Chapter 8 I'm a slut!

She looked up from her letter as Tristan walked into the tent. She fell like she'd already gone 10 rounds and she was dreading the conversation she needed to have with him. She knew that his history was way worse than hers but somehow she felt she still had to justify herself. Which was crazy they weren't dating, they weren't sleeping together, but somehow they weren't just friends either. There was more there it was just currently unnamed. Unsure of the best way to start she just blurted out.

"Three men, three men in my whole life. I'm not a slut!" Rory said "I know how that sounded, and I don't know what we are, but I want you to know I don't sleep around."

''I didn't think you did. Although, it did sound like you were going in for the kill with him. You certainly weren't trying to sugarcoat anything. You have to admit Mare, under the best of circumstances being with his friend was going to hurt him. I don't blame you, disappearing the way he did was pretty low. If you're worried about what I think don't. He left giving up any right to have a say in how you live your life and with whom. Besides, it's kind of refreshing knowing you're not perfect. Surprising too."

"Once I thought about it I knew it would hurt him, but it wasn't like that. Being with Finn wasn't a conscious decision I made to get back at Logan. I mean I realized after the fact that it would hurt him, but I didn't go into it with that goal in mind. I wouldn't have even told him if he hadn't made me mad. I guess then I wanted to hurt them." Rory said sitting down next to Tristan.

"It was so stupid really how it started. We had just moved into the new house and Finn was coming to celebrate. There was a picture of Logan and a tall leggy blonde in the society pages, I saw the article as I was making dinner waiting for Finn to get there. Ellie was on a trip with Mitchum to DC. I called Finn and told for him to bring the workings of his favorite drink whatever that was at the moment I wanted to get drunk. Of course I polished off a bottle of wine by myself before he ever made it. We got so drunk I am amazed that one of the us didn't end up with alcohol poisoning. Parts of that first night are so hazy in my memory, but I remember thinking that Logan had broken me because I hadn't found another man attractive since he left. And I remember thinking that he was going to be the last man I ever slept with and it made me mad. And somehow I ended up begging Finn to make me forget all about Logan. I mean I'd heard all the stories, girls talk and his reputation was a lot like yours used to be. I think I ended up telling him that I had heard a lot of bragging about him I wanted to see if it was true. Thinking back it wasn't one of my finer moments but I don't regret it either. Finn and I were best friends, still are it's just tense right now. We weren't trying to hurt Logan and honestly we really weren't giving him much thought at all. I was actually trying my hardest forget all about him."

"So a one-time drunken night turned into four years of friends with benefits?" Tristan asked surprised and with a bit of a chuckle.

"It's still kind of weird how that happened but yeah. I think with our unique friendship that just carried over into the physical side of things, Finn is the person I could tell all my deep dark secrets to. Sex with Finn was just goofy, crazy, no strings, where ever and when ever the mood strikes you, no inhibitions fun. I had never had that before so yeah it lasted for years. In the end I think it did what all friends with benefits do one person develops feelings and the other person doesn't. I think those type of relationships worked fine on the short-term but we probably shouldn't let it carry on as long as we did. And Huntz can be mad all he wants but the truth is how he feels isn't going change anything."

"So he wants you back, how do you feel about that?" Tristan asked changing the subject really not wanting to dwell on her sex life. Wondering if her exes return would have any effect on what they seemed to be building.

"That's what he says, but who really knows he could just be bored. Either way it does not matter I've moved on. I don't want the life that I would have with him. And I don't trust him. I could never really be with somebody I couldn't trust."

"Good, I just wanted to make sure because I have every intention of having you fall head over heels for me." He said with the patented Dugrey smirk. As he put his arms around er and pulled her close.

"Wow, you really are sure of yourself aren't you?" Rory laughed as she pushed on his chest pushing him away from her.

"Of course, belief in success is crucial in winning any mission." Tristan said with a wink. "Don't worry Mare, I understand I'm irresistible. Your secret is safe with me."

"And what pray tell is my secret?" she asked barely able to contain her laughter.

"That you have been secretly in love with me all these years of course." He said as if there was nothing in the world more obvious.

"Of course." She said as she leaned to kiss him on the cheek she changed her mind at the last moment and placed his soft sweet kiss on his lips. Enjoying his surprised expression she got up and walked to her cot. "I'm incredibly tired I think I'm going to call it a night."

"Rory, I know tonight been tough for you would you like some innocent or almost innocent company?"

"Yeah." She said quietly looking at Tristan, she scooted over to make room for him in the small cot as he took off his jacket, boots, and shirt. He laid on his back and told her to 'come here'. She cuddled up next to him with her head on his chest placing her hand on his rock hard stomach. She could feel him playing with her hair as she closed her eyes and listened to his heartbeat, he lulled her to sleep. Her last conscious thought was how good it felt having his arms around her. It felt so normal she could almost forget that they were in the middle of the desert in the middle of a war zone.