She didn’t like him asking stupid questions she didn’t want to think about, so she rubbed against him, reminding his body what it wanted. “I answered you.”
“Honestly?”
“As honest as you’re gonna get,” she promised. “Now kiss me.”
He shocked her by planting a doozy on her. His tongue, lips and teeth took charge until she was a heartbeat away from begging him to fuck. God, with just his mouth he could make her forget every bad thing in her life and concentrate on nothing but feeling good. He was like magic.
Then he yanked himself back and loosened his hold on her hips. To her satisfaction, he must have forgotten his pledge of no sex because he’d been grinding into her something fierce.
“My turn,” she said when she could speak.
He cleared his throat and leaned as far back as the cushions would allow.
“Why the blackmail for a date, Dex-ter?” She drawled his name and stroked the back of his neck.
He blinked. She could almost hear the wheels in his mind turning.
She put a finger over his lips. “Uh-uh. Honest answer.”
He nipped her, and she ignored the rush of electricity that traveled from her finger to between her legs.
“The truth? I missed you while I was gone and wanted to see if you were still as much a pain in the ass now as you were then.” He stared at her with heat in his eyes. “And you are. How’s that for honesty?”
“Okay, I guess.” He thought she was a pain? Should she be flattered or insulted?
“So why are you so against dating me?”
“Because I don’t like you?” Shoot. She’d meant that to be a statement, not a question.
“Try again.”
Exasperated, she blew out a breath. “Because dating and I don’t mix. I have my friends if I want to hit a movie or do dinner. When I need sex, I find a guy I like and am attracted to. We hit it off, we’re happy, we’re done. No mess, no fuss.”
“Haven’t you ever had a serious boyfriend?” He looked fascinated.
She frowned. “A few over the years, and they only reinforced what I know—that I don’t do long term. It’s too bad I’m not gay, but women do nothing for me sexually. Men do, but they bore me.” She stared into his eyes. “It doesn’t take long to learn that your gender wants to be catered to and taken care of. Frankly, I have better things to do with my time. I want heavy furniture moved? I can call a moving service. I want sex? I can use a vibrator. So what are you good for?”
“But that’s not quality sex.” He rubbed her sides. “That’s not fucking-against-a-wall, get-your-girl-begging-for-it sex.”
She felt her heart race and did her best to relax.
“Come on, baby. Admit you liked feeling me hard and thick inside you,” he murmured and pulled her closer. He whispered into her ear, “Remember how good my mouth felt over your clit? How sweet it felt to come over my lips?”
“Dex,” she gasped.
Before she could kiss him again, he stood with her in his arms, as if she weighed nothing. He took a step to the side and dumped her on the couch.
“Wh-what?” He withdrew his phone from his back pocket, and the action thrust the prominent bulge in his jeans into relief. She wanted to taste him so badly.
“What’s that?” he said into the phone, his voice thick as he stared down at her. “Really? A plumbing emergency? Right now? Okay.” He ended the call and moved to her front door. Without turning around, he said, “Sorry, Maya. Gotta go. Anson needs me. I’ll text you for our next date. Bye.” And he was gone.
She sat there, sexually frustrated, confused and annoyed at how he’d gotten her so hot so fast, then literally dumped her on her ass.
“Friggin’ Dexter Black.”
She fumed long into the night and right into the next morning. Had he really had an emergency to attend to? If so, why hadn’t he asked her to drop him off? Granted, the walk to Anson’s restaurant—if that’s where he’d gone—wasn’t too far. But for an emergency, wouldn’t he want speed?
After breakfast, she did some preliminary sketches for a few pieces she intended to make for some upcoming art shows. Winter time brought good money, and people liked local wares. After spending her morning vacillating between believing and disbelieving Dex and wishing she had the energy to go grocery shopping, she put her sketchbook away and walked the few blocks to Riley’s bakery for something to eat.
