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“Too bad you can't just burn it all down,” Rey sighed at her friend as she looked at the pile of boxes in the corner.
It was Rose's last night in her condo. The condo she had bought. With her money. Yet, somehow he was getting it in the settlement. Oh sure, he'd agreed to buy her out and Rose was getting above average of the market rate. But it was still bittersweet.
Rose had bought the condo after finishing her masters in civil engineering and earning her iron ring. The money for the deposit had been a gift left to her in trust by her grandparents.
She'd met her now ex-husband during her orientation for her masters program. In the beginning, she'd refused his advances, but over the course of the year, he'd gradually worn her down. It had started with small gestures. Surprising her after class with coffee, bringing her cookies from her favourite bakery. It quickly advanced to flowers and small token gifts. He texted her multiple times a day, saying how much he loved her, and how much he missed her. It was only after six months of dating that he moved in with her into the tiny studio basement apartment she rented at the time.
Looking back, Rose realized now, he was love bombing her. Slowly isolating her from her friends and family. Upon her graduation, when Rose decided to buy the condo, it was put solely in her name. His credit wasn't good enough, he'd told her, but he promised to pay his share of the expenses.
And in the beginning he did.
They'd only been in the condo a few months before he proposed. Rose, had happily said yes.
It had been a short engagement, just long enough for Rose to buy a simple dress, off the rack. It was ill fitted, but she loved it none the less. Or so she told herself.
They had been married in a simple ceremony at city hall, with only their immediate family present to witness the union.
A few weeks later when things slowly began to sour.
It had started innocently enough. A missed bill payment, a forgotten e-transfer to Rose's account. Soon, Rose was paying for everything, and covering his debts. It wasn't that she couldn't cover the expenses, her position with the city afforded her a rather comfortable lifestyle. But not having him cover his portion of the monthly bills added a strain on her mental health. Plus, it meant less money going into her savings account for her vacation fund.
It was three months into the marriage when it fully went to shit.
After weeks of late nights and countless hours of overtime, the project she'd been working on was finally complete, and had been handed off to the next department. The team she worked with was relieved, and exhausted. They promised to get together in a few weeks to celebrate, but for now, they all just wanted to go home.
When Rose arrived at home, she opened the door of the condo to find her husband with his pants down around his knees, and his cock shoved in his harlot of an assistant. She lay face first on the dining table, her ass in the air.
As her husband scrambled to pull pants up and tuck himself back into his trousers, Rose merely let out an irritated sigh. Without taking her shoes off, she went into the bedroom and pulled out her duffle bag. It already contained everything she needed.
“Rosie, wait. Please, let me explain,” her husband pleaded as he grabbed her arm to stop her from leaving. His other hand still shoved down his trousers in a failed attempt to tuck his shirt in.
Rose glanced from him to the other woman and back again.
“I'm going to the cottage,” she said as calmly as she could manage. “When I get back on Sunday, I want you gone.” Rose pulled her arm from his grip and was gone. Her husband stood in the doorway of the condo, yelling for her to come back. She refused to acknowledge him as she waited for the elevator. Her neighbours, for their part, gathered in the hallway to see what the commotion was.
They giggled and gossiped among themselves, but Rose held herself steady and stepped onto the elevator as calmly as she could manage.
Back in her car, Rose called her best friend, Rey. Trying not to sob, she asked if she could stay at their cottage for the weekend.
“Of course. What did he do this time?”
If there was one person who knew Rose, it was Rey. They'd been as thick as thieves since they met at the orientation for first year students and discovered they were roommates in the dorms.
Despite her best efforts, Rose let out a sob, and Rey could hear her friend pulling off to the side of the road.
“You know what?” Rey said, grabbing her keys and jacket, “I'll meet you up there.”
“Wh-what about Ben?”
“What about him?”
“Don't y-you have pl-plans this weekend or something?”
“Yeah, but he understands. Besides, how often do I get to plot murder?”
It was a couple of hours later when Rose pulled up the long, winding driveway of the Solo's cottage. It technically belonged to Rey's in-laws, but after being given permission to use it as freely as she wished, Rey spent every moment she could up there and used it more than anyone else. Having grown up a tough inner city kid, Rey had very little exposure to the delights and wonders of the great outdoors. The cottage was something that she cherished.
The cottage itself sat in the foothills of the mountains, on the edge of an old growth forest that Rey's in-laws had fought hard to maintain and keep logging companies out. Local residents of the near by town would hike the trails on the edge of the property up into the mountains.
The warm, cozy lights of the A-frame building were already on when Rose parked her car beside Rey's. Her friend met her at the door and they hugged while Rose sobbed on her shoulder.
After a time, when Rose had calmed down, she explained what had transpired.
“I just walked in on him, ramming himself inside her,” Rose shuddered at the grotesque memory.
“Has he called you at all to offer an explanation?”
“He's been blowing up my phone for the last few hours. I had to take my smart watch off.”
By the entrance of the cottage, they could hear Rose's phone buzzing in her purse.
“Ignore it,” Rey said. “He'll eventually get the message.”
When Rose eventually awoke the next morning and dared to check her phone, there were countless text messages, voicemails, and missed calls, all from him. She deleted them all without listening to them or reading them. She had no interest in anything he had to say.
Around lunch time, her phone, which had been mostly silent that day, pinged again. When she dared to look at it, it was again from him. But instead of the long essays and tomes of his previous messages, all this one said was:
Fine. You win.
