Tease (Tease 1)

“What do you feel like?” I asked her.

“What do you recommend?” she teased, giggling. I rolled my eyes at her.

“I get it, I’m an idiot,” I groaned as she laughed. “Now what do you want or you can starve?”

“Fine,” She pouted, souring the menu board. “I’ll have a big mac meal. And a sundae. Caramel,” she said to the middle-aged woman behind the counter.

“Fine choice,” I whispered to her, sending her into another round of giggles. People were staring at us, but I didn’t care. “I’ll have the La quarter pounder with cheese, in a meal thank you.”

The woman nodded, showing no emotions as she slapped our food items onto a tray.

“Service with a smile,” I muttered under my breath. Mia lost it. She began to howl with laughter, which of course set me off. The woman scowled at us, shoving our tray across the counter. I took the tray and headed toward a booth in the back, with Mia staggering behind me.

“Are you right?” I smirked as she wiped tears from her eyes. She nodded, shaking her head.

“I’m okay,” she breathed, taking deep breaths. She reached for her burger, fiddling with the wrapper as she hesitated. “Coop, I was thinking…maybe it would be best if I stayed at a hotel. Just until I find somewhere more permanent? I don’t know what this is between us, but I don’t want to rush whatever it is." Her eyes raised, meeting mine. I saw fear in them. What was she so afraid of?

I wanted to say no, don’t leave. I wanted to tell her how much I wanted her to stay here—with me, and all the things I wanted to do with her. I wanted to tell her how much I loved listening to her sing out of tune in the shower, and how finding her used razors left around the bathroom didn’t bother me; or how much I loved walking in the front door and smelling her perfume. But that would mean explaining a whole lot more than I was willing to explain.

“Probably a good idea,” I nodded.

Did I just see her eyes drop? Did she want me to beg her to stay? God, this was killing me. Instead, I stared at my own dinner as though it were the most interesting thing in the world.

Shit. If I’d tried to fuck it up, it would’ve still gone better than that.

“I’ll be out of here tomorrow,” Mia said awkwardly as we both stood in the kitchen. Our “date” had gone sour after her revelation—not that it had gone very well before that. But I thought we’d been having fun.

If I was confused about my own feelings, then Mia was a hot mess. One minute she was into me, and the next she backed right off.

“Okay. I have a big day tomorrow so I better get to bed,” I murmured. “Night.” As I walked to my room I could feel her gaze burning into me.

In my room, I shut the door and texted Beth.

Thanks for the non-existent reservation.

I was being an ass, but I couldn’t help it. The night had gone s badly, I wanted someone to blame. My phone rang. It was Beth. I picked it up.

“Hey.”

“Oh my god, Coop. I honestly have no idea what happened. I swear I made one.” She sounded on the verge of tears, and I felt bad.

“It’s fine,” I sighed. “It actually went pretty well until she told me she wanted to move out. Stay in a hotel.”

“She did?” Beth’s voice picked up. “Maybe you need to take this slower, Coop.”

“Maybe,” I said glumly. “Anyway, I’m wrecked. Night.”

“Night,” she echoed softly.

Chapter Eighteen

I arrived at the hotel right on time.

Melinda opened the door wearing nothing but a sheer black robe. She smiled at me, taking a sip of her wine. Stepping back, she allowed me to enter. As I walked past her I let my finger snag her robe, swinging it open. Not that it showed anything I couldn’t already see.

“Coop, I swear you look more handsome every day.” She took another sip and watched me as I undressed, her robe slipping down onto the thick gray carpet.

Her gaze lingered on my chest as I unbuttoned and removed my shirt, then it moved to my cock as I removed my pants. Melinda wasn’t one for much foreplay. She preferred to get right into things.