by E. L. Todd
“Yeah, it was pretty embarrassing. I was glad I didn’t have to see most of those people again.”
She kept her silence, a few strained chuckles coming out.
“You can laugh,” I said. “I know it’s hilarious.”
She allowed herself to laugh freely. “Theo…”
“My family still teases me to this day.”
“What did you eat?” she asked.
“Too many churros.” I hugged her to my chest and pressed my face into her neck. “Feel better now?”
“Yeah, I think so.” She turned her face toward mine and gave me a bright smile.
Without thinking about it, I kissed her cheek. “Good.”
She didn’t object to the touch. Judging by the warmth in her eyes, she liked it. “Why did we eat Taco Bell last night?”
“You asked me to get you a burrito…with a bunch of cheese.”
She laughed. “I munch a lot when I’m drunk.”
“You don’t say?” I teased.
She blushed and chuckled.
“And I got you an empanada. Apparently, you like those too.”
Her eyes turned serious. “What about Jane? What happened to her?”
“She was with some guy. I told her to call me if she needed a ride.”
She breathed a sigh of relief. “Thanks…”
I trailed kisses to her ear, and she leaned into me as I did it. “And you were all over me last night…”
“I was?” She smiled as she said it.
“Oh yeah, you like to cuddle.”
“Probably because you’re warm.”
“Probably because you think I’m hot.”
She turned to me and rolled her eyes. “Full of yourself, aren’t you?”
“Hey, these are your words, not mine.”
“I did not say I think you’re hot.”
“Well, you did say I was handsome…and I would never notice a tomboy like you.”
Her eyes flashed in realization.
“Which, by the way, you look nothing like a tomboy.”
“I did when I was younger… What else did I tell you?”
I shrugged. “A few things here and there.”
Her hands moved over my arms. “I’m sorry about my behavior. I haven’t been that drunk in a long time.”
“Don’t apologize. I had fun, actually.”
“Fun?” she asked.
“Yeah, you’re a blast when you’re drunk.”
“I’m not a blast normally?”
“Is that a serious question?” I asked.
“Maybe if you got to know me, you would realize I’m a blast whether I’m drunk or not.”
“Maybe.” I pressed my lips to her ear. “Have dinner with me tomorrow. I’ll decide then.”
“Are you asking me out?” she asked incredulously.
“Hey, I slept with you all night, and when you threw yourself at me, I was a gentleman and said no. I deserve to take you out for a meal.”
“I guess I could do that…” Judging by the smile on her lips, she wanted to.
“And when you…showed me your goodies, it was damn hard to say no, for the record. I think I deserve a Purple Heart for that.”
She laughed. “Do you even know what a Purple Heart means?”
I shrugged. “Some honor.”
“It means you died or were wounded in battle. I don’t think turning down a girl qualifies.”
“When they’re as hot as you, it does.”
She couldn’t stop smiling, every one of her perfect teeth showing. “I thought you hated me?”
“I did.” I kissed her shoulder. “But now, I have a thing for you. What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing.”
“Because I can tell you have a thing for me too.”
“Maybe…” Her eyes danced playfully.
“Then go out with me.”
“Depends. Are you taking me to Taco Bell again?”
I laughed. “No. It’ll definitely be somewhere nicer.”
She laughed. “Then I guess I’ll go.”
“Good. Because I wasn’t taking no for an answer.” My hand tightened around her hips, and I pulled her into me. My lips sought her ear, and I placed gentle kisses along the shell. “I’m still tired. Let’s go back to bed.”
“It’s noon.”
“So?”
“We have lives to live.”
I pulled her back toward my bedroom. “Well, I don’t want to live mine right now. I’d rather press pause and enjoy my time with you.”
I was floating on air.
Ever since Alex and I had our sleepover, I felt different. She didn’t annoy me in the least, and I felt like we were actually friends. Seeing a vulnerable side of her, someone who had flaws and imperfections, made me attracted to her. She was already a bombshell, but she was also cute.
I remembered the way her tits looked when she pulled down her dress. They were so beautiful, and I wanted to suck each nipple—hard. They might have increased my attraction to her slightly. When they came into my mind, I tried not to think about them because she’d only shown them to me when she was out of her mind. When she was ready to show them to me sober, I would think about them all I liked.
When I got to work, I felt my stomach clench in anticipation. I was certain she was working today. I was excited to see that smile and those lips. Her eyes danced mischievously whenever she glanced at me. She was gorgeous, a damn knockout. The fact that she was strong and fierce heightened my interest in her.
I loved kissing her skin. Her shoulder was soft on my lips. Her neck was warm. And her ear gave me shivers. I hadn’t kissed her lips yet, but I knew they would drive me wild once I did.
When I walked inside, Alex was near the mats talking to Yates. She wore spandex pants and a black sports bra. There were two dimples on her back, and her waist curved in then out again. I openly gawked at her before I turned my gaze away.
After I checked in, I approached her from behind.
