“Jackson Samuel Bloom, watch your mouth.”
He laughed and licked her palm. She wiped her hand on his jacket, muttering under her breath. Then she grabbed him and yanked him with her to the car.
As he drove them back to her house, he wondered about something. “You don’t care if I drive, do you?”
“Why would I?” She seemed puzzled.
“Some women would see me driving as a statement of control.”
“You do have five more hours. Then…payback.” She smirked at him.
“So if there was no bet, just you and me hanging out, would you want to drive?”
“Would you care if I did?”
He thought about it. “No. You’re a good driver.”
She nodded. “There’s your answer. You’ve never been sexist or racist as long as I’ve known you. You’ve never treated Maya or Riley different, which is more than I can say for half the school. And you’ve never acted like having a smart girlfriend was a crime.”
“I love smart women.” One smart woman in particular.
“You always treated me with respect.” She frowned. “Well, almost always.”
He didn’t want to talk about the past. “Now, today, do you feel good being with me?”
“Yeah, I guess.” She looked out the window as she asked, “You like being with me, don’t you?”
“Yes. And not just for the sex. That’s amazing, don’t get me wrong, but I like you a lot, Ann.” He decided to push. “I’d like us to keep seeing each other. After the bet.”
“Seeing each other.”
“You know. Dating. Boyfriend-girlfriend. Being exclusive.”
“Oh.”
They drove the next few minutes in silence. He was dying to know what she thought about his idea.
Once inside, she turned to him. “What do I get out of it?”
“Excuse me?” He hung up their coats, straightening out the sleeves so the jackets were even, then noticed her surprised expression. “What?”
“Nothing.” But he saw the smile she tried to hide.
“What? Spit it out, Weaver.”
She grinned. “I just think it’s cute that you’re a neat freak.”
“Oh.” He glanced at the closet, and she laughed. Having her in a good mood, he took advantage. “So you and me. Us.” She stopped laughing and backed away as he advanced. Finally, she took him seriously. “What do you think?”
She stopped moving when she backed into the wall. He stood over her, feeling like a conquering hero and loving it. He freely admitted he got off on being in command, but only because he knew she was as strong as he was, and shelethim take charge. He needed that trust from her. Maybe, once he felt sure of her feelings, they could revisit the past and clear the air. But right now he needed a hold on the woman.
He hated to keep resorting to sex, but it seemed to work. She softened after he pleasured her.
Jack put a hand around her neck. Gently, but he kept her right where he wanted her. Judging from the increase in her breathing and dilation of her pupils, she liked his hand right where it was.
“You and me, Ann.”
He used his other hand to unbutton her blouse. He slipped his hand inside and past her bra to tease her nipples.
