ktmorrison
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Devil In The Waters, Book 3, Chapter 15 (complete)
🕑 Added 2020-03-18 00:00:02 +0000 UTCJosh was sitting on the couch where she’d last seen him, only now the TV was off. So he was sitting by himself, facing the television, the room dead quiet. If he wasn’t so upright, she would’ve thought he’d drifted off and the sleep timer had shut the equipment down. Sunlight came in the window still, lighting up the room, but with her husband in there and everything else so inactive, the room seemed dim.
She slowed, pausing at the kitchen pass-through. “Josh?”
His head turned and she regarded his profile. Noted his somber expression.
She said, “Everything okay?”
He nodded. Still not saying anything.
“You just sitting here?”
Now he turned around, putting his elbow over the back of the couch and showing her his face. He said, “Can you come sit with me and talk?”
Whoosh. It was like her mental toilet had just been flushed. Everything shot down her plumbing, into the basement, her feet instantly going cold and feeling fat and swollen. Her heart thudded, her cheeks burned. She said, “Uh-huh, yeah,” then turned aside like she was looking for some sort of escape hatch. She said, “Can you let me get a drink of water first?”
Josh nodded. She crept behind his back, went into the kitchen, ran the faucet and brought down a drinking glass. Both hands on the sink lip, she crumpled against the counter. Oh shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, oh my God, oh my freaking God. He knows! Oh my God, he freaking knows! . . . Stomach cinched to a hard rubber ball, her eyes swelled with tears. What did he know? How did he find out? Did he see the picture? Holy freaking shit, did he see the picture of Devlin on her phone? . . . “God, fuck, no,” she whispered, ran her glass under the faucet stream and filled it. Shut the lever closed, snatched paper towels from a roll and dried her face. Sniffled, blew her nose. Knocked back her water and wiped her mouth. Oh God dammit, poor Josh. Oh God, how could she do any of this to him?
Now she walked around the couch, cursing herself for her accidental timid wife pose. Fingers interlinked, hands held at her waist: the submissive woman. Coming around the couch now, hoping he wouldn’t see the puffiness of her eyes, could tell that she was crying. . . . She sat down next to him. “What do you want to talk about?”
And her husband just sat there. The two of them in their Sunday sweats, alone in their apartment, beautiful sunny day outside the window. Not talking to each other. Slinking around the house and avoiding each other. Him mad at her for texting. Her mad at him for being mad at her for texting. It was work Josh. It was work. Mad at him like it really was for work. But it wasn’t. Did he know that now? Where did she leave her phone that he saw it?
Seeing his morose face, his sunken eyes and sloping shoulders had her wanting to instantly cuddle him. Comfort him for the harm she’d done. Try and explain it all away—though there was no explanation. And if she put her arms out right now and held him, and he screamed at her, a hair trigger being set off with her touch, shouting, throwing things, being mad enough to strike her . . . Could he do that? Josh would never do that. Josh would never do it, but look at all she’d done to him. She left him with nowhere else to go. Had broken his heart. So while she wanted to comfort this man she loved, she sat there with her hands gathered in her lap and waited to hear what it was that he’d found out.
Josh was taking his time, preparing himself, letting her know that this was going to be a doozy. She said, “Tell me.”
It broke the spell, and though he still wouldn’t look at her, his eyes open wider, staring out the window, sunlight making the wet on his pupils shimmer. He said, “I told you about Devlin . . .”
“I know. I know he was a bully.”
“He was,” he said and rolled his eyes.
“No,” she said, “I know. You told me . . .”
“I don’t know how to say this . . .”
Oh fuck, here it came. Somehow Josh knew. Someone had told on her. Oh crap—the party. Tiffany’s party. On Facebook maybe? There was chatter online now about what she’d done. Surprised there hadn’t been already. . . . But that’s what it was. People talking about the rumors of what Karina and Amy saw. Her and Devlin. But dammit, she’d fixed that, hadn’t she? Admitted to being pinned on the ground underneath Devlin. Admitted to Devlin trying to kiss her. Everything involving that night had been cut and stacked in a barrier of plausible deniability. Oh, they’re exaggerating, Josh. Rumors. Just ask Amy. Shit, don’t ask Karina. God, don’t ask Karina . . .
He said, “Remember that night when we came back from the Dragon?”
“Yeah.” She wanted to put her hand on him again. Rest her palm on her husband’s bare forearm. But she waited. Would wait till it was okay . . .
“You told me what happened at the party.”
What had he read? What were people saying about her?
“When we came back”—now he turned in his seat and thumbed toward their foyer—“remember the card? . . .”
