“That you’ll demand a guy call you if he wants to talk to you. If they want a kiss, then they take you out on a date first. That you would have a five-date rule before you’d even think about sleeping with someone—but you settled for me doing none of those things. Hell, if I’d had a condom in the car, I could’ve fucked you up against it in the garage, and you wouldn’t have stopped me. You can say it wasn’t a big deal, but the fact that no guy had ever achieved fifth date status disproves the very notion.”
The tears started falling before I could stop them. He’d hit on something I hadn’t been ready to admit to myself: when it came to him, I’d been willing to settle.
“Ah, Kenz, please don’t cry. I don’t have a clue what to do with tears.” He stepped closer, cupping my chin.
“And you think I do? I hate crying. Say something funny, so I’ll stop.”
“Uh, my most embarrassing moment in life was during my senior year of high school when my mom walked in on me doing Lindsay Stanton doggie style on my bed,” he blurted out.
A giggle erupted, and I clasped a hand over my mouth, picturing it. “Holy crap.”
“I believe that’s what she said, too.” He exhaled harshly. “And I don’t know why I chose to share a story about me having sex with another woman to get the woman I had sex with to feel better. But that alone should highlight why I’m so bad at this.”
“You got me to stop crying.”
He let out a breath. “My point is you deserved better. You always did, but the knowledge that you didn’t think so, or you didn’t think I was capable of giving you better is the hardest part to swallow.”
I had to bite my lip to keep from tearing up again. “It wasn’t me thinking you weren’t capable. It was me being afraid to ask and take a chance at being disappointed by the answer. And I know this may freak you out, but you’ve spent more energy on me than any one of my dates ever did—not to mention you know me better than, well, pretty much anyone does. So in a way, you’ve been past fifth date status for a while.”
“It makes me crazy to think of you out with Jordan.”
“Is it him or the thought of me with anyone that’s the problem?”
“I don’t know.”
“God. You make me want to whack-a-mole you,” I muttered.
“What?”
“Whack-a-mole. The game where you use a mallet to whack the mole’s head down. I came in here ready to kill you, but my violence has now simmered down to a soft-sided mallet whacking you upside the head.”
He shook his head, looking amused.
Deciding to put it bluntly, I asked, “Do you want to be with me? That’s simply what it comes down to Colby.”
His eyes looked intense. “The very idea of a relationship intimidates the shit out of me. You think you’re aware of my flaws, but I’d be mortified if you knew half the stuff from my past. If I can’t give you what you need, it would absolutely kill me to hurt you.”
I sighed heavily. “I don’t care about your history Colby and as far as relationships go, I’m not exactly ‘couple certified,’ either, considering I’ve never been in one.”
“Wouldn’t it bother you to attend a party next time, and instead of Holli with an I who I haven’t slept with, there could be two women I have?”
“If you’re making it clear you’re with me, and not actively wishing to sleep with them, why would it?”
He shook his head. “You say that now.”
“You’re right. Neither of us knows how this will go. So we can give up now without ever trying or we can see where it goes.”
He held my gaze for the longest time. “If we do this, would you be completely honest with what you want out of a relationship?”
I didn’t hesitate. “Yes, and the first thing is monogamy. If that’s something you can’t do, then I’m out. I want that man you spoke of last night who can’t get me off his mind and doesn’t have room for anyone else.” There, I’d done it. I’d put it out there.
“I haven’t so much as looked at another woman since we went to Vegas on the night of your graduation party.”
I was absolutely shocked. “But you had a date that one night.”
He smirked. “You mean the day you threw yourself in front of a car?”
“Yeah, yeah, all part of my plan to keep you from sleeping with other women. Really?”
“I had that night already scheduled before we went to Vegas. Initially, I thought about maybe hooking up with her, believing it might help keep me from thinking about you that way, but—” he stopped himself mid-sentence, blushing at what he was telling me.
“I got hit by the car,” I provided, trying not to laugh at his pained expression.
He leaned in, his mouth nuzzling my neck. “I’d already decided after your call that I was going by to see you that night. And what I’m trying to say without coming across like a complete asshole is: any time I entertained the idea of someone else, I thought about you and couldn’t. If you wondered where I came up with those words, they’re what I’ve been feeling. I can’t stop thinking about you even when it’s been damn inconvenient.”
“Gosh, and here I’ve always wished to be the girl who was convenient for someone.”
“It’s a good thing your smart mouth is such a turn-on.” His lips met mine, before moving behind my ear and peppering kisses down my throat.
“It’s a good thing your TMI is kind of endearing, too, especially when you turn pink because you get embarrassed.”
He returned to my mouth, deepening the kiss, and then pulling away reluctantly. “We haven’t had our first date yet, which means you need to keep it in your pants.”
“What?”
“I want to do things the way they should’ve been done, which means I’m taking you out on a real first date. Then a second one and so forth. You can teach me the, uh, physical parameters along the way.”
Although there was a slight feeling of disappointment that he didn’t wish to bend me over his desk right now, it was greatly overshadowed with emotion over him wanting to do this for me. “Do you have a timetable for these dates?”
“You want a marathon session?”
