Jerk

Danny snorts and shakes his head, either trying not to laugh or struggling to keep his composure. “I think your questions would be a lot easier to answer without your foot where it is.”

“On your dick, you mean?”

“Precisely.”

“You shouldn’t go so long without any release, you know. Makes you too pent-up.” I give a gentle nudge with my heel to his throbbing cock, causing him to grimace. “Sounds like no one’s looking out for your needs. Not even yourself.”

“You’re trying too hard.”

His words stop me. I give him a look. “What?”

“I said you’re trying too hard.”

I study him across the table, trying to figure out whether we’re still playing or not.

All with my foot still pressed to his crotch.

“I’m looking out for my ‘needs’ just fine,” he then says—using air quotes with his saucy fingers. “But I’m thinking the guy who hasn’t been looking out for his needs is you.”

“Huh?”

“What are you doing, anyway? Trying to impress me? Turn me on? Honestly, it’s kind of cute, seeing you try so hard.” He chuckles. “If not a tad annoying.”

Cute? Annoying? Chuckling at me?

I’m completely at a loss.

He starts licking off his fingers while eyeing me across the table. “Romeo, the way to my heart isn’t through your foot … or my dick, no matter how it’s reacting. I’m a dude. It’s been a while. I can’t help it if it gets stiff. I’ll tell you one thing though, this isn’t the way to win me over.”

I glower at him. “So should I just give up, then?” I grunt as he goes for another wing. “Is that what you’re saying?”

“Nope. Just saying what you’re doing now is so not working.” He takes a bite, then eyes me. “But you should definitely keep trying.”

I quirk an eyebrow.

Keep trying …?

“Good,” he decides, even though I didn’t say anything. “Now that that’s out of the way, can we be two grown men on an outing tonight without turning this all sexual? I really was hungry, as is evidenced by my shameless face-stuffing, and wanted to share my favorite dim sum with you. I also do still want to catch up some.” He nods at the basket. “You gonna try some of these before I eat them all?”

It’s like he’s immune to me suddenly. What my foot is pressed up against might as well be the tough and impenetrable iron codpiece to some medieval knight’s armor. Or a goddamned chastity device. I have no hope of getting through.

I drop my foot to the floor, my eyes as sharp as darts as I stare at him.

Danny nudges the basket my way, then winks. “Try one. They’re finger-lickin’ good.”

I’m already staring at something that’s finger-licking good. He’s sitting across the table from me, not letting me lick one damned inch of him.

If he thinks I’m ever gonna stop trying to win him over, he’s finger-lickin’ wrong.

14. Weak

We stroll through the calm park across the street, bright white streetlamps lighting the path. Our hands are in our pockets, and the conversation is mild and occasionally broken by long, contemplative silences. We stop at the duck pond and stare out at the water for some time.

If this was any other date, he’d be bent over a piece of furniture in my apartment by now.

I’ve been going so fast over the past year, I don’t know if I can handle this excruciatingly slow pace. Am I even capable of it? Or have I lost the ability to hold a simple fucking conversation? Is all I am just a bunch of flirty one-liners to get the guy to my place, then sex-sex-sex until I show them the door?

“What’re you thinking about?”

I flinch, startled from my thoughts. “Hmm? What?”

“You’re somewhere else.” Danny chuckles as he observes me. “I’m just wondering what’s on your mind. Anything you care to share?”

Light reflects off the water from the nearby light posts and dances across his face, now and then catching in his eyes and causing them to sparkle.

For one split second, I’m about to throw some quip about how all I’ve got on my mind is wondering how he looks like naked and picturing us skinny-dipping in that pond doing every last nasty thing we can imagine.

Then just as quickly, I picture us sitting on a bench by that shimmering pond, sharing a tender moment, our hearts aflutter, before getting lost in one another’s eyes and sharing a meaningful kiss.

“Bet you’re thinking about all that tasty dim sum.”

I give him a look. Then I snort and play along. “You bet.” I gaze at the side of his face, trying not to look too hopelessly enamored. “It’s all I’m thinking about.”

Actually, the food was pretty damned good, but that sure as hell isn’t what’s consuming me right now. He knows it, too.

“Really, you can tell me,” he says. “Whatever it is that’s on your mind. Even if it’s something weird. Like you’re wondering if you forgot to water your plant on your windowsill. Or maybe left a lamp on in your apartment.”