by E. L. Todd
I was caught off guard a lot more than he was. It took me longer to recover, to plaster a smile on my face and pretend everything was normal. “Long time, no see.” When I focused on that handsome grin, the nerves started to fade away. I had no reason to be nervous, so the thought made me relax.
“Couldn’t agree more. Guys, this is my friend…” He cocked his head slightly.
I waited for him to finish the sentence.
“This is the part where you tell me your name,” he said with a chuckle.
“Oh, sorry.” That’s right, I never told him my name. “Pepper.” I shook hands with his two friends, who were both muscled and sexy. They didn’t match his caliber, but they were pretty close. “Nice to meet you both. I’m handling the lingerie party for Sasha.”
“Ooh…” One of the guys waggled his eyebrows. “Sasha in lingerie…I have to stick around for that.”
Mr. Gorgeous dropped his playful banter and gave his friend a cold look that clearly said, “I will kill you.”
His friend chuckled then walked off. “We’ll be in the game room. We’ll grab you a beer on the way.” They both walked off and left us alone together.
The two of us stared at each other, filling the silence with more silence. It wasn’t exactly awkward, but it wasn’t comfortable either. If we were kissing and taking off each other’s clothes, it would probably be a more satisfying environment. I would prefer it, at least. “Had a good game?”
“Just shot some hoops.” If he hadn’t wanted to talk to me, he could have just walked away, but he lingered behind, like we had unfinished business. “Now we’re going to drink a few beers and watch the professionals down some shots.”
“That’s gonna be a good game. If I didn’t have to work, I’d be watching it.”
“Blow this off and join us.”
I smiled because I assumed he was kidding. “I’ve got bills to pay.”
“I’m sure they’ll buy your stuff whether you’re here or not.”
“Hmm…not sure if that’s a compliment or an insult.”
“Compliment.” His handsome smile returned. “For you, I only have compliments.” His gray t-shirt was tight on his muscled arms and his strong chest. It was loose around his waist because he had a tight stomach and narrow hips. He was a beautiful man with an even more beautiful body. Even in his workout clothes, his sexiness couldn’t be denied. “Let me introduce myself.” He shook my hand. “Jax.”
“Nice to meet you, Jax.” When I shook his hand, I felt the same spark I’d felt last week. The chemistry was there, like two combustive chemicals that were meant to stay far away from each other. We were volatile, explosive. “I’m Pepper…as I mentioned.”
“Pepper.” He savored my name on his lips. “I like your name.”
“Thanks. It’s easy for people to remember.”
“I certainly won’t forget it.” His eyes smoldered.
I tried not to melt into a puddle on the floor.
“You want to have dinner with me tomorrow night?”
I should be flattered. If I weren’t good in bed, I wouldn’t be getting this invitation. But if we were having dinner, we weren’t having sex. And if we weren’t having sex, then it sounded like the beginning of a relationship. “How about dessert at my place instead?”
He crossed his arms over his chest, his head tilting slightly to the side. His smolder was replaced with a faint look of surprise. “I admit, that does sound better.”
“Sweeter, if you ask me.”
“What time are you thinking?”
“Eight.” We’d have sex, go to sleep, and then he would disappear in the morning.
“Right to the point, huh?”
I shrugged. “I’m a busy lady. Running a business isn’t easy.”
“A working girl. I like that. I’ll see you tomorrow night, then.” Just when he moved to walk past me, his arm gently brushed past mine. He looked down at me as he did it, purposely getting close to me before he walked off.
I was too weak to fight it, so I turned and got a glimpse of his ass before he walked away.
“Small world.” Colton sat on the other couch and munched on the chips and dip sitting on the coffee table. The game was on the TV, but that was for me, not him. “You do a lingerie party right at his house.”
“Yes…it’s a very small world.”
“And he’s coming over tonight?” He rested his ankle on the opposite knee, his fingers wrapped around his IPA.
“Yep.”
“Two for two, huh?”
“I just hope it’s as good as it was last time.”
“Probably better, actually. He wants more, and you want more.”
“I hope you’re right. He asked me to dinner at first.” Maybe he was just making the gesture to be polite, but sitting in a crowded restaurant dressed in nice clothes sounded unappealing to me. I didn’t want to get to know him, to know his hobbies or his favorite sports teams. It seemed like I was a man who was only after tail, but it didn’t change what I wanted. I wasn’t going to fall for another guy until I knew he was the right one. Mr. Gorgeous was an obvious player—and he definitely wasn’t the right one.
“What an asshole,” he said sarcastically.
“I don’t want dinner. I thought that was clear.”
“The more you don’t want him, the more he wants you. It’s just how men are.”
“You aren’t like that,” I countered.
He shrugged. “Well, that’s how straight men are.” He popped another chip into his mouth. “I made up the second bedroom for Finn. He’s gonna be here for a few weeks, so I hope he’s comfortable.”
“You’re still going to bombard him when he walks through the door?”
“No. I was hoping you would be here too.”
I guess that made sense. “I’ve never officially met him, so I would like to give him a warm welcome. I’ve only seen a few pictures of him.”
