“How about we not give it a label just yet? That way, you don’t assume we’re something we aren’t, and I won’t get upset about not being more than you’re willing to admit. However, I don’t share.”
“Fine, but don’t go blaming me when you get bored.” Ingrid sighs, her head falling back with a soft thud, a wave of exhaustion washing over her. “I’m not like the other women you’ve been with. While I’m no innocent virgin, my experience is extremely limited. I’m basically clueless.” She takes a quick breath and then keeps going. “When I’m frazzled, I turn into a mess—awkward, clumsy, and boring as hell mess. My small talk tanks. I can fake the game and wear the mask, but inside I’m praying to disappear. I prefer the solitude of home. Give me a good book and a bottle of wine and you’ll never hear me complain.”
I could argue. Tell her she’s wrong. But what’s the point? Words mean nothing. The truth has to be shown. She needs a demonstration, one she can’t deny later.
It’s a good thing I’ll be around for a month; that’s plenty of time to make my point.
Chapter 15
Ingrid
The sunlight wakes me the following morning. I roll over and groan, then jump when I realize I’m not alone.
“Calm down, cupcake.” His gravelly voice warns. “Nothing happened. You fell asleep in the car, and I carried you inside. That’s it.”
But that’snotit. I’m no longer in my cocktail dress. “Liar. Did you take off my dress?”
He nods, a stupid smirk spreading across his face. “But don’t worry, I covered my eyes after I figured out how to lower the zipper. Slipped one of my t-shirts over your head. Left all your cute undergarments securely in place.”
My fist tightens around the comforter. “How do you know they’re cute if you kept your eyes closed?”
“Must I remind you that I licked your frosting last night?” He opens one eye. “You don’t seem like the type of woman who’d mismatch those.”
Stretching, he sits up and rolls his neck. “I’ll get out of your hair so you can clean up. You can meet me in the kitchen once you’re done.”
I try not to swoon at the man, but he isn’t making it easy looking like sin. His hair is a disheveled mess of curls. The lounge pants he slept in hide nothing. Cling to his arse like a second skin. When he bends to grab a t-shirt from one of his drawers, I bite my lip in hopes of holding back my moan. But once he spins around, I can no longer keep it inside.
Fuck me. The outline hanging a bit to the left brings back memories of him grinding against me last night before going down on his knees. He’s clearly packing a lethal weapon, one I’m almost certain will ruin me.
“Stop staring at my cock.” He grunts, tugging his shirt over his head. “Or I’ll climb back in bed and finish what we started last night.”
I’m about to tell him to do just that when my phone rings inside the pocket of my dress. Tossing back the covers, I retrieve it and decide I don’t have the willpower to deal with my mother this morning, so I let it ring through to voicemail. Tossing it on the bed, I let my body fall backwards and bounce a few times, staring up at the ceiling, knowing I’ll have to call her back or she’ll only keep calling.
My phone rings again, and before I can grab it, Darius does. “Excuse me. What are you doing? Give me that.”
He doesn’t, of course. Instead, he takes a step back and presses the green icon, putting on speaker. “Hello.”
“Who is this?” my mother sounds irritated. “Why are you answering my daughter’s phone?”
“I’m her fuck buddy. She’s worn out after a good romp in the bed. Can’t be disturbed.”
I should be mad that he said that to her, but I giggle instead.
“I can hear her. Please hand her the phone.” Mother’s voice isn’t impressed. “I need to speak to her. It’s urgent.”
“Can’t. She’s currently bound and gagged. Dripping wet for my big, thick cock.” Darius reaches down, his hand slipsbetween his pants as he adjusts himself. “Why don’t you give me a message and I’ll make sure she gets it?”
“Young man, you will hand my daughter the phone now!”
“Who said I was a young chap? For all you know, your precious little girl is sleeping with one of her professors, doing her best to earn an A.” When my mother gasps he chuckles.
I’ve heard enough and speak. “Mother, he’s lying. I’m not sleeping with anyone. Now why are you calling?”
“Who was that?”
“I already told you, I’m her fuck buddy. We just haven’t had the chance to actually fuck yet.” He tosses the phone onto the bed. “You interrupted us. I’m grabbing coffee. Come down when you’re done, cupcake.”
I leave my phone where it landed and lie back on the bed. “Mother. Why are you calling?”
