by A. K. Evans
“I’m sorry for what I said, Monroe. I know it may not seem that way after what you heard me say, but I don’t think that of you.”
Since I was already having a hard time keeping it together I looked away. If I continued to look in his sad, blue eyes I knew it’d make me cry. I hated that the thought ever crossed his mind enough for the words to ever be said.
“That’s what hurt the most,” I admitted.
“What?” he asked.
“When you walked out of Lou’s after karaoke, I felt like I was nothing. That hurt. Last weekend, when you told me you couldn’t pursue anything with me after you kissed me, that really hurt. But, when you basically called me a whore Friday night in front of everybody, that was like shoving a knife in my heart and twisting it. Anyone else, I wouldn’t have cared. But you? I hate that you think that of me.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I feel like I keep saying that, but I don’t know what else to say. I don’t think you’re a whore, Monroe. We aren’t together, so who you sleep or slept with is none of my business. I’m no saint, trust me. It was wrong for me to make assumptions when I heard you on the phone with your brothers, obviously not knowing that that’s who they were, and as a result I made a huge mistake.”
What was I supposed to say to that?
“So, what now?” I quizzed him.
Stone’s eyes searched my face a moment before he shared, “I’d like you to do something with me that I’ve never done with a woman before.”
My heart rate picked up.
“Will you let me take you out for dinner tonight?” he pleaded.
I froze. My body was immobile. Xander Stone just asked me out to dinner. Tonight.
“You mean, you want to take me on a date?” I asked, the shock in my voice obvious.
“Yes, Monroe. I want to take you out on a date.”
I tilted my head to the side, contemplating what he said before he asked me, and realized I was intrigued.
“Wait, you’ve never gone on a date?” I challenged.
He shook his head and explained, “Not on a pick-the-girl-up, take-her-to-dinner, and make-out-in-my-truck-afterward date.”
I bit my lip. The promise of making out with him again had all my senses firing.
“And you are sure you want to do that with me tonight?” I confirmed.
He dipped his chin in acknowledgement.
And because I was a sucker for punishment I continued asking questions. “All of that?”
He nodded again. This time, his blue eyes were swirling with an intense heat in them.
“If I say yes, will you promise to not rip my heart to shreds again?” I asked, really hoping he didn’t take offense to it.
“I ripped your heart to shreds?” he countered, incredulously.
“Would you prefer I said shattered it into millions of tiny pieces?” I answered.
A look of defeat washed over his face. “I’m sorry for that. I can’t promise what will happen down the road, but I will promise you that I will do my very best to treat you the way you deserve to be treated. I won’t intentionally hurt you.”
I needed to protect my heart. He had already hurt me, Nikki told me to be careful and guard my heart, and I really didn’t want to have to make good on my promise to call Deacon if Stone made me cry. Even though I knew there was the chance that I’d experience more heartbreak the possible reward of finding a real love made the risk worth it.
“Okay. Then yes, I will go out on a date with you tonight.”
He ended up blinding me with his smile next and, I couldn’t help it, I smiled back at him.
“Fuck,” he began. “It feels good to see you smile again.”
“It feels good to have something to smile about,” I responded. “But I have a question.”
“Sure, what’s up?”
“What should I wear tonight?”
He smirked and expressed, “I’d be more than happy seeing you in this the rest of the night.”
I looked down at myself and back up at him. “You aren’t serious?”
Stone chuckled and maintained, “Well, yeah. I’d love to see you in that the rest of the night. You look fucking amazing and though I might spend most of the night in pain, I’m certain it’ll be more fun when we get to the making out in my truck part of the date.”
“Why would you be in pain?”
He cocked an eyebrow and questioned, “Seriously?”
“Yeah,” I answered honestly.
“Angel, I’m in pain right now just standing here seeing you like this. Not only do you look hot as fuck, but the innocent act is too fucking adorable.”
He snaked an arm around my waist and pulled me next to his body. I felt his arousal between us. It was the second time I’d ever felt that. Realization dawned on me and I understood what he meant.
