AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s harder when they’re not your children. I think everyone is more patient with their own kids.”
“How far away is your apartment?” he asked.
She was becoming used to him turning the conversation away from himself, but that didn’t mean it didn’t bother her. “Fifteen minute drive. Out past the outlets.” She pointed up at the penthouse condo and tried again to get some information out of him. “How long have you been in this place? It’s amazing.”
He shrugged. “It belongs to a friend. I’m just staying here for a while. Not sure what I’m doing long term.”
“Oh. So you might not be here long—” A tug at her line distracted her. “Oh—look! Look at my line!”
The end of the pole dipped and wiggled and ran zigzags around the water below them. Blaine set his own pole aside. He stood behind her and helped her reel in her line.
“It must be huge!” she said, giddy with excitement. “It’s so strong—it’s going to break the line! It’s—“
The fish broke the surface, a square silver thing that couldn’t have been more than six inches long. Blaine reached for it.
“You’re kidding!” Mia said. She giggled. “That tiny thing? I thought it was going to pull me over the railing.”
He smiled and squeezed the hook from the little fish’s cheek. “They fight hard. Even the little ones. They know what’s coming if they don’t. A little mullet.”
“What?” Mia pictured the long-in-back, short-on-top hairstyle that her dad had sported when she was a little girl.
“That’s the kind of fish. A mullet.” He held it out to her. “Want to touch him?”
She swallowed, but it seemed like she should at least shake hands with her opponent. She ran her finger along the fish’s side. “Throw him back, before he suffocates.”
Blaine did and the little mullet disappeared almost before he hit the water. Blaine grabbed a bottle of hand sanitizer. He offered it to Mia.
“You’re a man after my own heart,” she said, as they both cleaned up.
“You hungry?”
She nodded.
“Leave all this here. I’ll get it tomorrow.” He squeezed her shoulder. “Let’s not forget the wine.”
They returned to the apa
rtment and enjoyed a homemade lasagna and salad. After they ate she joined him on a dark leather sofa. They sat at opposite ends, as if the space might dull the sexual energy that buzzed between them. The more wine she consumed, the more doubtful Mia was that she and Blaine would be able to keep their promise. She didn’t even know if she cared. Blaine broached the topic first.
“So… we’ve done well so far.” He tugged at his jeans.
She scooted closer to him. “Yeah.” Closer still. She rested her hand on his knee. “We’ve done a great job. Very platonic.”
He put his hand over hers. “I’m serious, Mia. We’re not making love tonight.”
“I know. I agree.” She spoke, but her body took over. She climbed into his lap and straddled him. What the hell am I doing? She thought. After all my blah-blah-blah about controlling myself?
He ran a hand through her hair. “Look… this isn’t… I mean I can’t be expected to…”
She touched his lips. “Shhh. We can just kiss? Touch a little?”
He bit her finger, gently. “Right. We don’t have to go all the way.”
She nodded.
That was all Blaine needed, apparently. He put both hands on her cheeks, and then dug his fingers into her hair. He pulled her mouth toward his, and kissed her. His tongue was alternately gentle and just rough enough. His hands worked their way from the base of her neck over her bare shoulders, and he kissed her chest. She blessed her dress’ strapless design. The skin above her breasts tingled.
“Just kiss… or maybe…” He pulled the bodice of her dress over her breasts. The dress had a built in bra, and he moaned at the site of her bare, erect nipples. He suckled each one. She watched his tongue dance over them. She directed his head with her hands in his hair. She ground her crotch into his, and her hands went to his belt.