“Right. The business card . . .”
“I told you I found it.”
And here she was pulling her hand back again. Wanting to touch him but afraid.
“I didn’t find it, Kimmy.”
“What do you mean?”
“I didn’t find it. Devlin told me it was there.”
Now she frowned. Frowned because that didn’t make sense. And what had she told Josh about that?
He said, “Devlin told me it was there. I didn’t find it on my own.”
“What do you mean Devlin told you?”
“He told me he put it there.”
Now all that cotton fuzzy dread got pushed away by her pounding adrenaline-spiked heartbeat. “Devlin told you that? When were you talking to Devlin?”
He paused a long moment, still not able to look at her. “He texted me. Told me to look in the drawer. He said he put it there . . . left it there for me.”
Now she was stuck in her own storyline. Walking the path of her lie, afraid to walk deeper into the lie’s darkening forest, worried because she wasn’t sure she was leaving a good trail behind her if she needed to find her way out again. But she ventured forth: “I put it there, Josh.”
“Yeah,” he said. “You told me that . . .”
He didn’t believe her? Well she didn’t put it there. But how else would it get there? “What do you mean he texted you?”
“On my phone, Kimmy, how else?”
“How did he get your phone number?”
Josh shrugged. Couldn’t come up with an answer.
“What did he say?” She chewed her cheek.
Josh vacillated like there was only so much of this he wanted to tell her. And now, as much as she hated it, she feared this could be a ruse on her husband’s part. He was testing her honesty. Testing her resolve to the story of Devlin’s business card’s provenance. Only why? Because he was scared . . .
Josh said, “He said he came by. He said he was in our apartment.”
Whoosh again. Toilet flushing. Cold feet, hot face. “I told you he wasn’t here,” she said, and though she’d meant it louder, it came out as a whisper. Proof she was lying.
“That’s not what he told me.”
She said, “Would you look at me, please? Stop looking away. I want to look in your eyes.”
It took a while, but Josh turned his face to hers. Their eyes met and she saw genuine hurt there. She said, “Show me the text. I want to see it.”
Now their eyes disconnected—and she felt that momentary mistrust. There was no text.
And sure enough, Josh said now: “I deleted it.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because I believed you. I believed what you told me about the card, and I believed what you told me about the party.”
Now she couldn’t hold back any longer, reaching across the divide between them—that six-inch couch space—and rested her hand on his arm. He didn’t explode in rage. Didn’t shout at her, jump back, or whip his arm away. He looked soothed by her touch, and that meant an incredible amount to her. She stroked his arm hairs with her thumb. “You threw it out because you believe me?”
“I spent an awful lot of time in high school and elementary school with that guy in my head, Kimmy. I’m an adult now. I’m married. I’ve got a great job. I’m not that kid anymore. I’m not his puppet. I’m not his toy. I asked you; you told me the truth. You tell me the truth. All he does is lie and manipulate. This text from him was like a thorn stuck in me. You know? Embedded, leaking poison. So I flicked it away. It doesn’t exist anymore.”
“Can you get it back?”
He shook his head no.
“That’s all it said? That he’d left you his business card?”
Josh’s face went grim again. Vacillating. Like there was more that had been texted but he didn’t want to deal with it. At last, he nodded. “Yeah, he just texted me to let me know he’d left me a gift.”
“Any idea why he would do that though?”
He scoffed like the answer was obvious. “To fuck with me, Kimmy.”
She frowned again, but showed him a supportive expression. “You said it yourself. You’re an adult now, he’s an adult too. Why would he bother with something like that?” Was it possible? Did Devlin do that? There was the Devlin that Josh described. There was the Devlin she remembered. And there was the Devlin she knew now. All dark gradations. All shades of a dominant and mean personality. But the Devlin from high school was not Devlin the man. Would Devlin really send such a ridiculous text? To set her husband up? Was this wounds percolating up from Josh’s past? Josh afraid the current status of his wife texting her boss while at lunch with her family?—it was something Josh was mad about—and fearful Josh, bullied Josh, concocting this scenario was meant to deter her from close contact with a man he hated. The story Josh told her was benign enough. Benign and unprovable. Devlin texted him to say the business card was in the drawer. So what? Yes, Devlin had been here that day. He’d been here that day and had done terrible things to her in the hallway. But would he leave his card afterward, text Josh to taunt him? It sounded like something out of a high school movie. Was Devlin stuck in high school? Was Josh? She said, “I wish you could show me. I know his text number.”
He looked her way. “You do.”
“I do.”
Now Josh frowned. “So . . . you don’t think it was him?”
