Chapter 3
Lily
“You did what?” Vicky squealed.
“I kissed him. Okay, so he kissed me. That’s cheating though. Arrogant jerk.” Guilt rushed through me, but the taste of the sexy man had been amazing, so much so I’d stood in the same spot for a full five minutes trying to catch my breath.
“If he kissed you forcefully, that’s not cheating. He snuck up on you. He reminded you what it’s like to feel passion and desire, a longing that should never be denied. The kind of yearning that will keep you awake at night dreaming of the very moment you’ll be together again.”
“Dramatic much?” But that’s exactly what the mystery man with the body of a god had done. He’d made me feel alive again. Even now, I tingled from excitement just thinking about him. But he’d been one of those guys who didn’t take no for an answer. God’s gift to women.
Or so he’d thought.
I’d seen it in his eyes. Well, in the shadows of his eyes in the dim lighting. But I’d felt it.
As if you’re always right about men.
“Did you enjoy the fiery intimacy?” she demanded.
Groaning, I yanked two dresses off their hangers. “We were inside a bar. I hardly think that constitutes intimacy. And of course I didn’t enjoy his savage advance. What he did was rude.”
“Uh-huh. You’re talking to your bestie here. Come on. Confess…”
The rush of heat tickling my senses told no lies. “You are such a terrible friend,” I teased. In fact, she was the only person I could truly let my hair down with. “For the record, I did not throw myself at him nor did I ask him to accost me.”
“A-hem.”
“Fine. If you must know. It was the best kiss I’ve ever had in my life.
Toe curling, breath stealing. His lips were soft and wet, his entire body warm and sensual.
Plus, he was hard as a rock. Whoever he is, the man has a huge cock.
Just incredible.” I could not believe the epiphany just flew from my mouth.
“Wow. I’m jealous,” Vicky breathed.
“You could date,” I teased. “Then maybe you wouldn’t nag me all the time about my sex life.” Or lack thereof.
Her snort was one of the cutest things about her. “Who’s nagging? What, and give up being a lonely girl in desperate need of getting laid? Not a chance.”
“Such a drama queen.”
Vicky sighed. “Humor me. A girl needs a fantasy. What did he look like?”
I bit my bottom lip and tried to remember. “You know what? I don’t really know.”
“What? Are you crazy? The best kiss of your life and you have no clue the man looks like?”
“It happened so fast. And it was dark in the bar. All I know is that he was at least six foot five with broad shoulders and he smelled like a dreamboat.” Plus, he could kiss like no other man alive.
No, I wasn’t going there. He was the type of guy who believed all women should fall to their knees over him.
“Ugh. Now, how is karma going to find you again?”
“Shut up. I have a boyfriend. Remember?” Albeit the guy I’d been dating for years had been standoffish lately. We’d been arguing. We’d spent less time together. Forget about sex. Sighing, the nagging feeling about Damien was growing stronger every day.
“Damien is a dud. There, I said it.”
“You’d said a lot of not so nice things about him, girlfriend. He’s just a hard worker.”
“He ignores you, bestie. Come on. I think you need to break it off with him.”
“Red or black?” I asked, ignoring her suggestion as I held up both dresses, moving one in front of me then the other.
Had I thought about her suggestion more than once?
Sadly, yes. Damien was busy all the time.
When I called, half the time he didn’t answer.
When he came over, he was usually preoccupied with work or some fucking sports game on television.
“You’re such a hardhead. Red, girl. The color of love. The color of hotness. The color of roses. You need to sizzle. See? Maybe you’re lucky you have Damien.” Vicky’s voice boomed through the speaker on my phone.
I laughed hearing the excitement in her voice. I could always count on my bestie to make me feel better.
“One minute you hate him, the next you think I’m lucky.”
“Being alone isn’t all that it’s cracked to be. See? I admitted it. I just think you need to lay down the law with him.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Red it is.” Even though red was also the color of blood, which was almost all I could think about after the shit day I’d had.
Being laid off certainly hadn’t been on my bucket list. Who fired a librarian anyway, for God’s sake?
Budget cuts? It was ridiculous. I was being paid a pittance anyway.
Kids needed libraries. They needed free space to illuminate their imagination.
What did they think they were going to do when little Johnny came banging on the locked door on a Saturday morning?
My boss had shown up thirty minutes early wearing all black, had pulled me aside, and said in her curt voice that while I’d done a great job over the last two years, she had to let me go.
