That firm knot in my chest loosens, and I shake my head. “I’m glad it worked.”
Molly, who is sitting opposite us on the armchair by the TV, stands. “OK. Well I think that’s enough excitement for me forone night. Maybe the whole week. Who knows? I’m going to call it a night.”
I look over with a frown. “You’re not going home tonight!”
She brushes off my concern with a wave of her hand. “It’s fine. Adam took care of it. Besides, I think you two could use some space.”The denial jumps out of my mouth like an automatic reaction. “Space? Don’t be stupid.” Then I look around at Adam and catch the hurt expression on his face before he hides it with a grin. “Jen’s right. You don’t have to leave. I can go?” He leaves the last part hanging as a question, and that doesn’t sit right with me. Not at all.
“Don’t go,” I tell him.
Molly squeezes my hand. “I’m going. I’m fine. I’ll call you when I get in, OK?”
“OK, if you’re sure.”
She gives me a big thumbs up, bright and happy on the surface like nothing even happened. I’m still worried, though. Adam’s hand lands on my shoulder and gives a little squeeze. “I’ll go with her,” he says. “Just to make sure she gets home safe.”
My chest feels so full with pressure, for a moment it’s hard to breathe. Before he can get past me through the door, I grab him and wrap my arms around his waist, pressing my cheek to his chest for a moment. “Thank you.”
His hands dance over my hair hesitantly, like he’s not sure if I’ll let him touch me. Then one hand settles on my head, pressing me closer to him. “You don’t have to thank me for that.”
“Yeah I do. I want to. When you get back, I’ll thank you properly.”
He uses both hands on my arms to gently push me away, but he’s grinning. “Then I’m going to hurry up and leave so I can get back sooner because I like the sound of that.” He drops his chin like he’s thinking about kissing me, and even though I should, I don’t turn my head or look away.
Awareness zips through me, making my heart beat faster and a tingling start up in the tips of my fingers.
Then he steps back with a lingering look and trots down the stairs, calling out to Molly. “Wait up! I’ll see you home.”
I stare out the door at the landing long after Adam is out of sight. I can’t drag myself away. My body might be still, but my mind and my heart are going a million miles an hour. Adam, my shitty ex-boyfriend Adam, just became the perfect gentleman because my best friend needed him. A friend I know for a fact he doesn’t even like. What is happening?
Adam, who has apparently died and come back different. So different. In a hundred tiny ways that have crept up on me ever since he pushed his way back into my life.
Adam who I’m forced to admit to myself I’ve spent all day thinking about, to the point that the state of my panties is an absolute mess. I mean, it wasn’t pretty after the lingerie store, and it’s only gotten worse since then.
Biting my lip, I finally pull myself out of my reverie and shut the door. I put him through hell today, but he lapped it up and thanked me for it. I’ve spent all day planning how I was going to keep punishing him when I got home, but after what he’s done, that’s the opposite of what I want to do.
With a flurry of excitement I hurry to the shower and scrub, shave, and exfoliate every part of me. I add a touch of red lipstick and a little blush. Not the full works, but enough for him to know I mean this. Then I find the bag with the new lingerie he bought me and put it on.
When he messages to say he’s five minutes away, I’m wearing that and only that, standing by the front door with a huge smile on my face. I’m not going to question this anymore. I’m just going to let myself give in to whatever this is tonight.
After all, we’ve done just about everything two people can do together with each other. This is just one more night. How much harm can that do?
FOURTEEN
Adam
When Jen opens the door wearing the brand-new lingerie and nothing else, my mouth goes dry and I freeze on the doorstep. My jaw hits the floor, and I can’t do anything but stare at her while my fingers itch to touch and stroke and tear the lacy fabric off her.
The fact that she’s wearing nothing but a thin, see-through bra and tiny knickers means I’m going to be allowed to touch her, doesn’t it?
Doesn’t it?
Then I realize any fucker who walks past the flat is gonna cop an eyeful of her looking like that, and while that thought excites me, I doubt Jen would be very impressed. I take a cautious step forward and shut the door behind me without taking my eyes off the prize.
I swallow around the nerves that have suddenly crept up into my chest to make it tight as a vice. “Does this mean what I think it means?”
The smile playing on her lips is positively predatory, but I’m still not sure. She steps forward, and suddenly I’m within grabbing distance and it takes all my willpower not to wrap my arms around her to get two handfuls of her juicy ass.
Fucking hell, the way that garter belt hugs her waist makes her look like she’s got a whole cake shop back there. She’s like a fucking Pret A Manger only Jen’s no cheap chain store. Nah, my Jen is like a designer brand—something every asshole dreams about getting his hands on but only a few people can afford it.
