by Anna B. Doe
“I’ve just been thinking.” He shrugs. “We should go.”
“On a date?” I ask again. One would think that the concept of a date is unfamiliar to me. And they would be right. Somewhat.
“Yes, Sienna.” A heavy sigh leaves his mouth and he rolls his eyes. “On a date.”
“This counts as a date.” My reasoning is weak and we both know it. I don’t know why I’m even obsessing about it, I just am. J.D. wants to take me on a date. But it seems too … real.
We are fuck buddies. Nothing more, nothing less. Fuck buddies don’t go on dates. Do they?
My experience consists of a bunch of one-night stands so I didn’t get to the whole fuck-buddies stage with a guy.
“This is most definitely not a date.” He looks at me funny. “You are a girl. Shouldn’t you know the difference between hanging out and going on a date?”
“Movies can count as a date.” I lift my eyebrow stubbornly at him.
“Although there are no fancy clothes, dinner, and my sister was with us the whole night?”
“So what?”
J.D. laughs gruffly. It’s hushed and sexy. His lips are curled into a half smile and he shakes his head at me like he can’t believe the stuff that comes out of my mouth.
“You are acting funny.”
“Am not.”
“Prove it.” His green eyes shine with a challenge. “Go on a date with me.”
Why did I have to give in to the challenge? Why? Just why?
I haven’t been on a date, a real date in so long I forgot what it’s like. The whole process of preparing, and the nerves.
There’s this itchy feeling in my fingers. I can feel my heart beat slightly faster, a tad harder than usual. And the butterflies.
People talk about them all the time, but I don’t remember feeling them ever before. They are annoying the shit out of me. Jumping around my stomach and making me even more nervous and the palms of my hands sweaty.
God, it’s been years since the last time I went through this. If I let my mind wander around maybe I could even pinpoint the exact moment it happened, but I don’t want to go down memory lane. Once you start picking around the past, you can easily dig out the things you’d rather stay forgotten. But the way he said it, so sure I would back down from the challenge made me want to show him he’s wrong.
So damn wrong.
I can date.
If I want to.
I can put on a pretty dress and heels. I can go out, have dinner and nice conversation in some restaurant with soft music playing in the background while candles cast their light all around us. I can hold someone’s hand while we walk down the street and let the guy be the gentlemen and open a door for me.
I simply choose not to.
But J.D.’s not the type of guy you can say no to. He’s the one in charge. The leader. The protector. He always goes for what he wants. “No” doesn’t exist in his vocabulary. His stubbornness brings my own to the light of the day.
“You seem awfully quiet tonight.” J.D.’s hand lands on mine, hot and secure, snapping me out of my mind. “You don’t like your food?”
My eyes find his across the table.
J. D. may be rough around the edges, but he knows how to clean up nice. Black slacks and a crisp white dress shirt tailored to his body to perfection showing off his wide shoulders, strong legs, and one really nice ass.
There wasn’t a woman we passed by that didn’t turn around to take a second peek at him. Not that I can blame them. He has this bad boy vibe going around him but is wrapped in a nice package. There’s no way to resist that.
“No, the food’s fine.” I smile and take a bite of my fish. Last time I met with my agent she gave me one of her famous you-aren’t-fat-but-you-should-watch-what-you-eat looks. Way to put pressure on the girl. The only positive thing is that I enjoy fish; if not, I would be stuck with rabbit food. “I’ve just been thinking.”
“Care to share?”
Smile tugs at my lips. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
J.D. leans across the table, so close our noses are almost touching.
“If it’s something dirty you can whisper it in my ear. I promise not to tell. And I’m really good at playing out the scenarios.”
I chuckle and let my leg slide against his under the table. “What if what I have in mind could get you in trouble?”
My voice is husky, and I can feel the excitement running through my veins, making my blood boil.
This is what I know.
This is what I understand.
“Baby doll, my middle name’s trouble.”
A smile stretches across my face. With one finger, I caress his clean-shaven face.
I love his scruffy cheeks—they make him rougher, rawer. I want to touch them. I want to feel them scratch my skin and make me tremble. He looks a bit wild and untamed, but I have to admit there is something about this prim and proper J.D. too.
To everybody else, he looks like a businessman. Pretty face, strong body wrapped in a nice suit. But I’m the only one who knows what’s hiding underneath the surface. I’m the only one who knows him as he really is.
I’ve seen the scars and tattoos that mar his tanned skin. I know what his hands are capable of. I know their texture and can recognize his touch. I know how that stubborn mouth can utter some beautiful, dirty things.
“Let’s go someplace more … secluded.”
I can see the heat in his light-green eyes.
The desire.
The need.
It matches mine to perfection.
I want him to take me. I’m ready to get up in an instant and find the first half-decent place and let him take me. Or simply do it here.
Right here, right now.
Spectators be damned.
“Not so fast.” J.D.’s hand holds me down.
“Why?”
“Date first, fucking second. Remember?”
