He picked up one of his remotes and turned on his built-in stereo. Rihanna filled the room.
“God, I love her.” I danced with my hands in the air and spun around in a circle, then did my butt-shaking move, my hands moving down the sides of my body. “Join me.”
He leaned against his couch and folded his arms. A wide grin appeared on his face. “So, we’ve reached the part of the evening when you tease me sexually?”
“Not a tease,” I said, kicking my right leg and flipping my hair over my left shoulder. “A promise, Mr. Lingren. If you were available, you wouldn’t be sorry.”
He chuckled. “I know this is probably the alcohol talking, or can I use the same argument you gave me? Bragging women can make lousy bed partners, Ms. Bisset.”
“You’d enjoy me,” I said and grinned at him. “Somebody will, and soon. I’m going to find some lucky guy or guys over the summer and ‘get my groove back,’ or so the saying goes.” I went into a spin.
When my eyes fell on him again, he was no longer smiling.
“You plan to hook up with some random guy or guys that don’t give a damn about you to get a groove back to own your ex?”
I stopped dancing and narrowed my eyes. What’s Ford’s problem? “You’re making it sound nasty and stupid. There’s nothing wrong with uncomplicated sex with someone who makes me feel sexy.”
“You’re already sexy, Jasmine. Keep dancing.”
I laughed and danced around, and he watched me. The more he watched, the more suggestive my movements became. My hands squeezed my breasts, then I slapped my ass. “I want to feel really sexy, like grabbed and kissed with passion. Ravaged. I’ve never had that.”
He shook his head. “That’s unfortunate.”
“Have you?” I paused and stared over at him.
He placed his arms along the back of the couch. “Yes. I have… If you’re not drunk, you’re a hysterical dancer and a terrible flirt. By the way, I don’t have a swimsuit for you to wear in the aqua massage.”
“I’ll go nude,” I said with a shrug. Then I stopped to move my hands under my skirt to take off my tights. I started taking off my shirt when I remembered I had on my regular cotton five-pack sea-blue undies and a tan underwire bra.
“Does casually undressing in front of me mean you no longer see me as a man, Jasmine?”
I stopped dancing and looked at him. His smile was rueful, but he looked kind of upset. “What do you mean?”
“You strip in front of me like I wouldn’t notice your body, and you passive-aggressively proposition me for sex, or is this a tease?”
I didn’t know where to look, and suddenly, the room felt tighter, and my breathing a bit harder, especially under the weight of his intense gaze.
I lifted my chin. “I was flirting, just like you. You’re not available anyway. You’re on a ‘break,’ so that makes you an ass to offer.” I’d seen the show Friends, and “breaks” were code for hung up on each other.
He smirked. “Maybe I am an asshole. Cecile and I agreed sex is fine but not to fall in love. You’re putting yourself out there, and I’m a man alone, so I’ll take it.”
I narrowed my eyes and folded my arms. “You’re offering yourself out of convenience to fill your time while you wait for Cecile to return? How romantic.”
“You looking for romance or to have sex? Or does this surprise lover now have to romance you into bed? Sounds like he has to put in more time than a casual hookup.”
“Why do you care? Do you even like me?”
“I don’t have to like you to fuck you, Jasmine.” The way he said, “fuck you” made my body clench. I shifted my legs and didn’t dare look at his handsome face. Was he toying with me?
“You have sex with people you don’t like?” I scrunched up my face.
“Yes. I have even loathed some. Not the best bed partners, but I wasn’t out to make them happy, just me,” he said cockily. Was he really a dick, and I hadn’t seen it? My asshole radar must still be broken.
I grimaced. “So, you hated some of your bed partners, and you had sex with them anyway? Did you both know you were using each other?”
“You’re overthinking sex. You’re already squeamish about hate sex and want to talk about romance. Face it, groove sex is not your speed. You won’t have this selfish summer. It’s a theory you dreamed up in your head.”
“I can do it. My chosen guy doesn’t have to like me, per se. I’m looking for my own awakening. We only need to be attracted to each other. Maybe it will take many encounters to get there, who knows? But I can do it.”