“Oh,” I whispered.
“Yeah. Oh,” he began. Keeping me pressed to his solid body he explained, “I think it might be frowned upon in most respectable restaurants for you to show up in your underwear.”
I gasped. “This isn’t underwear! These are dance shorts.”
“Right,” he said as though he didn’t believe what I was saying. “Okay, then I don’t think they’ll go for dance shorts either. Wear whatever you are comfortable in. If you go casual, I’ll take you to a laidback restaurant. You want to get dolled up, I’ll take you somewhere fancy.”
“Alright, then. I would like to get fancy. I won’t ever get the opportunity again to be your first. I think that means it’s worth making it special.”
He grinned at me and revealed, “Fuck, you’re cute.”
I gave him a big smile.
“Can I kiss you before I leave?”
I nodded.
Stone brought his mouth down to mine and teased my lips with his. Both of my hands were pressed against his chest, so I slid one up and wrapped it around the back of his neck. I pushed up on my toes and kissed him. My other hand took the same journey and met with the other at the back of his neck before sliding further up into his hair. I wasn’t sure if I was doing any of this right, but it felt good to me. Stone’s arms, which were both wrapped around me, separated. One hand traveled up my back to the back of my head. The other began traveling south. I loved the feel of his hands on my body and was seriously turned on. As our tongues tasted each other and my body reacted to everything I was feeling, I moaned. That must have been encouragement for Stone because his hand that had been resting just above my ass drifted down to cup my ass and squeeze it. That’s when he groaned. This was incredible. It was the most wonderful thing I’d ever felt in my entire life. I was thoroughly enjoying kissing Stone when he tore his mouth from mine.
His intense eyes looked at mine and he promised, “Looking forward to more of that tonight.”
“Yeah,” I whispered. “Me, too.”
Stone gave me a quick kiss on the forehead and advised, “I’ll pick you up at your place at six.”
I nodded.
With that, he turned around and walked out. The minute I heard the door chime indicating he walked out, I turned and ran to my phone. I found the number I was looking for and tapped on the screen. It rang three times.
“Hey, babe, what’s up?” Nikki answered.
“Where are you?” I asked, panicked.
“At the salon. Aren’t you next door?”
I was talking a hundred miles a minute when I explained, “Stone was just here. He brought me a bouquet of primrose flowers, told me he was sorry again, told me he couldn’t live without me, and then asked me if I’d do something with him that he’s never done with another woman.”
“Which was?”
“Go out on a date. A real date, though. The kind where you pick up the girl, take her to dinner, and make out with her in your truck afterward.”
“What did you say?”
“Yes.”
Nikki gasped. “When?”
“Six o’clock tonight.”
“Get your ass home. I’ll
call Charley; you call Emme. Tell her to meet us at the condo for an emergency meeting. Tell her what you just told me. She’ll bring chocolate, I’m sure, to help with this. I’m following right behind you.”
“Okay, Nikki. Thanks.”
“Love you, babe. See you at home.”
“Love you, too.”
I disconnected with Nikki, threw my sweats, t-shirt, and sweatshirt back on, grabbed my things, and locked up. The minute I got to the car, I put my earbuds in, called Emme, and drove to the condo. I told Emme what was happening and she said she’d be there in less than an hour.
I pulled my earbuds out of my ears, cranked up my music, and tried to remain calm about the fact that I was going to get to make out with Stone in his truck tonight.
It didn’t work.
Chapter 8
Monroe
“So, what is the consensus on the sex talk? Do I tell him I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing?”
I was sitting in the family room of the condo surrounded by my three best girls. Fifteen minutes after I arrived home, Nikki walked through the door. Ten minutes after that, Charley and Emme showed up. I told them everything that happened today. Of course, they all already knew what happened last Friday and Emme got a bit of an update on the flower deliveries yesterday when Vaughn and I were over snowmobiling with her and Zane, but I brought them up to speed on the text from last night, the flowers from this morning, and the talk I had with Stone at the studio.
