CHAPTER 5 BOWER
BOWER
Sitting cross-legged, right against Bennett’s thigh, I drink my beer and feel excitement race through me as I try to gauge his reading comfort level.
“Okay, so bloody hand jobs are out of the picture.”
“I mean, I think for now, yeah.”
He finishes his beer in one gulp—which oddly I find hot—and he sets the empty glass on the coffee table.
“Understandable. We need to ease you into romance, I get that. We don’t want to scare you off right away with something you’re not comfortable with. But just for reference, is that something you would ever do, just so I know the kind of kink you’re into?”
“Uh, no. Not that I’m putting down anyone who is into that, because to each their own. If you like a bloody hand job, then I hope you get one every day, but I just think it would terrify me more than anything, seeing my dick covered in blood.”
“That’s a fast way to deflate the old wiener.”
He chuckles. “Yeah, pretty much.”
“Good to know. How do you feel about spice in general? What is your chili pepper level?”
“Chili pepper?”
“Ugh, sorry,” I say, placing my hand on his forearm.
“I’m forgetting that you’re all new to this.
Chili peppers are what the book world uses to rate the level of spice they’re into.
Now, this is extremely controversial and many have various levels of spice, but I think in general, I’d say one chili pepper is that there is some hints toward sex and maybe some fondling, but when it gets to the action, it’s closed door.
Meaning, you don’t see anything from there.
And then it climbs. Two would be a full sex scene but nothing explicit.
Three would be full sex scenes, explicit and creative.
Four would be dragging some kink into the picture, and five, well, that’s where bloody hand jobs come in. ”
He drags his hand over his jaw, the sound of his palm against his scruff igniting excitement in me. I love that sound.
“Uh…what do you like?”
“I’m a three–four kind of girl. I like some kink, but the five chili peppers terrifies me sometimes, even though I’ve dabbled in it and enjoyed.”
He slowly nods. “And you’re not a one or two kind of girl?”
“Every one or two that I’ve read I’ve enjoyed.
There is nothing wrong with a one or two, great stories, just the perfect sprinkle of goodness, but I have found that they make me incredibly horny, so I tend to reach for a three or four, not to say that I wouldn’t ever go back to a one or a two, though. ”
His eyes widen, which makes me chuckle. “Uh, really?”
“Yeah, it’s like getting edged but never finding completion. I need coming in my books. I need full-on penetration right in front of my eyes. I need to see her feel his dick pounding into her uterus.”
He blinks a few times and then chuckles before wiping his hand over his face. “Never, uh…never thought I’d hear those words come out of your mouth.”
“What?” I shrug. “We’re adults now. It’s not like I’m talking to you like this as the sixteen-year-old I first met. You’re what…twenty-uh…”
“Twenty-four,” he says.
“Ugh.” I clutch my chest. “So young.”
“Not that young.”
“Young enough for me to second-guess the sentence I just said to you.”
“You say that as if I’ve never made a woman feel my dick pound into her uterus.”
Uh, pardon me as I pick my jaw up off the ground, because what?
“Bennett,” I practically squeal. “Oh my God, I can’t believe you just said that.”
A waiter brings us both another beer that we take.
“Why not?”
“Maybe because you’re my best friend’s little brother and you don’t ever talk like that.”
“I guess you haven’t been asking the right questions.”
“I guess not.” Taking a sip of my drink, I shift in my seat and then ask, “So, do you have a lot of hookups?”
He shrugs. “I wouldn’t say a lot, but I’m not a virgin.”
“Yeah, I know, Gabby told me when you had your first girlfriend. She was freaking out and we went out and bought condoms together so you didn’t get anyone pregnant.”
He rolls his eyes. “You bought me a year’s worth.”
“And you’re welcome for that. Shows how much confidence we had in your sexual prowess.”
“Too much.”
I laugh. “So what are you looking for? Who fits the criteria for you to take someone home?”
