I hit play again. Donovan shifts back against me without arguing, but I can feel that he doesn’t look away. His warm breath bounces off my cheek, sending all my senses into chaos. The sound from the screen suddenly feels deafening inside my skull.
“There’s one thing I don’t get,” I blurt.
“What’s that?”
“What stops you from just…” I fumble for the right words. “Do what you have to do with a girl who doesn’t have any expectations? Like a no-strings situation.”
“Because I expect more of myself now.”
I feel him shrug.
“Even if we kept it casual, I’d still feel like a total asshole.”
“Not if you’re honest with her from the get-go.”
“Well, you’re the only one who knows, and I plan on keeping it that way, so unless you’re offering… I think I should hold off for a while.”
I stare at the feet of my desk. This is the part where I serve up a snappy comeback, I know that. But I can’t bring myself to do it. Certain images keep flashing through my mind, and it takes every one of my remaining brain cells to push them away.
“This is where you usually tell me to get lost,” he teases, tugging on a strand of my hair.
“I’m pretty sure you can fill in the blanks yourself.”
“What are you thinking about, Carrie?” he whispers.
I’m thinking I really need to get laid.
“I’m thinking I love this movie,” I say flatly, forcing my eyes back to the screen for the hundredth time tonight.
Max and Sheryl are at it again.Urgh!
There’s a hot, tight swell building somewhere between my chest and thighs.
Donovan’s hand appears again, holding out more M&M’s for me to take, and as I pluck one and slip the candy between my lips, I see his eyes focus on my mouth.
“Carrie…”
“I might be extremely sex-deprived, but I’m notthatdesperate!”
What the hell?Why the hell did I just say that? I cringe inwardly. I’m officially out of control.
“I was about to ask something about Max’s behavior,” he says slowly. “But now I get why you’ve been so grouchy lately.”
“That has nothing to do with anything!”
I slam the laptop shut and whip around to face him, ready to give him that comeback he was asking for—but his gaze trails down my mouth to land on my breasts, and my nipples stiffen in response. I cross an arm over my chest, but it’s too late.
“I get it. I’m pretty irresistible, after all—”
“It’s a chemical reaction caused by too little oxytocin and prolactin,” I counter. “Trust me—it has nothing to do with you.”
“Are those the orgasm hormones?”
I look at him, surprised. “You’ve heard of them?”
He shrugs. “I hooked up with a med student once.”
“Oh, of course. Of course you did.”
