“Ha!” She pointed at me. “You’re in trouble now.”
“Good trouble.” My eyes dropped to her lips. The air changed around us and I wished we were at my house—or hers. “Thanks for telling me your story.”
“That’s not even half of it.”
Still curious, I wondered if Blake’s own relationship history had played a role in her choice of career. “Can I ask you another question?”
She leaned against the massage table. “Uh-oh. Maybe we’ve had enough Tell Time?”
“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”
“It’s okay. I already know what you’re going to ask, so I’ll just answer.” She stared at a spot behind me for a moment before meeting my gaze again. “I’ve never been faithful in a relationship. For a while, I thought there must be something wrong with me, something innate that keeps me from attaching to someone. I’ve tried, but it never works out. Inevitably, I get bored or feel unsatisfied with the commitment. So I kind of stay away from labels.”
Her confession didn’t shock me as much as it might have a day ago. Still, I wanted to know why. “That’s…honest.”
“Toohonest for some people.”
Finally, I got up and approached her. Staring down at her, I traced her bottom lip with my thumb. “I’m a grown-ass man. As long as we’re honest with each other, I’m good.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” Blake sucked my thumb into her mouth, just one stroke before she let it go. “Are you ready for the next part of our date?”
My eyes were glued to her lips. Nodding, I said, “Whenever you are?”
Blake winked at me. “More pampering. A foot treatment.”
I stepped back, hands in the air. “I object. Nobody touches my feet.”
She pouted. “You’ll love it.”
“Nah,” I said, shaking my head. “Not happening.”
Several minutes later, I was seated in a chair next to Blake with my feet immersed in a bubbling bowl of hot water. And my date was cracking her ass up.
“You love it, don’t you?” she said, a gleam in her eyes.
Admittedly, it felt nice. But I wasn’t about to give in like that. “Don’t get carried away,” I grumbled. “What happens in the spa, stays in the spa, though.”
Blake held up three fingers. “I promise.”
Once again, I thought back to Dexter’s words and the clear warning in his tone. I’d lived my life methodically, rarely stepping outside of the boundaries I’d set for myself. Relationships were no exception. When I’d chosen to get involved with a woman, it was never an easy decision but always an analytical process. Falling hard and fast for someone I barely knew was not something I ever worried about, because I’d never really invested more of myself than I felt was safe. Yet, as I sat with Blake, talking about dinner and movies and music, I couldn’t help but wonder if that warning might’ve been a little too late.
Blake
Dates were corny as hell.Flowers, dinners, walks in the park, shows, lingering glances were bullshit timewasters, unnecessary detours on the way to an orgasm. But today?Thisdate andthisguy…I wanted a picture or a video to commemorate the moment because I was smitten. Unequivocally and undeniably attracted, enamored, and drawn to Professor Lennox Cole. And…I want him.
The entire date had been perfect, from the moment I’d entered the church, through the karate workout, through the massage and pedicure, through dinner at the seafood restaurant, through the drinks at the bar. And even now, standing at my fuckin’ door.I. Want. Him.
But could I say that? Could I lay all my cards on the table like I’d always done when I wanted something or someone? My hard rules had been thrown out the window the minute I’d agreed to pickandpay for the date, the minute I’d agreed to spend time wracking my brain over the smallest of details. The challenge had been clear, and I’d accepted with no reservations. Because I’d wanted to surprise him, I’d wanted to give him a night he’d never had before. Technically,Iwas new to him, so sex would be unchartered territory, but still…
“Did you want to come in?”
“I had a nice time.”
The sentences were said simultaneously, but his sentence was less naughty and more nice.
“Sure.”
“Me too.”