I picked up on the double entendre. “You’re leaving that one wide open, aren’t you?”
He grinned, and then his face turned serious. “I’m bound to screw up some things along the way when it comes to relationship protocol, but if you can give me a learning curve and promise that whack-a-mole mallet doesn’t hurt too badly, I want to try.”
I lay my hand aside his face, sensing the vulnerability and hope in his statement. “I’m likely to mess up, too, but I can’t think of anyone I’d rather do it with than you.”
“I’m sorry about last night and the way I left. I overreacted and shouldn’t have said the things I did.”
“Yeah, well, you wouldn’t have responded that way if I’d told you.”
“Maybe, but the irony is that if you’d told me, nothing might’ve happened.”
We both processed that thought, knowing he was probably right.
“Lay it out for me. Second, third, fourth dates—mean what?”
I rolled my eyes. “You make it sound as though I went into it with a game plan like: look, it’s our third date, so I’m gonna need you to dry hump me. There were a lot of factors involved, such as how long I’d known them, comfort level, et cetera.”
“So, you’re saying we should define it as we go?”
I ran my hands down his back, inhaling his scent. “Mm-hmm.”
“Still not happening tonight, sweets.”
“It’s like you can read my mind,” I mumbled.
He chuckled. “I think, after last night, it might be a good idea to wait at least a couple of days anyhow, so you can feel a little less sore.”
“What? Did you google what to do after a virgin’s first time?”
His face turned a deep crimson. Colby blushing was about the most adorable thing ever.
“You did?”
“Your first time s
hould’ve been something special. I wasn’t exactly gentle with you, and as said, I’ve never been someone’s first time before.”
“Um, you gave me three orgasms which I’d say is pretty freaking special. And I didn’t exactly want it gentle if I’m being honest.”
His eyes darkened with desire. “Fair enough, but do me a favor and humor me with the five dates, okay?”
I nodded feeling as though this request may have more to do with him than with me. “All right. But it’s like a reverse Jedi mind trick which has me wanting to hop on you right now.”
His chuckled. “Me making you wait has you wanting me more?”
“Uh-huh. Ironic, isn’t it?”
“If I’d only known that’s what drives the women crazy, I might’ve adopted this approach years ago.”
I shook my head. “Poor baby. I’m sure playing hard to get was the missing link this whole time in getting you laid.”
He laughed, kissing me playfully. “Let’s go. We have plans.”
***
Our first date started that very evening on the Santa Monica pier. It consisted of two beers, four fish tacos, and then walking the boardwalk hand in hand while enjoying the summer night.
I’d called Jordan earlier to turn down dinner. In the process, I found out his manager had acquired my number via Max Tambor after having seen me talking to the record producer earlier that night at the party. Jordan hadn’t sounded apologetic about ignoring Colby’s request not to call me but had taken my no thanks to the date in stride.
All thoughts of him set aside, I leaned on the rail and watched Colby throw away our beer cups, realizing I’d already had a better time in the last hour than I’d ever had on any other date.
He walked back towards me now, PDG in full force. “Do you want another round?”
“No. I’m good, thanks. What do you want to do next?”
“This.” He tucked a lock of hair behind my ear, trailing his fingertips along my cheek and then leaned down for a kiss. His lips were soft, unhurried, and with a skill that had my toes curling. His tongue flicked against mine one time with a promise of what was to come.
“Wow,” I breathed and then matched his grin.
“Yeah, turns out kissing isn’t so overrated, after all.”
“Mm, you’re a quick learner as that was one of your best yet.”
“I had a great teacher.” He kissed me once more and sighed. “Come on, let’s get you home. I have a feeling we can both use some sleep after last night.”
I nodded, taking his hand. “Where did you end up going?”
“My office. I couldn’t sleep, therefore I worked.”
When we climbed into his car, I turned towards him. “Maybe I should take the guest room tonight.”
“Why would you do that?”
“So as not to tempt the five-date rule?”
“Considering I’ve been exercising restraint since Vegas every damn time I’m around you, a couple more days won’t kill me.”
I smirked. “I wasn’t talking about you.”
***
When Colby woke me up the next morning, I swore it was still the middle of the night. I snuggled further into the warm bed, but when I opened an eye, I realized he was already dressed with a grin on his face, looking like an adorably anxious kid.
“Come on, sleepyhead, get your sexy ass in the shower and get ready. We need to be on the road in thirty minutes. You can go back to sleep once we’re in the car.”
“What? Why?”
“Our second, third, and fourth dates await.”
I woke up fully at his declaration and noted his PDG was even hotter first thing in the morning. “Wait. We’re doing all three today?” I glanced over at the clock and saw it was only four o’clock in the morning.
“Only if you’re ready in thirty minutes.”
I was out the door in half that time, slightly breathless from the effort.
He handed me a to-go cup of coffee and leaned down for a kiss. “Somehow I knew the marathon dating day might persuade you to get out of bed.”
We climbed into the back of the waiting sedan and headed out onto the freeway. “If two through four are today, when is, uh, date number five?”
He took my hand, kissing it, and chuckled. “Why do I feel like I may have opened up Pandora’s box?”