When Rose returned home late Sunday night, she was relieved to find him gone. Her home was in shambles and she wanted to burn every piece of furniture she owned. Too afraid to sleep in her own bed, she spent the night on the couch in a sleeping bag. First thing Monday morning she was on the phone with Rey's husband, Ben, an attorney, to start divorce proceedings.
Having already been briefed on the situation by his wife, Ben agreed to help Rose in exchange for a life time supply of pho, and five dollars.
“I have to put something on the books, you understand. And you won't give me your family's pho recipe, so...”
Rose laughed, and agreed to his steep price, jokingly stating she might have to take out a loan to pay him back.
By the end of the day, he had been served, and the long legal battle had begun.
Her now ex-husband had dragged on the legal proceedings for six long months. Twice as long as their marriage had lasted. He had fought her over every little detail, to the point Rose seriously regretted not getting a prenuptial agreement. She was able to protect her earnings and investments, but at the cost of her home.
“I guess his credit wasn't so bad after all,” Ben said as they finalized the paperwork.
“It would seem so. The dick smack just didn't want to pay his portion, but still wanted to keep the assets.”
“No offence Rose, but I really don't know what you saw in him.”
“Yeah, me neither,” she laughed as she penned her name on the final signature line. With a stroke of the pen, her douche canoe ex husband owned her condo and almost everything in it, and she had until the end of the month to vacate.
Congratulations, a handshake, a hug.
It was done.
It was bitter sweet for Rose to be standing in the living room which was once hers, filled with boxes of her things. In the morning the moving truck would come and the majority of it would go into storage while she looked for a new place to live.
Her intermediate plans involved a renting an Air BnB from a lovely old lady who spent most of the year in Florida dominating the seniors shuffleboard leagues in Tampa. It was an adorable back-split house with a walk out basement and elevated deck off the kitchen that Rose intended to make her office on nice days.
“I wish I could burn it all, but I feel like that would void the agreements,” Rose scoffed.
“Probably, but I could text Ben and ask anyway,” Rey said, pulling out her phone.
“If anything,” their mutual friend Kaydel added from the kitchen, “this place needs a cleansing.”
“Why would she want to cleanse this place? He should keep any bad mojo that's here,” Rey added, helping Kay with the drinks and nibbles.
“Not for this place or him, but for her. You don't want to take any bad energy to your new home, Rose. Do you have any sage?”
“Just whatever is in the spice drawer.”
Kay opened the drawer and pulled out the small bottle labelled sage. Raising an eyebrow, she popped the lid off and took a sniff of the herbs. “When did you buy this?”
“I think it was part of a house warming gift from Paige. She gave me a bunch of kitchen stuff including a spice kit.”
“Yeah, when you moved into that studio flat you were in.” Returning the bottle Kay added, “this isn't going to cut it. The crap from the discount grocery store is stronger than this.”
“It's not really important,” Rose shrugged.
“Yes it is! You don't want his bad energy following you around.”
“I don't really care about that-”
“What about this?” Rey asked, as she rummaged through her purse. After a moment she pulled out a small Ziploc bag with a joint in it.
“It's close enough,” Kay added, taking it from their friend.
“I won't get my deposit back if we do this,” Rose struggled to protest.
“You're not getting it back anyway. He is.”
Rose looked between her two friends and sighed. They were going to sage her stuff with a joint regardless of what she said, so she merely nodded her consent.
Rey handed her lighter to Kaydel, who lit up the joint. Once the blunt was smoking, Kaydel took a deep puff of it, then twirled awkwardly around the room.
“I call upon the spirits to cleanse these belongings of negative energy. May none of the bad mojo from his transgressions pass along to Rose's new home. Good energy only, please!”
Rey took the joint from Kay, took a deep drag of it as well, then blew the smoke on Rose.
“May the spirits cleanse my friend of bad energy and negativity!”
Rose coughed, and smiled. Her friends had her best intentions at heart, after all.
Taking the joint from Rey, Rose took a deep drag on it and held it in for a few moments before letting it out. Doing the best she could, she wafted the smoke over her, then over her belongings.
“Let this smoke exercise any bad energy. No bad mojo!” Rose added to her friend's delight.
The three women fell to the floor in a fit of giggles. It reminded Rose of their younger days in undergrad, except now they had money to afford to eat more than a box of Kraft Dinner straight from the pot.
After the giggling subsided, Rey spread out a blanket on the floor, while Rose and Kay got the food from the kitchen.
“No milk crates this time,” Kay laughed.
“Certainly not, this moving out party is elevated!” Rey added as she set down the spicy shrimp and fish ceviche Ben had sent over. His father's secret family recipe.
They passed the joint around, eating and gossiping as they did. It wasn't long before several bottles of sparkling wine had been brought out.
“Hey Rose?” Rey asked, eyeing the curtains suspiciously.
“Hmm?”
“Are...you planning on taking those curtain rods?”
“No. I got them from Ikea for super cheap. If he wants good ones, he can buy his own. Why?”
Rey glanced down at what remained of the ceviche, then back at the curtain rods.
“Rey, what are you thinking?”
Stumbling to her feet, Rey pointed to the curtain rods. “What if...” she slurred slightly, “what if we leave him a little parting gift?”
“What?”
“Oooh, that's such a good idea!” Kay exclaimed, stumbling into the kitchen for the step stool. When she returned, Rey had already clumsily knocked one of the rods off their hooks and Rose was spooning the shrimp into it.
