“We just had sex on my research,” I say, not at all sure why that is making me laugh. All I know is I’m giddy, lighter inside than I have been in a long time.
“What do you get when you mix quantum verification problems and hot sex?”
“I don’t know. What?” I ask.
“Beats me. That’s why I asked you.”
I roll my eyes, but he can’t see me in my current face-down position. “I’m trying to give up bad math and sex jokes, but it’s hard, Nate. Really, really hard.” He lets out a roar of laughter, and I say, “We need to get ready for the party.”
He snatches a few tissues from the box on my desk, and my stupid heart misses a couple of beats when he reaches between my legs to clean me. What is it about this man’s consideration that gets to me? I’m not sure, and I’m not about to give it any more thought.
“I think you need antiseptic and a bandage,” I say as he disposes of the condom.
“I’m not putting a bandage on my ass.”
I dress, and ask, “Why not?”
“Try explaining that to the guys.”
“Do they see your ass often?”
“Can we please stop talking about my ass, especially when yours is so much nicer.” He pulls up his pants and buttons up.
Once we’re both decent again, I smooth my hand over my mess of hair and look at him.
“There is something else I’d rather talk about.”
“What?” he asks and angles his head.
“You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” I say, and nibble on my lip to keep my grin at bay. “You can say no.”
“Just tell me what it is.”
“I thought it would be fun if we both dressed up. I went to the Halloween store the other day. They didn’t have much left, but I grabbed us each something.”
“Tell me you didn’t.”
I give him a coy look. “Now, that would be lying.”
Chapter Twelve
Nate
“Nope, no way, not happening,” I say, my brain kicking back into gear after that fantastic round of sex. Maybe that’s what Kira had in mind. Maybe she thought without all my synapses firing, I’d say yes in my post-orgasm bliss. It’s a theory, but it’s not logical, considering I was the one who jumped her. That, and she doesn’t seem like the kind of girl to use sex to get what she wants. I’ve met far too many of them in my life.
Kira stands back, folds her arms, and glances at the costumes on her bed. “Come on, why not? I think it’s cute.”
I step back and shake my head. “I’m a guy, Kira. Cute is not what I’m aiming for.”
“What did you dress up as when you were young?” she asks, real curiosity in her eyes.
“Batman, Superman, Spiderman.” I lift my arms and flex my biceps. “The Hulk.”
“I’m sensing a theme here.” She frowns at the costumes. “No worries, it was a last-minute thought. You don’t have to wear it.”
Last-minute thought, my sore, pierced ass. I’m guessing she put time into this. She never had a Halloween, Nate. Never had the chance to dress up.
Jesus, I’d be a real prick if I didn’t do this, and if I do, I’ll be the laughingstock of Lunenburg. I fight an internal battle, but everything softens in me when she runs my costume through her fingers and begins to fold it. The disappointed look on her face is like a goddamn punch to the gut.
“One condition,” I grumble.
Her eyes light up. “Really.”
“If I’m going to wear a yellow jumpsuit with a wedge of cheese wrapped around my torso, then your mouse costume has to be sexy, and something I can easily remove from your body later.”
“Deal.” She grabs the set of ears and puts them on her head. “I’ll add whiskers with makeup, and this is my suit.” She holds up a gray fleece suit and gray leggings. It’s not sexy, but somehow, I know it will be once she’s in it.
“I thought you were afraid of mice,” I grouch.
“Real ones,” she says. “This is kind of cute, though, don’t you think?” Her full lips quirk as she examines the costume.
I scrub my face, and my bristles rustle. “No pictures. And I want to be out of here before anyone gets home. Sam would have a field day with this.” At least the guys and Izzy have been out of the house most nights, and it’s Friday, so they’ll likely be at the Anchor, scheming up ways to save the B&B. So far, they haven’t asked for my help, but I’m expecting it any day now. I snatch the outfit from her bed and step from her room.
“Oh, don’t worry, Nate. Your costume is awesome, not cheesy at all.”
“Ha. Ha.”
Kira’s quiet laughter follows me into the room, and I turn on the shower and strip off. I can’t believe I’m going to dress up as a piece of fucking cheese. A laugh catches in my throat. I don’t know what it is about that woman, or how she ever managed to pull this off.
Once I’m clean, I tie a towel around my waist, grab the “cheesy” costume, and open the door. Kira is coming from her room, freshly showered and dressed in her mouse outfit. Yeah, I was right. She made it sexy. My towel tents, and she spins, aims her ass at me, and shakes her little mouse tail.
“That’s not in your best interest,” I point out, my voice an octave lower.
She straightens, turns around fast, and draws her bottom lip between her teeth. “Why not?”
A growl crawls out of my throat, letting her know the directions my thoughts have traveled. “You do want to make it to the party, right?”
Her face lights up, and it’s clear she loves the power she has over me. Sweet, naïve Kira might be a brilliant mathematician, but she’s also a fucking tease, whether she realizes it or not. I shift the cheese costume in my hand, give her a full view of my tented towel.
Her head drops. “Oh.”
“Yeah, oh.”
“Cheese stick?” she asks, as she fights back a laugh.
I point to the stairs. “Go, I’ll meet you downstairs.”
“Bossy-pants,” she says, and darts down the stairs, her sweet ass dragging my attention until she disappears from my sight. I go to my room and tug on the ridiculous costume. I glance at myself in the mirror. Maybe I’ll put a mask on so no one will know it’s me. I make my way downstairs, and Kira comes from her office.
Her eyes light up. “Nate, you look awesome. Maybe we’ll win a prize for the best costumes.”