She nodded silently, and I tried to ignore the sight of her lip quivering as I put her clothes on the bed before walking out.
My apartment was small, bordering on claustrophobic, and it took exactly five steps to reach my kitchen from my bedroom. If I were to give someone a tour, it would last about ten seconds. I had one solitary bedroom, and it was barely big enough to fit my bed, nightstand, and dresser. There was one bathroom, and the kitchen and living room bled into each other so much that they were really considered one entity. To complete the bachelor pad, I had a small kitchen table that most people would probably consider more of a card table.
My sister, Clare, hated this apartment. She would refuse to use the bathroom because it was too close to the couch, and she felt like people could hear her pee. She’d said the word pee in a hushed tone, like it was a bad word. I’d tried not to laugh, but she was kind of ridiculous. Also, she was right. We could hear her pee, but I wasn’t about to tell her that. She would make me move.
After visiting for probably the tenth time and still refusing to use my bathroom, she had finally asked, Why do you live in such a shithole, Garrett?
It was a good question. I had a good job—one that would pay for a place that could eat my current apartment for breakfast. But why bother? It was just me. It would only ever be just me.
Just as I started to pour myself a cup of freshly brewed coffee, the smell beginning to do its job as my droopy eyes were prying themselves apart, my mystery date appeared in the kitchen. She looked awkward, tugging at her wrinkled black dress, as she stared at the floor. I got the feeling that she wasn’t the type of girl who did this often.
“I’m going to take off,” she said softly, her timid brown eyes peeking out from tousled blonde bangs.
“Okay,” I answered, feeling like the worst kind of asshole on the planet.
She waited for a second, obviously stalling to see if I would follow up with anything. When I didn’t, she reached for the door and took a step forward, but I stopped her.
“Hey, I’m sorry. I just…I’m…” I didn’t know what to say. I’m fucked-up? Permanently?
She looked up at me with those sad brown eyes that were now rimmed with tears—tears that I’d put there.
“Just answer one question. Is your name even Adam?”
“No,” I answered honestly. I didn’t volunteer my real name. What was the point?
Her watery eyes peered up at me as if searching for something. “You’re hurting…over a woman?” she asked, surprising me.
My silence was enough of an answer for her, and she seemed to recover a bit from her revelation. Seeing me as a victim suddenly made her feel better. Well, at least there was that.
“The tattoo on your arm…is it for her?”
Inquisitive little thing, wasn’t she? I really needed to stop getting drunk.
Her eyes wandered down to the tattoo in question, stopping at the black tip of script peeking out of my T-shirt sleeve.
“No,” I bit out. “That’s for someone else.”
Date night was definitely over.
Excerpt from Nowhere But Here by Renee Carlino
I kicked my shoes off and rolled up my slacks, then followed him to the edge of the pool, where he set two towels down. He rolled up his jeans and sat gracefully before dunking his feet into the water. My fingers twitched with a desire to smooth back the disheveled hair that had
fallen into his face. I watched intently as he reached up and ran his hand through it, displaying the flexing muscles in his arm. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. When he handed my wine over, he noticed me staring.
“What?” he asked. “Nothing. I just want to forget about everything for a little while.” “Really?” He looked excited. I nodded. “I have a great idea.” I dipped my feet in. The water was very warm, like bath water. It was immediately
calming my nerves. “What’s your idea?”
“Well, curious Katy, I’ll show you.”
He jumped up, ran to the gate, tinkered with something, and then all the lights went out-- the lights in the pool, all around the patio area, even the waterfall. Everything was silent. I could see steam rising from the surface of the water. A million more stars became visible. I sipped my wine and then heard Will Ryan’s soulful voice filtering softly through the outdoor speakers. Jamie appeared at my side.
“I love this guy. He’s so good.” I said.
“Yeah, he’s awesome. He and his wife are playing at a little local bar on Saturday, if you want to check it out with me?”
“I’d love to, if I’m still here.” I finally looked up and noticed that gorgeous Jamie was shirtless and undoing his belt buckle. Even in the dark, I could see the sinewy muscles of his arms and his defined abs and chest. He just smiled playfully at me. “What are you doing?” I whispered loudly.
“We’re gonna take your mind off things with a little dip.”
“I’mnot taking a dip.”
“Okay, fine.” He yanked his jeans off and leaped into the pool, wearing nothing but a pair of dark blue and gray plaid boxers.
When he surfaced, he held his boxers by a finger above his head and spun them around as if he were doing a strip tease. He flung them toward me and they landed just to my left.
“Oh my God! I can’t believe you just did that.”
“What? You can’t see me. Anyway, I know you have the crazy in you. You’ll be in here in no time.”
