by E. L. Todd
He stumbled to feet then limped out of the bar, grabbing his throat. Toby stared at him until he gone. When the door finally shut, he turned to her. “Are you alright?”
“Yeah…I’m fine.”
He nodded. “Okay.”
She eyed him incredulously. “Do you always strangle people like that?”
“When they harass women, I do.”
“Asking him to leave would have sufficed.”
He glared at her. “Maybe I didn’t want to ask.” He crossed his arms over his chest.
“You’re lawyer. You should watch what you do.”
“And watching you punch him would be better?”
“At least it wouldn’t almost kill him,” she argued.
He shook his head. “Why the hell am I wasting my time with you?” He stepped away. “You’re welcome, by the way.”
Abby grabbed his arm. “Wait. Hold on.”
He stilled when her fingers wrapped around his forearm. “What?”
She pulled him back. “I came here to talk to you.”
He didn’t pull his arm away. “About what?”
“My apology…”
“Is that something you even know how to do?”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Do you want me to apologize or not?”
He pulled his arm away. “I’m listening.”
She fidgeted with her hands. “I’m sorry…for making wrong assumptions about you.”
He nodded. “Thank you.”
“And I’m sorry about your friend—in the army.”
“It was awhile ago.”
She looked around the bar, seeing everyone mingle. A song from the 90’s played in the background. The bass thudded in her ears. “Are we okay?”
“No.”
“No?” she asked incredulously. “What you did to me was way worse than what I did to you.”
“Wrongs can’t be quantified.”
“What?” She raised an eyebrow.
“I accept your apology.”
“So we are okay?”
“I just said no.”
“You’re really fucking confusing.”
He smiled. “Have dinner with me. Then we’ll be okay.”
“I’m not letting you manipulate me. I don’t negotiate with terrorists.”
“I’m a terrorist now?” he asked with a laugh.
“You’re forcing me against my will.”
“If I were forcing you against your will, I wouldn’t bother asking. I would just push you against this bar and take you.”
That made her skin prickle. “Is this how you ask out all women?”
“I’m not asking you out. It’s just a friendly get-together.”
“I don’t do get-togethers.”
“Just with Paul?” he snapped.
“He’s my friend.”
“And why can’t I be your friend?”
“I have plenty,” she said. “I don’t need anymore.”
“I didn’t realize you were so exclusive.”
She tightened her hold on her purse. “I just came to apologize. Now, I’ll go.”
Toby blocked her path. “What’s your problem?” His voice sounded angry.
“I just don’t want to go out with you. You don’t always get what you want. Deal with it.”
“I didn’t ask you out,” he said. “Why can’t we be friends?”
“We don’t get along.”
“We could try.”
“Or we can just forget this entire situation.”
He stepped toward her, his face next to hers. “I don’t want to forget it.”
Abby couldn’t hold his intense gaze so she looked away.
“It’s just a meal,” he said. “I know I’m a little unpleasant, but I’ll be on my best behavior.”
She sighed. “I’m tired and just want to go home.”
“I’ll cook you dinner at my apartment.”
“No,” she said immediately.
He glared at her. “Then have a drink with me.”
“Just give up.”
“No.”
“You’re so annoying,” she snapped.
“Like you aren’t.” He rolled his eyes.
“Then why do you want to have dinner with me so bad!”
“Does it fucking matter?” he snapped. “Just do it.”
“I’m not looking for a relationship.”
“I didn’t ask for one.” He moved to the stool then pulled it out. “Sit.”
She eyed it. “It’s too loud here.”
He pushed it in then grabbed her hand. “Then let’s go elsewhere.” He pulled her toward the door.
She immediately pulled her hand away and walked beside him.
“Sandwiches?” he asked.
“I guess.”
He walked a few blocks until he reached a large café. The walls were rustic white and the roof was black. He opened the door. “After you.”
She eyed him then walked inside.
“Yes, I can be a gentleman.” He approached the counter. “What would you like?”
She eyed the menu. “Turkey sandwich.”
“Coffee?” he asked.
“Sure.”
Toby ordered then took their food to a booth in the corner. The room was so quiet, she could hear the squeak of the table. When she sat across from him, she eyed the dark blue shirt he was wearing. It immediately brought out his eyes, making them brighter than normal. His shoulders were sculpted and defined. The roundness molded into his biceps, each section prominent. His chest was broad and wide, solid like a block of metal. She eyed it before she looked down at her coffee.
“Do you like what you see?”
“What are you talking about?” She added sugar.
“You were just eye-fucking me.”
“I was not,” she said immediately. “And you’re cocky as hell.”
“I know that look. I get it all the time.”
“Cocky…really cocky.”
“If you weren’t, then what were you thinking?”
She shrugged. “Nothing.”
“Okay.” He blatantly stared at her chest.
“Excuse me?”
“What?” He still looked at her breasts.
“Stop it.”
“Stop what?” he asked. “I was thinking about nothing.”