“Could somebody be playing a joke on you?”
Defensive, Josh reeled and pulled his arm from her touch. “Who would do that? What’s funny about that?”
“I don’t know, Josh,” she said. “I’m not defending Devlin, I just wish you could show me the text.”
“Well, I can’t, okay? I told you it was poison. I got rid of it. I just want you to know the kind of man you’re working for.”
“Josh, don’t attack me. I’m under no illusion what kind of person Devlin is. What kind of man he is.”
For some reason that wounded Josh. He reeled again. “Don’t call him that.”
“Call him what? A man?”
“It shows him respect.”
“I don’t respect him, Josh—he’s just my boss. I don’t know what you want from me . . .” Wow . . . now she saw it more clearly, saying: “I mean if this is true about the text then—”
“What—it isn’t true? You think I’m lying?” He stood up and crossed his arms.
She put her hands up defensively saying, “No-no, I know, I’m not saying you’re lying, I’m saying this text that you’re telling me about came in before the job offer. We sat and we talked, right here—” now she patted the couch where he’d just been sitting—“here, Josh, we sat here and talked about what it would mean. You didn’t tell me about the text. Why wouldn’t you bring that up? Like, if you would told me that, Josh, it would’ve changed my mind totally. And if you’d showed me the text . . .?”
“You don’t believe he sent it?” His voice was raised.
“I believe he sent it,” she said—though she didn’t. “Don’t be mad. I’m just telling you you never brought it up. You’re sitting here telling me how hurt you are by all of that, and yet when you had the chance, you didn’t say anything? I already told immigration I’m not coming back. Now I’m working at Stone. . . . Did you want me to quit? Because if you want me to quit, this just seems like an enormous waste of time. For both of us . . .”
“I should’ve told you.”
“See? Can you see what I’m saying?”
He nodded, arms crossed tighter. But with his arms crossed there was something undeniable: Josh had an erection. She ignored his bulge; he was standing above her with his crotch near her face, scowling across the room. She said again, “Look at me, Josh.”
And again, taking forever to meet her eyes, he finally obeyed. “What? . . .”
She said, “I’m sorry. I just wanted to know if the text was real or not because I’m in a tough situation now. If you’re telling me this is real, then I shouldn’t be working for him. But you never told me when you should have. You’re telling me now. I have to weigh how serious you took it at the time. You didn’t take it serious enough at the time to tell me . . . What does that mean?”
Despite her pleasant and calm tone, Josh’s scowl deepened. “You’re such a fucking lawyer,” he said, waved a backhand at her like she was nothing and walked away.
“Josh, don’t leave me here, don’t do that . . .”
But now he was mad, walking quick, heading out of the living room and down the hall to the bedroom.
Comments
Chinookfan72
i had chalked it up to being between books, but maybe not?!
DavidnDaria
COV-Kids? Covennials? How about... survivors?
KT Morrison
New chapter in an hour!
RCH
Anticipation Carly Simon We can never know about the days to come But we think about them anyway And I wonder if I'm really with you now Or just chasin' after some finer day Anticipation, anticipation Is makin' me late Is keepin' me waitin'
RCH
Starting Day 6: Anticipation Carly Simon
RCH
Corona-ennials?
DavidnDaria
Corona Kidz? Viral babies? V-kids? C-Kids? COVID-19-kiddies? :)
RCH
Well, usually writers are creating alt futures with disasters, wars, plagues, alien invasions and zombie hordes. KT has created a whole new literary device an alt future in with no disasters. Unless you consider Devlin's rearrangement of Kimmy's internal organs a disaster! During this time the last thing we need is realistic disaster getting in the way of good erotica.
KT Morrison
I think we'll have a surge, and we'll have a specific name for them in the future!
KT Morrison
Ha ha, I think it's best if I keep the virus out of the storyline. Though this story is supposed to take place this coming summer—perhaps it's already a thing of the past by then, or a worry for the fall?
BNR
Oooooooooooor! We lean into the virus and have a select group of people locked indoors with nothing to do but play strip poker! Eh?
DavidnDaria
Adding COVID-19 would definitely detract from the story. Cool to think about Kimmy driving Josh to distraction, though. :)
Chinookfan72
My hope is KT doesn’t include the virus in the storyline.. This story has been a welcomed distraction from the constant virus coverage I don’t want my oasis to dry up.
RCH
I can see that like our story the Devil has found your idle hands and put them to good use! TF you can't believe what trouble and delays this caused me on a side project I've been working on. You hit it, if Devlin's business was real he would be in big trouble $$$. Started seeing delivery problems from China before Christmas just now seeing progress on deliveries now.