Rose wasn't typically a vindictive person but this one time she was willing to make an exception. He'd made a fool of her and she was determined to have the last word.
“It'll take a few days for it to start smelling,” she giggled.
The trio spent the next twenty minutes stuffing ceviche in the curtain rods, down the vents, and, after a small struggle with the screws, in the air return for the furnace.
“That'll teach him to mess with our Rosie!” Rey laughed as they collapsed again into a fit of giggles on the floor.
“Teach who to mess with Rose?” a masculine voice asked.
The three looked up to find a tall ginger standing in the entryway, a bottle of wine in hand.
“Oh, uh, Hux, hi. Welcome,” Rose muttered as she scrambled to her feet.
“Who's this?” Kay not-so-whispered to Rey.
“It's that guy from work she likes,” Rey mumbled in reply. “Rose, we're going to head out. See you tomorrow morning, kay?” Taking Kaydel by the wrist, Rey pulled their friend from the living room and out of the condo before Rose could protest.
“What was that all about?” Hux chuckled as he handed Rose the bottle of wine.
“They're just, uh, a bit buzzed,” Rose replied, thankful that she inherited the enzyme deficiency that meant her cheeks would flush when she'd been drinking. “Would you like some? Let me get you a glass,” she added hastily, going into the kitchen.
It was true, she did have a bit of a crush on Armitage Hux. How could she not? He was tall, handsome, and had the kind of accent where reading a grocery list would have been sexy. They had worked together on a few projects at work over the years, but it was after an awkward breakdown in the kitchenette at work where they became friends.
Though Rose had tried to stay strong, and separate work from her private home life, one afternoon everything just became too much and she lost her cool after discovering she'd forgotten the salad dressing for her lunch.
Hux, being the only person around, cautiously asked her if anything was wrong. When she replied she was fine, he insisted that she was, in fact, not fine, and made her a cup of tea.
With tea in hand, he'd led her out the side door the smokers typically used to a bench behind the building in the garden.
“No one will see you here. You can cry all you like,” he half smiled, handing her his pocket square.
Who used pocket squares anymore?
Armitage Hux did, apparently.
She explained what had happened, then apologized profusely for her unprofessional behaviour at work.
“He took advantage of you and had an affair, Rose. It's okay to be upset.”
She cried on his shoulder for a few more minutes before collecting herself and returning inside.
Over the weeks and months that followed, he started coming around her cubicle to say hi and ask how she was doing. Slowly, they became lunch buddies.
When she'd casually invited him over earlier in the day, she didn't think Hux would actually come. And now, that he was here, in her soon to be former home, what was she going to do? What would she say?
Rose stretched on her tip-toes to reach the wine glasses.
“Here, let me get that,” he said, leaning over her to reach the glasses on the top shelf.
Damn him, why did he have to be so tall? More so, why did he have to smell so nice? And why...why was he so close?
Rose's heart was pounding so hard in her chest, she was sure Hux could hear it. She turned around to face him, and found herself trapped between his arms.
“Do you have a corkscrew?”
“Yes, I'd like a screw – I mean! Yes, I have a corkscrew. It's over there, in that drawer,” she pointed awkwardly beside the stove.
Hux smirked and let out a quiet chuckle as he turned and retrieved the opener. The bottle opened with a satisfying pop and he poured them both healthy portions of wine.
“I didn't expect you to come,” Rose mumbled, trying to hide behind her glass.
“Why? We're friends, aren't we?”
“Well, yeah, but-”
“And friends support each other, yes?”
“Of course.”
“Then why,” he asked, crowding her space, “wouldn't I come over?” Hux took a long drink from his glass, his eyes locked on hers as he did.
“I, uh...” Rose had no real answer for him. She took a sip from her glass. The weed from earlier was dulling her mind, usually she was sharper than this.
No.
It was Hux.
Something about his presence in her home dulled her mind, made her appear slow-witted.
Hux let a scoff escape his lips as he turned to pour more wine.
Rose took a deep drink from her glass of wine. Perhaps with a bit of Dutch courage, she could say what she wanted to.
“Hux, I-”
“Don't call me that!” He snapped, slamming the wine bottle down harder than intended.
“But everyone calls you that...”
Hux turned just enough to look over his shoulder at her. “Please call me by my given name,” he all but whispered at her.
“Armitage...” his name rolled off her tongue. She liked the sound of it. It was silky and sweet. And just for her. Rose stepped closer to him, then leaned up and kissed him.
His lips were soft and plush against her awkward kiss. It lasted only a moment, however, as she quickly gathered her senses and abruptly stepped back from him. His cheeks were the same colour as his fiery red hair, and she could feel that hers were the same.
“Sorry! I shouldn't have done that.”
When she turned to put a few more paces between them, she stopped when he gently grabbed her by the arm.
“Wait...” Hux pulled her closer. Then, putting the tips of his fingers lightly on the underside of her chin, he tilted her head up, then leaned in to kiss her.
It wasn't clumsy or awkward, like she felt hers had been. It was soft and gentle. The feeling of his lips pressed up against hers gave her butterflies in her stomach.
As Hux moved to cradle her head in his hands, Rose felt herself leaning into his touch. And when his tongue brushed against her lips, begging for entry, she granted him permission. He ran his tongue along her teeth, teasing her as he did.
After what felt like an eternity, Hux pulled back, leaving her breathless. Rose clutched to his sides, not wanting to let go. He smiled down at her, then carefully lifted her onto the counter. Even with the added height, he was still taller than her.