He scratches the back of his neck and shrugs as he slouches in the couch next to me, legs slightly spread in that man way, looking all kinds of dark and mysterious under the brim of his hat.
“There isn’t much criteria for a one-night stand,” he answers. “Have to be attracted to her and she can’t be fucking crazy. Prefer if she doesn’t know who the hell I am.”
“As if people don’t know who you are.”
“You would be surprised,” he says.
“Okay, so what about someone that you would actually date, because I’ve known you for a good amount of time and you can’t tell me that you’re the kind of guy that sleeps around. You must be looking to at least date someone.”
“Yeah, I am,” he says, his eyes straying away from mine.
“And what would that criteria be?”
“Why so curious?” he asks.
“Because I love love, and if I can help find someone for you, like be your aunty matchmaker, then I’d feel like I’d fulfilled a duty I was meant to have.”
“Please don’t call yourself my aunt.”
“Practically am,” I say. “But seriously. What are you looking for?”
“You really want to know?” he asks.
“I really do.”
He nods and sits up. “Okay. If I were to truly put it out there.” His eyes travel up and down my body for a moment. “Someone like you.”
Immediately my cheeks flush as his eyes bore into mine.
“Someone like me?” I ask incredulously.
“Yeah.” He finishes off his third beer since we’ve been talking and sets the empty glass down. “Gorgeous, funny, charismatic. Couldn’t give two shits that I’m a baseball player. Outgoing, gets along with my sister, and knows what she wants.”
“Ah, I’m going to stop you right there,” I say. “I don’t know what I want, so not a good comparison.”
He studies me for a moment, a long, stretched-out moment, one that actually makes me squirm in my seat from the intensity of his eyes. After a few seconds, he says, “Yeah, you’re probably right, but you get the idea.”
“I do. Getting along with Gabby is a must, and she also has to get along with me, too, because we’re neighbors and I plan on being in your life a lot more now that we live in the same city. You’re my only friend here.”
He wets his lips and says, “I hope you are. I expect it.”
“So where are we on the whole book thing?” I ask. “We got so caught up in your filthy mouth that we didn’t solidify plans. Are you going to be my book buddy?”
He stretches his arm along the back of the couch, all of his attention on me despite the raucous crowd in front of us and the people vying for his attention.
“Romance?” he asks.
“Yeah, romance. Think you can handle it? Some men think romance books are a joke. I personally think it’s a fantastic way to educate yourself in female desires.”
“I don’t think it’s a joke,” he says. “Just never read one before. Actually not much of a reader at all. Never really put time into it.”
“So this is perfect then, because now you can explore and see what you like. Are you a romantic at all?”
He rubs the side of his face. “Never had anyone I wanted to be romantic with.”
“You’ve never had a girlfriend?” I ask, even though I feel like I know the answer to that.
“Not anyone serious.”
“Right, I feel like Gabby would have been gushing to me about it. Have you been on a real date?”
He rolls his eyes. “I’m not a complete recluse. Just been focused on baseball so haven’t had much time to think about anything else. But yes, I’ve been on a date. I can be romantic. I know what it takes. Just haven’t found the person that deserves that kind of attention from me.”
“That makes sense.” I finish off the rest of my beer just as a waiter brings us each another as well as a giant soft pretzel to share.
Wow, they’re on it. Bennett picks up the pretzel and tears a piece off for me before taking a piece for himself.
“I haven’t found anyone good enough either.
Hey, maybe we can set each other up with someone. ”
“Who do you know in San Francisco that you can set me up with?”
I glance around the room. “I don’t know, there are some ladies in here that I could chat with, see if they’re interested in you.”
He shakes his head. “They’re only in here because they know this is where the Bombers hang out. They’re certified cleat chasers, and I’m not into that. Plus, I don’t have anyone I could set you up with, so that’s a no.”
“Ugh, fine.” I sigh. “But. We’re on for the book club?” I point at him and wiggle my eyebrows.