“You try waiting twenty-two years for sex and see if you’re not anxious to experience every position.”
His desire became obvious with the way his eyes turned a darker shade of green. “We’re doing these five dates even if it kills me. I thought we’d do the last one tomorrow night?”
“Sounds perfect, but we have plans in the morning first.”
His confusion was obvious until I reminded him.
“I won the bet with Jordan calling me, so you’re coming with me.”
He grinned. “Ah, the hospital thing; got it. Now, you’d better get some more sleep as you’ll need it with the day I have planned.”
His voice had taken on a husky quality which made all my girly parts stand at attention. I couldn’t wait.
***
Fourteen hours later I learned that Colby Singer didn’t mess around when it came to planning the ultimate three-date day. We started by driving two hours to Escondido, where we arrived at the San Diego Safari Zoo. Once there, we fed a baby elephant, a giraffe, and a hippo and spent the entire morning surrounded by beautiful animals.
For our second date, we drove a short distance to a winery, where we dined amid beautiful views of the grounds, sipping on wine aplenty.
Then, in epic fashion, he took me to Disneyland. It was hard to believe, but in four years of living in Southern California, I’d never been. I’d only mentioned it to him once, years ago, and now here we were: donning Mickey ears, eating junk food, and riding roller coasters well into the evening hours.
After the very best day I could ever remember having, we pulled up to his house. I’d dozed in the car, feeling like a kid who’d exhausted herself completely from the festivities. Aside from some stolen kisses throughout the day, we hadn’t done much more. So the thought of concluding date number four suddenly had me wide awake and thinking of the night to come.
He must’ve felt the same as his fingers stroked up my wrist slowly. Once the driver dropped us off in front of the house, Colby unlocked the door, practically growling once we were inside.
Taking my hand, he led me straight into the bedroom. Before I could say anything, his lips were on mine and he was attacking my clothes. The man was more adept at taking off my bra than I was. Although I was anxious to get naked, I was also aware of the fact that I’d been outside in the sun sweating the entire day. “I like where this is going, but I need a shower.”
He pulled back, frowning at the disruption, and then his face lit up with an idea. “We both do. Come on.”
Nothing in all my years of fantasizing could’ve prepared me for seeing Colby, minutes later, completely undressed and nonchalantly joining me in the shower. My eyes took their time indulging in a slow perusal of his splendidly naked form: starting with his hard chest and then down to his washboard abs. I had to force myself to look beyond his hard cock, jutting out proudly from his body, to his strong legs.
“Do I pass inspection?”
My cheeks flamed; then I gave him a sheepish smile. “For the first naked guy I’ve ever showered with, you’ll do.”
He chuckled and then sucked in his breath when I reached out to touch his chest.
My fingers trailed over his pecs, drawing circles around his nipples, and then slid down his taut stomach while I watched his eyes on me. When I gripped his erection in both hands, he groaned but then stepped back.
“Date two is what?”
“You’re asking me what the second date entails while standing here naked in front of me?”
He nodded, amusement shining in his eyes. “Clearly we do things a little differently. So what do you want to do?”
“Make out with me.”
He grinned. “Your wish is my command.”
Weaving his hands in my hair, his mouth crashed down. I could feel his erection pressing against my stomach as he backed me into the corner of the shower. The rhythm of his tongue entwining with mine became an erotic promise of what was to come.
“Let’s get you off your foot. It must be sore from walking so much on it today.” I was lifted onto the marble shelf. “Now where were we? Date number three consists of what?”
I smiled at his thoughtfulness regarding my ankle. “Boobs.”
He laughed. “Boobs?”
“Yeah, like second base while making out. It means anything above the waist is fair game.”
His expression took on a playful glint as he grabbed my soap from the other side of the shower, squirting some of the pink liquid onto his palms. He lathered them up and started with my arms, rubbing down each one, gliding them onto my chest while watching my face intently. He filled each of his hands with my breasts, rubbing his thumbs over the nipples, and then met my mouth in a searing kiss while he washed me with languid strokes. After rinsing me, he latched his mouth onto one peak while his fingers rolled the other one. Damn, and here I’d thought my breasts, being on the small side, weren’t very sensitive. He was making the argument that I’d been happily wrong.
“And the fourth date?” he asked hoarsely, looking up at me.
“What it means or what I’ve done?”
His soapy fingers moved down to my wet center. “Has anyone touched this pussy before me?”
I shivered in response. “Only over my pants, then the whole premature ejaculation part, and him getting annoyed with me.” Shit. Total TMI. “Um, I thought we weren’t asking questions about our pasts.”
His hand cupped my mound, his thumb pressing on my clit. “We weren’t, and you can tell me to shut up. But I can’t help myself as I’m afflicted with this crazy, possessive feeling since finding out I was the first man to give you an orgasm, to taste you, be inside of you, and touch you here.”
“Really? I kind of thought it freaked you out more than anything.”
He set me down and then washed me intimately. “It did at first.” He exhaled, his expression apologetic. “But now it’s this weird, primal thing which doesn’t make any sense, given I’ve never been the possessive, caveman type.”
Bet Me Something (Something Series Book 3) Page 17