“Rose,” he whispered. “You've no idea how much I've wanted to do that.” Hux's voice was hoarse, almost as if he'd just come from a concert.
“Then why are you stopping?”
That was all the invitation he needed.
Hux positioned himself between her legs, her pleated skirt easily accommodating his presence. He put one hand on her cheek and firmly pulled her in for another kiss.
It was clumsy and sloppy this time. Desperate. He seemed to need her as much as she needed him.
Rose wrapped her legs around his hips, holding him in place. She could feel his growing erection beneath his trousers and manoeuvred her hips in such a way that it rubbed on her inner thigh.
Letting out a small hiss of pleasure, Hux trailed his kisses down the side of her neck and across her collar bone. At the same time, his right hand slid up the smooth skin of her legs, under her skirt, until he held her ass in his hand. Grasping at her behind, he pulled her closer still, so that his erection rubbed up against her core. The feeling of which, caused a small whimper to escape her lips.
“Do you like that?” Hux whispered, nibbling on her earlobe. All Rose could do was whine in response. She heard Hux grunt in delight at what his touch was doing to her as he slipped his had between her thighs. His index finger gently stroking her through her underwear.
It had been years since she'd been touched in such a way. Her ex had been useless in bed. The type who only ensured his own pleasure and was done after five minutes. He would even roll over and fall asleep after, leaving Rose to clean up the mess.
But the feeling of Hux's finger gently drawing circles on her clit through the gusset of her underwear had her banishing thoughts of her ex from her mind. Rose arched her back in response to the pleasure he was giving her.
His other hand snaked up the back of her shirt as he continued to gently ply kisses and nibbles to her neck, holding her steady on the counter top.
“Ah, Hux...”
“What's my name?” he whispered in her ear. “I want to hear my name on your lips.”
“...Armitage,” she whispered.
“What? I couldn't hear you.”
“Armitage,” she said again, louder.
“Hmm, I still couldn't hear you,” he mumbled into the delicate divot at the base of her neck.
“Armitage! I..Ahh!” she cried out as he rubbed an orgasm out of her. Rose dug her nails into his back as the waves of pleasure washed over her. If he could do that while they still had clothes on...her mind raced.
Hux's lips found his way back to hers. He was gentle, almost teasing as he nipped at her lower lip. Then, he wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her shoulder.
“I'm sorry,” he mumbled.
“What? Why?” Rose's heart was still racing from what his fingers had done to her.
“I took advantage of you, of my friend.” He leaned back just enough to look at her. “I've always admired you, Rose. You're quick witted, sharp. And you have a way with handling projects at work that is just, different.” His eyes scanned all over her face, as if he didn't know where to look. “I respected the fact that you were married, so I always kept a professional distance. But then that day, you told me what happened, and I...I allowed the 'what ifs' into my mind.”
When she said nothing, Hux cleared his throat and continued.
“All these months, I've been getting to know you over our lunch breaks. I was mad for you, even though I had no right to be. Feelings grew and I tried to fight it because we're coworkers, friends, it's not professional. But then you invited me over the other day, and...”
“Why didn't you ever say anything?”
Hux looked down at the floor. “I was afraid. I was afraid that I'd lose you, our friendship. That maybe you'd ask to transfer to a different department, or go to HR, or...something...”
Rose put her hand on his cheek, smiling softly at him as he leaned into her touch. “The truth is, I've been afraid as well. I enjoy the time we spend together, whether it's lunch or projects, or even those silly after work hangouts we get dragged to sometimes. I've had a crush on you for a long time, and I'm very glad you came over tonight, Armitage.”
Hux turned his head just enough to kiss the inside of her palm. Then he kissed the inside of her wrist and slowly made his way up her arm, until he was kissing her fully on the lips again. As he did, she directed his hands to the buttons on her shirt.
His long, nimble fingers had the delicate buttons undone before Rose realized what was happening, her shirt falling to the floor, discarded and forgotten.
With her chest exposed, Hux leaned down, kissing the top of her exposed breasts and down into her ample cleavage that her black lace push-up provided. His gentle scratching of his five o'clock shadow tickled, causing goose bumps to form.
“May I?” he asked as one had inched up her side to cup the side of her breast.
Her head tilted back in pleasure, Rose whispered a breathy “yes...”
His hand slid over, grasping her breast fully and teasing her nipple through the lacy fabric. His tongue licking at the tender spot in her cleavage as he kissed her. Hux's other hand slipped between her thighs again, his fingers finding their way to her cunt. Her moan at his touch was all the permission he needed to slip his hand around the soft fabric of her underwear and gently prod his middle and ring fingers inside of her.
Hux softly stroked her insides while teasing her sensitive spot with his thumb. It took every ounce of strength Rose had to not fall completely limp in his arms. Sensing this, Hux released her breast and placed his hand firmly on her back to hold her up. His fingers making quick work on the clasp of her bra as he did.
With the article of clothing removed, her breasts now fully exposed to him, Hux took one greedily in his mouth. He teased and suckled on her nipple until it was hard enough Rose thought it could cut glass. Satisfied with his work, he moved to her other breast and did the same.
“Arm...Armitage,” she struggled to get out, her voice raspy from the heavy breathing. Rose could feel the beginnings of another orgasm starting to wash over her. Sensing this, Hux increased his pace inside of her, and just as she was about to let out a loud moan, he clamped his mouth down on her, swallowing her cries.
