“Okay. What’s her name?”
“Gina Westlake?”
His mother was quiet for a moment, and he assumed she was trying to place the name. Which was why he frowned at her next question. “Do you think she’s pretty?”
He paused in the act of assembling his dinner and made a gesture that she couldn’t see, as if to say with his hands, ‘What?’. “Yeah, she’s cute. Do you know who she is?”
“Do you remember my Mahjongg friend, Cynthia?”
“Yeah, sure. Why?”
“That’s her daughter.”
That made him pause for just a moment. “Really?”
“Yeah. In fact, I remember her saying something about Gina being single. I’ll have her give Gina a call and see if she can finagle you a date with her.”
He had the sandwich halfway to his mouth when he dropped it angrily back on the plate. “What? Mom, no!”
“Why? You just said she was cute.”
“She is. Beautiful, even. But if I want to go out with her, I’ll ask her myself. I don’t need my mommy calling her mommy and setting up a play date.” He began putting away his sandwich fixings.
“Alright, alright. But ask her out. She might need a friend. Even if you only do it for me. Okay?”
“Yeah, mom, sure,” he mumbled, though he knew he’d likely do it because she’d asked him to.
“Great.” There was a slight pause in the line. “Hey, honey, I have to go. My call waiting’s beeping. Talk to you soon.”
“Bye, mom.” Aaron hung up the phone and let out an aggravated sigh. Why, he wondered, did his mother still think she needed to get him dates? He was thirty, for Pete’s sake! He’d dated more women than he could count, and bedded half of them. “I got this,” he growled at the phone.
Then, setting his sandwich down on his plate with slumped shoulders, he blew out a breath between his lips and went to ask his neighbor to dinner.
For some reason, Gina wasn’t all that surprised when she answered the knock at her door and found Aaron standing on the other side. She smiled amicably, not missing the way his eyes roamed quickly over her pink silk short and button-up tee pajama set before coming back to hers.
“Hi,” she said huskily.
He hooked his thumbs into the front pockets of his jeans. “Hi.”
When he said nothing else, Gina raised her eyebrows. “Can I help you with something?”
“Um, yeah.” Then he closed his eyes and shook his head, his jaw clenched tight enough that she could see the muscles bulging at the hinges. When he opened his eyes, they were nearly black with some unknown emotion. For some reason, that turned her on.
“Will you go to dinner with me?” he asked stiffly.
Gina’s brows rose again, this time in surprise. Not at his question, but at the delivery. She’d figured him for more finesse than that. Then she realized why he was so tense. With a brighter smile, she asked, “My mom called your mom, didn’t she?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know.” Then he recalled the way his mother had rushed him off the phone because of her call waiting. “Probably.”
“Did your mom ask you to come over here and ask me out?”
He seemed almost relieved that he didn’t have to hide it. “Yeah. I probably shouldn’t have. But it’s my mom, you know?”
She nodded. “Yeah, I do. If you don’t want to go out with me, though, that’s fine. You don’t seem all that happy with it.”
He made a show of relaxing himself and smiling. “It’s not that I didn’t want to. I just wanted to do it myself, and not feel like I had to.”
She nodded because to her it made total sense.
He seemed as if he was waiting for something, and when she didn’t say anything else, he asked, “So, do you- You know what? Forget this. If I decide I want to ask you out, I’ll do it when I’m good and ready, not when she deigns I should.”
Gina realized that Aaron must have taken her wordlessness for rejection. He started to turn away, but she stopped him with a touch of her fingertips on his forearm, hoping she was reading him right.
“When?” she asked.
He was clearly surprised by her question. “Really?”
“Sure. Why not? We’re just making them happy, right? How horrible could it be?” She tried to give him her most reassuring grin.
It seemed to work. “Yeah, right. How about 7 tomorrow night?”
She grinned brightly. “Sounds great. Any idea where we’re going, so I know what to wear?”
Once again, his eyes roved her body, and this time when he looked her in the eye, all trace of irritation was gone, replaced by interest and pure unadulterated lust. This, she thought with a sexy smile, was the Aaron she was used to.
“You wear whatever you want, and I’ll plan accordingly when I pick you up.”
She caught her bottom lip between her teeth in the perfect affectation of flirty innocence. “A man who can think on the fly. I like that. Okay. See you then.” She wiggled her fingers at him before shutting the door, then smiled to herself and went back to her dinner salad and crossword puzzle.
Chapter Three
The following afternoon, mere hours before their children were slated to have dinner together, Dolores and Cynthia sat at Petit Fours, yapping excitedly.
“I can’t believe they’re going out tonight!” Cynthia exclaimed.
“Me, neither. They’ll love each other, because they’re just alike. We couldn’t have planned it better.” Dolores was clearly very proud of any part she may have had in bringing the two people together.
Suddenly, Cynthia looked nervous. “What if it doesn’t work?”
Dolores waved her worries gently away. “It’s bound to, Cindy, my dear. They’ll go out tonight, likely fall into bed, and realize they’re meant for each other.”
Cynthia nodded. “You’re right. Oh, I’m so excited!”