“He looks different from our past family photos.”
“In what way?” I asked.
He swirled a chip through the salsa before he took a bite, the crunch more audible than the commercial in the background. “More rugged, I guess. Every year he’s been in the military has made him a little harder.”
“Harder?”
“You’ll see what I mean.”
I looked at the clock and realized my guest would be over in thirty minutes. “So, are you going to tell me what happened with Aaron, or am I gonna have to drag it out of you?” I’d given him plenty of time to fess up on his own, but it was obvious he was keeping his night to himself.
A slow grin crept into his face. “Nothing, really. We had a few more beers and just talked.”
“That’s it?” I asked incredulously. “You expect me to believe that? You’re so into him.” It was strange to see my ex-husband hard up for someone else, especially a man, but now that it happened, it wasn’t so bad. I wanted him to be happy. I also wanted him to realize he could have whoever he wanted.
“We exchanged numbers. I haven’t called him yet.”
“Don’t play hard to get.”
“I’m not,” he argued. “I’m just…a little nervous.”
I rolled my eyes. “He obviously liked you, so there’s no reason to be. You shouldn’t drag your feet for too long because someone else might snatch him up.”
“True…” He looked down into his beer bottle, his thoughts drifting somewhere else. “I know this is what I want, but it’s still a rough transition. I feel like it’s not really real until I tell my family. I know that doesn’t make any sense, but without their approval, I just don’t feel free…”
I could understand his vulnerability, but he shouldn’t have to feel that way. “Colton, you never need anyone’s approval to be who you are. Whether they accept you or not shouldn’t matter. Live your life the way you want.”
That tender look entered his eyes, like he loved me more today than he ever had before. “You always know the right thing to say.”
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“Because I’m saying the truth—which is pretty easy to preach.”
He drank from his beer then set it down on the table. “I’ll give him a call, then.”
“Good. You should invite him out to hang with us sometime. Make it less tense.”
“Yeah…good idea.”
“What do you think Finn will say?”
He shrugged. “I really don’t know. He’s such a manly man, you know? But he’s always had my back… I really don’t know what to expect.”
“Well, if he gives you a hard time about it, I’ll kick his ass.”
He laughed like that was ridiculous. “He’s the strongest guy I know.”
“Well, I’m the strongest chick you know. I could take him.”
“If anyone else said that, I would think they’re crazy.” He shook his head slightly. “But with you…it’s not that crazy.”
When Jax knocked on the door, I was ready to go. In a black baby doll with a matching thong, my hair was fluffed high and my makeup was heavy. I was ready to get on all fours and feel him drill me from behind.
I opened the door and got the exact reaction I wanted.
He crossed the threshold as his hands dug into my hair. His full lips landed on mine, and the kiss he gave me was even better than the last. His foot kicked the door shut behind him, and he gripped my cheeks with his big hands.
It felt so good to be held by a man.
“Fuck, you look hot.” He barely broke our kiss to whisper those words.
“You’re about to look hotter.” I yanked his shirt over his head and felt the grooves of muscle I’d missed. He had a prominent eight-pack that my fingers loved to cherish. I traced the deep V along his hips before I reached the top of his jeans and unfastened the button. “Dessert…” As I fell to my knees, I pulled his jeans with me.
He stilled above me, a heated look of surprise in his eyes. “Jesus.”
When we were finished, we both lay in silence as our body temperatures cooled down. I was fulfilled just the way I was last time, and my head was still slightly spinning because of the throbbing goodness between my legs.
I missed sex.
It used to be that good with Colton. Or maybe that was just my imagination.
Jax lay beside me with his hand resting on his hard stomach. His long legs stretched to the end of my four-poster bed. He had large feet, nice calves, and thighs that rivaled those of a lumberjack. He was sexy from head to toe, and for the night, he was completely mine.
His hair was messy from my anxious fingers, but when it was all over the place, it only added to his charm. He turned his head my way, a sleepy look in his eyes that was filled with satisfaction. “You feel like a virgin, but you fuck like a prostitute. And I mean that in a good way.”
It was safe to say I wasn’t the problem in my marriage. “Thanks. You’re a good lover.”
“That’s what I am to you? A lover?”
“Unless you want to be my prostitute?”
A sexy chuckle escaped his lips. “I’d settle for that.”
“And you can earn some extra money.” Not that he needed it. He lived in a big, beautiful house, so he had to be a millionaire.
“Wow. Getting paid to screw a gorgeous woman like you. I must have done something right…”
I turned on my side and faced him, the straps of my top hanging down my arms. He hadn’t taken off my dress because he went straight for my thong. “Well, it’s getting late…” It didn’t seem necessary for him to sleep over, especially since it wasn’t the weekend. I couldn’t just bail on him and disappear into Colton’s apartment.
He grinned like I’d made a joke. “You’re finished with me?”
“I’d say I’m satisfied.”
He turned on his side so he could face me head on. His wide shoulders led to muscular arms, and he was one of the sexiest pieces of man candy I’d ever seen. “What if I’m not finished with you?”
