Page 22 of Her Every Fantasy

A flippant little term of endearment I’d desperately missed.

‘You want to give me...anal sex? Just like that?’

He laughed, low and deep. ‘Oh, no, rosebud, not just like that. There’s a certain amount of careful build-up to it—’

‘I don’t mean the actual workings of it, and you know it. I mean, how can you toss aside the issues between us and just...?’

He raised an eyebrow. ‘Just as easy as it was for you to skip past our issues and ask for oral sex. Regardless of how we feel about certain aspects of our past, you can’t deny that there’s a chemistry that just won’t fucking quit. I thought the best way to deal with it was to stay away from you but that didn’t work. So here we are.’

Because I’d pushed or because he’d been unable to resist? I chose to believe the latter.

‘But if you don’t want to play, just say so,’ he added.

It wasn’t a taunt like I’d thrown at him. A part of me even suspected he wanted me to chicken out so he would be done with me.

But I didn’t want to be done with Bryce. The ache in my chest wouldn’t let me. No matter what had come after, some of my happiest memories were the ones I spent with him. When the criticism from my family had got too much to bear, he’d been the one I’d run to. A judgement-free space I could hide in, perhaps even count on since his own defunct upbringing meant he shied away from the subject of family. It had been enough...then.

But ultimately, those flaws gaped. For me or for him.

Sure, we were different people with different wants, needs and goals now. And there was more than one way to skin a cat.

Grimacing at the off-putting analogy, I trailed my finger over the swirls in the tablecloth. By not informing him I was going to marry Dan despite my promise otherwise, I was partly responsible for messing up our friendship.

‘What happened in your apartment was my way of trying to get past all the...hostility. But it also got me thinking. I think you’ll agree we’re past the platonic relationship point?’

I’d probably need a shrink for this later, but right now, with my gorgeous hunk of an almost-ex-best friend sitting in front of me, I couldn’t let it go.

When he gave a wary nod, I continued. ‘I have a few weeks until the launch. And then I’m in town for another week after that to meet with my investors,’ I said.

His finger skirted back and forth across the lip of his wine glass. ‘And I have the official opening of the building taking up most of my time. But for this, rosebud, I’ll make the time. So?’

I wanted to ask if ‘this’ meant just the sex or our friendship but I chickened out. My heart had already taken a few bruises since he came back into my life. I didn’t want to invite any more. In direct contradiction my body surged to stinging life, my core clenching in wild anticipation of having its needs seen to properly, perhaps for the first time ever.

My burning secret of never having had a penetrative orgasm was one I hadn’t confessed to another soul. Would Bryce cure me of that affliction the same way he’d had me screaming within minutes of tonguing my clit and fingering my G spot?

‘I’m waiting for an answer.’

The breath I took was shallow and useless. And when I looked into his eyes the sensation of being sucked under was dangerously strong. But not strong enough to deny the pounding urgency inside me. ‘I want you in my life, Bryce.’

A peculiar, almost anticipatory expression flitted across his face. Before he could speak, I held up my hand.

‘Iffriends with benefitsisn’t your bag, I suggest we go withbusiness acquaintances with temporary benefits. Does that work for you?’

He tensed. ‘What are you saying?’

‘I’m saying I agree we can’t go back. So let’s find a...different path that works for us. Let’s not pigeonhole or define our relationship.’ And in that time, I’d try to win my friend back, I added silently.

‘What about the dare?’

My belly somersaulted with a mix of disquiet and excitement. I was stepping into completely new, potentially risky territory. But...no risk, no reward. Right? ‘I accept your dare.’

His smile was pure anticipation with dark, wicked speculation thrown in. It lingered for a while before he nodded. ‘Okay, deal.’ He glanced over my shoulder. ‘Your steak is here. I hope it’s been worth the wait.’

That sounded like a portent of things to come. For starters, the beef was melt-in-the-mouth glorious. Bryce stared drolly when I groaned on my second heavenly mouthful.

‘What?’ I demanded.

‘The food is great, I know, but let’s keep theWhen Harry Met Sallyexaggeration to a minimum, yeah?’ he griped.

---