DavidnDaria
We're in FL for the winter. Never thought it would be like this. Thankfully, we're set. We just stay on the rented property and do our daily thing. I've found a local independent grocer who keeps things in stock, so we're good. I have a friend and his wife in Michigan who is in the high risk age group, but thankfully, his employer was probably the first to have everyone work at home. Coincidentally, we have a female friend we met earlier this winter who is staying with us because she works for the same company as my friend in MI. The world is a different place. Stay safe, but equally important: Stay positive.
TF
RCH The BIG(!) question is what is the Corona shutdown going to do to our story? Will the Monday meeting be cancelled? Will Stone's China import/export business collapse causing a layoff of employees? With Kimmy out of a job and Josh working at home will their present frictions result in a fire (choose your type)? Or is our intrepid author going to 'keep calm and carry on'? Sorry, I have time on my hands also.
RCH
Both my folks are 90s. They live in our guest house we're out in the country kinda. The wife and I are their only link to the outside. We have cut back our direct contact as much as possible. When we do it's with mask to not get them sick. It's ironic that I'm the biggest threat to my parents! Luckily living in earthquake country we are already prepared for 1 month of isolation. This is not as problematic as an earthquake because there isn't the sudden damage to infrastructure (power,water,gas). With a small generator used intermittently I can keep the freeze and refrigerator cold. With Covin-19 services won't be interrupted. Relax and things will workout.
BNR
On a sad note, this COVIN-19 is going to cause a huge age gap with the elderly declining in number. My folk are pensioners (past retirement age) and in high risk...
BNR
Sure hope that you get lucky! Either way!!! XD
DavidnDaria
LMAO! We've got that covered. :) Sadly, though, try as we might, we need to adopt. That stops nothing, though.
Chinookfan72
No problem RCH.. I feel one of the hardest things for us as the readers doing all this armchair analysis is figuring out who knows what and when. We see it from all sides so it’s obvious, but you strip it down it becomes much murkier. As for the work texts, she’s a lawyer so I think she can hide behind confidentiality and or attorney client privilege and legitimately deny Josh’s request to see them.. After all you don’t want her to lose her job or perhaps be disbarred do you? That is if she hasn’t deleted them already. I have similar symptoms RCH :).
RCH
Careful of blisters!
DavidnDaria
I sure hope there's a baby boom, again. :) I know we're doing our part--over and over and over. :)
TF
The following experiment should be done. Find a person who has not read any of the book so far and let this person just read the Josh sections...and then ask the question of what Josh should do right now. My guess is that the person would agree with you that his cluelessness natural. Gotta keep in mind that Kimmy is really good with the walnut shells and pea game.
RCH
On the Corona shutdown you think we'll see a mini baby boom in 9 months? All those couples(moresomes) sheltering in place? Or will the internet/netflix generation forgo the oldest form of entertainment?
RCH
Chinookfan72, thanks for doing the above dialog. Our perspective is so different from Josh's. His cluelessness is partially justified. It's somewhat cryptic, but it's enough for Josh to demand to see her "work" texts from Saturday. If he had the spine to do it. We'll have to see where KT goes with this. Could be this is a good cliffhanger book 4 transition? I don't know about any one else but I starting to feel agitation, restlessness, excessive sweating. Over the last hour or so anxiety, muscle aches and increased tearing. I though it might be Corona virus but it seems it is classic withdrawal symptoms... :)
Chinookfan72
I mean Josh has no context nor can he be sure he heard her right. He confronts her she says that’s not what she said, then what? or worse yet she flips this on him like the text message and now he’s the creep eavesdropping on her convo and the husband who thinks Devlin is a bad guy, but not bad enough to mention before she took the job. If Josh confronts Kimmy he’s loosing over the conversation he’d lose big time.. I don’t see Josh accusing Kimmy of anything unless he has some undeniable proof.
CSH
That’s actually a lot. Even a husband who trusted his wife could get suspicious from this. Probably not enough to win an argument with Kimmy though.
