A groan slipped out. “God. Of course I do. But…”
“But nothing. You can’t deprive either one of us of something this good. It would be a grave injustice.”
His lips twitched in a smile, and damn it, but he could feel his resolve crumbling. “If we see each other again—”
“When we see each other again.”
“Before we do,” he corrected, “we need to lay down a few ground rules.”
“What kind of rules?”
“Actually, there’s only one. This thing between us…it’ll just be sex. That’s all I can give you.”
“Fine, great, I’ll take six more orgasms.” She blinked. “Wait, that number is too low. I’ll take…twenty?”
His lips twitched. “I’m being serious. I’m not looking for a relationship—I want to be clear about that right off the bat.”
“Gotcha. Sex only.” She went back to the desk, found a notepad and pen, and quickly scribbled something down. “That’s my number. I’m leaving it right here on your desk.” She found her purse and promptly pulled out her phone. “What’s yours?”
Gage hesitated.
“If you don’t give it to me yourself, I’ll just get it some other way. I’m very resourceful.”
A sigh escaped. “Yeah, I bet you are,” he said, before reciting his digits.
She punched the number in with a broad smile. “There. Was that so hard?” She tucked her cell back in her purse. “Okay, I’m going now. You’re at work, and I don’t want to keep you.”
Before Skyler could move for the door, he grabbed her arm and pulled her toward him, his mouth capturing hers in a kiss that left her wide-eyed and breathless.
“Do you need me to call you a cab?” he said roughly.
She looked touched. “No, that’s okay. I drove.” There was a beat. “PS—if I don’t hear from you in a reasonable amount of time, I’m calling you myself. Got it?”
Gage fought hard not to grin. Shit, he really liked her. The no-nonsense attitude, the confidence.
God help him, but he really did want to see her again.
“Got it,” he said dutifully.
Chapter Four
“Sex,” Lacey said the next morning, her skeptical tone revealing her exact thoughts on the matter.
Skyler nodded.
“Just sex.”
“Yep. Just sex.” She popped the last bite of fruit salad in her mouth as she awaited a response.
From the moment she’d gotten home last night, Skyler had been dying to tell her friends about her visit to Gage, but since they were never around, she’d had no choice but to go to them. May was too busy at the museum to sneak away for a chat, but luckily Lacey had been able to squeeze in a quick breakfast in the hospital cafeteria.
“I give you a week,” Lacey finally said. “Actually, forget that. I give you a weekend.”
Skyler furrowed her brow. “Before what?”
“Before you either (a) break it off with him because sex isn’t enough, or (b) convince him to officially date you because sex isn’t enough. Common denominator? Sex won’t be enough.” With a smug look, Lacey sipped her coffee and watched Skyler over the rim of her cup.
“That’s not necessarily true,” she protested. “I’m really liking this arrangement so far.”
“You only hooked up once!” Lacey said with a laugh. “Twice if you count that first night. Of course you like it now. It’s new and exciting and who has time for conversations with a guy when you’re too busy sexing him up? But once the shine wears off and the sex stops being oh-my-God-new, you’ll want to get to know him. Suddenly you’re asking him questions like where did you grow up and what’s your deepest, darkest fear? And before long it’ll be take me to the farmers’ market, Gage, or let’s go on a picnic! And then bam! You’ve fallen for him and now you’re in a relationship.” Lacey’s tone softened. “Or even worse, you fall for him and he breaks your heart.”
“I don’t think that will happen. I mean, he’s not my usual type at all. I think that’s why it’s so exciting, you know?” Skyler absently traced the edge of her coffee cup with her index finger. “But he’s not someone I picture myself with in the long run.”
“Right. I forgot. Because you’re more interested in men of the boring and stable variety,” Lacey teased.
She stuck out her tongue, which was pretty much the only suitable response considering her friend was absolutely right. Skyler had only had two long-term relationships in her life, both with nice, dependable guys who, depressing as it was to admit, really had been kind of boring.
And yet given the choice, she’d still pick dependable and boring over wild and exciting any day. Wild and exciting didn’t pay the bills, or keep a roof over your head, or raise children with you.