His eyes still glow with hungry hunter’s look, but I can see the stubborn set of his jaw. For some reason, he wants this. The whole package. Well, two can play this game.
“Okay,” I agree, but before he can lean back into his seat and breathe in relief I let my lips brush his ear. “But just so you know, I’m not wearing any panties.”
I’m not wearing any panties.
Those are the only words I can think about for the rest of the night. They’re buzzing in my head. Making me dizzy with lust.
It isn’t enough that she’s dressed in another short dress that shows off her bare back. A back that’s asking for my attention.
She’s provoking me on purpose.
Sienna’s testing my limits to see how far she can go before I snap and throw her over my shoulder and take her to my bed to ravish her body. Well, she’ll have to wait.
Payback’s a bitch, and I plan on collecting tonight.
So far, the dinner is going perfectly.
When I picked up Sienna at her apartment, with flowers in my hand and all that shit girls love, she didn’t give me any sarcastic comment. It even seemed to me that she liked the attention. Her eyes grew wide in surprise and her cheeks flushed if only slightly. She’d probably say it’s the heat, but I wouldn’t believe her for a second.
I made a reservation in this restaurant that everyone’s been talking about. It’s fairly new, away from the city, and has this secluded, romantic touch to it. They serve a wide variety of food, so that’s a plus because I have no idea what she likes to eat.
The conversation was light and flirty.
I’ve been worried about that part because when we were together before we didn’t talk much. Or bodies did all the talking. Not that I’m complaining. I’m a simple guy, after all.
Everything is okay until the moment it’s not.
Until the moment you need more.
It’s easy to feel this chemistry, this connection, this pull toward someone on a sexual level, but to be able to feel it outside of the bedroom, that’s something completely differe
nt.
For a while, I honestly doubted it. That’s one of the reasons why I wanted to take her out. What could a model and football player possibly have in common?
It’s cliché, I know. People see us as the perfect couple. When in reality our agents put us together to get more exposure, more public attention, and rarely any of those couples are actually together.
It’s a stunt.
Bring the pair together, make them stay in a relationship for a while with perfectly organized outings, then make them break up. The louder and the uglier the better.
However, I have to admit I was wrong.
There is so much more to Sienna Roberts than meets the eye.
She’s beautiful, there is no discussing that. But she’s also smart, hardworking, and kind. She has this witty, sarcastic side that’s hard to resist. She’s funny and sassy and good with kids. When I look at her with Grace, I feel at peace because I know my baby sister has somebody to rely on, somebody she can trust.
A friend.
A role model.
Sienna isn’t self-centered or petty. She asked me about football, my past and my future plans, Grace, and dad. She talked about her family and her mom’s dance school. And with every word I could feel myself getting drawn to her more and more.
With every small, shy smile she gave my way I moved closer.
I needed to be closer.
Sienna’s a contradiction. Loud, sassy, and prideful on one side, and shy, soft, and girly on the other. That other side is the one that’s wrapping me around her finger. I love her fierceness, her strength, but I have a feeling that this other part of her needs me.
It’s stupid, I know, but I can’t help it.
“So.” Sienna looks at me through her dark eyelashes from the other side of the table. She’s playing with her empty wine glass, her finger tracing the brim. “Is the date part finally over and we can pass to more … interesting things?”
Her impatience makes me laugh.
I would like nothing more than to do exactly as she asked, but …
“Not yet, but if you are ready to go …” I let my voice trail, waiting for her reaction.
Of course, Sienna doesn’t disappoint. Her red lips purse in discontent. “This thing is not over yet?” she whines, not caring about other people around us.
“This thing is a date. You can say it. D-A-T-E.” With every letter, I move closer to her. “The word won’t bite you in that sexy, naked ass.”
I feel my cock twitch at the thought. Being around this woman has me aroused all the damn time, but it’s even harder to resist her when she teases me like she’s doing tonight.
“And if you are not careful, you won’t come close to this sexy, naked ass.”
Her words make me laugh even harder. “Like you’d reject all of this.”
She rolls her amber eyes at me. “Are we going or what?”
“Your wish is my command, princess.”
My teasing gets me an eye roll from Sienna.
I give a signal to our waiter, and he’s here in no time, taking my credit card.
As soon as he returns, I hop to my feet and help her out of her chair.
My hand slides down her back, caressing her soft, pale skin until it settles on her lower back. The touch is soft, making her shiver. Making me want her even more.
Sienna tilts her head backward and looks at me over her shoulder.
“Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise.”
The hand on her back pushes her in the direction I want her to go.
“But that’s not …”
“Shh …” I hush her before she can say more. This woman. I shake my head, but my smile doesn’t fall.
In silence, I lead her to the back of the restaurant. The door is closed, but instead of stepping forward and opening it, I close the distance between us.
Her back is pressed against my chest, my chin touching the top of her head. I let my hand slide around her. My fingers spread on her flat stomach, pulling her even closer to me.
I open the door with my free hand and take a step forward.
