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He answers me in an utterly serious tone. “Because you don’t trust me and seem to hold a rather low opinion of me.”
I jerk back a few inches, shock settling in. Is he really offended by this? We just had sex on his desk, in his office, at work. The only boundary was that it was slightly after 6:00 p.m. “I didn’t mean to imply that I think poorly of you. And for the record, it’s because you exude sex appeal so I imagine you could sleep with anyone you wanted.”
Adrian chuckles, his rough short laugh a baritone rumble in his chest, and it breaks up the tension. “You do seem very hesitant around me. Is there something I can do to ease that?” His words fall slowly, drifting to the pressed and starched linen tablecloth as his eyes drop to my breasts. “To break the ice, perhaps?”
“You have a reputation, Adrian.”
“Everyone does, Suzette. It doesn’t mean that’s who we are. One person could tell you I’m loyal to a fault, another that I’m a miserable asshole. Both could very well be honest impressions of me. So, believe them both.”
Before I can even respond, we’re interrupted yet again.
“Excuse me, sir.” The waiter steps to the side of the table and passes a folded note to Adrian.
With Adrian’s nod we’re alone again, although I might as well not exist.
He reads it, tucks the thick white note card into his pocket, and checks his phone.
My stomach drops. “Is everything all right?”
His phone goes back into his pocket. “As all right as it always is.”
My teeth sink into my bottom lip as I gather my courage for the next question, which I should have asked before I fucked him. “There isn’t another woman, is there?”
“No.” The answer comes quickly and decisively, and I believe him. “I haven’t had a sexual partner for the better part of a year.”
The handle of my fork rests in my fingertips, but I drop it back down to the empty small plate again. “No other man?” he questions in turn.
“No.” It’s a relief to hear that. A bigger relief than I would have thought.
“And we’re to be discreet?” Adrian finishes.
“Yes,” I say.
“Work during the day, and play at night?”
“Yes,” I answer.
His eyes narrow. “I like when you answer me like that, a single word rushing out of your perfect, parted lips.” His gaze burns. “I’d like to see those lips when I—”
Adrian gets another text and curses under his breath. He’s not the only one. My phone buzzes too.
It’s from Maddie:Hey! Are you coming?
“Oh … I’m so sorry.” I push my hair back from my face and brace myself with both hands on the table. “I’m supposed to meet a friend tonight. I completely forgot.”
Of the three women I’m closest to, Maddie is like my little sister. She’s also going through a breakup and relying heavily on company to keep her from texting the asshole when she feels lonely.
“I can’t believe I forgot.”
“No time to eat?” he questions, not pressuring me in the least. His phone buzzes yet again before I can even answer, and he closes his eyes, visibly annoyed.
“I’m sorry, I really have to go. She’s a good friend of mine and I don’t know how it could have possibly slipped my mind that we had plans.” I swallow down the horrible feeling of failing her, knowing exactly how I came to forget about anything other than the man seated in front of me. “I’m going to take a cab.”
“If you insist.”
“I’m afraid I do, Mr. Bradford.” As I speak, I stand and he mirrors the motion.
“No longer Adrian?”
