Page 82 of Outlaw Heartstrings
I shake my head. “It’s not like that. Easton found out that I hadn’t been with anyone—ever—and I think he feels bad. Maybe not like a pity-bad, but like he-thinks-it’s-his-fault bad?”
“His fault, how?” my friend questions. She’s applying press-on fingernails to my chewed-up little stubs now. I’m not sure this is a good idea.
“Well, I’ve been taking care of Jagger all these years, and he feels like that should have been his responsibility. Either way, he sort of offered to let me…explore with him. No strings attached. Nothing serious. Just…exploration.”
Laney squeals in delight. “That is so fucking hot.”
I roll my eyes. “I hate how inexperienced I am. And with Easton…despite all the years where we fell out of contact, our friendship seems to be picking up right where we left off as teenagers. He’s probably the one guy in the world that I trust implicitly. So, this way, I’ll learn some new things and get to satisfy some curiosities, while still feeling safe.”
“Not a bad deal for getting all your wildest fantasies fulfilled,” Laney suggests, her eyebrows comically bouncing up and down.
I feel my ears burning. “Yeah. I guess so.” I pause. “Do you think this whole thing is kind of sleazy?”
“Hell no,” Laney says. “You deprived yourself of years of fun so that everyone else could live their best lives. Now, you get yours.” She winks. “And who knows—maybe this thing with Puck Daddy could lead tomorethan just a few sexy nights…”
Not wanting to smudge my fresh lipstick, I resist the urge to gnaw on my lip. “It’s too…complicated.”
Laney stands back, observing the finished product and looking very proud of herself. “Well, this dress is about to un-complicate things, sister.”
She pushes me in front of the mirror and I blink at myself, barely recognizing this new version of me.
Wow—I look…good.
It’s been a long time since I wore a nice dress, and thislittle red number is bringing out curves and angles I didn’t even remember I had.
I smooth my hands over my tingly stomach. Yet again, I ask myself if I’m doing the right thing.
“Are you sure this isn’t too much?” I mumble, eyeballing my reflection skeptically. “It’s very…red.”
My friend waves me off dismissively. “Yes! It’s the perfect shade. It says ‘sex’. It says ‘seduction’. It says, ‘giving blowjobs is my superpower’.”
And maybe that’s precisely the problem. Giving blowjobs isnotmy superpower. In fact, I don’t know a damn thing about giving blowjobs.
Now, I’m freaking out even more.
But right then, the doorbell rings and I’ve officially run out of time to change my mind. Squealing again, Laney runs down the hall to get to the door first. I shake my head, trailing behind her as she swings it open and crowds the doorway.
Staring past her shoulder, I blink in a daze.
Easton Raines is standing under my porch light, wearing a navy blue suit that looks like it was custom designed for his delicious six-foot-five frame.
Hell—it probably was.
The man looks painfully good.
“Hey. Laney, right?” he asks.
My friend just stares and nods. Hell—I don’t blame her. As good as he looks, Easton has the power to render even the most confident woman speechless tonight.
He’s so, so tall. He’s wearing the hell out of that suit. Plus, that dazzling smile. And those dimples. And those muscles. And that perfect silky, shiny hair flopping over his forehead.
My friend is openly swooning, so stunned by Easton’shotness that she forgets to behave civilly and invite the man inside.
When she says nothing further, his eyebrows rise questioningly. “Um, is Alba ready?”
Laney stares and nods some more.
For crying out loud. I step forward, nudging her out of the way.