He held her tightly as the waves of the orgasm crashed over her, leaving her a wobbly mess on the counter. Once she relaxed, he withdrew his hand, leaving her with a greedy sense of hunger for more.
Hux's fingers glistened in the harsh kitchen light as he examined his work. With a smirk, he stuck one finger in his mouth, then the other, and sucked her juices off her before declaring “you taste magnificent,” and kissing her again.
Out of curiosity, Rose had once tasted herself, and found it strangely erotic to taste herself on someone else's mouth.
“I want you inside of me,” she whispered, her hand straying to his hard cock beneath his trousers. Hux's eyes met hers, and she nodded her consent.
With a kiss on her neck, just below her jaw, he scooped her up by her buttocks, her legs wrapped around his hips. He nibbled on her breasts as he walked with her, stumbling slightly as he did.
“Wait, over there,” Rose said, pointing.
Half way to the bedroom, Hux paused and looked at what she was indicating to.
“The dining table? Are you sure?”
When Rose nodded, he did as she asked.
Hux placed her on the edge of the table, her legs dangling off, then pulled down her panties, adding them to the pile on the floor. He then tipped her back in such a way she was exposed.
Slightly annoyed that he was still fully dressed, while she only wore her skirt, Rose reached up and tugged him down into a kiss by his tie.
Who wore a tie on casual Friday?
Armitage Hux did, that's who. Always so put together and proper.
But he wasn't so proper now, as he slipped the tie from his neck and used it to gently bind her wrists together above her head in a bow. Pulling his shirt from his trousers, he undid the buttons and discarded it on the floor. Then, he undid the button and fly on his suit trousers, and pulled himself free from his boxer briefs.
The tip of his cock dripped with precum as he pumped himself a few times in his hand.
Fuck, he's big, Rose thought. But she didn't care. She wanted him. She needed him. And badly.
Her legs still dangling off the table, Rose lifted them and spread her knees in anticipation. Hux let out a small chuckle at the sight of her, open and bare for him. Her skirt had fallen back, leaving her sex exposed for him to see. He ran his rough hand across her mound and down the sides, and though he never touched her core, something about the way he did still caused her to let out a groan.
She was glad she'd kept her waxing appointment a few weeks earlier.
“You naughty girl,” he mumbled down at her. “Who would have thought.”
Then, unexpectedly, he lifted her legs over his shoulders, exposing her more. Her cunt still wet from the previous two orgasms. Holding her legs firmly with one hand, Hux lined himself up and slowly, achingly slowly, pushed himself inside of her.
Both let out groans of pleasure.
“Oh fuck me,” Hux grunted. “If I'd known you felt this good, I would have made a move sooner.” He slid himself inside, until he was hilt deep.
A pause.
Hux pulled himself almost all the way out, until only just the tip of his cock remained in her. He paused again, then leaned over her to take one of her breasts hungrily in his mouth again, and slammed himself into her.
“Ahh!” Rose cried out. The feeling of him stretching her was uncomfortable, but pleasurable. Sucking and nibbling roughly at her breast until it was red and tender, Hux continued to roughly handle her. When she tried to move her bound hands to grab onto him, he held them in place above her head. With his other hand, he slid two fingers deep into her mouth for a moment, before finding his way down to where they were joined.
With the sensations of him deep inside of her, while he simultaneously sucked on her breasts and fingered her nub, Rose could hardly take it. She thrashed hard against ministrations, but it only made him work harder. It wasn't long before Hux leaned back, one hand digging his fingers into her legs while the other kept pace on her clit until he stuttered and Rose could feel him come.
Still inside of her, Hux continued aggressively thrusting himself deep until Rose followed after him. It was only when the orgasm had finished, did he stop pawing at her in such a frenzy.
Breathing hard, Hux collapsed on top of her. Still needing more, he lazily toyed with her sensitive breasts for a few minutes, before kissing his way down her torso.
He withdrew his still hard cock, leaving Rose feeling bare. But before she could say anything, he'd grabbed one of the dining chairs to sit on, and had planted his face between her thighs.
“You're so, so wet,” he mumbled into her as he licked the mix of their juices off the insides of her thigh. “Who knew you had this in you, Tico?” He called her by her surname, as he so often did at work. But something about it this time, the way he scolded her, drove her mad.
“You've made quite the mess of your table,” Hux chided into her core. “Let me help you clean it up.”
He slowly ran his tongue from the bottom of her slit to the top, stopping to suckle on her nub. Unable to resist, Rose fell back against the table, crying out louder than she intended. Her still bound wrists flew to her mouth to muffle the obscene noises coming from her.
“Make all the noise you want, no one will hear us,” Hux paused just long enough to say.
“Wha-what about the neighbours?”
“Who gives a shit what they hear,” he replied between licks. “We need to get you cleaned up.”
Realizing he had a point, Rose gave in and cried out quite loudly when he slipped a couple of fingers inside of her again. The feeling of his tongue working on her as he stroked her insides was sublime. The way Hux played her as though she was a Stradivarius had her wondering how she'd endured her ex-husband's uselessness for so long.
Rubbing his pinky finger in the fluids that were escaping from her, he slipped it where Rose hadn't expected: the delicate bud of her behind.
It was a weird, full feeling, causing Rose's eyes to roll back in her head as she cried out again.
Sensing she was on the verge, Hux aggressively flicked at her clit with his tongue.
“Hux...Arm...Armitage! Oh my god, Armitage!”
