Hating You, Loving You (Inked Hearts 4)

"Yeah." She drags her fingertips over my leg like she's doodling on a piece of paper. "I was stone-cold sober before that too."

"Uh-huh."

"Glad we agree." Her laugh bounces around the room. It fills me with this deep, pure warmth. One I don't recognize. One I want more of. "So, um… I'm pretty sure I'm going to start taking off my clothes if we sit here talking."

"Are you?"

"Yeah. And I… I do get your point. You're wrong that I'll regret this. That I'm only asking because I'm vulnerable. And, quite frankly, I can't comprehend the reality that Dean Maddox is suggesting we wait to have sex."

"Me either."

"But then… I do see it. The guy you really are." Her dark eyes fill with affection as she looks up at me. "He's merciful enough to distract me."

"Is he?"

"Not like that." Her cheeks flush. "But somehow. And he needs to. Or I'm going to take my clothes off. And we all know how that will end."

Fuck, I can't believe I'm turning her down.

It goes against twenty-five years of instincts.

But it's the right call.

"How do you suggest I distract you?" I ask.

"I pitched one idea." She laughs. "I think that means it's your turn."

After takeout Thai, I put on one of Chloe's old favorites. Bringing Up Baby. There's a poster in her room—I caught a glimpse in one of her banana selfies.

She settles into the couch with a ceramic plate in her lap and her eyes on the screen. Somehow, she manages to eat without taking her eyes off the TV or spilling a drop.

She's practiced at this.

Not that I can talk. When I'm not out, picking up women, or drinking with my friends, I'm here.

There's something intimate about sharing a meal.

It's domestic.

Like we're playing house.

We finish dinner halfway through the movie.

I take our shit to the kitchen. Clean up.

She stays transfixed on the screen until I move back onto the couch.

All her attention turns to me. "You never put a shirt on."

"It's hot."

She laughs. "It's really not."

I shrug, coy.

"You get off on this cruelty, don't you?"

Not usually. Usually, I'm not into teasing. But with Chloe? Fuck. That's a whole different ball game.