Chinookfan72
She admitted it to Amy, but Josh didn’t hear the question . All Josh heard (if he was listening then) was “That’s not... I know”... so I don’t see how this is an issue for Kimmy to explain. I was bored so Here is everything Josh heard Kimmy say on the phone.. the only line that could be problematic in my opinion is the hands and mouth line, but before that there was a minute break in what Josh heard so he had no actual context as to what that comment is about. “I’m calling now. I’m calling now. Where do I start? No, I’ not. Thats not ... I know It’s your fault Of course he does Josh knows it’s a good opportunity With Josh? We’ve barley said a word today. It’s getting to him. Me talking about Devlin. No. I don’t think he does. With Devlin. No. Well, yeah. Just... more of the same. He is, I don’t think it’s going to happen. I couldn’t do that to Josh. No, not like that... just one other time... yeah... tell me about it... No, I can’t believe it, it’s so.... right... Just hands... Hands and, you know mouth.... Yeah, no, you’re not kidding... Was it like that? ... Yeah...No, but.... uh-huh... But never... Is it ever a lot? Stop laughing...I’m serious... Like what? Yeah, like that... Well, not like that... A little like that... yeah, down my legs... I din’t think it’s funny... That’s never happened to you? Very funny... Just me then... Why do I tell you anything?”
BNR
I think Devlin knows that the worst way to DEEPLY hurt Josh, is Kimmy.
Tim ziegler
If Kimmy and Josh don’t talk and settle the text and work card issue,Kimmy will probably ask Devlin about it and that will really piss him off thinking Josh is trying to stop his good thing before it starts, Devlin has pretty much left him alone so he’ll really go after Josh.
RCH
Hey, I aim to entertain, and no two drink minimum!
BNR
That was HILARIOUS, RCH! Someone should check in on George R. R. Martin too!
RCH
BNR, I want to scream for more too. There is also a fear I have of a obscure news story coming from Canada of a strange macabre scene. FLASH! "Today province police found the mummified body of a popular erotic fiction writer who's pen name was KT. Preliminary evidence show that the possible cause of death was the result of blood loss from excessive finger tip blistering from typing on the keyboard. The author's computer was still on her Patreon page. Seems the author was trying to post the final chapter in book 27 of her popular "Devil in the Waters" series. Evidence points to extreme pressure on the authors by fans had pushed her to work her fingers to the bone. This is a duel tragedy. Not only was a life tragically lost but it seams that the main character was finally going all the way with her boss. Due to copyright laws the police were not able to disclose any details of the final chapter to the public. :) Please KT don't take the above as a knock on how long it is taking to get Kimmy to go "all the way" with Devlin. The anticipation that you have built up is fantastic. I'm just stuck here at work alone keeping the systems going. As the old saying goes "Idle Hands are the Devil's Workshop". It was more aimed at us readers. We can be quite demanding of your talents at times. I've used the "Finding Nemo" seagulls modified "more, more, more". Perhaps a more fitting analogy would be the giant exotic flesh eating plant in "Little Shop of Horrors". With its' relentless demand on Seymour "Feed Me, I'm so hungry!" Keep smiling everyone
RCH
Don't forget Josh is no longer in a position to deny Devlin has fingered Kimmy. She's admitted it to Amy on the phone. I don't see how the counselor will talk her way out of this. Kimmy's only move is to use Josh's rising problem against him somehow. Tell him he is being hypocritical by his state and it's obvious he is excited by the prospect of Devlin resizing her. He still has the option of walking. I don't see how Kimmy can get away with denying anything she said on the phone as it was very clearly stated. KT's creative mind may come up with some angle that I don't see as this is usually the case. I'm fooled 80-90% of the time.
BNR
want more! :'(
JamesIsAsleep
Yeah that was my choice because my post was off base, nothing from Patreon ...
CSH
It would be great if, in what I expect will be a bedroom confrontation, she gets Josh to commit to stop whining about her working for Devlin and to allow her to do her job properly even if that means lots of time spent with Devlin. She can probably guilt that out of him by convincing him he’s being distrustful and unreasonable. She’s working for both of them after all. He’s half thinking that anyway. Then she can test him the next night by staying out late for her ‘business’ meeting. What’s better than having her wobble home exhausted, fucked into a daze, and then watch Joshy swallow his pride and be all loving, understanding and sympathetic because she had to work so late.
RCH
It's working now. Only JamesIsAsleep is deleted and replies inaccessible.
RCH
No, Kimmy don't do it! Don't think of that long, thick member that stretched you so wonderfully! Oh and forget about how full of seed the Magnum condom was. Cast out any thoughts of the depth that Devlin's instrument would deposit that seed. Kimmy it would be impossible to enjoy Devlin's gifts only once, you have so many opportunists to continue to partake again and again. Kimmy be happy with skinny Mr AA be thankful he isn't AAA! Go back to making baskets stop your birth control and maybe MR AA can get you pregnant again in a few years or so. Do you think I have convinced her to stay loyal to Josh? I gave it my best! No, really I tried believe me ask Kimmy! She would lie...