Abby covered her chest with her arms. “Knock it off. I’ll slap you.”
He looked down at his coffee and sipped it. “You liked it.”
“Wow…”
“What?” he asked.
“You’re the cockiest person I’ve ever met—hands down.”
He bit into his sandwich then chewed his food. His eyes were locked onto hers. “You’re seriously not attracted to me?”
“You act like that’s absurd.”
“Are you saying you aren’t?”
“I’m not,” she said.
He studied her face. “I can tell you’re lying.”
“I’m not,” she said quickly.
“You just did it again.”
“No…”
“Your lip slightly turns up. You might fool everyone else, but you don’t fool me.”
She stirred her coffee then added more sugar.
“You like it sweet?” he asked.
“Obviously,” she said sarcastically.
“Just admit it,” he said. “You’re into me.”
“If that were the case, I would just go out with you.”
He extended his arm and pointed to the restaurant. “What are we doing now?”
“You made me.”
He laughed. “I can’t make you do anything. If you really didn’t want to come, you would have punched me in the jaw again.”
“I still might…”
“That, right there.”
She raised an eyebrow, having no idea what that meant. “Huh?”
“That’s what I like about you.”
That didn’t clarify anything for her. “What?”
“I
like your attitude. Don’t get me wrong, it’s damn annoying. But I like it at the same time.”
“I think that’s the first nice thing you said to me…”
He smiled. “I said you were gorgeous the other day.”
Abby felt her cheeks flood with heat. “You think that?”
“You don’t?” he asked seriously.
She shrugged. “I’m not bad to look at…”
“You need to get some more confidence.”
“No,” she said. “I’m happy not being vain.”
“I’m not vain,” he said.
She laughed loudly. “Yeah, okay…”
“I’m not,” he said firmly.
Abby ate her sandwich and kept her gaze glued to her sandwich. There was a tomato on it, and she hated tomatoes, but she didn’t want to be rude so she ate it anyway. When she felt his eyes drill into her face, she looked up. “What?”
“What?” he said back.
“You’re staring at me.”
“How would you know unless you were staring at me.” He wiped his fingers on his napkin then set it aside.
“Can we have a conversation without arguing?” she asked.
He shrugged. “I have yet to see it happen.”
She held the cup in her hands and felt the warm radiate to her fingers. She blew the steam away then sipped it. “Do you do the Tough Mudder every year?”
He nodded. “Yeah. It’s a lot of fun.”
“Don’t they climb walls, swim through lakes, and run through mud while being electrocuted?”
“Yep.”
She raised an eyebrow. “But…isn’t that a bad idea?”
“Its low voltage.”
“But still…”
“What do you do for fun?”
Abby thought for a moment. “I like to look at art.”
“Where?”
“At the Met, mainly.”
“Isn’t it the same stuff every time?”
“No,” she said. “Tilda Swinton did a sleeping piece there.”
“What’s that?” he asked.
“She slept in a glass box during the day. It was on display so everyone could watch.”
He nodded his head slowly. “And you call that art?”
“You wouldn’t understand something like that.” She rolled her eyes.
“If you think my hobby is dumb, then I think your hobby is dumb.”
“I didn’t say it was dumb,” she said quickly. “Just dangerous.”
“It sounded like you thought it was dumb.”
She leaned back in her chair then set her coffee down.
“I’ll go to the museum with you and watch this…sleeping thing if you compete in a Tough Mudder with me.”
“What? Are you crazy?”
“You scared?” he asked.
“No,” she said immediately.
‘Then do it. I’ll train with you.”
“I’m already in shape,” she said.
“I can tell.” He stared at her body again then smiled.
“Perv…”
“I think you’re hot. So what? And I know you think I am too…”
Abby shook her head slightly.
“We got a deal?” he asked.
“You have to see the whole museum. Not just that one display.”
He nodded. “That sounds fair.”
“Then we have a deal.”
He extended his hand.
She stared at it for a moment. His hand didn’t shake while he waited for her return. Abby pressed her palm against his, and when they touched, the heat radiated through her fingers. He gripped it then shook her hand, holding it longer than necessary. His eyes drilled into hers, taking on a look she’d never seen before. He looked right through her, seeing every part of her. Abby suddenly noticed the freckle in the corner of his mouth. It was close to his lips, almost unnoticeable. When he pulled his hand away, she suddenly felt cold.
He rested his hands in his lap and kept his eyes locked to hers. “We have a deal.”
Chapter Fourteen
Abby stirred the wine in her glass then sipped it. “This is really good.”
“Vintage,” Fernan said. He cut into his salmon and ate with grace.
“Do you collect wine?”
He chewed his food slowly, taking his time. “That and among other things.”
Abby ate most of her plate, but her stomach was bulging with fullness. She pushed the plate aside then drank her wine. The light sweetness made her addicted.
“How was your day?” he asked. He stared into her face, giving her the same intent look he always did.