He snorted and shook his head. “So, you want to become a slut.”
I furrowed my brows. “A woman claims her own sexuality, and she becomes a slut to you? You’re the slut. You sleep around with people you hate.”
“What does sleep have to do with it? I said fuck, but you can’t even say that. Men can be sluts too. There’s equal opportunity in being a slut.”
I lifted my chin. “I don’t ascribe to that word.”
“Fine, does ‘positively easy’ sound better?” he asked. The snark in his voice rang clear.
I folded my arms. “Pleasure seeker or hedonist will do fine.”
“You can dress the name up however you’d like, you’ve still decided to go for sex only to please yourself, or so you claim. But that’s not you, Jasmine. I bet you couldn’t make it through one sexual encounter without trying hard to please the man. Face it, you’re not the selfish type. You’re a pleaser. An A-plus overachiever coloring within the lines.”
I rolled my eyes. “Is that your psych degree 101 or bullshit analysis? You don’t know what I can do.”
“I know I’m right. And plenty of men will take you up on your offer. But none of them will answer why you were cheated on. You may feel desired for an hour or two, but sex won’t make someone keep you.”
“Whatever, Ford,” I mumbled.
It was all I could think to answer back because a bit of his self-righteous drivel hit home. Randall hadn’t been the first cheater. And that was why it hurt more. Something about me left those I loved feeling unfulfilled. And after every relationship, I tried harder. But I didn’t want to talk about this with Ford.
“I don’t want to talk anymore.”
His face softened. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
I folded my arms and stared down at my feet. “I’m not upset.”
Ford came over to stand in front of me and lifted my chin up to the light. “You’re a terrible liar.”
When his hand lingered, my pulse sped up, and I averted my eyes. I didn’t want him reading me. I was tired of being dismissed or unrecognized. “There’s… there’s a lot more to me than you know.”
“Of course, there is so much more to you, Jasmine. I hope you find out, but random hookups aren’t the answer. I said what I did because you annoyed me by treating me like a buddy instead of a man. I want the same things all men want, and I’m just as selfish. You can spend all your days weeding out this perfect encounter, but you’ll still find the same man. And you’ll be left used and depressed or worse, bitter. You won’t get the answers you think.”
“I’m not looking for answers. I’m not out for love and marriage. I’m just done with relationships.”
“I thought I was jaded. I won’t ever stop looking for someone to share my life with. And neither should you.”
Like holding out for a woman who left you? The words were on the tip of my tongue, but I didn’t want to say something so cold-blooded when he was raw with pain.
His phone rang, and his warm hands released me. And for some reason, I felt even more alone.
“I should take this call,” he murmured.
I nodded in his direction. “Yeah, okay. I think I’ll go to bed now… alone. I mean, I’m off to bed to sleep only.” Why was I stammering?
This is not me. And Ford is right.
He didn’t answer until I looked over at him.
His smile turned wistful. “
Sweet dreams, Ms. Bisset.”
FORD
Moon goddess
“Don’t fuck Jasmine,” Graham said when I answered the call.
I liked that about Graham. He got right to the point. He also knew Jasmine was just my type. She had a sweetness I’d love to spoil. A curiosity I’d love to explore. A beauty that charmed my muse. Although he had me curious.
“She’s a grown woman and can make up her own mind. Besides, as she put it, if it’s not me, it’ll be someone else.”
“Jasmine said that to you? Was she drunk?” Graham asked, and I could hear the surprise in his voice. I supposed he’d been sold the sheltered bookworm story by Soraya. That was a part of her. But we were all layered in many tones and shapes. One of Jasmine’s was scorned and thought sex would make her feel desirable again.
“She pretended to be,” I said, glancing over at the stairs.