She shuddered under his touch, crying out through the entirety of the orgasm. He only stopped when she managed to roll onto her side and close her legs.
As she lay on the table, her body as limp as jelly, Hux withdrew his hand and licked the juices off of him.
“We taste good together,” he smiled coyly at her. It was clear he wanted more.
And so did she.
“I don't know if the table can take much more abuse. Perhaps we should go to the bedroom for real this time.”
Rose nodded, unable to form coherent words.
Hux scooped her off the table and carried her to the master bedroom, where he deposited her on her side. He then lay beside her, spooning her from the backside, as he gently stroked his hands up and down her legs and torso.
Still wanting more, Rose ground her hips against his semi-erect cock until she could feel it was hard again.
“You naughty girl,” he whispered in her ear as he slipped one hand around her to grab her breast. He then took himself in hand and slid himself inside her back end.
“Augh,” Rose let out a guttural groan of pleasure she wasn't expecting. Once she had relaxed, he slowly began thrusting his hips against her. His movements were slower this time, gentler. Rose wasn't accustomed to anal, so the pleasure it brought was new to her.
And she enjoyed it.
She leaned back into his touch. Her wrists still bound by his tie, she put her arms around the back of his neck and pulled him down to kiss her. As she did, his other hand snaked its way up the inside of her leg and his fingers again found themselves inside her dripping cunt.
The squelching sounds his hands made were obscene and rude, and Rose was sure she'd never been this wet in her entire life.
Hux's mouth caught all of her moans and cries. With his cock up her ass, one hand inside her and the other playing with her nipples, Rose's world was tilting on its axis.
When a second orgasm shuddered out of him, Hux withdrew his hand.
“What...?”
He twisted her around on the bed, so that she was on all fours and repositioned himself behind her. With his hands on her hips, he slid himself back into her ass, this time with ease.
“Oh Rose,” he groaned, leaning over her to whisper in her ear. “You feel so fucking good back here.”
Rose's mouth had gone dry and her words caught in her sticky throat.
Thrusting gently into her, Hux lifted her up onto her knees and slipped his head between her bound wrists.
“Do you see what I see?” He whispered.
“Nngh,” was all that came out of her. He softly grabbed her by the neck and turned her head so they were both looking at each other in the full length mirror across from the bed.
“I see a woman, who is as brave and strong as she is beautiful. With lush breasts and gorgeous curves.” His free hand snaked its way across her body, cupping each breast as he went. Hux planted a gentle kiss behind her ear.
“She smells good, and tastes good too,” he licked at her earlobe and softly massaged her inner thigh, mere centimeters from her dripping core.
Wanting more, needing more, Rose moved against him to encourage him to touch her again.
“What's this?” he whispered in her ear, his words tickling her.
“Please,” she willed herself to say. “Please...”
His finger flicked lightly a couple of times at her clit.
“Please...” she practically begged. “I need you.”
Her words seemed to break something in him, the sense of control he had over the situation. Hux turned her head to face him as best she could manage.
“You already have me,” he uttered. “You always have.”
Rose leaned over and kissed him as best she could in their current position. Then she directed his hand to her core and inserted his fingers into her.
“You greedy minx,” he smiled at her, breaking the kiss. With his hand still firmly on her neck, he turned her head to watch them in the mirror.
It was weird and rather surreal for her to see the way he pawed at her, driving his cock deep within her as he bounced her on his lap. His other hand deep within her cunt drawing out embarrassing sounds from her.
“Fuck...” she whimpered
“What was that?”
“Fuck! Fuck me, Armitage! Harder!” She commanded.
“As you wish,” he nipped at her earlobe before pinning her down on the bed, and thrusting deeply and aggressively. He held her firmly by the hips until he came so hard he collapsed on top of her again.
Hux lay on top of her, breathing hard, until he at last went limp and his cock slipped from her. Then, he rolled her over onto her back, and positioned himself between her knees once again.
This time he was slow and gentle with his ministrations. His tongue warm against her cunt, the sensation was strange and delightful as he darted the tip in and out of her opening.
“You taste so good,” he mumbled as he moved to reposition her so she lay on her shoulders and threw her legs over his. He gently pried her lips apart, fully exposing her to him.
Hux lapped at the abundance of fluid seeping from her behind. Once he seemed satisfied that she was clean, he gently blew on her cunt.
Rose quivered at the sensation, causing more juices to flow from her.
“You naughty girl,” he chided before slowly running his tongue along the length of her.
Her orgasm came in quivering fits and starts. He was holding her nearly upside down and Rose found she couldn't get the friction she so desired. As if he could sense her mild frustration, he chuckled into her cunt as he continued gently lapping up her fluids. His touch was too light, and he wasn't spending enough time at her clit for her liking.
Rose squirmed in his arms, but he held her fast. With her wrists still tied, there wasn't much she could do.
Once Hux had sated his desire to see every last drop cleaned up, his attention turned to her clit. Spreading her wide with his fingers, he exposed the delicate bud in all its swollen glory. Having been teased so much tonight, it was full of blood and very sensitive. The slightest touch with the tip of his tongue caused Rose to twitch uncontrollably.
He glanced down at her, their eyes locked, as he took her clit within his mouth and gently began sucking on it.
Rose let out a cry she was certain the neighbours would have heard, but she no longer cared. She was moving out tomorrow, and would never have to see them again.
