Chapter 2 #3
“Play your cards right, and maybe I’ll let you.” He shifts his phone toward me. “Who knows, maybe I’ll come up with other, more creative ways to burn through all that agitation.”
“You underestimate me.”
“I can assure you, I don’t.”
My body believes him, but my brain insists he can’t possibly be real.
Without waiting for my retort, he holds up a long index finger.
“Option one—since you’re unwilling to move and love being right, I’ll be the gentleman you’re lying about wanting and concede.
I’ll leave you with the pleasure of your well-fought victory.
I’ll pay my tab and find another place to drink in silence.
You can sit here and congratulate yourself on running off another weak male. ”
My heart bangs against my ribs as I come to the realization that he’s right. I have talked myself into a corner I don’t want to be in. Now would be a good time to pivot, but unfortunately, I find conceding a point…difficult.
I widen my eyes. “Wow, how big of you to leave me alone like I asked. Where do we sign you up for the bare minimum award of the year?”
He studies me like he can’t decide if I’m cute or annoying. “You want to hear the rest or not?”
“No, no, continue. I can’t wait to hear the alternative.
” There’s something wrong with me, because this conversation with this dangerous, arrogant man is the most fun I’ve had in as long as I can remember.
I don’t have to hold back at all. “Let me guess. It’s amazingly creative, like taking me to a motel and promising to blow my mind. ”
“You’ve heard it all before, have you?”
Actually, I have. Just not like this. Which is why I’m going to use his body like my own personal playground then run like hell.
I wrinkle my nose. “I inspire a lot of proclamations.”
Some of the smugness slips from his features as he searches my expression. “You’re weary all the way to your bones, aren’t you?”
I blink, startled by the shift from seduction to perception. My throat tightens, and I swallow it away. Until he said it, I’d been great at keeping up the facade. But he’s right. I’m so, so tired.
I nibble on my lower lip and shrug one shoulder. “It’s been a week.”
He nods and meets my gaze with a steady surety. “If you want me to blow your mind and make you come enough to forget, I can do that.”
“You’re confident.” I have never in my life wanted to believe in a man more than I do right at this second.
He slides a palm across the bar, stopping a fraction of an inch from covering my hand, letting the tension and heat build between us. “It would be a pleasure to be your stress relief. But before you decide, I want you to give me thirty minutes to give you what you really want.”
“And what do you, a stranger, think I really want?”
Until he said the words, I hadn’t realized I really wanted anything.
“A man you can push against.” His gaze dips to my lips, then rises to meet my eyes. “A man you can’t control.”
I cross my arms, hoping for detached. Like he hasn’t uncovered something I’ve hidden so deeply. “You talk a good game, but you’re delusional if you think I can’t control you.”
“I understand. You’re so hot, most guys will do and say all manner of things for a chance to slide between your legs. But it never quite satisfies, does it? No matter how good the sex, they always end up disappointing you.”
The words hit deep in my belly as he articulates that vague dissatisfaction I always experience, no matter the guy.
I let out a breezy chuckle, waving my hand. “But not you, right? You’re different?”
“Talk is cheap, and there’s only one way to find out.” He grabs his phone and unlocks the screen before pushing it toward me. “I’m willing to put my money where my mouth is. How about you?”
My heart is beating a million miles a minute, and I’m ready to let him take me wherever he wants to go, but it’s important we understand each other.
I motion to the cell. “If I give you thirty minutes, I have a few ground rules.”
“Fair enough. Let’s hear them.”
“This is a one-time thing. We’re not going to exchange information and send each other cute little heart emojis on Monday morning. I don’t want flowers and sonnets. I’m not interested in your hopes and dreams.”
I swear to god, he looks like he’s trying his best not to laugh. “Seems reasonable.”
“I mean it. You’re not allowed to fall in love with me.”
Now he does laugh before nodding in mock seriousness. “I’ll try to restrain myself.”
“You jest, but we’ll see what tune you’re singing when you’re begging for my phone number and asking me to go to dinner.”
All of a sudden, his expression narrows in suspicion. “You’re not married, are you?”
“No! Of course not.” My gaze flies to his. “Are you?”
“Nope.”
“So, we understand each other?”
“One night and we never see each other again. Works for me.”
Wow. Just when you think the world hates you. My faith in humanity is restored. I push the button on the timer. “All right, show me what you’ve got.”
He doesn’t let grass grow under his feet. He stands, holds out his hand, and says, “Come with me.”
And I do. Many, many, many times.