Page 95 of Firecracker

Another laugh slipped from her lips. “Oh my God. Well…number one rule…foreplay isnotoptional.”

He grinned and leaned back in his chair. “Good one.”

“Also, since we’re talking about oral…don’t expect to receive if you aren’t willing to give.”

He smiled with a slow wink. “I think we already know I’m a giver that way.”

Arden’s cheeks grew pink again. “Um, yes. That’s true. And…” She hesitated, then said, “And you’re very good at it.”

His lungs expanded with pride. “Thank you.”

“Maybe this is a good time to ask you about those Lora Leigh books.”

He hoisted an eyebrow. “You were checking out my books?”

“I happened to notice. I like her books too.”

“She writes great sex.”

“Are you telling me you learned about sex from reading romance novels?”

“They’re not romance. They’re fantasy.”

“They’re romance.”

“Okay whatever.” He shrugged. “I may have picked up a few tips. But mostly, I just like doing it, so…”

She let out a strangled-sounding sigh.

He knew just how she felt. “Yeah, I know, we haven’t even gotten our main courses yet, and I’m ready to throw you over my shoulder and take you home.”

Heat flared in her eyes, lust mingling with amusement. “I’m ready for that too.”

He let out a low groan. “Christ. Now we’re both going to be in agony.”

“Maybe we should stop talking about sex. That might help.”

“Yeah. Okay.” He cast around in his mind for a new topic. “How are your parents?”

“Yeah, that’ll do it.” Arden wrinkled her nose. “They’re good. They love living in Florida now. It’s so weird. My grandma has lived there for years, and they used to make jokes about the retirement community, and now they’re part of it. They don’t seem old enough for that.”

“They did retire young.”

“But my dad hasn’t totally retired. He still does some consulting work.”

“Right. Do you visit them there?”

“I have a couple of times. They have a great place with a pool, so it’s a nice place to relax. Not wild and exciting.” She wrinkled her nose, smiling. “But relaxing.”

“You like to travel?”

“I love to, but haven’t done much. Michael never wanted to. You?”

“Yeah, I love it too. Jamie and I make a point of taking a week trip somewhere hot every winter. Claire and I went to England last year.”

“That’s your ex-girlfriend?”

“Yeah.” He enjoyed the way her eyes narrowed at that.

---