“I’m not a fan of obnoxious men who assume.”
“Assume?” I asked on a short laugh. “That ship has sailed. And you can deny it all you’d like, but it was quite a spectacular voyage, if you ask me.”
“So that’s what your angle is? More sex?” Again, she caught our driver’s attention, and again had no clue he was highly invested in our conversation. “I have to admit, it’s surprising to know a man like you is so hard up for it he needs to go to such lengths to get laid. I almost feel bad refusing you, being that you’re hanging all your hopes on me for your sex life.”
“My sex life will survive just fine with or without you. I’m a very factual person, and the fact is sexually we’re a good fit.”
“You know that from a seven-minute encounter?”
“It was fourteen, actually. And it could’ve been hours if you hadn’t cut it short because you panicked.”
“I didn’t panic.”
“Right…” I threw her an exaggerated eye roll. “Hey, I get it. I’m usually also a one-and-done person. But that night I wanted to go again. Can you deny the same?”
“Again, don’t flatter yourself. It wasn’t earth-shattering sex… it was just sex.”
When she not so subtly crossed her legs beside me, I accused, “You’re a shit liar, Jersey.”
My comment caused her to literally growl at me. “So what if it was hot? Why are you so hung up on it?”
At least I got her to acknowledge that, but the question threw me a bit. I truly had no idea why. “I’m hung up on what could be a great arrangement between us,” I pathetically admitted, bending the truth a bit. “I was serious when I said this could be very beneficial for both our professional lives. If our date caught the public’s attention”—and I could drive my point that lust was less dangerous than love—“the publicity could be priceless.” And if I could continue fucking her behind closed doors, the benefits to my sex life could be as well. Finding a woman to hook up with in a city this size was time consuming and required effort. A lot could be said for having a steady fuck buddy with no strings attached. My eyes remained on her face when I added, “You could sell lots of books from that, Jersey.”
“I already sell lots of books.”
“Okay, you’d sell more… and meanwhile I get to benefit from the many failed relationships that could come my way.” Her silence fueled me a bit, and I leaned closer until my body pressed up against hers. The fact she didn’t pull back fueled me further. “Just think… if we were to fuck again, well, I consider that to be delicious frosting on top of it all.”
The driver cleared his throat as he pulled up in front of her building. But the way he sat silently after stopping the meter meant he wanted to hear more. While I threw him the cash, she bolted out onto the sidewalk and stalked toward the front door. I easily caught up to her, gripping her wrist, and her cool eyes stared at the contact.
“Not sure why you gave up that cab. You saw me home safely—mission accomplished. We’re not having sex tonight, Nate.”
“Agreed.” If I hadn’t known better, I’d swear that one word annoyed her, enough for me to add, “Funny, though… your words say one thing, but your expression says something else.”
“My expression says I’m not playing your game.”
“I don’t play games, Amy,” I said, using her real name for emphasis. “If you truly want me to leave you alone, then we’ll have our televised debacle of a date and go our merry ways. If you’d like to repeat what happened last Friday. Maybe this time slower, longer, harder, just say the word.” I lowered my eyes to stare at her mouth before slowly raising them again. “Either way, the ball is in your court. You can let me know which option you pick on our date.”
“Good night.” She attempted to put space between us until I placed a hand on the center of her back. I paused and then pressed a soft kiss on her cheek. Again, she contradicted her vernacular by leaning into the contact, going boneless against me. When I straightened, those pale-blue eyes practically sparkled with lust. I probably would have had no trouble convincing her to go upstairs to her place if I pressed a little bit more, but better to leave her wanting.
“Good night, Jersey.” Only then did I release her to walk away. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind she remained where she was, staring at the calm stroll I took down her block and around the corner.
I was anything but calm. It felt as though she’d lit my insides on fire.
Like a man possessed, I flagged down a yellow sedan and barked my address with thoughts of her scent, her smooth skin, and her gorgeous face all vivid reminders of how badly this woman had affected me. It was the sex. Never had she affected me before, but like flipping the lid off a can of worms, there was no going back without the uncomfortable task of shoving each slimy pest back in. And in addition to my agitated state, I suspected this battle of wills between us wasn’t as cut-and-dried as I thought.
Not surprisingly, my phone buzzed seconds after I let myself into my apartment. I knew who it was and ignored it, only for a second call to come immediately after the first one ended. But knowing Jade, she’d keep calling all night.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I offered as a greeting while tossing my keys onto the entrance table.
“Tough,” she barked. “I’ve been dying since you left. How could you have kept something like this from me?”
“Ugh.” Exhausted with the entire evening, I plopped down on my couch, releasing an exasperated sigh. “For this very reason.”
“Was it as hot as what you fantasized… you know, the kitchen island thing?”
I tried to roadblock her questioning. “We didn’t do that fantasy.”
“Just sex then. Was that hot?” she persisted.
“Yes” flew out of my mouth before I could think it through. Granted, my fantasies of Nate all had a cunnilingus theme on the island, as Jade mentioned. But if he could rattle me as he had with a quickie up against the door, shit, I could only imagine how talented he’d be if he took his time.
The possibilities caused my eyes to stare longingly at my kitchen island as my mind saw the visual perfectly play out.
And then logic had me snapping out of it.
“It was a stupid mistake,” I said out loud.
“Why? It’s obvious that you guys have explosive chemistry.”
“It doesn’t matter, Jade. Of all people, I thought you would be judging this as a bad decision on my part. Every time Brad came on to me you chirped that sleeping with him would be a dumb move.”
“That was Brad. He’s a goof and a man-whore. You and Nate, however, would be a great match.” I wasn’t sure why her admitting that caused my heart to flip. “Close your mouth,” she said when I failed to respond.
“I know you’re not drunk… or high. I’ll attribute that comment to lack of sleep brain fog.” What had gotten into my normally cautious friend?
“Look, has Nate ever shown he’s looking for a committed relationship? No. But he’s so obvious about it that it makes me think it might be an act to protect himself. Very much like you. Maybe, for the right person, he would change his mind.”