But tonight, it wouldn’t do to take care of things by herself.There was just something about the involvement of another person, even if it was only a voice on the other end of the phone.The climax was always better if she was talking to someone.Of course, the ultimate wasdoingit with someone, in present time, physically.
If only Knox hadn’t put her on edge this entire week.
But there was always Paul.Her fallback position.
While taking a bath, she let her fingers trace lightly over her skin, the slippery touch sending heat to her core.Afterward, she smoothed on lotion, slow and deliberate, as she thought about Knox.His voice.What it would be like with him.There was no harm in a little fantasy.Then Paul would help her take the edge off.
All revved up after her bath, she popped in her earbuds and slid beneath the covers.Paul answered with a simple hello, and her usual naughty undertones crept in.“Hey,” she said, her voice low and seductive.“I’m so horny tonight.”
Instead of the start of a delicious, mind-numbing session, Paul said, “Look, we need to talk.”
She knew what was coming.She’d been down this road with Paul before.They weren’t in a relationship, and if either of them met someone else, they were free to pursue whatever they wanted.And yet her mind screamed,Please, not tonight, please.
“You know that wedding I went to a couple of weeks ago?”he began.She made a small sound for him to continue.“I met a woman there.She was amazing, Summer.And she seemed as into me as I was into her.And I finally had dinner with her tonight.But we’re taking things slow.She’s just out of a nasty divorce.”
Wasn’t everyone, Summer thought.
“But I really want to give this a chance.”He paused, and she could almost see him gesturing in the air.“I just feel like what you and I do,” another pause, “I just don’t feel right about dating her and still talking to you.Not that it’s cheating or anything.I barely know her.But still, it just doesn’t feel right.”
She let him off the hook.After all, that was the nature of their arrangement, nonexclusive, pure sex, no emotion.
“I get it.Honestly.I hope this one really works out.”
She wanted to beg him for just one more time, but that was her own neediness.She’d gotten herself all worked up about Knox Turner, and now the problem was hers to deal with.
“Thanks,” he said.“I knew you’d understand.”
“I’m happy for you.But check in with me—let me know how things go.We’re still friends.”
“Of course we are.”
They said their goodbyes, and she wondered if she’d hear from him in another three months or so, only to learn that it hadn’t worked yet again.She hoped that wouldn’t be the case.She liked Paul, and he was looking for a partner.She might not be that woman, but she wanted the best for him.
Except tonight, when she needed a partner in crime.She’d depended on Paul too much to be there.And now she was like a woman all dressed up for a night on the town with no place to go and no one to meet.
Damn Paul for not being available when she needed him.
She reached into her bedside table for her trusty BOB—battery-operated boyfriend.
Though she indulged in a few of her favorite fantasies, Knox’s face kept popping up in all of them.And solo just wasn’t giving her the satisfaction she craved.She couldn’t seem to reach that amazing peak.She needed a man.She needed a voice.
She neededhim.
As much as she told herself it was a terrible idea, she reached for the phone.
4
After leaving Finn and Ward to discuss their R&D issues, Knox used the hotel’s gym for a good workout, then he’d taken a shower, stroked himself hard, and now he lay naked on top of the sheets.
His cell phone rang—on cue.Unknown number.But he knew deep in his gut.Maybe he’d even willed her to call because he was in another city in a lonely hotel room.
It wasn’t arrogance or confidence, though he had plenty of both.This was a knowing deep in his belly.One hand curled around his cock, he reached for the phone.“Hello, Summer Gentry.”
She laughed softly, perhaps a little nervously.“What if the call had been one of your girlfriends?”
He laughed, low and smooth, the sound rippling from his chest.“I don’t have any girlfriends.”He didn’t tell her about his fuck buddies.She had her own fuck buddy, so he felt no guilt.Neither of them was looking for anything beyond phone sex—and that was perfectly fine.
“I’m very glad you called,” he told her.
