Page 15 of Even Exchange

“I had to walk here in the rain after I couldn’t find you all at Ken’s,” she says flatly.

“Everyone went to LIV.” My gaze returns to hers. “Why didn’t you Uber?”

“My phone died.”

“Why didn’t you grab a taxi?”

She huffs. “Because I didn’t want to be the star of aCSI: Miamiepisode?”

Santo cielo.?1“Why didn’t you call me?”

“Like I said.” She looks at me like an idiot, and maybe I am. “My. Phone. Died.”

“You could’ve asked someone to use theirs,” I point out, unsure of how I’m trying to help.

“How would I have looked up your number”—she throws her hands in the air—“if. My. Phone. Died!”

“I’m going to tattoo my phone number to your fucking ass, Charlotte,” I mumble, dragging a hand over my face.

She rolls her eyes. “What if you change it?”

“Woman.” I groan, blowing out a frustrated breath. “I’ve been sitting up here, oblivious, while you were walking alone, soaked to the bone, looking like someone killed your dog.”

Her brown eyes narrow on mine. “No one killed my dog.” Her expression softens, a sigh escaping her. “Someone just fucked my boyfriend.” My eyebrows shoot to my hairline. “Well…” She pauses, looking down to pick at her fingernails. “Ex-boyfriend.”

Maybe I’m not too tipsy or tired after all.

“Wow,” I say as the admission hangs heavy in the air between us. Only two ridiculous words finally leave my mouth. “I’m sorry.”

“I had the honor of walking in on the whole naked fuck fest,” she says, smiling sweetly, but I see straight through her facade. “It was spectacular.”

My lips part open, and I have no words. Actually, I have four. “He’s a fucking idiot.”

And for once, Charlotte doesn’t correct me. “You said I could come find you if I needed to.”

Nodding, I confirm. “I did.”

Her eyes connect with mine before trailing downward. She sucks her lower lip between her teeth, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d say she was checking me out. Her gaze wanders all the way to my cock, and I beg it to stay put so she can’t see how much she’s affecting me.

My attraction for her has been locked up tight since her boyfriend tossed me out after Halloween like a candy wrapper. For twenty minutes, I listened on the other side of the door before deeming she was safe and dragging myself away.

We were mid-season, and I definitely didn’t need the drama or distraction.

My eyes snag on another piece of rice in her hair—or is that egg?—and I’m brought back to how disheveled this poor woman looks tonight. My stomach aches as I determine what the hell to do about it.

“How can I help?” I ask, the words strained.

She steps forward, placing her cool, trembling hands against my bare chest, and I freeze.

Rule number one: don’t touch Charlotte.

But she’s touching me, so that’s a loophole… right?

Her brown eyes lock with mine, and her mouth curves into a smile so wicked it knocks the breath from my lungs. “I need you to fuck me.”

My lips part as her words cover every inch of my skin, strangling my dick like a boa constrictor. “What?” I manage to croak out.

“Come on, Noah.” She drags a soft fingertip up and down my abs. “We all know about your no-pussy-during-season rule.”

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