "You wanna play hardball, Hit-Girl?"

She giggles up at ain Fuck She’s all over the place tonight

"I’ames So if you want to play with me, you should keep that in mind"

"You"--I lean down into her face and stare her in the eyes--"are not the ot that? And if you call me Asher one more time, I’ll make you pay for it later"

"Oh, yeah? How?" She bites her lip as she waits forout the playing field Asserting control over her decision Making ive in and not because she’s forced

I can’t ask for anything ah to h to make you come"

"And what if I’m bad on purpose? What if my tears are fake?"