Right. The nerves from having so much attention from men. The heavy-on-the-Malibu and Cokes. My boobs felt dirty from Allen’s attention.
But I’d had fun taking selfies and photos of the drinks. My creator brain didn’t often get to run wild with people, but those fellas had been up for a lot. Amazing what guys would do to get into a girl’s pants.
Except for Tenor.
He’d stalked right in and literally picked me up.
My stomach fluttered. A lurch followed.
Water. Then food.
I chugged the bottle. Before I went searching for food, I swung into the guest room and gathered fresh clothing. I took a quick shower and towel-dried my hair. Dressed in navy linen shorts and a gray shirt that said nothing butBookish, I trudged to the kitchen. A pan covered with aluminum foil in the fridge had a note on it with heating instructions.
I lifted the foil and my stomach rumbled. Breakfast burritos. Had he made them?
I heated up two. I didn’t overindulge with alcohol often, but I got ravenous when I did.
When I was halfway done with the second one, Tenor walked in.
He drew himself up and stuck close to the door when he saw me.
My mouth was full but I gave him a lopsided smile that was probably more like a grimace. Time to face the reckoning.
I swallowed. “So last night . . .”
He slouched against the door. “Yeah... about that?—”
“I’m really sorry if I made you uncomfortable,” I rushed on.
He cocked his head like he hadn’t heard me. “Mademeuncomfortable?”
“I don’t usually act like that. I invaded your space and then I...” My words caught in my throat. How embarrassing. “I was just inappropriate.”
He crossed the distance between us in seconds, planted his hands on the table, and leaned in close, his face inches from mine. “If you think having a beautiful woman get herself off to the thought of me in my bed makes me uncomfortable, you didn’t see or feel the erection I’ve had ever since.” He tilted my chin up with his rough fingertips. His brown eyes were bright behind his lenses. “That was the hottest night of my life.”
I scoffed. What he said refused to register. He’d been out of my league even before I’d seen him with his shirt off.
He didn’t take his fingers off my face. “Do you know how badly I wanted to taste you?”
But he hadn’t.
He took my hand and prompted me to stand. “You’re sober now.”
I was. “The water was really thoughtful. Thank you.”
He gripped my hips and lifted me. My ass was planted on the top of the table and he wedged himself between my legs. “You’re welcome.” He took his glasses off and set them beside me. Then he planted his mouth on mine.
I curled my arms around his neck and greedily returned the kiss. He hadn’t kissed me last night, but he hadn’t let me make a spectacle of myself alone.
If you think having a beautiful woman get herself off to the thought of me in my bed makes me uncomfortable, you didn’t see or feel the erection I’ve had ever since.
He’d been into it?
He pulled back, keeping his forehead against mine. “I wasn’t going to take advantage of you, Ruby. But don’t think that means I wasn’t interested.”
I hated that I needed constant reassurance. He was hot and cold, sometimes flashing back and forth in an instant. The man was so carefully restrained.
Memories from last night crystallized. The shock on his face when I walked in had morphed into self-consciousness. The rigid way he’d stood when I gave his body attention. It was the same when I had spotted all the belongings haphazardly stashed around his bed and dresser.