Dolores grinned and raised her half-full champagne flute. When Cynthia did the same, she clinked the glasses together and said with a distinct light in her eyes, “Here’s to the wedding.”
Aaron’s eyes nearly fell out of his head when Gina opened her door. She wore a slinky red dress that was tight across the bust and stomach, but loose around her thighs and nicely formed ass. Her muscular legs were enhanced by strappy red heels. Her strawberry-blonde hair was mostly loose, with just the sides pulled back away from her face with gold combs that matched the simple gold chain at her slender throat and small gold hoops at her ears.
“God, you look amazing,” he said quietly, barely aware that he’d spoken aloud.
Her grin was slow and sexy, and she did a little turn that made her skirt flare slightly. Then her eyes came to rest on him. “You don’t look so bad yourself, cowboy.”
He’d hoped the three-piece black suit- white dress shirt, red tie- would be appropriate. Clearly they were thinking alike, both in the formality of the attire and the red color. He wondered what else they might have in common.
“Looks like we thought alike,” Gina said, echoing his thoughts and surprising him.
Aaron nodded and offered his arm. “Yes, it does.” He waited while she grabbed her gold handbag and locked her door, then led her to his SUV.
He drove them to one of the nicer restaurants in Wixom. Volare was an Italian place, dressy but not overly so, and he’d heard from his friends at work that it was a good place for a first date. They were seated quickly at an intimate table meant for two.
Before even looking at her menu, Gina leaned toward him and asked discreetly, “Price range?”
Aaron frowned mildly, not understanding. “Pardon me?”
She kept her voice down even though he hadn’t, clearly trying not to be overheard. “What’s the price range? What can I get? Do you want me to only get a salad, or soup?”
Aaron lifted a slightly condescending brow. “Please!” he said disbelievingly.
She looked at him for a moment. “What does that mean?”
“Like I would take you
somewhere if I couldn’t afford the bill,” he said quietly, clearly offended.
“I’m not trying to offend you. I was just clarifying.” She picked up the menu, but didn’t really look at it yet. “So, I could get, say, a steak and crab legs?”
Without looking at her, he said, “If it pleases you. Though I doubt this place runs to something so basic.”
She was clearly excited by the prospect. “Sweet.”
She didn’t get steak and crab legs- they really didn’t carry it- but she didn’t consider price when choosing her meal, either. After their food had been brought to their table, Aaron glanced at her.
“Have you really gone out with guys who told you what you could and couldn’t spend at dinner?”
She nodded as she dug into her chicken. “Sure. I think every girl has.”
He frowned. “That’s… appalling.”
She shrugged. “Well, for me, dinner isn’t really the… ultimate goal, so…”
Aaron frowned. “Then what is?”
She smiled at him. “The sex afterward, of course.”
Aaron paused in cutting into his own chicken. “Really?”
Gina nodded. “Absolutely.”
“So… you don’t want, like, love, and marriage, and kids and all that?”
She shrugged again. “I won’t lie and say I’ve never thought about it. But I’ve found my life is a lot easier if I go into a date thinking like a guy. And I like sex, so as long as the guy is fully aware that I have no intention of going further than that, who am I hurting?”
Aaron stared at her for a long time, watching her eat and unable to comprehend what she was saying. All women wanted marriage and children, didn’t they?
After a minute, Gina lifted her eyes to his. “What?”
He blinked as if coming out of a trance. “I think I’m in love with you,” he said jokingly.
Gina laughed. “Don’t be, or this dinner will have to be cut short.”
Aaron laughed, too. “No. What I mean is, that is exactly how I’ve lived my whole adult life. If both parties know the score, than no one gets hurt.”
She nodded once. “Exactly.”
He nodded, too. “And you wouldn’t believe how many chicks say they can handle it and then end up in tears when I don’t stick around.”
She shook her head emphatically. “No! What you wouldn’t believe is how many guys do that!”
His brows rose. “Really?”
She took a bite and nodded once again.
Lifting his wine glass, Aaron toasted her. “Well, here’s to us and all the non-criers.”
They tapped their glasses together lightly, each taking a sip before getting back to their food. After a moment, they each lifted their eyes, looking at each other, suddenly knowing what was to come of their evening.
Trying not to make it too important, Aaron attempted conversation. “So, what do you do for a living?”
“I test video games.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“Dammit,” he said softly, looking down at his plate.
“What?” she asked, only mildly alarmed.
“I’m pretty sure my heart just fell out of my chest and flopped at your feet.”
Gina laughed. “I’ll pick it up and give it back, if you want. I’m pretty good at that.”
He waved off her offer. “Nah. I don’t need it.”
They lingered over dinner, chatting like old friends. It seemed they got on as well as their mothers did, a fact that didn’t really surprise them. They had enough in common that the rest was too easy.
Once back home, Aaron followed her up the stairs to their apartments, wondering if the gentle sway of her ass was natural or if she was purposely trying to entice him. Regardless, it was affecting him, and he felt himself growing hard in his suit pants.
He waited while she slipped her key in the lock on her door and pushed it open slightly.
She half-turned to him. “Well.”
He lifted a brow. “Well.”
