Page 91 of Romeo

Ma Belle: That sounds dangerous

My mouth curved. It was dangerous alright, and she was getting bolder.

I’d noticed it gradually over the last few weeks. Fiona still second-guessed herself, still backed away when something became too real, but every once in a while, that cautious girl disappeared and somebody else peeked through.

Somebody who knew exactly what she was doing to me.

Me: It could be.

Ma Belle: Flannel pants and an old sweatshirt.

Of course she was wearing the damn pants.

There was nothing remotely scandalous about flannel and an oversized sweatshirt. On anyone else, I probably wouldn’t have given it a second thought.

On Fiona, my imagination immediately became a problem. I shifted against the mattress and told myself to get my shit together. She was sitting in Virginia wearing pajamas.

That was all.

My brain could stop undressing her anytime it wanted.

Apparently, it didn’t want to.

Me: Disappointing.

Ma Belle: Excuse me?

I laughed. There was my girl.

Me: I was hoping for something scandalous.

I waited. Longer this time, hoping I hadn’t pushed too far. There was still a line here, even if neither of us seemed particularly interested in staying far away from it tonight.

Ma Belle: You don’t get scandalous details

My thumb moved before the reasonable part of my brain could interfere.

Me: Yet.

I leaned back against the headboard and waited for her reply.

Ma Belle: That was confident

The grin came back.

Me: That was hopeful.

There was another pause before the phone buzzed again.

Ma Belle: What are you wearing?

I looked down at myself.

Well, fuck me.

She’d turned it around.

I could have told her the truth. Shirtless. Jeans half undone because I’d been too lazy to change before falling across the bed. Considering where my head already was, that seemed like a spectacularly bad idea.