Page 136 of The Baby Bargain
My skin flushes. I'm not sure if it's him or the car. It's late enough the sky is deep blue.
The air is crisp, not cold. Fall always creeps up on me.
The leaves don't change, but the nights get cold. The days get short. The tourists slow from a tsunami to a trickle.
Work gets heavier. Undergrads need more attention at midterms and finals. Work on my thesis ebbs and flows, but it's always there, in the back of my mind.
The perfect distraction from other thoughts. To fill the gaps. So I don't start asking myself why every one of my boyfriend's left me. Why Chase so obviously doesn't see me as a romantic possibility. Why I'm even wondering about Chase's ideas of romantic possibilities.
This is casual. There's no reason why Chase should see me as a romantic possibility.
Those aren't even the scary questions.
There's that big one: Can I do this? Am I ready? Will I get it right?
I want to. There's no doubt about that. But it's all happening so quickly. I can't slow down and let that voice in. I don't have time.
Fuck, it's hot in here.
Even without the panties.
My fingers dig into my thighs.
Yes, this is it. This is where I need my head. On Chase's deep voice and his blue eyes and his hard—
No more thinking.
It's time to enjoy the ride.
I step out of the car, grab my purse and groceries, shut the door, hit the lock.
Beep-beep.
The familiar sound is comforting. Like I'm leaving one world for another. Like I'm leaving the shy, inexperienced Ariel behind.
When I'm with Chase—
It's like I really am the sex goddess I am in my fantasies. And the daydreams that have been running through my head—
Those are my focus. Period. End of story.
I shift the groceries to my hip. To get away from the smell of mint and lime. It makes my mouth water, but it does things to my heart.
His door is open.
I knock then step inside.
He's standing there in jeans—just jeans—water dripping off his hair, shoulders, chest.
God, I want to be that drop of water. I want to glide over every inch of his skin. Especially the low v.
It's an arrow pointing to a prize.
A prize I need desperately.
"Princess, you're gonna make me think you're only in this for my body." He motions for me to come closer.
I do. "Who says I'm not?"