“It was alright,” she said.
“And what did you do?”
“I’ve been training with a friend for a Tough Mudder race.”
“Tough Mudder?” he asked. His eyebrow was raised. “I didn’t realize that was something you’d be interested in.”
“Well, I kinda got sucked into it…”
Fernan drank his wine then returned it to the table. “This sounds like an interesting story.”
“You could say that,” she said with a laugh. “I basically mocked the race and he thought my art-searching was dumb.”
“He?”
“A…friend. So he has to stare at art with me and I have to train with him.”
“Be careful,” he said gently.
“I’ll be fine.”
“How long has this been going on?”
“A few weeks.”
He nodded. “I’m sure you’ll do well.”
Abby waited for him to finish his plate before she grabbed them and took them to the sink. It was a routine they did. He cooked and she cleaned the mess. “Thank you for dinner.” She turned on the water and rinsed the plates.
Fernan came behind her then rested his face in the crook of her neck. His hands grabbed her hips and felt the soft fabric of her dress. She kept washing the dishes but felt distracted by the breath that fell on her skin and the feel of his hands. When he started to kiss her gently, she was even more unfocused. His lips moved to her ear, breathing heavily.
Abby finished the dishes then set them aside. “I’d be much quicker if you didn’t do that.”
“I like it slow,” he whispered. His hand moved to her ribs and pulled her close.
“I know you do…”
Fernan turned her around then placed his hand under her chin. “You are my muse.” His eyes verified his meaning, shining with emotion. He pressed his lips against her and kissed her lightly.
Abby always melted when Fernan kissed her. Before they started fooling around, she never thought of him that way. But now she couldn’t stop. They’d been fooling around for weeks, and she enjoyed every second of it. He was amazing in bed and gave her exactly what she wanted. He never pried into her privacy or tried to figure out where she lived. It was easy and simple with him, no attachments and no stress. It was perfect.
Fernan guided her to the bedroom then onto the bed. She immediately wrapped her legs around his waist and held him close. His hand moved up her dress and felt her soft legs. She was glad she started waxing. They were always smooth.
“I could kiss these all day.” He moved his mouth to her inner thigh.
She gripped his shoulders. “You’re so sexy, Fernan.”
“Because you make me sexy, darling.” He reached for her underwear then pulled them down.
Abby started to anticipate the charged connection between them. The sex was always satisfying and amazing. But the moments leading up to it were always better. He somehow made her excited until she thought she would crumble.
She unbuttoned his shirt and loosened his tie before she pulled them off. When she saw his naked chest, she bit her lip. She pressed her lips to his chest and trailed kisses everywhere, feeling the lines and grooves of his chiseled physique. “Yum.”
One hand dug into her hair while the other unzipped her dress. When it was undone, she pulled it off then took the bra with it. Now Abby was more aroused than s
he was before, she yanked his trousers and briefs off. When he was naked, she grabbed his length and kissed the tip.
Fernan immediately moaned.
Seeing the arousal in his eyes made her continue. She liked pleasing him as much as possible. She ran her tongue along the tip then down the shaft. He watched her with dark eyes. When she took him into her mouth, he pulled away then moved her up the bed.
“You don’t like that?” she asked.
He positioned himself between her legs. “I like making love more.” He found her entrance then moved inside with a single motion. Her body still stretched for him like it usually did, and it was achingly pleasurable. His cock moved in and out, making long and hard strokes.
“Fernan…”
He kissed her forehead then stared into her face.
When the orgasm started, she wasn’t surprised by its sudden arrival. He always ignited her into a fiery flame as soon as they started. Her hands moved to his ass and pulled him deep inside, wanting as much of him as possible. “Fuck…”
“You look so gorgeous when you come,” he said while he thrust.
She gripped him tightly as she finished her orgasm. “God, that was good.”
Fernan continued his pace.
Abby gripped him then rolled him to the bed. She straddled him then rocked into him, sheathing his cock repeatedly. Fernan rocked from below and grabbed her hips. His eyes were locked to her breasts.
She grabbed his hands and pinned them over his head. “Stop moving.”
His hips became still.
Abby moved up and down, pulling him out until the tip was almost gone then pushed him back in.
Fernan writhed under her, enjoying the pleasure she was giving him.
She rocked her hips and took him in repeatedly, enjoying the control she had. He tried to move his arms but she wouldn’t let him. “It’s time for me to make you come.”
He closed his eyes for a moment then his mouth gaped open. “Mmm…”
She moved into him harder.
A moan escaped his lips. “Abby…”
She stared at his face, watching it change as the unstoppable pleasure sparked and ignited deep inside him. She imagined him filling the tip of his condom and that pushed her harder.
When Fernan started to breath heavily, she knew he was done. “You’re wicked.”
She smiled then crawled onto his chest. “Who’s fault is that?”
He sighed happily.
Abby grabbed his face and kissed him gently. “You’re the best lover I’ve ever had.”