Page 51 of The Mistletoe Mix-up

“Well, kudos to you.” His laugh was raspy, and he was still trying to catch his breath. “You are only the second woman to get that close to my ass without me freaking out.”

Wren rubbed her hands over his thighs and squeezed. “Good for you, then?”

Sam traced her cheek with his fingers. “Amazing.”

“Perfect,” Wren said, climbing to her feet. “Then we’re even.”

Sam’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“I felt a little bad that you’ve been doing most of the foreplay and I just sat back and enjoyed the fruits of your labors.” She leaned over him, giving him a sweet, lingering kiss. “I thought I’d come over and show you how grateful I am. Make sure we were good.” Wren smoothed her hands over her body before leaning over and picking up her coat. “This thing between us doesn’t have to be anything more than two people having a moment.”

Sure, because exes have moments all the time.

“I just mean that that wasn’t what I came over for that first night,” she said, obviously reading into his expression. “I thought we could talk and catch up, and then everything kind of happened.”

Sam didn’t like the way that sounded. “But you wanted it to happen, right?”

“Well, if I didn’t, it wouldn’t have happened, so, yes, I did.”

That was a lackluster response to experiences he’d found mind-blowing. “Glad we’re on the same page.”

“I’m just not sure it should happen again,” she said quickly.

And there it was. The rejection he’d expected before she’d given him the most incredible, intense blow job. He hadn’t expected it to be a repayment, orgasm for orgasm.

“Are you angry with me?” she asked.

Not quite, but there were too many emotions rushing through him, Sam couldn’t be sure. “Why would I be angry?”

“I don’t know.” Wren slipped into her coat, her tone too casual for his comfort. “Maybe you thought last night meant something else?”

“Well, what should I think of it? We had incredible sex twice, and then you disappeared. You show up here to make sure we’re good, blow me, and then you’re halfway out the door before I can get my pants on.” Sam shook his head and leaned over to grab his pants off the floor. “I feel like you’re trying to tell me something without actually telling me, and I’d rather you just cut to the chase.”

“You want straight to the point?” she said sharply, her eyes narrowed. “I don’t want a relationship. Ever.”

Sam processed that for several beats. “Are we talking with me or—”

“I don’t want to be with anyone. Someday, I might have kids. I just don’t want a partner.”

“I see,” he said, realizing that he had been completely off the mark with Wren. She wanted to live her life on her terms, but what had been developing between them was nostalgic. Two people who had incredible chemistry getting their rocks off and nothing more.

Two weeks ago, he would have shrugged and moved on without so much as a twinge. But somehow, he’d found himself thinking that Wren coming back right when things were changing for him was a sign.

“Do you want to go get something to drink with me?” Her eyes were wide and luminous, and he wondered if she wasn’t quite as resolved as she wanted to be.

Sam really did, but his brain was in overdrive, processing everything at half speed, and he needed time to think.

“Maybe another time?” he asked.

“Oh, well, sure. I’ll see you later.” She headed for the exit and glanced back at him, her gaze lingering. He realized he must look a sight, standing naked in the middle of the room with his pants in his hands. He felt vulnerable and exposed, and it took him back to every time he’d ended something with a woman. How many times had she been naked and sitting up in his bed, wearing just his sheet when he told her that he had a lot to do that day? Or when he snuck out and told her he’d call her?

He finally realized that they had every right to be pissed at him. He’d been a thoughtless prick.

“See you,” Sam said, a million thoughts running through his head. It wasn’t Wren’s fault that he was disappointed and thought there might be more there. Maybe if he was serious about dating, he should try one of the apps. If his brother and sister-in-law hadn’t done that years ago, they might not have realized that they liked each other.

Only now that Wren had stepped back into his life, Sam knew no other woman was going to chase her from his thoughts. For nineteen years, he’d kept her at the back of his mind, but he’d awakened something inside him that wasn’t going to just go away because she said it was over.

Especially when Sam didn’t believe for a single moment she was done with him.