She’d worn her evil Wicked Witch of the West expression that everyone knew meant trouble.
I just hadn’t anticipated after the glowing review I’d gotten three weeks before that I’d be on the receiving end of a red-hot poker.
My mind went to assorted evil places. If only I had a red-hot poker in my hand.
Or if I had sharp canines like the wolf Vicky had mentioned. If only fables could play out in real life.
Maybe I’d chase her through her Pilates class. The vengeful thoughts brought a smile to my face.
What in the world was I supposed to do now? While I’d saved every penny I could, living on ramen noodles and canned tuna for two years, I still didn’t have enough to make a go of finishing my first novel. The dream of being a full-time writer seemed very far away.
Cringing, I resisted tearing up. I certainly didn’t want a puffy face for my date.
I blew hair from my eyes and tossed the black dress, shimmying into the red. I took an exaggerated deep breath as I smoothed down the material, twisting and turning. I looked hot.
Oh, who the hell was I kidding? I’d never worn a red dress in my life.
For some reason, I preferred being in the shadows, watching the craziness of others, living my life vicariously through them.
Maybe it was time I took some risks in my life.
Maybe it was time I stopped taking a backseat to everything and everyone.
I took a deep breath, making faces at myself.
“Do you know what the wicked witch had the nerve to tell me after she terminated my position? That I was so sweet and innocent I’d likely find a job. Maybe in hospitality.”
“That bitch. Why don’t we put an evil spell on her?” Vicky suggested.
I didn’t want to tell her I’d already thought about purchasing a voodoo doll. A few pokes here and there would do her plastic body some good. Maybe let the hot air out.
“Do you really think Damien is going to ask me to move in with him?” I asked as I almost tore the red dress when I jerked it over my head.
“Haven’t you guys talked about this a few times?” She was none too happy about the thought. In truth, I wasn’t certain whether I wanted a drastic change in my life. I liked things just the way they were.
“A couple of times, but it’s been a few weeks.” More like a few months.
“Maybe he just wants to take you out to dinner.”
I fought with the black dress as I tugged it on, almost out of breath mostly from nerves.
“Are you kidding me? Damien hates to spend hard-earned money on frivolous things. He’s up to something.
” I carried the phone with me into the bathroom, glancing at my reflection.
Maybe I was searching for a strengthened resolve.
“Well, then it’s definitely about saving money by moving in together. Oh, wait. Maybe he’s going to ask you to marry him,” Vicky cooed. “You’ve always wanted that.”
“I have not.”
“Oh, come on. You’ve talked about finding the love of your life, settling down, and raising a family since the day I met you. We were like ten!”
She had me laughing. Sadly, she was right.
“Hmmm… Maybe you’re right, but it does have to be the right man.
” Was I ready for marriage? More important, was Damien marriage material?
Settling down and the whole kids and an SUV bit?
My face visibly paled. Maybe not just yet.
Living should come first. I glanced at my ring finger.
Vicky was right about one thing. I’d always believed in finding my perfect mate.
The kind of alpha male who swept me off my feet and refused to take no for an answer.
A man who’d fight like a gladiator if necessary to keep me safe, tearing apart every other man who dared look in my direction then came home with four dozen roses in his arms.
I envisioned a big, buff man whose shoulders barely fit through a doorway.
Closing my eyes, I allowed an indulgence of envisioning my perfect man. Tall and dark with thick hair. Right now, in the wickedness of my sinful mind, he’d just stepped from the shower, his hair glistening and tousled.
Just like the man who’d railroaded his way into my world the night before. Oh, this was bad. Having fantasies about an unknown stranger thirty minutes before meeting my boyfriend shoved me into the sinful girl category. Another image flashed in front of my eyes and I hissed.
A barrel of a chest with perfect eight-pack abs. Forget about six. I wanted every delicious inch of my man to be chiseled like stone. The deep V would lead to a thick, throbbing cock, the tip glistening with pre-cum.
Wow. Now I was hot and bothered. A tiny moan slipped past my lips.
“Earth to my best friend. Are you thinking about having filthy sex later because I don’t want to hear it. I haven’t had sex since God was a baby.” Vicky snorted.
“Trust me, girlfriend. Having a boyfriend does not mean you spend every night in the throes of kinky passion.”
“Don’t ruin my fantasy.”
Laughing, I glanced at my phone, noticing the time. “I need to go, girlie. I’ll let you know what happens.”