RCH
Yes, hyperbolic is the place I was coming from. I have gallows humor in my blood. I'm sure if there would of been one of my relatives on the slanting deck of the HMS Titanic He would have looked over to his fellow paniced passenger saying "I hope we don't get a feet wet".
TF
Of course she does or it's game over (book wise). The complexity is what makes the story so real...these characters are not one dimensional as are some in this genre.
CSH
Maybe those of us cheering her on could give her a bit of a nudge.
Donkatsu
Sure she won’t😇
TF
Sure, I agree. I guess what I was trying to say is that, at this moment, she is teetering on the edge and she still might not go over to the dark side.
BNR
maybe they fixed it?
BNR
test!
CSH
Yep that’s right ...gaslighting. It’s all in your head Josh. You have some weird fixation on Devlin because of high school....but that’s not my fault. I’m just doing my job as best I can like a responsible adult and you are fantasizing about me doing some nasty sex thing with my boss. You’re even lying to me about it. Don’t you feel guilty about that? And why do you get a boner every time we discuss this? You pervert. - the reason you’re accusing me is because it secretly excites you.
CSH
This is a thoughtful observation and I admit she may simply be scared and desperate to hide what she’s up to. However I think the process of lying to Josh, especially if it works and she successfully deflects his suspicions or intimidates him or guilts him into no longer confronting her will over time transform her quickly into a very different person who is consciously being cruel. If she has this wild affair with a guy her husband hates, and successfully lies to her husband about it there’s no way she comes out of it respecting Josh.
Chinookfan72
i figured you were being a little hyperbolic for comic reasons, though you really might not end up that far off on Kimmy.. I don’t think the apartment has a basement.. But that new house they can buy with all of Devlin’s money might...
RCH
The recent replies are not opening.
RCH
Yes, it's acting glitchy for me too.
RCH
So she know she an is just trying to deflect. This is the only downside of having a chapter by chapter read spread over weeks. My rapidly diminishing memory is playing hell with my reading comprehension.
BNR
Anyone else feel like Patreon is glitching?
RCH
Sorry Chinookfan72 there is a bit of tongue in cheek in there. I still what to check out the basement though just in case! :)
BNR
I was agreeing with KT about Kimmy calling Devlin to ask him why he left the card.
BNR
my comment got deleted... odd
JamesIsAsleep
Ok, thank you, someone needs to reread ...
KT Morrison
She knows Devlin put the card there, but told Josh she was the one who put it there. With what Josh is telling her she thinks Josh is making the text up because she thinks Josh is testing to see if she'll admit that Devlin was in the apartment and was really the one who put it there. She confronted Devlin about the card already and he all but admitted he put it there...
JamesIsAsleep
Tim ziegler
From the very beginning I didn’t think Kimmy would dip so low as to humiliate Josh now I’m not so sure. On a different note our brilliant leader has renamed the carona virus the China virus another official called it the Kung Flu to a Chinese American reports face.
Chinookfan72
yeah I think you are are going a bit extreme.. I don’t think Kimmy is nearly as evil as you portray. This chapter to me is nothing but self preservation. The only thing it suggests to me is Kimmy is selfish and short sighted, and the Kimmy and Josh relationship though apparently fine before the reunion is having a spotlight shined on the cracks in their foundation. To me the interesting part will be after Monday (assuming Devlin and Kimmy finally fuck to completion) and how Kimmy’s feelings for Josh and Devlin change. Cause in the end you maybe right.
CSH
I really like Donkatsu’s description of “that unique space between lust, contempt for Josh and her glee at his turned on shame”. That’s really where I’d like to see Kimmy end up. I still think she should insist on lying to him while telling herself “he secretly likes it.”
TF
Here’s another possible take on Kimmy. Right from the beginning she seems extremely afraid that Josh might find out about her doings with Devlin…the reunion, the hall fingering, the container incident, the sexting and has used all her skills (sex, lawyering, money arguments, career opportunity) in deflecting him and confusing him. True, Josh hasn’t been much of a challenge to date but I wonder if her behavior is more instinctive on her part than cold-blooded. She has this crush that she never really sought until tempted by the “devil” beginning at the reunion, wants to try it (once, ha, ha) but still wants what Josh gives her, i.e., have her cake and eat it, too)…a common human failing. So maybe that makes her not quite so nefarious as she is depicted in some comments. On the other hand, I’m not going to defend this interpretation…she may well turn out to be the equal of Devlin in tormenting Josh. Just hope Josh puts up more of a fight and doesn’t curl up into a fetal position mentally. At the moment it is two against one (3 against 1 if you count Amy) but, as was mentioned, maybe Karina will careen into the picture to kick ass.
