What Lola Wants (Leave Your Shoes On 1)

His appreciative gaze slid over her, unabashedly landing on her breasts. “Have at it.”

Lola unbuttoned her suit jacket and stripped it off. Then she peeled away the silk shell and reached for the zipper at the back of her skirt. Her gaze never left Alex’s, even as she shimmied out of the skirt, bending at the waist and sliding the material downward before stepping out of it and straightening.

Heat flashed in his peridot eyes. Lola’s confidence grew.

She draped the clothes over the back of a bar stool. Then, wearing nothing but her black lace demi-bra and matching thong, along with her four-inch, olive-colored Staci Kay snakeskin stilettos, she pulled out a box from one of the bags and set it in front of Alex, leaning over the table to give him another primo view of her cleavage.

“House lo mein for you,” she said with a sultry lilt in her voice. She lingered a few moments, letting him absorb the visual she presented. Then she retrieved another box. “Mongolian beef for me, extra spicy.” She continued doling out the food. “Steamed rice and egg rolls. Sweet-and-sour sauce for you, hot mustard for me.” She handed over a pair of chopsticks, then said, “I even brought wine. J. Lohr cab.”

“Hand over the bottle,” he commanded.

Her nipples tightened behind her lacy bra. She loved his take-charge attitude. Where it’d come from, she had no idea, but it scorched her insides. She did as instructed.

He said, “Why don’t you grab the wine pull for me and some glasses.”

Lola turned away and collected the items he’d requested. She threw a glance over her shoulder to ask him if he wanted the aerator and found his gaze on her. Staring blatantly at her ass.

“Alex,” she playfully chided.

“What?” he countered. “I’ve spent my entire life staring into your eyes—and they’re beautiful, Lo. But I’m entitled to admire the rest of your assets, right?”

She faced him, and his gaze fell on her chest once more.

He added, “You are insanely gorgeous.” The corner of his mouth lifted in a sexy grin. “A huge turn-on.”

Lola set the wares on the table, and he uncorked the wine. She debated what she really wanted to say about his comment and how his eyes smoldered when he took her in from head to toe, but she wasn’t sure how healthy it’d be for either of them if she were completely honest. On the other hand, hiding the truth from Alex wasn’t exactly in her DNA.

She said, “Since junior year, I’ve vacillated between being flattered by the attention I receive and annoyed by it. I never really reconciled it all in my mind, but I guess now I realize it comes down to wanting to be respected for the brain I have, and knowing I’m not going to avoid scrutiny. When you look at me, though… I don’t know, Alex.” She shook her head, because this was a very complex subject to dissect. “It doesn’t bother me at all. I mean, I like that you want to look at me and I like the way you do it. Does that make me a hypocrite? Some sort of tease?”

“Why?” he demanded in a quiet voice. “Because you try to be you, and sometimes it attracts attention you don’t want, based on how you look? What are you supposed to do, Lo? Wear baggy clothes and put your hair in a tight bun?” He let out a strained laugh. “Jesus, you’d still be beautiful, so what would be the point?”

Emotion swelled in her throat. Tears suddenly burned the backs of her eyes. “Alex.” She gazed at him a moment, seeing the crystal-clear honesty in his expression. “That’s about the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.”

“Lo, you’re—” He groaned in apparent frustration. “There really aren’t words for… everything about you.”

She reached for the glass he’d poured and swallowed down the lump in her throat. “Thank you. Coming from you, that’s really saying something. Considering all the brainiacs you’ve always hung out with and—”

“Lo, don’t ever doubt that I think you’re smart. And I’m proud of you for getting a promotion into the department you want. Beyond that, I’m saying you’re… stunning.”

Her breath caught. Hearing this from Alex had such a different effect on her than anything she was used to. It wasn’t the same as some stranger sizing her up and all but smacking his lips as he ogled her. Or giving her some ridiculous line about how heaven was short one angel. Really?

This was tried-and-true Alex, and she suddenly realized she felt more comfortable—especially when wearing nothing but lingerie and high heels—in his presence than with any other man.

Did that spell disaster for her? Alex was playing along with the FWB. Clearly getting something out of it himself. But since she’d arrived at his apartment, Lola had been feeling a peculiar pull…

The allure of hot sex with Alex was one thing. Yet even when they weren’t going at it like bunnies, she was drowning in bliss. Every moment with him was perfect. Provocative. Poignant. On a grand and profound level she wasn’t familiar with, and which scared her a bit. But which also tempted her. Excited her.

She was clever enough to know she was stepping closer to a flame than she should. Did that keep her from wanting Alex?

No.

Not in the least.

She sipped from her glass, then left it on the counter. She returned to the table and opened the box of egg rolls. After dipping one end into the sweet-and-sour sauce, she rounded the corner and straddled Alex’s lap. She offered him a bite and he took it. Twisting slightly, she dropped the egg roll back in its container and then wrapped her arms around Alex’s neck.

“One of the best things about Chinese food is that it’s just as good reheated if you don’t get to it right away.”

He groaned. “Such a temptress.”