“Let’s have dinner this weekend.” Yates had his arms across his chest. “Then we can watch a movie at my place.”
Think again. I reached her then wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her into me. “Hey, gorgeous.”
She quickly pulled away from me. “Uh. Hi, Theo.”
Uh? Hi?
Yates’s eyes darted back and forth between us. “Let me know about this weekend.” He drifted away.
“What was that about?” I snapped.
“We work together,” she hissed. “We can’t be affectionate around the others.”
“Why?” I demanded. “If Yates is going to ask you out, I need to stake a claim.”
“Stake a claim?” she asked. “Are you my boyfriend now?”
“Yeah,” I said bluntly.
“Whoa…hold on.” She raised her hand. “I agreed to go on a date with you. I didn’t sign up for a commitment.”
I stepped closer to her and leaned my face toward hers. “Well, you’re getting one.”
“Not if I say otherwise,” she challenged.
“Let’s be real here. We butt heads because we’re attracted to each other. Our chemistry is strong because we mix well together. Sometimes it’s explosive, and sometimes we get burned. So what? Don’t act like you aren’t incredibly into me. You even told me you were when you were rambling in a drunken stupor. And after I cuddled with you the other night, spent some quality time with you when you weren’t yelling at me, and saw your gorgeous rack, I’m totally smitten. So, yes, that’s how it’s going to be. Deal with it.” I marched to the locker room before she could get a word in.
I opened my locker then pulled out my gi. We weren’t always required to wear one, but I liked to do it with my younger students. They seemed to be impressed and inspired by the uniform.
“Buddy, hold on a second!” Alex rounded the corner then marched toward me. “You were horrible to me for months. You can’t just erase that because you finally see my qualities. You need—”
/> I growled then pressed her against the locker. It shook under the force. I grabbed her hands then interlocked our fingers. Then I pinned them against the metal, using my body to keep her in place.
A quiet scream left her lips as I trapped her. She breathed hard and looked into my face. She didn’t try to get away.
I crushed my mouth against hers and sucked her bottom lip. She reciprocated immediately, melting under my touch. Her hands gripped mine with passion, and then her tongue moved into my mouth.
She was an amazing kisser. Her lips tasted like honey, and her tongue drove me wild. I breathed hard into her mouth while I enjoyed her. She sent electric shocks through my body. I wanted to eat her alive. Seeing her in just a sports bra only reminded me of what was underneath.
I pulled away but kept my face close to hers.
She stared at my lips, winded and speechless.
“We’re done talking about this.” I released her then finished changing. I didn’t look at her again.
She walked out without saying a word.
I wore slacks and a collared shirt. An arrangement of flowers was in my hands. I stood on her front doorstep and rang the doorbell.
“Hold on,” she called.
“Take your time.”
She finally got to the door. She wore a black dress that showed her long legs. It was strapless, so her rounded shoulders were bare. They were toned and strong. Her chest was prominent, the beginning of her endless curves. “Hi.”
“Hey.” I didn’t bother being discreet with my eyes. “You look gorgeous.”
“Thanks.” She blushed slightly. “You look nice too.”
I handed her the flowers. “I handpicked them.”
She took them then inhaled their scent. “They are beautiful.”
I leaned against the doorframe while I watched her set them in a vase full of water. “Ready to go?”
“Yeah.” She grabbed her clutch then walked out. “What are we having?”
“Depends. What do you want?”
“I like Italian.”
“Then that’s what we’ll have.” I hooked my arm around her waist as I escorted her to my truck. Then I opened the door for her.
“So the monkey does have manners…”
I growled. “And is polite enough not to stare at your ass as you climb inside.” I shut the door then came to the driver’s side.
“You really didn’t look at my ass?” she asked incredulously.
“Really.”
“Why don’t I believe you?”
“I have no idea. I’m always honest, so why would I start lying now?”
“Let me rephrase my question. Why didn’t you look?”
I started the engine then headed to the road. If she were any other girl, I would have looked. But for some reason, I was different with Alex. She was a woman who respected herself, so it made me respect her. “You never gave me permission.”
She smirked then looked out the window.
I glanced at her in my peripheral vision. She wore sky-high pumps that made her legs look even longer, and her short dress showed her toned thighs. My cock was hard the moment I saw her.
When we arrived at the restaurant, I pulled out the chair for her then sat across from her.
She gave me a look of approval then stared at her menu.
“Did you tell Yates no?” I asked while I read my menu.
“No to what?”
“The date he asked you on.”
“He didn’t ask me out on a date.” Her eyes scanned the menu. “Tortellini, it is.”
My eyes moved to hers. “I heard him, Alex. He asked you out on a date.”
“No, it was just a friendly request.”
Was she stupid? “Believe me, it wasn’t.”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s awfully early in a relationship to get jealous…”
“I’m sorry if I don’t want my girlfriend spending the evening alone with some guy.”
“Not your girlfriend,” she reminded me. “Too soon.”
