Thom snorts. “Trust me, dude. I know.”
“I just wish I knew how to make it work with us. And I wish I knew how to make the date worth it for me. Like, if there was a way to make him really work for it, that would show me he’s in it for more than just the dick. But I don’t know how.”
Thom taps his lip with his finger, deep in thought. “Well, you could pull a Robbie?—”
“Stop right there. I don’t want to know about Robbie if it’s sex related.”
Thom’s ears go pink. “Ha, no. I’m saying he’s a teacher, so be like Robbie. Grade him on his effort. Make him work for that A plus. Reward him when he does a good job, and put him in fucking detention if he fails.”
I stare at him, blinking slowly. “Are you fucking for real? That seems a little mean.” The idea does have merit though, and Rome seems like such a fucking perfectionist, I think he’d probably lose it if he didn’t get an A. But I’m not sure I want to hurt his feelings.
“Is it? I don’t think so, and honestly, the dude kind of has karma coming for him. If he has to work a little harder for your dick, then make him.”
I huff a laugh at that and lean back in my chair, brow furrowed in thought. “I haven’t done the dating thing in so long. What would I even use for the criteria?”
“Dunno. Venue, ambiance. Small talk? Maybe make a list of what you think is a good date and give him points?”
That is actually a brilliant idea. I reach into my desk and pull out a tiny promotional notebook we’d been giving away a few months ago with membership sign-ups. “That could work.”
“God, I can’t believe you and Rome…” He trails off, then laughs. “Actually, never mind. I think I can.”
I don’t bother asking what that means, and when I say nothing else, he slaps his hand on the desk and stands up. “Well, I have a client in ten. See you later?” I nod, and he pats me on the back as he moves past me, but before he leaves, he adds, “And tell me all about it when you’re done. I’m a nosy bitch, and so is Robbie. We want all the details.”
“Fuck you, bro,” I say, and he chuckles as he leavesthe office.
It leaves me in silence, pondering, wondering. Can I actually do this?
Would it humiliate him and ruin our chances of being together? Something in my gut says no. Something in my gut says that despite the fact that it feels totally fucking wrong, Rome absolutely needs this.
I can tell Rome’s nervous when he shows up at my place. His fingers twitch nervously as he fiddles with the button on his shirt, and he hasn’t been able to meet my gaze steadily for the past two minutes.
I should be nicer to him. I should discard everything Thom put into my brain, but then I think about how he let me fuck him and how he promised to stay the night before leaving for three years.
Without even the smallest goodbye.
So yeah, I want him to work for it. Hard.
‘You look fine,’ I tell him as he starts to adjust his shirt.
He glowers at me. ‘Fine?’
My lips twitch slightly, letting my gaze rove up and down his body. Taking my time. Savoring it. ‘You look good. Hot.’
He makes a face at me, and I bite back a smile. The truth is, he looks delicious, and I want to bite down on his lip, neck and cock, but I don’t do that. Not yet.
I’m going to make us wait. Gonna make him beg for it.
‘You ready?’ he asks and then adds, ‘Or do you have more criticisms of me?’
I don’t respond, just grab my phone and step up next to him, holding it out in front of us and snap a picture. He’s frowning in it, and I’m grinning widely.
That only seems to annoy him further.
‘Come on. I can’t wait for our date,’ I tell him and then grab his hand and link my fingers with his.
He stares down at them and wets his lips nervously before huffing and leading me to his car. Our hands part as he walks to the driver’s-side door and peers over at me when I just stare at the passenger side.
‘What?’ he asks, and I force my face to stay serious.