The way Jasmine rushed up the steps clued me in that she was sober and fleeing. I doubt she was fully intoxicated the whole night. She tried to use her one drink as an excuse for what she really wanted to do. The very reason I didn’t spend time with anyone drunk. Some think it’s the magic wand to cleanse their souls without the consequences. I detested nothing more than, “I only said or did that because I was drinking.” My mom used that excuse enough to last a lifetime. Speaking of her conjured a text notification on my phone from her at an Alcoholic Anonymous meeting. She’d have to wait for the thumbs-up emoji she craved for finally doing the right thing.
Jasmine tried to use her intoxication as an excuse to show off her body and proposition me for sex. She thought squeezing her breasts in an oversized T-shirt and pushing out her ass in a corduroy flower skirt was a turn-on. Adorably clueless. She didn’t realize what enticed me was the way she blushed or trembled when I looked at her. The surprise in her eyes when her nipples tightened. The charge to her skin at the slightest touch. That was what I found arousing. Oh, yes. I would enjoy thoroughly scandalizing her. But that wasn’t what Graham wanted to hear. He wanted me to agree with him so he could relax and tell Soraya everything was fine.
“You don’t have to worry. I scared Jasmine off already.”
Jasmine looked sick when I said I’d have sex with her while I waited for Cecile. I hadn’t lied. Cecile and I had left our relationship open, but only because she knew I found sex without passion meaningless. That was something I learned over time. Jasmine obviously hadn’t yet. She was hell-bent on a vengeful rebound. I’d never agree to that.
“Good,” Graham said. “Jasmine called out of the blue, and Soraya didn’t want to let her down. She felt bad for not visiting and inviting her down to visit more. She had a big breakup from some windbag professor.”
“The curved pipe guy.”
“She told you?”
“Not much. But I am curious. Do you have something for Jasmine to do here?”
“She was a teaching assistant, and she’s good at research. I’ll have her do research on the companies we’re considering acquiring or put her to work in the hospitality and morale department. I could also have her help with Margot’s retirement party. No one has any idea what to do with her, and lunch seems unfair for someone so dedicated.”
Margot was Cruella’s twin sister. She wouldn’t want a party. “Sounds perfect.”
“I don’t plan to keep Jasmine so busy that she can’t feel like she’s on vacation. Soraya says Jasmine was homeschooled and skipped a couple of grades when her parents finally agreed to send her to school. Her parents treated her like some lab experiment. Even her vacations had homework.”
“That’s awful,” I said. I shouldn’t have teased Jasmine about being an overachiever. She didn’t have a choice.
“Anyway, glad to hear she’s fine. See you tomorrow morning, and I owe you.” He hung up.
I was about to put my phone away, but I needed to check in with Blair about her doctor’s appointment today. Friends for over fifteen years, she was my confidant. And in recent years, we’d been to hell and back. Or rather, she had.
“You don’t need to check up on me, Ford. The bodyguard you sent never left my side. I appreciate the fuss, but I do want to get back to some sense of normalcy.”
I bit my tongue to avoid pointing out the months she spent afraid to leave her house after the physical attack. Blair was on her way to becoming a top model until someone she met decided he wouldn’t take no for an answer. She lost an eye in the attack and suffered from broken bones so severe she still had a limp. After four years, she was still having reconstructive surgeries.
“Fine. Can I at least hear about the results?”
“The titanium in my jaw will have to be replaced again. I’m okay with that and more… By the way, your dad says hello and said you can come see him.”
I clenched my jaw. “The only thing my dad can do is continue your surgery.”
“Okay, if that’s what you want to do,” Blair said in a voice I knew meant she disagreed with me.
“On another subject. Swimming was strengthening my legs. Can I come over and use your pool?”
“Tomorrow. I have someone staying over tonight.”
“An overnight stay? The sky isn’t falling, or is there something wrong with Uber?”
“Ha-ha,” I said, turning off the music and lights downstairs. “I have a visitor, one of Soraya’s cousins.”
“Is she pretty?” she asked.
“Yes, but clueless. Jasmine has some hedonistic revenge plan for the summer after a breakup.”
Blair laughed. “I can understand that. After every end of a relationship I’ve had, I’d considered experimenting. It’s natural.”