“I think you should tell him,” Emme suggested.
“What?!” Nikki shrieked, outraged.
“He should know. If he doesn’t know and things start to get out of control, he could hurt her,” Emme retorted.
“I agree,” Charley chimed in. “We want this to be good for her. If it’s painful, it’s not going to be enjoyable.”
I was getting nervous.
“How much pain are we talking here?” I asked anxiously.
“That all depends,” Nikki answered. “Factors to consider in the pain department are how tight you are, how large he is, are you wet enough--”
“Okay, stop,” Emme cut Nikki off. “We don’t want to freak her out.”
“I know I don’t have anything to compare to and I haven’t actually seen anything, but I felt him today…and last Saturday,” I started. “I’m thinking there’s enough there to make it painful.”
“So, tell him,” Charley offered. “Don’t make a big deal of it and start talking about it in the middle of dinner, but if things start to get heated you should tell him.”
Nikki started again. “Normally, I’d not agree with this, but the more I think on it the more I’m leaning toward it being better for you to tell him. With everything that has happened up to this point between you two, I don’t think it’ll be good for him to learn he’s hurt you yet again.”
“Right, okay. So, when the moment is right I’ll tell him. What about…” I started, trailing off.
“What about what?”
“I don’t know what I’m doing. What if he thinks I’m awful? Oh my God, what if he thinks I’m bad in bed? I mean, I can’t exactly be good, or even half decent, considering I’ve never done it before. What if it’s not good for him? I really, really want it to be good for him.”
Charley spoke to try and settle me down. “It will be good for him. You don’t have to plan it out, honey. Just do what feels right to you…whatever comes naturally. Stone will let you know if he likes something you’re doing.”
“Yep,” Nikki chimed in. “If you do something to him and you hear moaning and groaning, that’s indication you should keep doing whatever it is. Use your hands and mouth to explore him; he’s not going to not enjoy that. You’re a dancer, you know how to use your body…use that to your advantage.”
“Aside from that, let him take the lead. I believe he’s a good guy, Monroe. If he knows your inexperience going into this he’ll guide you and make it good for the both of you,” Emme added.
“You think?” I worried.
“We don’t think, mama, we know. Just relax and enjoy tonight for what it is. If it’s just dinner and making out in his truck, enjoy it completely. If it’s more than that, and it’s what you want, go for it and relish the experience. I don’t think you’re going to be disappointed either way.”
“I hope you’re right.”
She winked at me and asserted, “I am, trust me.”
“Thanks, girls. I’d be lost without the three of you,” I admitted.
“Don’t sweat it, honey. Besides, you’ve been there for each of us at one time or another, which reminds me that I need to ask you all a huge favor,” Charley said.
“What’s up?” Nikki asked.
“Wes and I set a date for the wedding. We wanted to wait until the season was over and it’s going to be at the end of June.”
“There’s not much time left.”
“I know,” Charley responded. “That’s why I was hoping we could all go wedding dress shopping in two weeks.”
“I’m in,” I answered. “I’m so happy for you, babe. You’re going to be married in a few short weeks; that’s crazy!”
Nikki and Emme agreed to wedding dress shopping next weekend after which the four of us had a late lunch. I didn’t eat a lot since I was going to be leaving soon for my dinner date with Stone.
After we ate, talked for longer than we should have, and cleaned up, I realized I didn’t have a whole lot of time left before Stone would be there to pick me up. I told the girls I was going to take a shower and needed them to pick something out for me to wear. They got to it while I hauled my ass into the shower and did my business. It took longer than I had wanted, but I figured it was crucial that I shaved everywhere considering the possibilities that were ahead of me this evening.
When I got out, I put my lotion on, wrapped my satin robe around me, walked back into my bedroom, and saw that the girls had everything ready. They didn’t give me much time to analyze their selections because Nikki immediately went about the business of hair and makeup while Emme took to giving my nails a fresh coat of polish.
