Page 27 of Last First Time
She reaches up with a heavy sigh and rubs at my jacket. “I’m making a mess of everything tonight. Even my lipstick is all over you.”
“I want your lipstick all over me, Kar. But on my skin, not on my jacket.”
Her eyes light up with interest, but her sexy mouth stays in a firm line. “I told you before that we aren’t going to use sex to fix everything, Reed.”
“Fix what though? I don’t understand why we can’t be naked and having this conversation, no matter what it is you’re trying to tell me.” I finally can’t take the distance and press myself against her. “We’re best friends, Kar. We can work through whatever is bothering you, but now—hooray—we get to do it naked.”
She pulls back from me again and throws her arms up in frustration. “That’s exactly what I’m saying though.” She shakes her head, that long curtain of her hair whipping like it did the night of her bar top headbanging belly dance session. “See? This is exactly what I’m talking about.”
Well, I am officially trapped in an Abbott and Costello routine with the girl of my dreams. This has to be some sort of divine punishment for the misdeeds of my youth, probably excessive masturbation.
I take a deep breath. I have got to get us out of this cycle and naked as quickly as possible. Once we get our hormones calmed down a little bit, I’m certain we can sort out whatever is going on in her head.
“Kar.” She stops her mini tantrum, her eyes meeting mine at last. “I’m trying to figure out what I did wrong here, but you’re not really helping me. Give me a break, okay?”
She takes a deep breath and nods once.
“Okay. I know the party was horrible—”
“It wasn’t.” I look at her face carefully, but she doesn’t look like she’s giving me a heaping serving of bullshit.
“Actually, it kind of was. The only good thing about that whole fundraiser was being with you tonight.” I sigh and rub my hand across my face, suddenly exhausted. “I’m sorry I put that on you, Kar. I know it was probably—”
Her mouth is on mine. Hot, sweet, and tasting of gin. I know I’m supposed to finish dealing with whatever is worrying her, but I’m only human. I kiss her back like I’m starving. I want to drown in the taste of her, her mouth, her skin, and that promised land between her thighs.
“Kade, I’ve been thinking,” she gasps out when we come up for air.
“I haven’t. Like at all, this entire night. You in that dress. You’re killing me.” I run my teeth along the long curve of her neck, leaving a trail of goosebumps behind.
Her light laugh fades off into a gasp as I bite harder. I want to kiss her stupid, until she forgets everything other than my touch and a few choice curse words.
“This is important, Kade. Please.”
Well, crap. Here we go. I was hoping to get her naked and persuade her to let me take her out again by using the power of orgasms. And okay, maybe that sounds a little underhanded, but I am not above using some shady tactics to get Karisma to go out with me again.
I reluctantly stop kissing and biting her neck and pull back enough to look her in the eye. She’s chewing on her bottom lip, but her eyes are on the ground. What on earth?
“Hey, what’s wrong? You know you can tell me anything, right? No matter what, Kar. I’m here for you.”
She smiles so quickly I thought maybe I imagined it. Then her eyes meet mine and she is all serious business. “Here’s the thing. I was preliminarily approved for financing for the corporate real estate loan.”
I feel as surprised as if it were an actual physical blow, like she’s hit me in the face. I wanted this for her, but it had really been a long shot, honestly. Also, what happened to us talking about doing something naughty in bed together?
She shifts her weight over to one foot. Shit. I am definitely taking too long to say something, and she’s going to get the wrong idea if I don’t get my act together immediately.
“That’s amazing,” I say simply, and then dip my face toward hers again. This time the kiss is sweet and tender, like the first kiss of a relationship is supposed to be. Right before she nips at my mouth without any sort of warning and drives us to inferno levels of hot all over again.
“No, I mean it. Thank you.” She grins. I can actually feel the smile on her mouth as it’s pressed against mine, and I couldn’t be happier. “I wouldn’t have even filled out that paperwork if it weren’t for you.”
“Oh no, I must insist. Thank you.” I lean away from her, smiling like a lunatic. Was this what she was so nervous about? Sometimes she is so fucking ridiculous. I pick her up and swing her around in a little circle. She screams and takes a few swings at me with her little balled up fists. “So, what’s the big fuss about?”
Her face tightens. “The bank says I need a co-signer. The business and I don’t have enough of a revenue history in order for them to give me that giant bag of money.” She clears her throat awkwardly. “Would you possibly consider being my co-guarantor? I don’t actually need your money, just your moneyed status.”
I shake my head at her slowly. “You about gave me a heart attack with all this drama. I thought you wanted to call things off with me. Do you know that?”
She swallows hard, her throat working over a big knot of nerves. “I’m definitely not calling things off with you. You’re the best boyfriend ever. I didn’t mean to give you the creeps, Reed.” She sighs. “It’s so damned difficult for me to talk about money. Especially because I know you have so much of it, and I don’t.”
“Look, Kar. There’s no reason why things ever have to be awkward for us. I don’t want you to feel weird about anything with me, but especially not something as small as money.”