“It’s irresponsible and dangerous,” I said, taking the back stairs to the roof.
“Oh, come on, Ford. What happened to me wasn’t normal. I was stalked. I ignored it and should have done things differently. Most people are good.”
“Yes, I know, but Jasmine is too innocent for NYC. I don’t even know why Graham agreed to bring her to the office with all the vultures.”
“Including you. You seem interested in Jasmine, or you wouldn’t care. Why not put yourself in the running? Neither of you is searching for a relationship. You’re… alone right now. She’s been gone for months.”
I tensed, and the line went quiet. Here we go again. Blair didn’t agree with the idea of a break. But I agreed to it. I believed Cecile would come back once her physical and mental health therapy were done. I promised her time, and I wouldn’t go back on my word.
“Jasmine should go with her plan. Some things you need to learn.”
I didn’t like or agree with what I told Blair. Jasmine would only end up feeling used. And I already wanted to stop her, which means I was already too involved. Too tempted. The best thing to do was drop her off tomorrow and stay clear of her.
“Remember, the same applies to me too, Ford.”
“I know, and when the guy asks you out, he gets a background check, an interview, and then you can date him in public. Good night.”
The private pool on the roof of the penthouse was the reason I took this place. It was perfect for the summer. I stripped down and jumped in. The only time I fully relaxed. I hadn’t brought Cecile here. It was still being renovated to bring in a ramp to make it easier for her after her car accident. That was before I knew how she’d use her disability against me. As if my wanting to care for her was oppressive. Even after I forgave her for her betrayal before the accident.
I freestyled a few laps before climbing out and went straight to my bedroom to shower. I was about to rinse off when I heard the alarm go off.
Cinching a towel on my waist, I rushed out of my room toward the noise. The red light flashing through the windows alerted me it was coming from the greenhouse. I opened the glass doors of the living room and flew down the flight of stairs. When I reached the platform, I found Jasmine barefooted in a tank top and shorts with her phone in hand, standing before the flashing light.
“I just wanted to
see the moon and mark a memorable…oh my God, you’re naked.”
My towel had dropped. “So, I am.”
I went to the box on the door to enter the code. “If I’d known you wanted to come out here tonight, I’d have given it to you.”
“Now, the towel.” She hid her eyes.
“If a naked man embarrasses you, you’re going to have some trouble with that fling.”
“I hadn’t expected it. I mean, I know this is your place. I was just caught off guard. I’m comfortable with nudity. My parents had a nudist workshop once. Although a lot of them were older. And not men like you, with bodies . . .”
I secured the towel back in place. “They didn’t have bodies? Odd. The code is 0b11100.”
“It’s binary,” she repeated. “And what I meant was that they had bodies, but not like yours. What does the code mean?”
“Twenty-eight, my age,” I added. “But it shouldn’t go off anymore.”
I turned on the lights, and we stepped inside the glass and wood enclosure. I pointed out the fruit and Japanese maple trees, hydrangea, iris, ivy, and wisteria vines. I had some lamb’s ear perennials too.
She touched one of the wood frames, making up the pergola. “This is modified wood.”
“Yes. The tropical wood was my first choice, but I wanted to make it more eco-friendly.”
“My parents use modified wood on the farm,” she murmured.
I turned on a waterfall that runs the length of the pergola. Jasmine went instantly to the oval grass in the house. New white rose petals had fallen down from the canopy. At one time, I’d poured them over Cecile’s naked body. Jasmine picked them up, and I hesitated. My mind fought me to stop her, but then she threw them in the air, and they rained down like the waterfall. She moved in a circle under the moon. It captivated me, and I could not keep my eyes off her.
“Wow, it’s beautiful.”
“Yes.” You are.
Jasmine lay down on the grass. Her long, raven curls draped over her shoulders. She only had on the shirt and shorts. Her tanned skin glowed under the lights. My blood surged, and I could feel my cock stir. I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. I had to leave.
Mister Know It All: A Hero Club Novel Page 5