TF
Maybe but it's a bit early in the story.
RCH
Holy S@%t! Has KT managed to give us a character with "antisocial personality disorder"? Could Kimmy have some level of psychopathy? It's kind chilling to read the definition. Kimmy fits into the definition pretty close. I say that because psychopaths are good at acting to get what they want. KIMMY the MONSTER is there a basement in their apartment? Any fresh cement? Because we're seeing a clear lack of conscience in her actions. We're mistaken about the conflicting angles on her shoulders, there are no angles! Josh is a nice guy I find empathy with him but to Kimmy he is a doormat. Maybe I'm going a bit extreme on her but at least she is acting the part.
RCH
CSH, you nailed it for me! I call it being corrupted! That slow rotting out of her core principles.
Donkatsu
Earlier there was just evasion and lying. Now we have the gaslighting: "Him mad at her for texting. Her mad at him for being mad at her for texting. It was work Josh. It was work. Mad at him like it really was for work." . . . . "She said, “Would you look at me, please? Stop looking away. I want to look in your eyes.” It took a while, but Josh turned his face to hers. Their eyes met and she saw genuine hurt there. She said, “Show me the text. I want to see it.” Now their eyes disconnected—and she felt that momentary mistrust. There was no text." . . . "She frowned again, but showed him a supportive expression. “You said it yourself. You’re an adult now, he’s an adult too. Why would he bother with something like that?”" . . . and lots more!
RCH
Yes, KT's flock is squawking "more, more, more"
RCH
We don't know if he chickened out yet. He may be heading in there to pack!
Donkatsu
DnD, good observations on Kimmy's thought processes here. IMHO, Kimmy is only thinking tactically at the moment. She just wants to get through tomorrow (Monday). Her respect and fondness, for Josh, though perhaps not her love, are leaking out by the second and she has to put that out of her mind. The strategic thinking will come in after the Monday night festivities. What happens if Josh admits to some sort of desire to see Kimmy with Devlin? Karina has a role, I am convinced, but only our cruel mistress knows for sure. Slightly OT, KT - now that you are likely working from home your office cannot monitor your keystrokes. Please feel free to be as dirty as you can.😄 One more thing, is there any chance Devlin is familiar with the bad boys from "Bad Blood?" After all, it all goes down on the docks for both of them.
DavidnDaria
You're not the only one. As stated before Kimmy is the queen of rationaling. She's performing every mental trick she can think of on herself and Josh to make sure Monday night happens to the end that she doesn't feel guilty about the time leading up to that event. What she doesn't do is prepare herself for the aftermath. She's convinced herself that one and done is the way she'll go--again rationalizing and lying to herself. It's going to be interesting to see where ths story goes from here because at this point she doesn't truly understand or want to understand that both she and Josh are conflicted in major ways. For that matter, Josh is the same way. If they could get past their clear communication barrier, they'd find out they're pretty much in the same place. Both are at fault for this, too.
BNR
Currently I dislike her. Especially her duplicity and hypocrisy. Honesty goes both ways! But KT can (almost always) win me back!
BNR
I think, that liking characters help *some of us* stay invested in what happens to those characters. *** I can guess that MOST EVERYONE didn't give a crap about anyone on the TITANIC until they saw the movie "TITANIC." *** When I like a husband who is going to get "played" by a wife character whom I don't already like, then I only care about the outcome of the husband and hope the wife gets killed by an escalator malfunction. But when I like the husband *and the wife,* then someone gets sexy without the other I can still enjoy both of their arcs and I care what they BOTH get up to until the end! Otherwise I check out early.
Donkatsu
KT has never had a gal who went the full gaslighting route, I believe. Is that going to change here, especially as Kimmy moves into that unique space between lust, contempt for Josh, and glee at his turned on shame? Great setup for Monday.
CSH
Josh spills a terrible bullying story, followed by her having sex with him to reassure him of her love and soothe his pain. Then she can go screw Devlin with a clear conscience while Josh thinks they have ‘cleared the air’ .
JamesIsAsleep
Shout out to KT for confusing this reader about Kimmy, who oscillates between "How can I do this to Josh?" and "How can he say what he is saying only now? Is he even telling the truth?" My simple mind cant really comprehend her complexity. She dodged a bullet tonight, she should celebrate with Devlin, dont you think?
CSH
I don’t understand why you think you should like her. Why would you like someone who has sex with her husbands bully while lying to his face about it? I do think we are supposed to understand her motives. For my part the pleasure here is in seeing her slowly go bad. In any case if you dislike her now just wait till after Devlin fucks her senseless - she’s really gonna get crazy.
