Page 52 of The Trade

“Okay,” I murmur.

“Jade ...” His voice is soft, soothing, and I focus on him. “I know you weren’t trying to lie to me. I just needed a moment to wrap my head around it. You just wanted to see where things went before bringing it up.”

“Exactly.”

His subsequent sigh is one of disbelief, amusement tinged with fondness. “Well, shit. Now I feel like an even bigger jerk for calling you a jersey chaser.”

“It’s fine.” I wave him off, chuckling at his self-deprecating tone. “Well, not fine. But I’ve moved past it.”

“That’s good,” he says, eyes twinkling with mischief. “But I should probably keep making it up to you, though.”

Raising a playful eyebrow, I challenge him, “Oh? And how are you going to do that?”

His lips curl into a confident smile. “I guess you’ll find out after our date.”

“Yeah, I’m counting on it.”

15

WEST

I didn’t realizeit could be like this.

That sharing a bed with a girl, with no intentions other than to spend time together, could feel so fucking satisfying. It’s not just good, it’s intoxicating.

And Jade—she’s fucking flawless.

She embodies all the qualities I could ever want in a woman. Her humor never fails to make me laugh, her sarcasm is refreshingly honest, and her passion is infectious. She’s determined, a hard worker who refuses to give up.

And God, is she sexy. To the point where it’s a challenge not to be perpetually turned on around her.

The strange thing is, when we first met, I don’t think I truly appreciated what was in front of me. Now I know, without a doubt, she’s the most stunning thing I’ve ever seen.

Of course, there’s no denying the physical desire between us. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t dying to taste every inch of her. This morning, I wanted nothing more than to press her against the wall, shove her panties to the side, and slide my aching cock between those perfect, sun-kissed thighs.

But I didn’t, despite the undeniable fact that we both wanted it.

I have to admit this is all new territory for me. Doing things properly with a girl, taking the time to build a genuine connection—it’s unfamiliar ground.

But with Jade, I want it all. I want the deep, meaningful conversations, the excitement of dating, the inevitable clashes that come with two strong personalities. And then, once all of that’s in place, I’d very much like to fuck her until she can’t remember her own name.

But it’s true, I want that underlying foundation to be there between us. I crave the emotional connection, the depth that stems from truly knowing one another. Because this time around, I’m not just in it for the thrill. This time ... I want something that’s built to last.

* * *

By the timeI leave Jade’s apartment, the digital clock on my car dashboard reads just a few minutes past two in the afternoon. I’m in a mad rush, with only a few hours left to map out our date.

“Bro, I need your help,” I call out, pounding a quick rhythm on Cam’s bedroom door.

When he finally swings it open, he’s standing there in nothing but a towel slung low on his hips, a toothbrush poking out from the corner of his mouth. He squints at me, a single brow arched in silent query.

“You just now getting up?” I venture to ask, working to suppress my smirk.

He removes the toothbrush from his mouth and holds up a finger, signaling for me to wait. After a moment, he reappears wearing a pair of worn-in boxers.

“I went back out after we hit Lucky’s,” he says, a trace of a sheepish grin playing on his lips. “A couple of us ended up at Dante’s Nightclub.”

“Ah, got it,” I say, nodding my understanding. A night at Dante’s can definitely take its toll. “Anyway, I’m taking Jade out on a date tonight.”

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