Page 30 of Most Likely to Fear Love

Me:That’s okay. These things happen. There’s always next month.

Oh god. Having to wait for another cycle would do my head in. I dropped my phone on my desk and rubbed my hands over my face. There was just no need to go tying myself up in knots about this. Then my phone pinged.

Harle:Unless you just come by and pick it up.

My breath caught. Oh. I hadn’t thought of that. Could I just do that? I took a moment to let my mind run through the options. I guess I could. What was the rule that he had to bring it to me?

Me:You don’t mind if I do that?

Harle:Not at all. Here’s my address. Obviously, I’ll be here all day, so you just let me know when you’re on your way and I’ll prepare it for you.

He meant he’ll jerk off for me. That’s what he was saying. He’ll wait until I’m on the road, then he’ll…Averyexplicit image flashed in my brain and I felt my thighs clench.

Me:Okay, that’s great. I can get off by four and come straight to you. But I’ll text to confirm.

Harle:Great. See you then.

Get off. Come. Jesus fuck.

A few hours later, I had a white knuckled grip on the steering wheel as I navigated the winding country road to Harle’s place. It was a lovely drive, but even so, my stomach churned with nerves. It seemed ridiculous to say, but for some reason, this was different. I wasn’t waiting at home, everything neat and tidy. I was going to him. To Harle’s place.

As I rounded a bend, I caught sight of a remote-controlled gate with Harle’s house number. My pulse leapt. I was here.

I pulled up to the gate and waited as it slowly opened, then followed the long driveway through towering pines. When the cabin finally came into view, I caught my breath because holy shit, this was not what I imagined when Harle gave me his address. It was all sleek glass and warm wood, with a wrap-around deck that had actual flower pots on it. Beyond the cabin, I could see glimpses of the lake through the pines, glinting in the afternoon sun. Fucking amazing.

Then I remembered what I was there for and had to drag in a lungful of air before I got out of my car and headed towards the front door.

Before I’d even stepped up onto the deck, Harle opened the door. My knees went a little weak at the sight of him, so I had to put my hand on the railing to steady myself before I could walk up the steps. He was so impossibly gorgeous it should be illegal.

“Hey there, Cassidy,” he greeted me, his blue eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled. “Come on in.”

“Hi.” I wondered if my voice would ever stop that high pitched squeak when he was around. “Wow,” I breathed the second I was through the door. “This place is incredible.”

The interior was even more stunning than the outside, with vaulted ceilings and warm wood accents everywhere I looked. A stone fireplace dominated one wall, unlit but still impressive. The living room and kitchen had big picture windows that looked out over the lake. It was all absolutely stunning.

“Thanks, I’m glad you like it. Can I get you something to drink?” Harle closed the door and moved towards the kitchen. “Water, tea, coffee?”

“Oh, um, I don’t really think I have time for coffee.” Fuck, this was awkward. “It’s probably better if I, uh, get it and go.”

He surveyed me for a moment, running his thumb along his jaw. “You know, if you had the equipment, you could just do it here.”

Blink. Blink. “I’m sorry, what?”

He folded his arms across his chest and gave me another one of those long, assessing looks. It was all I could do not to squirm under the scrutiny. Finally, he said, “So, here’s the thing. The sample has the best chance if it’s... uh, used pretty quickly, and this is the freshest one yet.”

I felt my cheeks flush as the implications sank in. How fresh, exactly? “Oh. Right. That makes sense.” Now for the really awkward part. “And I, um, I do have the equipment here, as a matter of fact. I picked it up yesterday and forgot to take it out of my purse.”

“Well, that seems like a lucky coincidence, don’t you think?”

“Yeah, it does.” Could I honestly go through with this? It was honest to God, the weirdest thing I’d ever considered.

“No pressure or anything, darlin’. It’s up to you.”

It was the darlin’ that did it. “Okay. Thank you.” Gulp. “I’ll do it here.”

Something flared in his eyes, but was quickly smothered. I let myself think that I’d imagined it.

“I have work to do outside, so I’ll show you to my room and head out.”

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