Somewhat shook up, I swallowed and tried not to drop the ring down the sink. Hands trembling, I put the blue box back in its place. My heart was thumping hard. I positioned Aaron's shampoo back on the shelf. Forfeiting washing my hair, I took a quick shower and returned to the bedroom thereafter to join Aaron in bed.

By the time I woke up, Aaron was out of bed. I strode down the hallway and saw that he was cooking supper. I relaxed against the doorway and tried to enjoy the sight of him, carefully and methodically fiddling with the pan.

He had his apron on. How sweet, just like him. I could see it now: no potato salad was going to get the better of Aaron. I should enjoy this. This was my life now. I refused to think much about it. As a matter of fact, I didn't want to think at all. Because the moment I let myself ponder, I knew I'd question every decision I've made that has led to this kitchen. And I didn't want that.

Aaron was barechested, apart from the apron, just cooking in jeans. It did something to me, the sight of his back, the muscles shifting under the skin as he moved. Lust began to tug at me, mingling with the overwhelming sensations I'd been feeling all day. I needed the escape. Perhaps this was who I had become, using sex to avoid addressing my unresolved feelings.

I padded up behind him and slid my hands round his waist, kissing his shoulderblades, and then started to brush his crotch through the denim.

"Hey, cut it out," he said.

I ignored him and silently slipped out of my night shirt. Then began to brush across his spine with my nipples. He groaned, immediately becoming erect beneath my hands.

I started to unbutton his fly and rubbed him gently through his boxers. He moved with me, trying to press himself against my hands. I tickled and stroked him lightly for a minute or so, and when I felt him thickening and distending under my touch, I smartly withdrew and backed towards the kitchen table. Then I slowly wriggled out of my knickers, starting to touch myself.

"Babe," he breathed, his hard-on likely chafing against his blue jeans.

He looked like he wanted to be where my fingers were. To come where my fingers were. But he sensed I wanted something else first and he came towards me, ripping off his jeans to free his swollen cock, and dropped to his knees, burying his face in my centre, hearing me groan.

He started to kiss me softly, marvelling at how wet I was, and when he felt her thighs relax slightly, he began to lick in slow, sure strokes, aiming to please.

Oh god, I thought.

I reached down and moved his head, arrogantly guiding him for my pleasure. When he sensed I was close, he grabbed my hands in his hair and pinioned it behind my back, as if to tell me to hold it off.

He shivered with desire, watching my astride him, her breasts swaying, my mouth suddenly determined and lustful, crashing down on his. I loosened my ponytail and was brushed his cock with my hair, in long, sweeping caresses, stroking him with a million feathery touches. I felt desire and surprise rip through him. Then I grabbed him with my right hand and positioned myself, slick and open, above him.

"Do you want it? Tell me how much you want it," I whispered.

He stared up at me, aroused and amused.

"Or I guess I could just leave you here," I teased.

"No! I want it, OK. Just fuck me, damn it," he gasped, and I smiled, lowered myself on to his straining cock and flung my head back, my body arching. He exploded inside me a second later while I still rode him for a few seconds, finding my release.

"What was that all about?" Aaron murmured, stroking my hair.

I kissed him. "I think dinner is burning."

•••

When morning came I laid back in bed, woken up by Aaron whistling in the shower. Just as the noise came to a stop, I opened my eyes again and noticed a light flashing on the bedside table. I sighed deeply before going to investigate. It was Aaron's phone. He had a message of some sort judging by the soft glow of his phone.

The screen was black, and when I pushed the side button and it lit up, I was met with a lock screen.

"What are you doing?" Aaron asked from behind me.

"I was going to stop the light from blinking," I explained. Why was my voice so wobbly?

He walked over to me and held out his hand. He had a towel wrapped around his waist and his hair was wet, combed backward in a very sexy, pre-dried manner. I handed him his phone and his fingers swept over it for a few seconds. Ashamed of myself, I got out of bed while Aaron left the bedroom, still on his phone.

Minutes after, I returned to meet him still on his phone, smiling as he typed away. I set off to make some tea, slightly suspicious of the person he was always texting. As I filled the kettle with water and set it on the stove, Aaron emerged from the hallway leading to the bedroom wearing a nice bespoke blazer and blue jeans.

"Going somewhere?" I stood at the kitchen island, watching him fiddle with the collar of his white pressed shirt.

"Out." He briefly turned to face me before running his hand through his hair and slicking it back. "I won't be long though. Just meeting up with a friend."

"A friend?"

"Yes. Liam."

He walked past me and I followed him to the door, adjusting the collar of his blazer. His keys were on the counter and he grabbed them along with a pair of black shades. He placed his shades on and kissed me on the cheek goodbye.

"I'll be back later. Do you need anything while I am out?"