“Whatever,” I said. “When you start seeing anyone, it’s rude to see other people at the same time. There are rules for this sort of thing. Why bother dating someone if you aren’t putting everything into it? So, yes, you are my girlfriend.”
She eyed me but didn’t object.
“Besides, we’re sleeping together.” I smirked at her from across the table.
She chuckled. “I guess we are.”
“And I always leave you exhausted.” I winked at her.
She rolled her eyes. “Enough with the innuendos.”
“So, are you going to go out with him?” I pressed.
“I’ll think about it…”
I growled in irritation.
We ordered our food then stared at each other across the table.
“You look beautiful tonight.” I liked staring at her. She was a vision. Her hair was styled, and her dress highlighted all her features. She was petite and strong, but curvy in the places I loved.
“Thank you.” She fidgeted with the necklace around her throat.
I’d known Alex for a while, but I really didn’t know anything about her. But that didn’t bother me. What I did know, I liked. She was sweet and funny, and she had a rockin’ body. “When did you first pursue martial arts?”
“Years ago.”
“Why?” I asked.
She shrugged. “Why did you?”
“My parents put me in lessons when I was young. It became my passion at some point. What about you?”
“I started when I was in high school.”
“That’s kinda old,” I noted. “Any reason why?”
She shrugged. “No.”
Her vague responses made me wonder what she was hiding. I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable, so I let it go. “Did you grow up here?”
“No, I grew up in the Bronx.”
Really? “That’s pretty close.”
“Yeah, but it’s a different world. Where did you grow up?”
“Manhattan. So, we weren’t that far away from each other.”
“Actually, I think we were,” she said with a light laugh.
Was I missing something? “You look beautiful tonight.”
“You already said that.”
“It’s worth mentioning again.”
Her eyes softened. “It’s weird seeing you be this nice.”
“I’m actually a good guy. I understand why you didn’t notice…since I never showed this side of myself to you.”
She continued to stare at me, her face giving nothing away.
“I’m really sorry for my behavior. I was a jerk to you, and I wish I could change that.”
She nodded.
“And I’m not apologizing because I feel bad for you,” I said quickly. “I’m apologizing because I want to sleep with you.”
Her eyes widened in alarm, and she looked as if she might slap me.
“Kidding.”
She relaxed and released a sigh. “Not funny.”
“If I wanted to sleep with you, I already had the perfect opportunity. So that’s obviously not what I want.”
“And what do you want, Theo?” she asked.
I shrugged. “Whatever happens, happens.”
“Meaning?”
“My dad always told me not to live my life on a timeline. I would marry and settle down when I found the right girl. It doesn’t matter if I meet her in high school or when I’m thirty-five. So, I’m just going with the flow, basically.”
“Have you ever been in a serious relationship?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I’m very picky,” I said honestly. “It takes a lot to impress me and hold my attention.”
“Do I impress you?” she asked.
“What do you think?” I asked with a smirk. “You’re the only woman who’s ever kicked my ass—and my mom has a good arm.”
She smiled. “So, you actually admit it?”
“I guess so. And y
ou know what? It’s actually kind of hot.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re hopping off the sexist train.”
I laughed. “I was never sexist. I swear. You just rubbed me the wrong way when we met.”
“Am I rubbing you the right way now?”
“I’m asking you to see no other guys, I’m having dinner with you, and I can’t stop staring at you. You tell me.”
She looked away, but there was still a slight smirk on her lips.
The food was brought, and we dug in. Alex ate like a princess. She had manners and used her napkin even when nothing was on her face. I watched her eat when she wasn’t looking, then dropped the look once she noticed me.
When the bill came, she did the check dance.
“No.” I put the cash in. “When I take a girl out, I do it right.”
“At least let me pay for my half.”
“Nope.” I handed it to the waiter. “Keep the change.”
“Thank you, sir.”
When he was gone, she folded her napkin then placed it on the table. “Well, thank you for dinner.”
“Don’t say thank you yet. The night isn’t over.”
“What did you have in mind?” she asked.
“Dancing.”
“You dance?” she asked incredulously.
“I know a few moves…”
“Where was this fun and adventurous guy months ago?” she asked.
“I don’t know…crawled under a rock and was being grouchy.”
“Apparently.”
“Come on. Let’s go.” I grabbed her hand and we left.
When we reached the bar, people were crowded in the middle dancing. Most people were holding drinks and having a good time. I kept my hand around her waist so any admirers would know she was taken.
“Are you ready for this?” I yelled over the music.
“Bring it.”
I spun her around then danced with her close. She grinded against me, and I nuzzled my face into her neck. Perhaps dancing wasn’t a good idea because she got me excited almost immediately. If I pushed against her too hard, she would feel it. I spun her around again then moved with her face-to-face.
“You’re a good dancer.”
“My mom taught me.”
She gave me a disgusted look. “To dance like this?”
“No,” I said immediately. “She’s a professional dancer. She taught me the basics.”