Liza sighs. “I know you’re being sarcastic, but if you really want to know why I came up here, well, that’s why.”
I’m pretty sure my eyebrows shoot up into my hairline when I hear her words. “You want to use my dick again? I’m not mad, trust me. I’m just surprised as hell that you want more. Not that it wasn’t great. It was fucking incredible to see you like that, to do that with you.”
Liza blushes, and I realize too late that I’ve said too damn much, but I can’t take it back now.
“Yeah, it was incredible. For me. But you…”
I stiffen when she doesn’t finish her sentence. Hazel lets out a pissed-off meow because I’ve once again stopped petting her, but I’ll worry about that later. Right now, I need to set Liza straight. “If you’re here on some mission to even the score or because you think you owe me an orgasm, you can turn right back around and order your weird little pizza. Jesus. I know you think I’m an ass and I get it, but what the fuck? You don’t owe me shit. Sex doesn’t work that way, and if any fucker ever tells you it does, knee them in the balls and get the hell out of there.”
“No, that’s not what I meant,” she assures me, shaking her head. “I mean kind of, but not totally. Like, I don’t feel like I owe you anything, but…you know what? Never mind. This was a dumb idea. I should go.”
Liza’s flustered and it’s weird as hell because I’ve never seen her like this. Pissed yes? Locked in? Hell yeah. Ready to bust some balls? Always. But tripping over her words, fidgeting her hands and chewing on her damn lip like it’s her last meal? No. “You’re freaking me out, DeWalt. Here, have a seat,” I say, moving over to make room. “Get some Hazel snuggles and chill out a little.”
She hesitates, so I roll off the far edge of the bed. “It’s all yours.” As soon as the words leave my mouth, she sits on the edge of the bed and about two seconds later, Hazel’s curled up in her lap. I sit down at the bottom of the bed, making sure to give Liza plenty of room because she still looks skittish as hell. She’s barely touching Hazel, and usually she’s more than happy to spend quality cuddle time with my princess.
“You wanna tell me what has you so freaked out? You’re not worried about pregnancy or some shit are you?” I joke, trying to lighten the mood and failing miserably. “Because it’s not contagious. And we were both clothed. And I didn’t come until?—”
“You didn’t come at all,” she says, turning to face me.
Well, this is awkward. “Actually,” I begin, clearing my throat.
Liza looks utterly perplexed. “Oh. You did? Was it when I, um, did? Or after? Or, oh, god, before? Did I not notice? How could I have missed?—”
I shake my head so she’ll stop with the play-by-play, though I’m not sure exactly what to say. Telling her I came in my damn pants like a fucking novice because watching her come undone was intoxicating is the truth, but I’ve embarrassed myself in front of Liza enough times in the past twenty-four hours, so I decide to go with a succinct answer. “Right after.”
Liza’s eyes go wide, and she purses her lips, like she’s trying to rewind the tape in her mind. I could fill in the blanks and explain that her orgasm went on for freaking ever, during which time she continued to ride the hell out of my hand, which was so hot it pushed me right over the edge I’d been teetering on. But I need to put this conversation—and the events of last night—behind me.
“So. Hurray for mutual orgasms, amiright?” I say, still not coaxing so much as a smile out of her. “Now, like you said, we pretend that last night didn’t happen and we move on with our lives.” I say the words casually, like it’ll be easy, like I’m remotely capable of forgetting the look on Liza’s face when she came apart in my arms. Like I can erase the whimpers and sighs from where they’re embedded in my mind. Like I can fall asleep tonight without replaying our hot-as-hell encounter in the equipment room. Because even though I only had a taste of her, it was more than enough to get me hooked.
“We could do that,” she says, nodding as she scratches the top of Hazel’s head. “We should do that. But what if we didn’t?”
Liza’s not looking at me, so I reach out and tip her chin up so she has no choice but to meet my gaze. “What did you say?”
“You heard me,” she answers back, and fuck, I love it when she won’t give me an inch.
“Did I?” My brows raise as I ask the question. Because if I did, holy shit. I’m a born fuck buddy, so either I’m dreaming right now or those fairies know they did me dirty and they’re making up for it now. And yet, something doesn’t feel right. I need clarification. And I need the uneasy feeling in my gut to go away. “What are you saying? You want to fuck around? With me?”
Next to me, Liza bristles. “You don’t have to sound so offended.”
“I’m not offended,” I assure her. “I’m shocked. And frankly, a little suspicious. Like, maybe I should be worried you’re gonna get me all worked up and then shank me.”
She rolls her eyes, but I’m not done. Humor is my favorite defense mechanism, and right now I need to laugh. “Or, oh, shit, Liza. I’m onto you. I’ve cracked your little code. You’re going to seduce me, right? Drive me out of my mind with pleasure, is that it? And then, when you’ve got me tied to the bedposts, naked and begging, you’re going to leave me stranded here while you head back downstairs to order your moldy little pizza. I’ve got your number, DeWalt.”
I’m expecting a snarky comment, a witty barb. She’s got a sharp tongue and I like it more than I should, considering her venom is always aimed at me. Instead, she’s staring at me, her lips parted, her eyes wide. “You like to be tied up?” she asks, curiosity forcing the words to fall from her lips. But there’s no judgment in her tone. If anything, she’s intrigued.Fuck. Resisting Liza is a battle I’ll never win and I should just surrender now. There are far worse fates than letting her use me as her own personal sex toy. But dammit, I want more and that might be the death of me.
I turn so that I’m fully facing her. “Giving up control can be a lot of fun. Really liberating, actually. But back to the point. What are you suggesting? You want us to be orgasm buddies?”
Her answer is immediate. “That’s exactly what I want. For scientific purposes, of course.”
“Scientific purposes?” I’ve heard some pick up lines in my day, but that’s a new one.
She’s biting her lip again. “I told you I’m doing a study for the psych department, right? And I have to enter data every week. And getting that, uh…data is not always easy for me. But it was last night. And I only have until midnight Sunday to have another orgasm.”
Her words come out in a rush, but as I process them, there's no doubt my eyes are bugging out of my head. “That’s two days away. You’ve got forty-eight hours to get off, Liza. I don’t think this is the code red emergency you think it is.” She hits me with a glare and flips me the bird. There’s my girl. Except she’s not my girl. She’s Liza. Just Liza, but at least now I know she hasn’t been body-snatched.
“It’s not that simple,” she protests. “Or that easy. I have a busy weekend. We’ve got a game tomorrow, I have tests to study for, a paper to write, and I’m picking up a serving shift Sunday afternoon. I’m working a wedding and I won’t get home until after midnight, but the tips will be worth it.”
“So, this is your orgasm-window?” I ask, finding it hard to believe this is an actual conversation I’m having. The fact that I’m having it with a woman who’d rather glare at me from across the room than breathe the same air as me is mind-blowing.