"No." I waved him off. "Have fun." I muttered when he turned and smiled at me one last time before walking out of his flat, closing the door behind her.

I stood there for a moment, confused and slightly irritated. With Aaron or myself, I wasn't sure.

•••

"Tash, what's a deal breaker for you in relationships?" I'd rang her up to tell her about the ring but decided against it.

"Bad sex." Natasha replied.

Was she reading my mind? Being who she was, I shouldn't be surprised by her answer.

"Actually it depends on the person." I found myself saying instead of agreeing with her. In my case, I could keep telling him what I liked and what to do, hopefully in time, sex wouldn't be a problem anymore.

Completely baffled at my answer, Natasha asked, "What? So you mean to tell me you will put up with bad sex in your relationship?" Shit. Was she on to me?

"I like him enough, so I think I can." I answered. "If that ever happens." I felt a need to add.

"That is batshit crazy. Every time I have sex I need it to be the best sex of my life."

"I think that's irrational. Not every sexual experience you encounter is going to be mind blowing."

Unless it's with Harry Styles, I thought.

"Viv, no one wants to be with someone they're not compatible with sexually. Life is too short to settle with a lousy partner. Sex is supposed to be fun, and thrilling. Anything less, disgraceful."

Yeah but I'm living with Aaron. No amount of good dick is worth being homeless over I wanted to say but didn't. If only Natasha could read my mind.

Not long into my conversation with Natasha, I heard a knock on the front door. I placed Natasha on hold and checked to see who was at the door.

Liam stood staring at me when I opened the door, which shouldn't be the least bit strange. Except, Aaron left the flat about an hour ago to meet with Liam.

I thought I was being paranoid but this was testament that Aaron was keeping something from me. I didn't understand the need for secrecy.

"Hello Liam,"

"Hey Vivian, how nice to see you." We shared hugs. As if the evening couldn't get any more suspicious, Liam said, "I hope Aaron's around."

"Actually...he stepped out for a bit. Shouldn't be long."

"Really? I made sure to text him that I was coming over." He looked disappointed but definitely not as disappointed as I was.

"Would you like something to drink?"

"Water would be nice."

"Sure."

Liam took a seat while I padded in my fluffy socks through to the kitchen and returned with a pitcher of cold water and a glass. Taking it from me, he poured himself half a glass and I joined him on the sofa. We hardly had anything in common beside Aaron and Phoebe, to an extent.

"That reminds me," I started, unsure how to go about this without making Liam uncomfortable. "I've been meaning to get Phoebe's number. If you would please."

"Sure,"

I handed him my phone and let him input Phoebe's details. "It's admirable that you and Phoebe are still quite close."

"I wouldn't use the term close." Liam joked and handed my phone back to me.

"That's understandable of course, not everyone is quite amicable with their ex."

"I disagree. Phoebe and Aaron get on really well."

"Of course, but I was referring to you and Phoebe." Wait...what? Phoebe and Aaron?

"I wish." Liam scoffed. "She's Aaron's ex. Not mine."

"Oh. I'd thought..." Never mind what I'd thought. The lies were starting to pile up. I didn't understand the reason Aaron would lie to me.

"You really thought Phoebe and I had a relationship?" Liam laughed.

Was this how it felt to have an out-of-body experience? In the distance, I could hear Liam explaining how the misunderstanding could have come about. The rest of my brain was digesting the fact that Aaron and Phoebe were engaged. Or at least that was what I heard Liam say.

It's completely bizarre because just last night I'd had a hideous dream that Aaron and I were getting married in the town church and the vicar had kept having to raise his voice so the vows could be heard above the sound of my own anguished sobbing. And now this. I couldn't feel my feet. Or my knees, come to that . . .OK, awkward now. Liam had been talking and I'd missed it completely.

"Sorry, what was that?"

"I said, now that she no longer works in Manchester, maybe I could get around to asking her out for drinks. That's if Aaron is cool with it of course." He shrugged. "Although if she suggested you and Aaron should come along, I probably wouldn't say no, being a desperate singleton and having no shame." He joked.

It was as if someone had wrapped elastic bands around my throat. I swallowed with difficulty. "Um . . . I doubt Aaron would mind you and Phoebe going out for drinks."

He smiled. "You think so?"

"Yeah." More elastic bands.

Silence followed. My heart rate increased. Liam looked as if he was about to say something important. Then he exhaled and turned away. He glanced down at his watch to check the time, then distractedly raked his fingers through his hair and turned his attention back to me. Another silence followed. Protracted, bordering on embarrassing.

"I guess I should call Aaron, find out what's taking so long." Liam finally said.

"Yeah definitely. I'll like to know as well."

•••

It's obvious I'm terrible at updating, but here it is!