“We’re on.”
“If he brings over another shot, I won’t be able to do it,” I say as I lean against Bennett’s chest.
We’re both slouched on the couch, staring up at the broken-down lobster traps above us, beer swishing around in our stomachs with a shot we just got from Nolan.
“You and me both.” He drags his hand down his face. “Fuck, I never drink this much.”
“Really?” I ask. “You make it seem like you can handle it so easily.”
I feel him shake his head. “Nope, things are getting fuzzy.”
“Same.”
“Bad things happen when things get fuzzy.”
“Am I to hold you accountable from doing bad things?”
“Probably best at this point.”
“Your sister wouldn’t want it any other way. So what do I need to stop you from doing?”
He sighs. “Well, I get handsy when I’m drunk.” He tugs on a strand of my hair. “You can’t have me doing that.”
“Right, check. I do the same thing. I get cuddly too,” I say as I snuggle in closer to Bennett, his arm now draping around me.
“So, no cuddling for you then.”
“Nope, none. And no touching for you.”
“Correct.” His finger twists a lock of my hair.
“Do you tend to hook up when you’re drunk?”
“Unfortunately,” he says. “It’s probably when it happens the most because I’m just trying to get off when I couldn’t care less who it’s with.”
“Trust me, been there done that, regretted it in the morning because it’s never a good lay. I do a better job myself.”
“You do?” he asks, sounding surprised.
“Uh, yeah, I’m well skilled at providing my own orgasms. I’m assuming you must be the same, because there is no way you’re not giving yourself pleasure.”
“I don’t.”
I lift up and look him in the eyes, about to call him a liar when I see his smirk on his face. “You know, it would be best if we don’t lie to each other, Bennett. Being that you’re my only friend in San Francisco, I can’t possibly afford your deceit.”
He chuckles. “Sorry, would you like me to tell you just how often I get myself off?”
“We don’t have to go that far into detail,” I say as I rest back down on his chest. “But I will say, this new book club we have might make you a little hornier. Are you okay with that?”
“Don’t think it can get any worse than it already is.”
“Great. Then I’ll pick our first book and send it to you. We can take a few days to read it—”
“A few days?” he asks. “Not a month?”
“Dear God,” I say, lifting up again. “How on earth will it take you a month to read a book?”
“How the fuck does it take you a few days?”
“Uh, I read with my eyes,” I say, gesturing to my face.
“So do I, and I can tell you right now there has never been a time in my life when it’s taken me a few days to read a book. Isn’t that why book clubs have monthly picks? To give people time to read?”
“You will have plenty of time to read.”
“Not if I’m doing baseball and this stupid zoo thing.”
“What zoo thing?” I ask.
He rolls his eyes. “It’s a whole PR thing I have to do. I don’t think it’s helping at all. Graydon—”
“Who is Graydon? Is he single?”
“Jesus,” he grumbles. “No, he’s not. He has something going on with his zookeeper actually, and he’s on the Foghorns, the football team here. Anyway, he’s doing some bullshit that’s helping him.”
“What bullshit?”
He sighs heavily. “Honestly, my brain is too fuzzy to remember. And then there’s OC—”
“Who is he? Is he single?”
“Plays for the hockey team, and he is not single nor is he dating anyone physically, mentally still hung up on his ex. Also, there is no way you would be able to handle him.”
“Hey, what does that mean?”
“He’s dramatic, needy, and annoying most of the time. You would get annoyed by him before you can share a first kiss.”
“Eck, needy, no, thank you.”
“Yeah, it wouldn’t go over well. We’re doing some PR shit together, and well, Graydon is doing well, and I just feel like I need more. Don’t like the zoo…” He shuts his eyes and leans his head back. “Get me out of the damn zoo.”
“If you get out of the zoo, you’ll have more time to read?”
He nods. “Yup.”
“Then we must figure out a way.”