Tempting

Dean shakes his head. “Third parties only.”

Okay. That’s fair. And I’m not even pissed about Dean and Brendon betting about my virginity.

Dean did it to push Brendon.

It worked.

Everything worked out.

Everything is perfect.

With Brendon.

Tomorrow…

I’ll face tomorrow’s realities then.

Dean turns to me. “I’m more than happy to be your beard, but Emma is gonna figure it out. And you know Emma when she gets pissed.”

“Yeah.” I do. Everyone knows but her. That’s going to hurt.

“Damn, Kay. You’re looking at him the way a dog looks at a bone,” Walker says.

“Well, look at him? Can you blame me?” I ask.

“She used that one on me.” Dean laughs. “You’re getting my sloppy seconds.”

Walker cringes. “No fucking way.” He looks to me. “He has a certain charm.”

“Emma calls him Mr. Look at What a Brooding Bad Boy I Am,” I say.

“She’s got him pegged,” Walker says.

“Yeah. But he’s so much more.” I tap my toes together. God, the way that shirt stretches over his strong shoulders. The way all his focus and attention is turned toward his work… He’s perfect.

“You’re gonna make her jealous,” Dean teases.

“Brooding isn’t my type.” Walker shakes his head.

“You have a type?” I ask. Walker isn’t exactly… discriminating.

“Breathing,” Dean offers.

“And your type?” Walker asks.

“Breathing and hot.” Dean chuckles.

I turn my attention to my laptop. I’m up to four chapters. And it’s actually coming together. Even if this book never amounts to more than a file on my computer, it feels good working on it.

“I can’t help it I love watching a woman come.” Walker’s sigh is dreamy. “The groaning. The shaking. The screaming my name—it’s fucking poetry.”

“They remember your name?” Dean teases.

“Yeah, I know that’s never happened to you.”

“It’s easy. Four letters. Starts with the thing they’re begging for.”

“D? That’s awful.”

“Fuck off.”

“You first.”

Dean turns to me. “Why are you here, Kay?”

“We’re going to a concert,” I say. “Me, Brendon, and Em.”

“Shit.” Dean slides off the counter. So he’s next to me. Right next to me—there isn’t a lot of space behind the counter. “I need to play my part?”

“No. We’re picking Emma up on the way.” I close my laptop and slide it into my backpack. “But thanks.” I’m pretty sure Dean is trying to help. Just in a Dean kind of way.

“Joel’s band, right?” Dean asks.

“Dangerous Noise, yeah.” I zip my backpack and bring it to the counter. I’m almost ready. It’s almost eight. As soon as Brendon finishes, we can go.

And I get a precious few minutes alone in his car before we grab Emma.

God, I’ve been craving him more and more every day.

There’s something about knowing he really sees me, even the ugly parts—it’s addicting.

“You know, Joel was asking about you,” Dean says.

“What?” I bite my lip to keep from blushing.

“Brendon filled him in on all sorts of details.”

“You mean—”

“Gotta say, Kay. It was pretty fucking hot. I can see why you’re into him. Man’s got a mouth.”

“You have no idea.”

Dean chuckles. “If he ever gives you shit, you call me.”

I study Dean’s expression. He’s actually sincere. Sweet even. Weird. “Okay.”

“Me too.” Walker offers me a hug.

I take it.

“You’re a good kid,” Walker says. “You ever need ink, you know who to call.”

Dean takes his turn giving me an attagirl hug. “Or breakup sex.”

“You have a problem.” Walker shakes his head.

“Just want the girl to know she has options,” Dean insists.

“Look at her.” Walker turns to me. “Kay, you’ve got options in spades. You’re hot. And guys dig the librarian thing.”

I adjust my glasses instinctively. “Are these really librarian glasses?”

“Fuck, like we know? We don’t read,” Walker says.

I motion to the Kindle in his suite. “You read all the time.”

“Genre fiction,” he says.

“What’s wrong with genre fiction?”

“You seem more highbrow,” he says.

I shake my head.

Dean chuckles. “Told you. She’s writing some dirty book like the ones she’s always reading.”

“No.” That blush threatens to inflame my cheeks. “It’s a coming of age story.”

“Sexually?” Dean raises a brow.

“That’s part of it.” A lot of it. “Sex is a part of life.”

“Erotica. Nice.” Dean nods.

“Just ’cause something has sex, doesn’t make it erotica.” Walker shakes his head. “Fucking plebeians, huh?”

I nod.

“Okay, Kay. Let me ask you this. What words are you using?” Dean asks.

“For?”

He motions to his crotch.

“Uh…”

“Cock?”

“Sometimes.”

“Cunt?”

“I need to hit someone?” Brendon’s steady voice flows into my ears. He’s right there. In front of the counter. His eyes meet mine. You good?

I nod. This is actually kinda fun.

He looks to Dean. Then to Walker. “Why are you here? We’re closed.”

“For the show.” Dean motions to the two of us. “And to hang with my girl. Haven’t you heard? I’m giving it to Kay real good. Even promised to tie her up and spank her if she writes her dirty book.”

“It’s not dirty.” Okay, it’s a little dirty.

“He’s gonna hit you,” Walker says.

“Nah. Look how happy he is.” Dean motions to Brendon’s attempt at a stern expression. It’s failing. He’s too smiley.