Chapter 9 #2
“God, this is painful,” Blaire whines. “I wish I was there. I’d steal your phone and sext him for you to kick this love affair up a notch.”
And on that note…
“I’m hanging up on you. You’re stressing me out.” She is so distracting.
“Fine, hang up on me—but promise you’ll text screenshots of the good stuff later,” she requests. “And if you have the lady balls while you’re still undressed, send him a picture of your ti—”
I end the video chat.
Aaron: The ice cream was the best part. It’s been a while.
Juliette: Since you had ice cream??
Aaron: Yes. I’m usually a pie guy, and only after dinner. A sweet treat, as it were.
Juliette: Well thank you for dinner. It was unexpected and nice.
Aaron: Nice… That’s one way to put it.
Aaron: Honestly, still thinking about that kiss on my neck.
Juliette: Oh gosh…
Aaron: Oh gosh? See that right there…
Juliette: That right there… what?
Aaron: Just when I think I’ve brought you out of your shell, you go and get embarrassed on me.
Juliette: Force of habit. I’m working on it
Aaron: No.
Aaron: Don’t change a thing. It’s charming.
Juliette: Charming… I don’t think anyone has ever called me that before.
Aaron: It’s a night of firsts then, eh?
Juliette: This whole month has been full of firsts for me, lol
Aaron: Are you referring to me going down on you? Asking for a friend.
My mouth literally gapes open.
He’s bringing up oral sex in the middle of a text conversation, and I have no idea how to respond, and now I regret hanging up on Blaire. Do I need her?!
I’m out of my element!
Preston and I were flirty, but he wasn’t the most… sexual guy I’ve dated. He blamed the low sex drive on his high stress finance job, his late office hours. All our intimacy had been dry banter and light petting.
So, no.
I’m not well versed in phone sex or… whatever this is.
This is not that.
Juliette: You cannot casually drop that into a conversation like we’re discussing weather.
Aaron: I can’t? Why not?
Shit. I need him to stop being so casual about this, it’s making me want to clutch my pearls—figuratively speaking, that is.
But trust me when I say: I want to be the kind of girl who knows how to flirt with men who look like Aaron Bishop. I want to be the kind of woman who can make a man hard with the turn of a phrase…
I’m just…
Not that.
But I’m desperate to be.
I exhale an unsteady breath.
Juliette: You can, I just… I…
Aaron: Is it fucked up for me to find this entire conversation adorable?
Juliette: Not at all. In fact, ask me something personal. Let’s go crazy.
Aaron: Personal like… What are you wearing? Is that a good start?
I glance down at my bra and underwear, thankful it’s not a baggy T-shirt and joggers so I don’t have to lie.
Juliette: Bra and underwear
Aaron: Oh? Please describe, in great detail
Juliette: White lace bra and matching thong—they matched my dress.
Aaron: How lacey…??
Juliette: Um. Sheer.
Aaron: See through?
Juliette: Very.
Aaron: Shit, Juliette… same as the bra you had on when I was going down on you? With the little bow between your breasts?
Juliette: No bows. Tiny velvet polka dots.
Aaron: Would I be able to see your nipples?
My heart is racing as I glance at myself in the mirror, eyes skimming down my body.
Juliette: Yes.
Aaron: Jesus—this is making me want to drive across town and put my head between your legs.
It’s making me want the same thing.
Juliette: This isn’t going to make it easier to fall asleep.
Aaron: Why sleep??? Do you have a vibrator?
I do.
Blaire gave it to me because she says I’m sexually repressed, and I need to “get the lead out.” Sadly, I don’t use it very often. In fact, I had to google how to power the dang thing on.
Juliette: I do…
Aaron: Are you going to use it on yourself tonight?
Juliette: Should I???
Aaron: FUCK yes
Juliette: Lol don’t sound so sure. You should say more to convince me
Aaron: Baby, if I was there, I would use it on you FOR you… all you’d have to do is lay there and let me do the work.
Juliette: Are you a GIVER Aaron Bishop?
Aaron: Goddamn right I am.
Juliette: I did get that feeling when you went down on me and then… you know. Left without getting yourself off.
Aaron: Yeah, about that.
Aaron: I shouldn’t have walked out like that but on the other hand, I thought it was a one-night stand and I was never going to see you again. So I wasn’t thinking.
Aaron: I’m sorry.
Juliette: I know you were having a horrible night so I tried not to take it personally—but I did also wonder if I was the problem. Maybe you didn’t find me, you know. Sexy or whatever.
Aaron: It was shitty of me, but since I didn’t know you, I didn’t overthink it.
Juliette: You don’t strike me as someone who does things halfway.
Aaron: I’m not. Never have been. Except when I’m having a one-night stand.
Juliette: Is that what you thought it was?
Aaron: For sure. Was your ego bruised?
Juliette: Yes, a baby bit.
Aaron: Ha. You’re too sweet to have an ego
Juliette: Not true.
Aaron: Prove it.
Juliette: Prove I’m not too sweet? How???
Aaron: I don’t know—when you use that vibrator on yourself later, send me a video of you touching yourself…
Is he being serious? That’s so…
Personal!
I don’t know if I can do it. I might not be that sweet, but I am not that brave.
I’ve never so much as sent a man a selfie of myself in anything other than a T-shirt.
Juliette: I’m not brave enough for that.
Aaron: Oh honey, I bet you’d surprise us both.
Baby.
Honey.
The endearments slide into my cerebellum, down my core, straight into my nether regions, pooling in a warm heat between my thighs.