I held his gaze as my pulse raced in my neck. He cornered me in a way I didn’t expect, and I struggled to fire off a comeback. Just when I thought I was ready to kick him out of my apartment, he said something that got my engine revving again. “Then we’re never going to get to sleep.”
“I’m a bit of an insomniac anyway.”
“I’m not. I like my eight hours of sleep.”
He propped himself on his elbow then hiked my leg over his hip, bringing us closer together. We were practically snuggling, something I tried to steer away from. His searing-hot skin was comfortable against mine, and when his large chest expanded against my body, it felt like solid rock. “I’ve never met a woman like you.”
“Are you sure?” I stared into his green eyes and felt my nipples harden in my bra. His jaw was developing a faint shadow, a hint of the beard that would sprinkle his face if he didn’t shave every morning. “You don’t know me too well.”
“That’s exactly why. You don’t want me to know you.” He studied my face, memorizing my features like he wanted to reflect on them later. His large fingers gently gripped my leg, digging into the muscle of my thigh. His fingertips were slightly callused, like he was a man who did hard labor every single day. “I’ve never been with a woman that tries so hard to get rid of me.” He moved himself farther over me, our bodies becoming tangled together as he held himself on top of me. His hand glided farther up my leg until he gripped my cheek.
“I have only one thing on my mind. I’m sure you do too.”
“What makes you so sure?” When he pressed his face close to mine, his cologne drifted into my nose, the scent mixed with sweat and sex.
“You come into my shop and buy lingerie for different women…that’s kinda a giveaway.”
My answer made him still, and then his features hardened into a playful look. “That’s what you think? That I buy lingerie for my ladies and ask them to wear it?”
“Unless you’re buying it for yourself…”
He gave a deep chuckle. “I like you.”
My playful attitude died away, surprised by the sincerity of his words.
“My sister had already picked out a few things for the wedding. Her friends from out of state are buying it for her as a gift, and I’m picking it up. Lacey and Brenda are two of her friends.”
“Ohh…” I hoped my cheeks wouldn’t turn red in embarrassment from the completely inaccurate assumption I’d just made.
“But I’m flattered you thought otherwise.”
“I feel a little stupid right now.”
“Don’t.” He leaned down and gave me a soft kiss. “So, now that we’ve had dessert, how about we have dinner?”
“Honestly, I’m not hungry.”
“Neither am I. How about tomorrow?”
Why was he obsessed with taking me to dinner? “I’m gonna be straight with you, Jax. I’m just looking for a booty call. No dinner, no dates.”
“Yeah, I picked up on that. I was looking for the same thing.”
“You’ve changed your mind?”
“Yes.” His hand glided farther up my body, underneath my baby doll and to the skin of my belly. “And I don’t change my mind too often. I like you, Pepper. Let me buy you dinner. You can have your way with me afterward.”
It was a tempting offer and I almost said yes, but then the pact I made with myself came back to me. “I’m not looking for something serious.”
“It’s dinner, not a marriage proposal.”
“Even so…”
“Come on, sweetheart.” He gently ground against me, pressing his hard-on into my body. “Don’t make me ask again. I’m not the kind of guy that asks in the first place.”
I thought I should tell him the truth, that I was newly divorced and still rediscovering myself. But I didn’t see the harm in a single dinner. We would have sex afterward, and after enough time had passed, we would both lose interest and move on. One dinner couldn’t hurt, right? “Alright. But I get to pick the place.”
He smiled. “Perfect. Where did you have in mind?”<
br />
“Mega Shake.”
6
Pepper
Jax didn’t seem like the kind of guy that would order a greasy burger and fries, not with that ripped body, but he sat across from me in the booth and took an enormous bite out of his burger. “Damn. Forgot how good that was.”
“You probably don’t eat stuff like this too often.”
“No. It doesn’t look like you do either.” With both elbows on the table, he gripped his burger and took a few more bites. When the sauce caught in the corner of his mouth, he quickly licked it away, making the mess look sexy.
“No, I do. I just lost a bit of weight recently.” I was never heavy, but I had a lot more curves than I do now. Moping around the apartment and not eating for three months made me drop a dangerous amount of weight. I’d started to recuperate, but it would take me a while to gain back the twenty pounds I’d lost.
“Workout regimen?”
“No, I just…” I didn’t want to unload my personal life on him so soon, especially when I didn’t see this relationship going anywhere. We were just having fun, so I decided to focus on only positive aspects. “I cut out carbs, and it just happened.”
“Sounds about right.” He placed a few fries in his mouth and chewed as he watched me, more interested in my face than the feast sitting on his plate. “I’ve never taken a woman to a hamburger joint for a date before. It’s a nice change.”
“I’m not a fan of fancy places. You spend a lot of money to have pretentious food and sit around for twenty minutes waiting for the bill to finally arrive. This is more my style.”
He chuckled. “And I think you’re my style.”
“You’re just saying that because I sell lingerie and eat burgers.”
“No,” he countered. “I’m saying it because you wear lingerie, and you’re a cheap date.” He returned his burger to his tray and crossed his arms on the table, giving me his intense focus. “How long have you had that shop?”