As he teased her with his tongue her shouts and moans echoed in the near empty room, which only seemed to spur Hux on. Something about seeing her so helpless at his mercy drove him to torture her so.
When at last the twitches of the orgasm overcame her, Rose felt powerless. Hux held her to his mouth as she thrashed in his arms, grasping for purchase. Her back arched as she clawed at the comforter.
“Oh god, Armitage!” She cried out, certain that if the neighbours hadn't heard her previous shouts, they sure as hell had now.
Hux let her down from her position around his neck, and curled up next to her as she rode out the final waves of her latest orgasm. He held her gently as she twitched in his arms, exhausted from their extra curricular activities.
Rose wasn't sure when they had fallen asleep, but she awoke to find herself in the middle of the bed with Hux curled around her. They were both still partly dressed from the night before. Her, with just her skirt that now sat more at her natural waist. He, in just his boxer briefs. At some point in the night, he had kicked off his trousers, which now sat crumpled on the floor. The tie with it.
As quietly as she could, Rose untangled herself from him and made her way to the bathroom. It was early enough that she had time to have a shower before Rey and Ben showed up to help move her things.
Examining her naked form in the mirror, she saw she was covered in light scratched and love bites. It had certainly been quite the night. Not at all what she had expected when she'd invited Hux over earlier in the week. Now that she had sobered up, she was concerned about their friendship. Things had transpired the night before that they had both clearly wanted, but the line had been crossed. What would happen come Monday morning at work? Would he avoid her? Would he still want to see her?
Never mind that, what was going to happen once he woke up and realized what they'd done?
Pushing the thoughts from her mind, turned on the water and stepped into the shower. The warm water felt nice on her skin. For a few minutes, she just stood there, eyes closed, letting the water to wash over her. She allowed her mind to go blank and she relaxed with a sigh.
Grabbing her favourite soap, Rose lathered it up and covered herself in the delicious smelling bubbles. When her hand reached between her legs, however, she paused. Thinking about the way that Hux had touched her the night before caused butterflies to flutter in her stomach.
It had been wonderful and delicious. No one had touched her in such a way before. Not her ex-husband, not previous boyfriends.
She would miss it.
Because why would he want to be in a relationship with her? She wasn't the popular girl, or the attractive girl.
“How dare you start without me,” his voice snapping her back to the present.
“I didn't want to wake you,” Rose replied as Hux stepped into the shower and closed the door behind him.
“Well, you should have.” He put a hand on her cheek and pulled her in for a morning kiss. How was he still so delicious?
He kissed her slowly, but it was clear he was hungry for her. His tongue begged for entrance and she parted her lips for him. Rose pulled him in closer, putting her arms around his torso.
“I was a little concerned when I woke to find you gone,” he said once they pulled back enough.
“Why?”
“I thought perhaps you were having second thoughts, or regrets about last night. At least you can't ghost someone in your own home,” he chucked, reaching for what remained of her shampoo. He poured a small amount on her head and lathered it up.
Damn him, his scalp massage game was on point too.
“But then I heard the shower running, and realized where you'd gone.”
“And what if I was?”
“Hmm?”
“Having second thoughts.”
“Are you?” He gently tilted her head to rinse her hair.
“No. Yes...maybe? I don't know,” Rose sighed. “I enjoy our time together, but...”
“But...?”
Rose opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out.
“Perhaps,” Hux supplied, after a few moments of silence, “you didn't want to ruin our friendship?”
She nodded as he began to work the conditioner through her long hair.
“Rose, I-”
“Hux, Armitage...” she interrupted him. “I...the thing is...I...” She looked everywhere except at him. Suddenly her nails were very interesting. “I...I have feelings for you, Arm...”
He looked at her, his cheeks turning the colour of his hair.
“Good ones, I hope,” he chuckled.
“Wh-what?”
“I'm glad, that you have feelings for me, Rose. Because...I have them for you too.”
Catching him off guard, Rose leaned up on her tip-toes and kissed him. Hux put his arms around her, holding her close as the water beat down on them.
The downside to making out in the shower, was that no matter which way they stood, their mouths kept filling with water. When they at last pulled back from each other, they both laughed.
“Are you crying?” He asked, teasing.
“What? No!” Rose sniffled. “I just have water up my nose!”
“You are. Damn, hold on one minute. I need to go grab my pocket square,” he jokingly turned to leave, but Rose pulled him back.
“Stay with me.”
“For you, darling,” he said, pushing her up against the glass wall of the shower and kissing her. “Anything.”
“Are you serious? You did what with my ceviche?” Ben asked, incredulous that his family secret recipe had been shoved in curtain rods.
“The paperwork's all been signed,” Rey said casually. “It's not like he's going to notice.”
“Not right away, at least,” Ben pinched the bridge of his nose as they walked down the hall towards Rose's condo. Or what was Rose's condo for only a few more hours.
“At least it shouldn't take us long, the place Rose is renting is fully furnished,” Rey continued, ignoring her husband's disgust with what they'd done with his expensive shrimp. “It's really just her stuff that we need to move, so it's one or two trips, tops.”
Arriving at her door at the end of the hall, Rey knocked, then used her spare key to open the door. They had been friends for so long, they were found family and had full, trusted access to each other's homes.
“Rosie!” Rey called out, entering the condo. “Ben and I are here to help you – oh...” She stopped dead in her tracks, Ben bumping into her.
Rose sat on the dining table, clad only in Hux's dress shirt. Hux, was leaning over her, cup of coffee in hand, dressed only in his work trousers.