“How do you know that?” “The pretty ones are always a little cray-cray.” “You think you’re so smart, don’t you?” “You have no idea,” he said with no trace of humor. “Just get in here, Katy. I promise I
won’tlook.” At that point, it’s fair to say that I was drunk, completely and utterly drunk from the wine,
and Jamie’s presence did nothing to sober me up. His long, wet hair left little glimmering droplets on his shoulders. I giggled. “Turn around, you better not peek!”
“I promise.” He waded to one end of the pool and turned his back to me.
I quickly stripped down to my black bra and panties. Looking down, I thought it could easily pass for a swimsuit except that it was silk.Oh well.
As quietly as I could, I slipped into the pool on the opposite end of where Jamie stood. There were at least thirty yards between us. The pool felt amazing. I relaxed for a moment and then realized I was in a pool with a naked man I’d just met. A very attractive naked man.
“Okay, I’m in, Jamie, but keep your safe distance.”
He turned around, grinned from ear to ear, and then disappeared under the water.
Good God, what is he doing?
I was suddenly very nervous. A small part of me was actually frightened. If it weren’t for Will Ryan’s sweet words pumping through the speakers, I would have been terrified. His hands on my hips didn’t startle me at all because I could feel him getting closer. He rose out of the water, his warm hands gripping my waist. He wasn’t smiling; he was searching my eyes. I looked around quickly and then back to his shoulders and pecs as he lifted his arms and slicked his hair back with both hands. I could see his tensing neck muscles. There was very little stopping me from licking the drops of water off his arms. I closed my eyes as he closed the gap between us. I felt his mouth brush my neck and then move toward my ear. “Baby, open your eyes.”
“I . . .”
“I know. You have a boyfriend.” One side of his mouth turned up. He moved back a few inches. “We can be friends though, right?”
“Yes.” I sighed. “You were crying earlier. Why?’
“I shook my head.” “Please tell me it wasn’t because of how R. J. treated you?” “No.” “Then what?” “I just want to forget everything.” He nodded, looking away for a second. “Are you ticklish?” “Don’t you dare.”
He laughed. “Well there is one thing I know . . .” “What’s that, smart guy?” He put his hands on my hips again and I let him, even though I knew it was crossing the
line. It felt so good, like b
eing enveloped in warmth and security. His mouth turned up into a knowing smile, and then he said, almost wistfully, “Just being
your friend is going to be hard, but I’ll try. It’s just that... I like you. You’re witty and sweet, and you happen to be the most infinitely beautiful woman I’ve ever met.” I sucked in a startled breath. He paused, looking all drowsy with desire before opening his mouth to speak again.
“Don’t.” I murmured. “It’s not hyperbole, Katy. I promise.” Giggling nervously, I slowly sunk beneath the water, thinking Jamie was out of his mind.
I never would have described myself the way he just did. But then again, I had allowed Stephen to make me feel like I was barely worth coming home to.
Excerpt from Storm Front by Lisa N. Paul
“Ashley.”
Her name was a breathy whisper as his hand glided up to her shoulder. The backs of his fingers scorched a trail where skin met skin. A soft moan escaped her lips and thousands of tiny goose bumps spread across her flesh. Her familiar response to his touch sent currents of electricity through her blood.
“Ash, let me come in. Nothing has to happen. I just want to spend more time with you.”
Inhaling sharply, Ashley stepped away, disconnecting from his touch and shaking her head to clear the lust that threatened to cloud her good judgment. “Romeo, do you honestly think I don’t remember your allure? Please, I know exactly what will happen if I let you in my house. Do you know how I know?” She watched his face, his eyes burned with lust, yet he still shook his head in denial. “I know because I look at you, I see you, and even after all this time, even after everything that happened, I still want you. I still burn for you. I remember what it was like to have your hands on my body and I want more. I want it all.”
“I want you to inhale me, consume me, and devour me. I want to come apart knowing that you’ll be the one who puts me back together. And when you do, I want to watch you drown in the desire you once had for me. So you see,” her eyes ran the length of his body as she tried to keep her thoughts from scattering, “I’m not sure it’s a good idea for you to step through my door, because there is no way the reality can hold a candle to the fairytale my memories have created.”
Ryan moved closer to her. That one step brought him close enough that his scent once again surrounded Ashley. His warmth embraced her, desire assaulted her. She knew then and there that her self-promise was about to be a thing of the past.
“Princess,” his voice raspy as the words finally freed themselves from their prison, he growled, “There is nothing wrong with your memory. Now, invite me into your fucking house.”
Sawyer Says Page 19
