What? "Shit, I thought you said Michelle." I start rubbing the back of my neck. "Now that you mention it though, it was pretty obvious. Damn! How did I miss that?"
Devyn laughs. "No clue...you were probably too consumed with picking out the lucky brunette of the month."
I scowl. "Hey, I'm not that bad!"
Devyn laughs even harder. "Oh, please! You are such a man whore! But that's okay given the circumstances. I know you're the right person for this. I don't want to lose my V-card to just anyone. I've messed around with guys before but I always thought that final moment should be with someone that I was in love with. Since that hasn't happened, I'm okay with it being someone that I trust. You're the only guy who fits that description for me, Rye. And like I said earlier, your bedroom skills are legendary. I want my first time to be good. I want it to be with you. Besides, you kinda owe me."
I smile at her comment about my skills. I can’t help myself. I do know my way around a woman's body. And I know that women talk. I count on it, actually, which is why I haven't had to ask anyone out in years. They all come on to me because they hear the rumors and want to see firsthand if they're true. And I’m usually more than happy to oblige. I never really cared that they didn't stick around long enough to get to know me. Devyn knew the real me and that was good enough. All those other women thought I was just a body. Devyn knows my mind. Now that I think about it, she's the only woman not related to me who knows that I’m a certified genius, not the dumb jock they all assumed. Hell, I’m graduating with high honors next week and headed to Boston for my Masters in Aerospace Engineering. The average Joe can't claim that.
I start to seriously consider her proposal. Can I do this? Can I worship her glorious body and, let's be honest here, probably ruin her for any guy that would come after me, and then pretend it never happened? Go back to being just friends? If we weren't about to move three thousand miles away from each other, I'd say it was impossible. As it stands, it seems quite possible. Maybe it’s just my dick talking, but this idea of hers sounds better and better with each passing second. Wait a minute…did she just say I owe her?
“Owe you for what?”
She rolls her eyes. “Part o
f the reason I’m in this predicament is because I’ve spent almost every day over the past four years with you. Every guy I’ve liked, besides Brian, backed off once they found out about you. I never got past a few dates with any of them. They all thought we were an item or something. No one ever believed me when I said we were just friends.”
Okay, so maybe I had a word or two with these guys. And maybe I led them to believe that Devyn was off limits. I’m pleading the fifth.
"So to be clear, you want me to have sex with you. For one night and one night only. No strings attached, no emotions, just sex so you can turn in your V-card, as you call it. Afterwards, we pretend as if it never happened and go back to normal?"
Devyn nods and chews her bottom lip.
"I need to hear the words, Dev."
She holds her chin up. "Yes. Just sex. No strings. Afterwards, best buds like always. Do we have a deal?"
I smile bigger than I probably ever have before. "Deal."
DEVYN
WE MAKE THE THREE hour drive north to Portland along Interstate-5. I’m super nervous about this weekend but Riley hasn’t brought it up so I can’t seem to either. Did he change his mind? God, I hope not. I’m starting a highly sought after paid internship next month at a huge marketing firm. The owner of the agency and the founder of Nike were both U of O alums. They open one slot every year for a graduating student. I worked my butt off creating mock ups for Nike’s new children’s line. Out of over three hundred applicants, they picked me. Now for the next year of my life, I get to learn from some of the best in the industry. I feel like everything is falling into place perfectly according to plan. Everything except my love life, anyway. And I’m honestly okay with that—I wouldn’t have time for a relationship right now. But let’s face it. Sex sells. It’s huge in the marketing world and I can pretend all day long but I know I’ll never truly get it until I experience it for myself. I know Riley is the right person to help me with my little dilemma. I don’t know what I’m going to do if he backs out.
“Why are you fidgeting so much over there?” Riley asks.
I look down and notice that I’m wringing my hands incessantly. I decide to bite the bullet and talk about the elephant in the room. Or the car, rather.
“Did you change your mind?” I ask.
“About what? Helping you move? It’s a little late now, don’t ya think, considering we’re only a few minutes outside of town?”
Oh no! Maybe he forgot about our deal! That’s even worse than him changing his mind. I clear my throat. “No…um, not about helping me move. Which I appreciate very much, if I haven’t mentioned that already. About…the other thing.”
He raises one eyebrow and smirks. “The other thing?”
I throw my hands up in exasperation, now knowing he’s just screwing with me. “Oh God, Riley! Are you really going to make me say it? The deal we made…to you know, have sex.”
He gives me that devastating smile that showcases his dimples. “Oh, the deal. No, I definitely haven’t changed my mind about that.”
I sink into my chair, trying to hide my discomfort. “Oh. Good.”
He grabs my hand and squeezes. “Baby, I promise to make it much better than good.”
I roll my eyes, pulling my hand away. “Gah! How many women have you said that to?” He manages to look a little embarrassed. “Don’t forget who you’re talking to, Rye. I’ve seen too many women fall victim to that panty-melting grin and your charming ways. That crap doesn’t work on me.” Not really, anyway.
His smile gets even bigger. “You think my smile melts panties, huh?”
I try to hide my grin but fail miserably. “You know what I mean. Just don’t try to dress this up into something it’s not. Okay? After we unload the car, you and I will have sex real quick, and then it’ll be back to the same ol’ same ol’. We can grab some burgers and beer afterwards. It’s no big deal. Really.”