Chapter 8 #4
One minute he was holding my foot, the next his grip was firm as he yanked me over toward him, leaving me falling on my back and sliding across the blanket.
He hovered over me as he held my leg. A look of Well? etched across his face.
Thanks to Pilates, I was flexible. My left leg was stretched out and bending back toward me with the weight of Ezekiel’s shoulder pressing against it. In such a compromising position, I hoped no one was watching.
I forced out a laugh to ease the tension in case we had an audience. “We’re at a park.”
His hand felt hot on my skin as he peeked down at the pose we were in and held my gaze. “So we are.”
“What are you thinking?”
“That that’s just one item off my bucket list.”
Oh. “Your wish is to have sex at a park?”
“Public place.”
“Ah.”
He stared down at me as I stared up at him, the heat stifling. In that moment, I didn’t care if anyone was watching.
“So, if we weren’t at a park…?” he asked.
“Then I wouldn’t put up much of a fight,” I answered honestly.
Ezekiel shook his head, backing off. “I don’t want you to fight. I want you to want me.”
I do.
As much as I wanted to jump into bed with him—or his truck, a part of me wanted to take it slow.
“Maybe we should be friends and see where it takes us,” I let out.
“One problem.”
“What?”
“If you’re my friend, you’re my friend and nothing more. If I put you in the friend category that’s how I’ll always see you,” he said. “I don’t cross lines with friends.”
I already knew the answer to my next question before I asked it. I sat up. “And you don’t do relationships either, do you?”
Ezekiel didn’t try to deny this. “Not really my thing.”
Those were my options. Sex. Or strictly platonic.
One look at him and I knew I wanted to sleep with him. I was wet just thinking about it. But could I do it without emotion?
“I definitely want to,” I said. “But I’m not sure if it’s a good idea.”
I liked talking to him, I liked that he put effort into this non-date, and I kinda liked him so far. We could be friends with benefits without it becoming messy, couldn’t we?
“I mean… Maybe…maybe we could just hook up one time to get it out of the way,” Ezekiel suggested.
“Yeah, one and gone, and just stick to a friendship.”
“Right, who’s to say we’ll even like it?”
I pretended to size him up. “I’ve seen taller men.”
He didn’t break eye contact. “I’ve seen bigger asses.”
I bit back a smile. “I’ve never had a man take me on a picnic before.”
Ezekiel settled down, losing his humor. “I’ve never wanted to take the time to pack a picnic and get to know someone.”
We were playing with fire, namely me.
“What if we do?” I pressed. “Like it, I mean.”
He leaned close. “What if we don’t?”
Deep in my belly, my feminine instinct reared its ugly head, telling me I would like it.
And so would he. The connection between us was magnetic.
I could see little electric currents buzzing in the tiny space.
Heat like this, energy like this, couldn’t lead to a dud.
I wanted to mount him, dominate him. I wanted him to lay me out and overpower me and empower me just the same.
I wanted his sex, but I wasn’t strong enough for his heartbreak.
Run, run, as fast as you can, while you can, my subconscious told me in an almost motherly voice.
“So,” I said.
“So,” he repeated.
“Maybe we should walk the line and see what happens? No kissing or touching, and no lingering around for too long either,” I said. “Give us some time to see whether this is better off as a friendship, or, if we should just hook up and walk away. To see where we naturally land.”
“That sounds like dating with extra steps,” he pointed out.
“Oh no,” I was quick to deny with a smile. “Definitely not because you ‘don’t date.’ I mean, if I meet someone who fulfills what I want, or you meet a woman who gets you, we’ll have our answer.”
“So, what if you don’t meet someone, but I do? A simple one-night stand.” It sounded like a challenge. “What then?”
I didn’t like that idea, but Ezekiel clearly didn’t think of sex as an intimate act. There would be no reason to get upset or jealous if he did hook up. Just like he couldn’t do the same if I did meet someone else.
“We’re not tied to each other, we’re just prospects.” I gave a shrug and gathered the bottle of water. “It won’t affect my decision. Just like if I meet someone and you don’t.”
Ezekiel smirked. “How long is this trial-run going?”
“Until we know…?”
He blinked. “We can hang out some more. I’ll give you all the time you need, but if it drags, I’ll make the choice for us.”
I chuckled. “Impatient?”
His hungry eyes met mine. “Curious.”
Same. My eyes fell to his lips, wanting to savor them and feel them on my skin.
Ezekiel watched me, reading where my mind was and knowing the dirty thoughts running through it, it seemed. He came closer, giving me a rush with his nearness. Before I could calculate what he was doing, he leaned over, grabbed my chin and tipped my head back. I closed my eyes, waiting.
And waiting.
His warm breath radiated across my face as two soft lips grazed my forehead and I felt my heart collapse in my chest.
I opened my eyes and he was watching me. “Until we know.”
I. Was. Drenched. “Until we know.”