Page 100 of Slapshot Baby

"I've been staring for a while."

She stretches again, arms above her head. The motion lifts her breasts and the robe falls open. She catches it too late, pulling the silk closed with a huff.

"How long have you been awake?"

"Long enough."

She narrows her eyes. "Long enough for what?"

"Long enough to know you talk in your sleep."

A flush starts at her collarbones and races upward like brushfire. Her lips part.

"What did I say?"

"Enough."

"Kai. What did I say?"

“You asked me to make you come. To drive you mad with my touch.”

Her flush deepens to crimson. She presses both palms against her cheeks.

"Oh no."

"Oh yes."

"I didn't... I wasn't..."

"You were, very clearly and very specifically."

She rolls onto her stomach and buries her face in the pillow. Her groan is muffled by the cotton.

"Kill me."

"Not a chance." I pull the pillow away from her. She glares up at me. "I have plans for you."

"Plans?"

"Go on a date with me."

The glare falters. Raw, unguarded desire crosses her face before the walls start going back up.

"We're already fake dating, Kai."

"This isn't fake. I'm asking you to a real dinner at a real restaurant, where you’ll wear something that makes you feel good and I spend the whole night trying to deserve your company."

She stares at me. "You don't have to try to deserve anything."

"That's not a no."

She presses her lips together. The flush is still blazing across her cheeks. Her fingers twist the edge of the silk robe.

"Fine. One dinner."

"Friday."

"Friday," she repeats, like she's testing the weight of it.