“Surprise,” I murmur against her ear.
I can hear her sharp intake of air. Her red lips form a little O in surprise. My eyes look at her speechless face. I take her in while she looks at her surroundings in awe.
“It’s so beautiful,” she breathes finally, still looking around the small garden that belongs to the restaurant.
My eyes don't leave her face. While she’s dazed with the garden, I’m dazed with her.
“It definitely is.”
Sienna doesn’t acknowledge my compliment, that’s how engrossed she is in her surroundings.
She steps out of my arms and looks around.
The garden is small but beautiful. It’s filled with cherry trees and rose bushes that are in full bloom. The whole space is a mix of reds, pinks, whites, and greens while a sweet scent fills the space.
In the middle of it all is a small stone fountain. Small lights are draped over the branches and give the garden a romantic feel.
Sienna makes a full circle to take it all in. A soft smile is playing on her lips.
“It’s so pretty!” she says in awe. “Who would have thought this has been hiding here all the time? It’s a shame we didn’t have dinner here.”
I move closer to her and put my hands on her shoulders, slightly rubbing her exposed skin.
“I asked, but the owner doesn’t serve dinner here. The space is too small, and even if I could have pressured him into opening it for us tonight it’s still too chilly in the evening to sit outside.”
I don’t finish my sentence when I feel her body tremble under my arms, so I pull her more into me.
“It’s a shame. I think most of the people would enjoy spending time here. It’s quiet. Peaceful.”
“I like it better this way.” I chuckle. “If everybody sat here it wouldn’t be so peaceful anymore.”
“I guess you are right,” she agrees reluctantly. “This is nice.”
Her body leans more into my embrace. Her back is pressed against my chest, her hands cover mine on her stomach.
I continue to sway slightly to keep her body in motion. The last thing I want is for her to freeze.
My chin touches the top of her head and I let my eyelids shut. I breathe in slowly. The scent of garden mixes with this scent that’s all Sienna. It’s sweet, sexy, intoxicating. I think I could drown in it.
“Did you just sniff me, big guy?” Sienna looks over her shoulder at me. One of her perfect brows is raised in question.
“You are delusional.”
“You totally did.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about.”
She rolls her eyes at me. “You suck at lying, Shelton.”
“On the contrary, I’m really good at sucking.”
“Are you suggesting something?”
I wiggle my brows. “Only one way to find out, baby doll.”
“I miss you.” His voice feels like a soft caress although we are miles apart. I’ve got another photo shoot on my schedule that took me out of town for a while.
I turn on my back and pull the blanket tightly around me. Being in this big bed alone doesn’t feel as good as it should feel. As good as it used to feel.
“Are you getting all whoopy on me, Shelton?”
“I was getting used to you stealing more than half of my king-size bed and covers,” he teases in an exaggerated tone.
“Then you should enjoy it now while I’m not there. All that space and warm blankets all for yourself.”
“I’d rather have your pushy ass in my bed.”
A light chuckle fills the space between us. I can totally see him pouting. It’s cute. That big, rough, badass man chuckling like a kid. And sometimes, he acts like a kid too.
Although I’m lying down in my bed in the obscured room, I close my eyes and I can see him. His boyish smile, an amused twinkle in his green eyes, his messy hair �
��
I shake my head, trying to distance myself from the spell he put me under. Talking like this, in the darkness in low voices, feels intimate. Too intimate.
“I’d rather have a lot of things, but I can’t.”
J.D. groans in frustration. “Like what?”
“Like …,” I drawl, trying to come up with something funny. Anything to lighten the mood.
Nothing comes to my mind. I’m paid enough to buy myself almost anything I could wish for.
“Like a unicorn.”
“You want a unicorn?” He laughs hard and I can feel my own smile spread.
“Yeah, they are cute and have magical powers. What else could a girl wish for?”
His laughter fills my side of the phone and I can feel something around my heart melt. He sounds so young, so carefree, so happy.
I’m making him happy.
Don’t even go there.
“Well, I hate to inform you, babe, but unicorns don’t exist.”
“Bummer.”
“I can’t imagine your struggle.” He laughs again. “Actually, what I was calling about—”
“And here I thought you just like to hear my sexy voice.”
“I adore hearing your sexy voice, especially when you are doing all those sexy, dirty sounds.”
His words make me squeeze my legs together to dull the need rising between them.
“I’m not having phone sex with you, Sheldon!”
“Who asked you to have phone sex with me, Roberts?” There is a slight pause before he continues. “Although now that you mention it …”
“No!”
“Okay, okay. What has your panties in a twist?”
“You forgot I don’t like to wear panties.” I have to tease. He makes it too easy.
A loud groan from the other side of the line has me all hot and bothered. Why did I have to say no to phone sex? It’s far from the real deal, but it’s better than this unsatisfied urge running through my veins.
“If you don’t stop teasing me, I’ll come there right now and spank you on that naked ass until it gets all nice and rosy.”