“He liked my hair on Friday,” I told Nikki.
“Of course he did. You always look smoking hot, but when you actually fix your hair you’re a knockout. I’ll get you sorted, babe. Don’t worry, we’ll make sure his dick’s hard the moment he sees you. Now shush and let us work.”
Nikki. The girl had no filter. I laughed inwardly at my outspoken friend. It’s one of the things I loved most about her. She was who she was and made no apologies for it.
Roughly an hour later, I had my nails painted, my makeup done, and my hair fixed. Nikki gave me an ultra-sexy look with the makeup, but it wasn’t overdone. She put the curls in my hair, which gave it a bit of volume. Charley had sorted my outfit and picked out my heather gray, boat neckline, off-the-shoulder, dolman-sleeved, body-con mini dress. It ended just above mid-thigh and she paired it with my over-the-knee black stiletto boots.
“You have five minutes before he gets here. You’ve got to get dressed,” Emme informed me.
“Shit. I only have five minutes left?” I asked, starting to panic.
“Relax, honey,” Charley began. “You don’t want to be in a state when he arrives.”
We heard a knock at the door.
“Make that zero minutes before he arrives,” Nikki laughed. “No worries. Get dressed. We’ll entertain him until you are ready.”
“I feel sorry for him already,” I mumbled.
The girls walked out of my bedroom while I rummaged through my panty drawer. I wanted to wear a pretty set in case Stone was going to see them. I may not have ever had a reason to wear pretty or sexy undergarments, but that didn’t mean I didn’t own them. Nobody was seeing them, but I knew what I had on and they made me feel good, so I always bought them for myself. I still had a bit of a tan from when I lived in California, so I went with my white satin and lace-trimmed bra and panty set. After, I put on my dress, got on my boots, and put a pair
of diamond studs in my ears. They were my favorite earrings; my parents gave them to me on my twenty-first birthday. I went and stood in front of the mirror to give myself one last look before I took off down the hall.
As I approached I heard Stone saying, “You have my word.”
When I stepped into the family room I took in the scene. Nikki was standing in front of Stone, her back to me, Charley and Emme were standing off to the side. They were able to see both Nikki and Stone, as well as me. Stone’s eyes left Nikki’s and came to mine. They traveled the length of my body.
“Fuck,” he muttered under his breath.
Nikki turned and winked at me. “She looks hot, doesn’t she?”
Stone’s eyes never left mine when he whispered, “Fire.”
I felt my face flush at his admission that I looked good. And, it seemed he had no issues with admitting it in front of my friends.
“Ready, angel?” he asked, his voice sweet.
I nodded, grabbed my coat, which one of the girls must have pulled out for me, and walked toward him. He put an arm around me and guided me toward the door. Just as we reached the door, Nikki called out, “Have fun, kids.”
Stone chuckled, opened the door, and let me walk through ahead of him. We made our way to his truck, where he opened the door and helped me in before rounding the front and getting in on the opposite side.
The second he closed his door and turned on the truck, he shifted in his seat to look at me.
“You look beautiful, Monroe,” he complimented, as his hand reached out to grab a lock of my hair.
I smiled at him. “Thank you. I had a little help.”
He laughed, put the truck in gear, and pulled out of the parking lot. Stone drove us to an upscale seafood and steakhouse restaurant, a place like nothing I’d ever been taken to before. We were seated immediately, as Stone had made reservations, and quickly gave our order to the waiter.
“So how bad was it?” I asked.
“What?” he countered.
“I’m guessing Nikki, Charley, and Emme gave you the third degree.”
He smirked and shook his head. “Crazy women. Charley opened the door and greeted me. Told me I was early, but that you were just about ready. Emme walked up to me and said that she was happy that we got things sorted. She told me she hopes everything works out well for us. Nikki is something else, though. She walked right up to me and said that she was going to tell me the same thing she told Wes when he first started seeing Charley.”
