I watch her rub her thighs together. I know just the talk about this is turning her on, but she clears her throat, closes the lid on her Styrofoam container, and stands from her chair. “Well, this lunch has been enlightening.”
I follow her lead and stand as well. “Actually, it was kind of nice talking to another adult and one who wasn’t complaining about their ex the entire time.”
She laughs. “You signed up for that, remember?”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
“But don’t worry. You won’t hear about exes from me.”
“Interesting. Why is that?”
“Because none of mine are worthy of talking shit about.”
I scoff. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, all of my former relationships have either ended amicably, or they just weren’t that meaningful to care about bashing the other person’s feelings or reputation, or more importantly, venting to my girlfriends about.”
“Wow. Sorry, I just figured you were one of those girls who’s always had a boyfriend.”
“And what makes you say that?” she asks, staring up at me from her side of her desk.
And for the first time in a while, I’m at a loss for words on how to explain my thoughts. Amelia has a heart. She cares about people and tries to see the best in everything and everyone. I just find it hard to believe that she’s never been in love.
“Are you saying you’ve never been in love?”
“No. I have. I don’t feel that it’s ever been the earth-shattering type of love though. The kind that makes you swear off men for the rest of eternity or construct a voodoo doll to curse the one who broke your heart.”
I arch a brow at her. “Have you had clients do that?”
She laughs. “Unfortunately, yes.”
“Damn.”
She looks to the side of the room as the conversation lulls. “Well, this has been fun, Ethan. We should do this again.” Walking around her desk now, she stops in front of me.
“I think giving each other a few orgasms would be better than a meal, but I guess that’s not a bad idea either.” She swats me playfully in my chest, but I catch her hand and pull her into me before she can retract.
“Ethan…”
“Have a good day, Amelia.” And before I release her, I press my mouth to hers, nipping and kissing her lips before teasing her with my tongue. Her moan spurs me on, and I draw her into my chest, wrapping my arm around her waist to hold her there as my other one finds her curls, and I bury my fingers deep inside them.
I love her hair—it’s beautiful and golden but wild, hinting at the side of her that I know is untamed and adventurous as well. And even though I know I don’t want more, my body is beginning to like the way being with her makes me feel.
She makes me laugh, can carry on a conversation, and isn’t afraid to verbally spar with me. She’s entertaining and different, and now I know that she fucking pole dances.
She’s clearly not fighting fair.
When we part, I reach up and tug on her bottom lip. “See ya tomorrow.”
“Bye, Ethan,” she whispers breathlessly before unlocking the door and letting me leave, returning to my office that feels too far away from the woman pulling me in one kiss at a time.
And even though I keep telling myself that I’m completely in control, this little voice in the back of my head keeps reminding me that I’m so fucking screwed.
* * *
“So, where did you go to college again?” I ask after I finish chewing a bite of my Philly cheesesteak.
Even though we didn’t plan on it, I showed up at her office today with sandwiches so we could have lunch again together—just lunch.
Last night as I was lying in bed, images from our earlier conversation kept flashing behind my eyelids, and details she shared with me kept echoing in my ears, particularly that little detail about her pole dancing. Fuck, do I want to be able to witness that for myself.
The way Amelia relaxed around me for the first time, how her eyebrows would draw together when I told her something that surprised her, and how she licked her lips each time she took a bite of her food—it all made me crave her company again, which is why I acted impulsively and decided to surprise her with lunch again today.
And judging by the smile on her face when she answered her office door, I’m gonna say she’s not mad about my surprise.
“UCLA.”
I snap my fingers. “That’s right. I vaguely remember Nick mentioning his sister who went there now.”
“You vaguely remember?”
“Hey, forgive me, but we were inebriated more often than not, and I sort of pushed away unnecessary details if they didn’t matter to me.”
“Understandable. I bet you have some juicy stories about my brother though,” she teases as she pops a chip in her mouth.
“I do, but I can’t tell you. That’s like going against bro-code.”
“Oh, but fooling around with me isn’t?”
Fuck, she has a point. “That’s different.”
“How?”
“Because this is just sex.”
Her face falls flat. “Right.”