A stranger’s bed

Guilt

Thinking back to that first night, my heart still beat faster, but guilt seeped into the edges of the memory. Pleasure wasn’t the only thing I carried away from Augustine’s room. I also carried a secret, one I buried deep. Because even then, I had a boyfriend waiting for me.

Jeffery.

Just the thought of him made me groan as I left Augustine’s room that day, my body still buzzing with Augustine’s touch. I hated the thought of facing Jeffery after what I had just done. He disgusted me more with every passing day, but somehow he kept finding his way back into my life, no matter how much I pushed him away.

Tears stung my eyes as I walked toward his place that evening. I still smelled like Augustine. My lips were swollen from his kisses, my thighs sore from his grip, my body aching with the delicious aftershocks of what we had done. Forbidden pleasure clung to my skin like perfume, impossible to wash away.

I had been seeing Jeffery for a year. It had started as a distraction, a way to get over the first man who had broken my virginity. At first, the passion wasn’t unbearable. It was enough. But with time, Jeffery’s flaws became impossible to ignore. He was selfish. He was careless. He drained me instead of lifting me. Compared to Augustine, he felt like a shadow of what love should be.

I knocked lightly on his door, secretly hoping he wouldn’t hear. I prayed I could walk away without confrontation, but luck wasn’t on my side. The door swung open, and there he was, smiling as if nothing in the world had ever gone wrong between us.

“Babe,” he greeted, pulling me close and planting a kiss on my lips.

My stomach churned. His lips felt wrong, clumsy, invasive. My mouth was still sore from how Augustine had devoured me earlier, and the contrast made me sick. Inside, I screamed: Get away from me. You don’t know where I’ve been, who I belong to now.

I had been too shy to shower at Augustine’s place. The scent of s*x lingered on my skin, the taste of him still between my thighs. Panic clawed at me. Would Jeffery notice? Would he smell Augustine on me?

As if on cue, his hands were already sliding lower, tugging at my clothes. He didn’t waste a second. His hunger was selfish, desperate. He pressed himself against me, already hard, and whispered into my ear, “Mmm, I’ve missed you so much. I just want to f**k you and c*m inside you. I’ll get you a pill from the pharmacy later.”

Revulsion surged through me. The words were disgusting, crude. I wanted to vomit. Still, I couldn’t push him away without raising suspicion. He stripped me quickly, his hands rough, his kisses sloppy. His mouth closed around my breast, sucking without care, while his fingers forced their way into me.

I clenched my eyes shut. Lord, please. Not like this. I can’t… I can’t sleep with two men in one day. I’m not a w***e.

But Jeffery didn’t notice my stiffness. He was lost in himself. He bent me forward, took me from behind, his movements unsteady and quick. His moans filled the room, words spilling out between thrusts.

“God, I love you. You make me c*m too fast. You’re my weakness. Why are you starving me, baby? Why are you always so busy with school?”

I rolled my eyes even as his body used mine. Weak bastard. Selfish. He never cared if I was satisfied, never once asked if I was okay. I was nothing more than an outlet for him.

When he finished, it was almost a relief. He slipped away, leaving me empty, sore, and disgusted. “Here we go again,” I muttered under my breath. He didn’t hear. He never listened.

As he disappeared into the bathroom, I grabbed my phone, desperate for an escape. Augustine’s message glowed on the screen: I hope you’re home.

A smile broke across my lips, the first genuine one all evening. Quickly, I replied: Yes. I’m fixing dinner. I’ll call you later.

Just like that, my mood shifted. Augustine’s words wrapped around me like a blanket, pushing away the filth Jeffery had left behind.

By the time Jeffery returned, I was already dressed. He frowned. “Why are you dressed so quickly?”

“My mum’s waiting. I need to leave. It’s been a long day at school.” My voice was flat, rehearsed.

He sighed. “I’m sorry for stressing you. Let me at least walk you to the bus stop, maybe grab the pill—”

“It’s fine,” I cut him off sharply. “I’ll get it tomorrow. I don’t have the energy tonight. I’ll take a cab.”

Before he could protest, I was out the door, leaving him standing there.

When I finally got home, I stripped immediately and stepped into the shower. Hot water cascaded over me, washing away his touch. I scrubbed until my skin was raw, but even then, only one man’s hands lingered in my memory.

Augustine.

I thought of the way he kissed me, the way he held me, the way he whispered into my ear. By the time I climbed into bed, I was wet again, aching with desire just from the memory.

My phone buzzed. Jeffery again. I answered with a sigh.

“Did you get home safe?” he asked.

“Yes,” I replied coldly. “I’m exhausted. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

I hung up before he could say more.

Seconds later, the phone lit up again. This time, it was Augustine. I sat up immediately, my heart racing.

“Hey, sexy,” his deep voice purred when I answered. “What are you up to?”

A smile tugged at my lips. “I just took my bath.”

“Damn. You should’ve done that at my place. Next time, you will. I’d like to f**k you again. You taste like diced pineapples.”

My thighs clenched. My body betrayed me, wetness pooling instantly. His words alone could undo me.

We talked for hours, his voice low and teasing, each sentence laced with desire. When I finally drifted off to sleep, I was smiling, grateful that I had given this “stranger” a chance—because with Augustine, every moment felt like a secret I wanted to keep forever.