Chinookfan72
Tim is your dislike of Kimmy reducing your enjoyment of the story? I always seem to like or dislike characters, but outside of the rare occasion my feelings about individual characters doesn’t impact my overall enjoyment of the story.
Chinookfan72
If the story picks up from here I have no idea what Kimmy is walking in on.. To me it can go 5-6 different ways, and probably many more that I can’t come up with.. Eitherway the next chapter can’t get here quick enough.
RCH
That is the stimulating part! The love to hate and the hate to love conflict! At some point he is going to start enjoying this or leaving. Kimmy is chosen the dark path and until there is a nuke like event she'll worry only about how it affect her.
Glaucon
eh, I don't need to like or dislike any characters in erotica tbh and it does confuse me how much it matters to apparently everyone else - but people enjoy their media differently!
Tim ziegler
I think I’m the only one but I dislike Kimmy more each chapter
RCH
Well I wouldn't be to hard on Josh. he is attempting to morph out of the invertebrate to the vertebrate part of the animal kingdom. He is at least being more direct confrontational. She is such a fucking lawyer. I have to confess that I have a very difficult time staying angry with my wife. We usually compromise and work things out. This is a different woman perhaps Kimmy has split personality disorder. I'd be thinking of firing up the backhoe and digging a very deep hole. That's just me going over to the dark side( I should do the 23 and me DNA test it could be I'm a descendant of Vlad the Impaler). I'm hoping Josh is heading into the bedroom to pack! that's the ballsy move at this point. Unfortunately there is not enough here to know how they proceed. Does Kimmy follow him into the bedroom and try and manipulate him using her sexual prowess? If he falls for that he should just let Kimmy keep his man parts in a jar. He has to confront this he knows to much. Now I could see it come out that this excites him and if the counselor wins with that tactic then Josh is going to be a semi-willing cuckold. The waiting killing me...
Chinookfan72
Agreed!
Chinookfan72
Josh is the King of the half measure.. It’s his patented move.. He’s the Washington Generals to Kimmy’s Harlem Globetrotters. In all seriousness I think Glauc is right.
JamesIsAsleep
This got to a new level of heavy feeling, Josh brooding in the dark, exposing his knowledge of the truth of what happened, which is quickly followed up with lies and distrust, this is a straight up kinky tv drama here! I got a kick out of Josh's rage boner.
CSH
I don’t think we should take the chapter breaks as set in stone. KT May want to revise these before actually publishing the book. Agree that this is a partial scene needing both the previous scene and the following to be complete. I assume the discussion isn’t over - they will likely continue and we may still get a more painful reveal by Josh and a more sexually manipulative response from Kimmy. She definitely noticed his erection this time.
Glaucon
PS I like these 8pm releases haha
Glaucon
Well, in the earlier books Josh keeps bringing up his fear that he really did somehow ask Devlin to do all this and how embarrassed he'd be if that came out - that to me feels like one of if not the main reason he doesn't bring up Devlin's claims to sex.
Glaucon
Come oonnnnn Josh share a worse bullying story! I know you have it in ya! Also I love that Kimmy basically trusts Devlin over Josh at this point (because she WANTS her mental image of Devlin to be true, she WANTS to mitigate any reasons to change her plans).
BNR
Someone please help me understand why Josh would bring up such a half measure? Am I that far off? I'm loving the "no shame for hard-ons" but why was he only bringing up this one text, like he hasn't been getting more form Devlin? Is this just part A if Chapter 15 we are getting 3 more? Because this, to me, was just the rest of Chapter 14...
TF
Josh tried but chickened out on the full reveal thereby losing to "super lawyer". Interesting that Josh believed Kimmy's lie (accepted it before anyway) but Kimmy now believes Josh is lying. Guess she thinks he's cut from the same cloth. How do you spell incompatibility?
CSH
And now she’s going to have to follow him and his boner to the bedroom ......Watch out Joshy!
Chinookfan72
Josh is no match for Kimmy’s lawyer jujitsu... I loved how she was able to flip it on Josh and end up the victim.. Though I’m wondering why he decided to bring that up.. Alas, it’ll remain a mystery as Kimmy has bested Joshy again.
Chinookfan72
Hey Joshy! https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.quickmeme.com%2Fmeme%2F3s6woe&psig=AOvVaw0hf2ocxI59LYcQ203Z2SHy&ust=1584578224397000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCKCF44XkougCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD why doesn’t the comments allow pictures or gifs?! Best I could do.
DavidnDaria
She <i>is</i> such a fucking lawyer. Consummate.
