"You're going to wait four years to have sex again because of some stupid plan?"
"It's not a stupid plan! I've always had it. It keeps me focused." I frowned. Now that I had explained my entire plan out loud, it was beginning to sound less rational than it always had in my mind. "Anyway," I went on, " it's going to help me achieve my dreams."
He raised an eyebrow. "Your dreams? You sure about that?"
I snorted. "Now who's pretending to be Dr. Phil?"
He watched me. "Okay, fair enough. Let's get back to the sex then. You're planning, purposefully on a four-year dry spell? Didn't you like it the first time?"
I felt my cheeks heat as I looked down. "Sure, it was fine."
"Fine? Uh oh. Any man who gets a 'fine' from a woman on any topic is in serious trouble."
I took a deep breath. "Listen. It was fine, okay? Not spectacular. Not terrible. Just fine." I shrugged.
He studied me for a minute. "So he didn't make you come, Buttercup?"
"Jesus! I can't believe we're discussing this. No, he didn't make me come, okay? For all I know, I can't come with another person in the room. All right? Why don't you give me your email and I'll let you know in four years if things have changed!" I banged the back of my head on the elevator wall behind me. I felt embarrassed by this line of conversation, especially considering whom I was talking to. Actually, I was feeling kind of stripped down in a lot of ways. And he was making me question things I never questioned. How had this happened exactly? With this person? I started laughing and shaking my head.
"What?" he asked.
I groaned. "I don't know. This whole situation is just… funny."
He nodded like he knew exactly what I meant. "Yeah, I guess it kinda is. All the same though, my offer stands. We could make a weekend of it, at least. I think your future husband might be really happy you said yes to me." He winked.
I studied him. "You're serious, aren't you? Why? What's in it for you exactly?"
He just raised his eyebrows, remaining silent.
I laughed softly. "I mean, don't you get enough random sex as it is?"
"Listen, consider it a challenge for me, okay? I think I could give you something no one has before and that's a hell of a turn on for me. See, we'd both get something out of it and then part ways as Buttercup and Schmuck Number Two."
I opened my mouth to answer and was interrupted by the shrill ringing of the elevator phone. Saved by the bell once again.
**********
Carson
The phone rang a second time and I realized that I had been holding my breath waiting for her answer. I was lying to her about my reason for asking to be Schmuck Number Two. Not about thinking I could make her come. I was pretty sure I'd be successful at that. And that was a turn on. The thought of seeing an expression of pleasure wash over her beautiful face had me swelling in my jeans. But the real reason I was holding my breath for her answer was because I hadn't wanted anything in a really long time, longer than I could remember and I wanted her. Not just her body, but her. I wanted to see her reaction to my touch. I wanted to hear some more funny shit come out of her pretty mouth. I wanted to hear her try to justify her stupid plan. I liked her. And fuck me, I hadn't liked a woman in a really long time. It felt good to want something. And that shocked the hell out of me. I couldn't have her in any real sense, and it's not like I wanted that anyway. But a day or two of Grace Hamilton in a hotel room? Yeah, I wanted that. I wanted that a lot.
I got up and picked up the phone. "Hello?"
"Hey, it's Rich in maintenance, just wanted to update you and make sure you're okay. We got the part we were waiting for and now it just needs to be installed. Shouldn't be longer than an hour."
"Okay, man. Yeah, we're fine. Thanks for the update." I hung up and turned to Grace.
"Seems you're stuck with me for at least another hour."
"At least?"
"Yeah, at least. Longer if you agree to spend the weekend together." I hoped she couldn't tell that this meant something to me. If she turned me down, it was going to sting.
Her eyes widened slightly and her mouth opened as if to answer, but then she closed it again, looking confused. That's when my stomach growled. Loudly.
Grace grinned and tilted her head. "Hungry?" Before I could answer, she reached for her bag and dug around in it for a couple seconds and pulled out a granola bar. "Dinner, sir? Hold on. I think I have something here to wash it down with too." She dug around for another second and then pulled out a bottle of water."
I sat down on the floor next to her. "You're a goddess. Hand that over." I had just realized that I hadn't eaten lunch and it was just about dinnertime. I was starving. She handed me the granola bar, and I tore it open with my teeth and then broke the bar in half and handed her one piece. But she shook her head.
Stinger (A Sign of Love Novel)
Mia Sheridan's books
- Killing Me Softly(A Broken Souls Series)
- A Pound of Flesh (A Pound of Flesh #1)
- Completely Consumed (Addicted To You, Book Eight)
- Desperately Devastated (Addicted To You, Book Nine)
- Leo (A Sign of Love Novel)
- Lauren's Designs
- Bed of Roses
- Son Of The Morning
- Cover Of Night
- Affairs of State
- A Profiler's Case for Seduction
- Because of Rebecca
- Conflict of Interest
- Eclipse of the Heart
- Flames of Attraction
- Illusions of Love
- Keeper of the Moon
- Keeper of the Shadows
- Legacy of Love
- Love Proof (Laws of Attraction)
- Miles of Pleasure
- Of One Heart
- Off Limits
- Off Sides
- Out of the Dark (The Brethren Series)
- Out of the Depths
- Pool of Crimson
- Prince of Wolves
- Rules of Entanglement
- Shadow of My Heart
- Sins of a Ruthless Rogue
- Something of a Kind
- Son of a Preacher Man
- Taste of Desire
- Taste of Love
- Translation of Love
- Web of Deception
- Words of Love
- The Lady of Bolton Hill
- The Scars of Us(Scars Series)
- Dreams of Lilacs
- House of Ivy & Sorrow
- A Question of Honor
- The Owner of His Heart
- The Heir of the Castle
- Tower of Glass
- The Last Prince of Dahaar
- Terms of Engagement
- Secrets of a Bollywood Marriage
- David Lord of Honor
- Return of the Prodigal Gilvry
- Starting Over(Hart of Seattle)
- The Resurrection of Aubrey Mill
- OFF SIDES
- Confessions of a Royal Bridegroom
- Stolen: Warriors of Hir, Book 3
- The CEO Buys in (Wager of Hearts #1)
- The Law of Moses
- Arouse: A Spiral of Bliss Novel (Book One)
- Awaken: A Spiral of Bliss Novel (Book Three)
- The Art of French Kissing
- Echoes of Scotland Street
- Jesus Freaks: Sins of the Father
- Ten Days of Perfect (November Blue #1)
- The Song of David
- The House of the Stone
- Ashes of Honor: An October Daye Novel
- The Weight of Feathers
- Bidding Wars (Love Strikes)
- Crossroad to Love (Fab Five Series)
- Desire Love and Passion
- Extreme Love
- Love Drunk Cowboy
- Love Me (Take a Chance)
- Love Realized (The Real Love Series)
- Love Resolution
- Love, Eternally
- Lover Undercover
- Only Love (The Atonement Series)
- Sunny's Love
- The Love Shack
- This Love of Mine (Raine Series #1)
- True Love at Silver Creek Ranch
- When Love's Gone Country
- Love, Your Concierge
- Reunited in Love
- Redemption in Love
- Surrender Your Love
- Ugly Love
- Conquer Your Love(Surrender Your Love 02)
- Flat-Out Celeste(Flat-Out Love II)
- Love Me(The Keatyn Chronicles #4)
- I Love You to Death
- Thief (Love Me With Lies #3)
- Breathless In Love (The Maverick Billionaires #1)