Page 92 of Push & Pull
“It’s a lot to jump into a relationship with someone new,” Simone eventually said. “Especially after things that have happened to me recently. I mean, I could definitely use someone who is in my corner every step of the way…”
“I’m a great hype girl.”
“I’m also not cut and dry in the bedroom. If you’re looking for someone to blow your mind, I’m not it.”
“As it so happens, I’m also great at taking control, if you know what I mean.”
“Is that who you always are?” Simone tilted her head, drawing the honest truth out of Petra’s mouth. “Are you content with things usually staying like that? Because I’m easy to please as long as you go along with it.”
“Uh,yeah.” Petra’s hand slapped against the table in anything but jest. “I don’t like power plays in the bedroom, either. I love knowing who wants what before we get there. Nothing like a girl who is already halfway to Fantasy Ville before you get into the elevator together.”
“Who said anything about us getting in the elevator together?”
Petra slid off her stool, arm grazing against Simone’s. “Me. You coming or not, princess?”
The time it took for Simone to respond was agonizing, but not as excruciating as being so close to those lips, yet holding herself back before Simone got the wrong idea.
Even if it was 100% the right idea – and the right thing for them to do.
Chapter 32
Simonemighthavebeenaddicted to adrenaline after all. That was the only explanation for how easily she fell under Petra’s captivating spell again.
She might be lying to me.These thoughts crossed her mind as she entered the elevator with Petra and awkwardly danced with her between the railing and the buttons.This could all be a grift. Maybe she’s not honest at all.This plague of insecurity was what kept Simone from leaning up against the elevator wall and waiting for Petra to kiss her for the first time in two months.Would it kill me to go back for more for one night?She had worse vices in her short life.
Yet tinges of regret colored her movements as they entered the dark suite at the end of an expansive hallway. The buzz of the air conditioner was the only thing keeping Simone’s head from exploding in anxiety.
She shouldn’t be here. Not with Petra. Not like this. Insecret,of all things.
If Astrid knew I was here…All Astrid knew was that Simone desperately wanted out of the manor and to see some of her friends. Astrid had said nothing but had gone outside to watch Simone climb into her BMW and head into the city.Maybe she does know.Astrid had paid Petra’s bail, after all. It wasn’t something they acknowledged when it happened, but Simone wasn’t completely in the dark. Something about Petra’s actions had spoken to the woman who knew what it was like to quickly fall in love with the right woman, regardless of Simone’s opinions about her stepmother’s personal life.She’s someone else who slept with men for work and nothing more.Every woman had her own story, Simone supposed.
What was hers?
Her back located the nearest wall. Petra came closer, their bodies barely touching in the shadows of the entryway. It reminded Simone of the alcove in the New York club, where Petra had hunted her down and kissed her like this was the natural flow of their lives.
“Wait right here.” Petra’s finger lightly jabbed into Simone’s stomach before she walked away. “You trust me, sweetheart?”
Simone didn’t know how to answer. Petra was a timebomb, waiting to blow everything up in Simone’s face.If I trust her, she might turn on me.If she didn’t trust her, she might be throwing something away. What was Simone supposed to do? Follow her instincts? Or run?
“No,” Simone said.
Petra stepped into the suite, anyway. As her footsteps faded, Simone tapped her head against the wall. Moments later, Petra returned with a handful of rose petals in her grasp.
“I never found out what your favorite flower was.” One of the petals touched the corner of Simone’s mouth. The others trailed behind her, leading back into the suite. “Roses are good, though. Especially these red ones. Make me think of you.”
“Your efforts to seduce me are noted.”
“I’ve already seduced you.” As the last rose petal fell onto Simone’s shoe, Petra grabbed the front of Simone’s jacket. That warm and imposing forehead soon touched Simone’s chin. Inch by inch, the sleeves of her jacket came off her shoulders and down her arms. The chill was enough to rouse the hairs from her skin. “Otherwise you wouldn’t be here. With me.”
Once the jacket was on the floor, Petra grabbed the waistband of Simone’s pants and offered her their first kiss in much too long.
“I don’t get it.” Simone attempted to keep herself collected as Petra gave up on that kiss and instead searched for the bra lurking beneath Simone’s blouse. “This is a lot of effort to reach out to me while you’re out on bail.”
“Oh, you think I let a thing like that get in the way of what I want?” Petra didn’t unsnap Simone’s bra. Instead, she clamped her hands on Simone’s breasts.
“What do you want?”
The answer was obvious, but the question had been asked in earnest.I need to hear her say it. I need to hear how she says it.Only then would Simone know if she was caught in an elaborate trap or if a sliver of this night was genuine.