She seemed unsure of something, and he wondered what it was. Finally, she took a breath and said, “Are you coming in?”
Relieved that they’d been on the same page, he said loudly, “Hell, yes.”
Then it was all he could do to get her inside before he mauled her on the landing. He roped an arm around her waist and pulled her close, dropping his mouth quickly to hers and driving his tongue instantly inside. She welcomed him with a quiet moan, walking backward into her apartment so he could kick the door shut.
There were no lights on, and the sudden darkness made their actions that much more erotic because they couldn’t see anything. They could be anybody, though each knew exactly who it was that touched them.
Pressing her back against the door, he snaked a hand up her dress and found her moist and warm and ready for him. She cried out when he slid two fingers beneath her lacy panties and ran them quickly through her folds and into her waiting heat, but he kept his mouth over hers and swallowed her pleasured sounds.
Just as quickly he retreated, eager to be inside her. In moments he had his pants undone, both them and his briefs pulled down, while she wiggled out of her panties and tossed them somewhere behind him. Grabbing her ass in both hands, he lifted her, felt her hitch her knees up near his hips, then slammed into her.
Both gasped for air at that first onslaught, desperate for more but reveling in the initial pleasure of coupling. Then he began moving, thundering in and out of her body, forcing her up and up and up while anchoring her to earth with his mouth and hands. She was a vocal lover, urging him on with little gasps, breathy pants, and loud moans. Every sound she made became an audio memory he’d never forget as long as he lived.
Gina couldn’t remember ever being ravaged so thoroughly. Every thrust of his hips made her sing for him, every gasp and groan of pleasure breathed against her ear drove her higher, every time his mouth found hers she drank of him as he took from her the very breath she required to survive. It was all so much. Too much, really, that he could please her so thoroughly though this was their first time together and he’d known her only days.
Suddenly she felt her orgasm spiraling through her. Her breath caught and held, her back bowed, pressing her breasts to his chest, and her muscles contracted around his hard length. On a strangled cry, she let out the breath that had stuck in her lungs. Before her, she felt Aaron give two more hard thrusts before his own guttural groan joined her cries filling the air.
A minute later, panting heavily, he lowered her feet to the carpet, then turned and settled his back against the door beside hers before sliding down to the floor. She slid down next to him, her legs jelly and unable to hold her up any longer. They sat there, trying to catch their breath, minds reeling, for several minutes.
Finally, Gina sighed and said, “You know, I don’t usually give out sexual praise, because I feel it gives false hope, but with you, I feel I can be honest: That was amazing! The best I’ve ever had. And that’s saying something.”
Aaron grinned. “Thanks. It was for me, too. God!” he exclaimed. Then, more quietly, “Wow.”
She gave him another minute to collect himself, straightening her dress over her breasts and thighs. Then she said, “That was great. Thanks. You have to go now.”
Aaron looked at her, astounded. Not because she was kicking him out, but because she wasn’t asking him to stay. Not that he wanted her to, but up until then he’d been skeptical about her attitude toward sex. “Right. Sorry. I’m still dizzy.”
She grinned. “You’re welcome.”
His answering grin was quick as lightning. “You, too.” Standing, he pulled up his underwear and pants, not bothering to tuck his shirt in since he was only going across the hall. “See you later,” he said, pulling the door open.
She stood at the door and watched him cross the small space between their front doors, then smiled genially when he grinned at her before closing his door. Flicking on the living room light bes
ide the door, she closed and locked it, then pressed her back against it. Unable to help herself, she allowed herself to grin like a fool for a full minute.
Then, spotting her panties a few feet away on the back of a chair, she sauntered over and snatched them up before heading toward her bedroom to get ready for bed. She felt the familiar ache between her legs that told her she’d been thoroughly ravished, and grinned again.
“Damn, he’s good,” she muttered, shaking her head in amazement.
Chapter Four
The next morning, Gina woke to her phone ringing. She opened her eyes and glanced at the clock, scowled darkly when she saw it was barely 8 a.m. Deciding to murder whoever was on the other end, she snatched the cordless phone off her bedside table and hit Talk.
“What?”
“Good morning, sunshine!” her mother trilled in her ear. Cynthia Westlake had always been a morning person.
“Morning, mom,” Gina muttered, half of her face still buried in her pillow.
“How are you today?”
“Sleeping, mom.”
“Well, get up! It’s a beautiful September day, still warm enough to wear shorts and a t-shirt if one were so inclined.”
Gina didn’t currently care for the weather update. “Which I’m not, mom. I’m wearing pajamas today. All day.” There, she thought. That oughta irritate her mother just enough to pay her back for calling so early.
“What? Pajamas? Aren’t you going to see Aaron today?”
Had he told his mother something about seeing her, and then Dolores had called Cynthia?, Gina wondered, lifting her head slightly. Not good if he had. That went against the rules. No next day visits after a one-night-stand. “No. I wasn’t planning on it. Why?”
Her mother was quiet. “Well, didn’t your date last night go well?”
“Yes. It was fine.”
Her mother was chipper again when she spoke. Damn it. “Good! Then you’ll see him again.”
Friends with Benefits Page 2