“Hi,” Rey said, awkwardly holding up a hand to wave. “I'm Rey, this is my husband Ben. We're, uh, just here to help Rosie move, but we can come back later if you prefer.”
Ben gave the man-nod at his introduction, eyeing the red-headed man up and down as he did.
“Oh no, it's fine!” Rose said, hopping off the table. “Let me just get changed first.”
“No, it's okay,” Hux said, putting his hand gently on her shoulder. “I should get going.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. I'll see you later tonight, okay?” he kissed her on the cheek and grabbed his keys and wallet from the counter. “I was nice to meet you both,” he added as he squeezed past Rey and Ben.
“Did...did he just leave without his shirt?” Ben asked as the door latched shut. “Are...are you wearing his shirt?”
Ben was so, so confused.
That evening, Rose collapsed into the large wingback chair in the cozy living room of her Air BnB. She turned on the lights of the artificial fireplace to add to the cozy atmosphere. With her book in one hand, and a cup of tea in the other, she at last felt she could relax. Her divorce was over with. With the closing of the sale of her condo, her ex was now finally out of her life. He was free to go live his life with his mistress.
Rose felt as though a great weight she didn't even know was there had been lifted off her shoulders. Now, all she wanted to do was focus on herself and her career. With her ex out of her life, and the influx of cash from the sale of the condo, the thought had occurred to her that she could finally start planning her dream vacation.
Two pages into the latest Ali Hazelwood book, a light knock came at the door. Rose glanced from the door to the eclectic apple clock on the wall, then back at the door. It wasn't so late that visiting was unacceptable, but she wasn't expecting anyone.
When a second light knock came, she checked her phone for a missed text or call, but there was none. Her landlady had handed her the keys as she headed out the door to the airport, so it wasn't her.
Cautiously, Rose went to the door and checked the peephole.
“Who is it?”
The sight on the other side of the peephole made her laugh: A pocket square.
When she opened the door, however, a bouquet of wild flowers greeted her.
“What? Armitage...”
“Congratulations, darling,” he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.
“What are you doing here?” She closed the door behind him, taking his jacket and hanging it up as she did.
“I said I'd come by.”
“You didn't have to.”
“I wanted to see you,” Hux crowded into her space, eyeing her as she nibbled on her lower lip.
“I'm glad you came by.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Because it seems like you don't want to see me,” he teased.
“Well,” she gently used her index finger to push him into the wingback chair. Then, she climbed onto his lap, gently grinding on his groin. “I'm glad you came by.”
“Are you?” Hux chuckled, groaning quietly as Rose nibbled on his ear.
“Yes. Now shut up and kiss me.”
He did. And it was wonderful.
Six months later...
It was peak summer weather and Rose had been enjoying the back garden of the Air BnB. After a morning of gardening, she was stretched out of the chaise lounge chair indulging in a bit of sangria when her phone started buzzing.
Initially ignoring it, she let it go. If it was important, they'd leave a message.
But more importantly, her recently adopted cat, Millie, was cuddling on her lap and Rose didn't want to disturb the princess.
Her phone buzzed again.
Then again.
And again.
Rose sighed and reached for her phone. Lifting her sunglasses to see what on earth was going on, she was shocked to see several text messages, from him.
Morbidly curious as to what he'd want after all this time, she unlocked her phone and laughed.
Taking several screen shots, she sent it to the group chat she shared with Rey and Kaydel, who both immediately responded with laughing and crying emojis.
“What's so funny, love?” Hux asked as he brought a tray of snacks, including small dish of tuna for Millie.
Rose handed her phone to Hux, who's eyebrows raised into his hairline at what he was reading.
What did you do?
What the ABSOLUTE FUCK DID YOU DO??
WOMAN??!!
What did you do to the condo?? We can't get the fucking smell out. Krystal is threatening to leave if I can't solve this. It's been months, we've done everything except an exorcism. Even the neighbours are saying they can smell it in their units too!!
I'm thinking of selling, I'll sell it back to you. I know how much you loved this place.
Rose?
Rose!
Rose, answer me, damnit!!
“What...exactly did you do?” Hux asked, handing her phone back.
“Do you remember that night you came over to my condo?” She twined their fingers together as he sat beside her.
“How could I forget?”
“Before you got there, Rey, Kaydel, and I had...well...”
“What trouble did you three get into?”
“What makes you think we got into trouble?”
He gave her a pointed look. “Rose, if I've learned anything about you and your friends over the last few months, it's how much the three of you enjoy finding trouble.”
“Fair,” she ran her thumb over his knuckles. “Rey had brought over some of Ben's ceviche, and, under the influence, we might have, uh...”
“What did you do?”
“We put some in the curtain rods.”
“Rose!”
“What? He got what he deserved after all he did.”
“A condo that smells like fish?”
“Well, not for the first few days, at least. He got what he wanted,” she shrugged.
“Remind me to never piss you off.”
“Come here, you.” She pulled him into a kiss.
Sliding a hand under her shirt, Hux grasped at her soft rolls. "Perhaps," he muttered into her skin. "We should take this inside?"
Rose ran her fingers through his hair, lightly scratching at his scalp. "Only if you promise to continue what you started last night."
"I think that can be arranged," Hux narrowed his eyes at her, before scooping her up into a fireman carry. He threw her on the bed and climbed on top of her, pinning her into her favourite position: with her wrists above her head and Hux between her legs.
And there was no where else either of them wanted to be.