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“Word on the street is I’m good in bed.”

He laughs at me. “I’ll meet you at your hotel as soon as possible.”

I fiddle with the back of his hair, and his fingers dig into my hips.

He keeps looking over my shoulder. “It’s odd to plan nothing, and yet everything needs a plan.”

There’re people everywhere. I assure him it’s ok. “Just kiss me later. I get it.”

“It’s so hard, but I—”

He’s interrupted by a disembodied voice, “You dragged us all here, just fucking kiss her.”

I yell without looking away from Alex, “Thanks, Mikey.”

“Anytime.”

Alex leans down, and I kiss him semi-sensually. I drop my lip just below his but pull back, so we don’t throw down right here.

18

Alex

Today’s event went well. We’re just trying to figure out how to capitalize on it since it wasn’t an official podcast event. The meeting starts to go down a rabbit hole, and lose track of time. It’s been a while since I sent Tess away. Work does come first, but I’d like to be balls deep in her sweet and perfect pussy right now. I text on the sly.

ALEX: Mikey won’t shut up about you. He’s really read your books. Says you have people in common but won’t go into detail.

TESS: Is it making you rethink me?

ALEX: It’s making me hurry this meeting the fuck up.

My new schedule is brutal. I bitch about having to be on the road so much. It’s all because I’m completely single. Not even a dog. It’s not fucking fair. I didn’t use to think that. Shit, could that much have changed already? It’s not like it makes any sense to me, so I can’t possibly explain it to the guys.

TESS: Well, then, I’ll be in the club room waiting to be fucked properly. I’m in room 1829—key at the front desk for you. Come up, they have a really good bourbon.

ALEX: Not interested in your booze, woman!

I adjust myself under the table. Jeff is droning on. We’re on a Zoom call, and it’s endless. If half of these guys can be cyber, why can’t I do this from Tess’s hotel room while she sits naked on my lap?

TESS: I’ll drink enough to lose inhibitions but sober enough to remain athletic.

ALEX: That’s the perfect amount of drunk. I’m sitting here listening to work details, and all I want is to be doing sucking on your left breast. Or bending you over one of those club chairs driving my cock into you.

She sends me a picture of her perfect cleavage. Fuck I want that now.

TESS: This breast?

ALEX: That’s the one. Perfect. Size, shape, and color. They are my white whale. But hopefully not my downfall.

TESS: And now, my nipples are hard.

ALEX: Tell them to hold on. I’ll be there in a minute. Or play with them if you need, but gasp my name if you make yourself come.

Fuck. This isn’t enough. If fate put her in my path, then our schedules might collide again. I should shelve her. This is batshit crazy. We need to go back to the November 9th plan.

Then I hear shouting, “ALEX!” I’m startled back to the meeting and out of my drifting Tess thoughts. Mikey continues to speak. “What I was saying before lover man started letting the blood leave his brain is I’m not doing Kansas. Ari has a family wedding next weekend. You have to go.”

“I’ll make you a deal, I’ll go with Ari to the wedding, and you go to Kansas.” Everyone laughs, and I nod, knowing Kansas will be slipped into my calendar. I prefer to go to the broadcast in our studios. I’m working on a pitch for a documentary series. I want to examine the divide in party politics and see if I can put forth an unbiased story. It’s easier to write when I’m alone. On the road works this time. And the possibility of overlap with Tess is an inviting idea. NO! November 9. Wow. I need to get a grip, or at least get balls deep into this woman within the hour.