Page 183 of Force Play
“Okay,” Harlow says, sliding into the seat across from me. “They managed to find some peppermint syrup in the back, so even though it’s almost June, we’ve got a peppermint mocha here for Lucia Torres.”
“You’re the best, Lo,” I smile, taking the cup from her and inhaling my favorite minty scent.
“So,” she drawls gently. “Want to tell me what this is about, Luc?”
I fidget with the paper sleeve on my cup, spinning it around mindlessly while refusing to make eye contact. “Um…”
“It’s about Ari, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” I sigh. “I know it’s been a few years, but…” I throw my head back and take a deep breath. “What did you do when you realized you wanted more, but Knox refused to admit it?”
Harlow gazes at me sympathetically. “Oh, Lucia…”
I cover my face with my hands. “I never expected this to happen. It wasn’tsupposedto happen.”
“That’s not how love works.”
I look at her, and I know my face is raw with all the emotions swirling through me. “I’m in love with him, Lo. How the hell did I fall in love with him?”
“I imagine you got to know him,” she smiles.
“Yeah,” I reply softly before grinning. “He’s fucking incredible. I’ve never felt like this around anyone else.”
“So, tell me more about him,” Harlow states. “What changed over the past six months since you moved in?”
“It had originally started with us agreeing to just be amicable. That led to us spending a little bit more time together, but not much. Then I dragged him into a supply closet on New Year’s, and everything started changing.”
“I still can’t believe you fucked him at the club,” she laughs.
If only she knew that I’d fucked himina club, too.
“I hadn’t had sex in nine months. Ari came to check on me after I ran into Matt, and I basically just said, ‘Fuck it.’”
“And then?”
“Then nothing,” I say. “Until I caught him using my thong to jack himself off.”
“Oh shit.” Harlow leans closer and lowers her voice. “Was that as hot as it sounds?”
I throw my head back and laugh. “Even more. But I only watched him that night. Nothing else happened until I blew him at your wedding.”
She eyes me curiously.“Atmy wedding?”
“Don’t get hung up on that,” I say, waving my hand dismissively, even though I do feel my cheeks heating. “That was after Ari apparently defended me to Matt and Anna, though I didn’t know about that tidbit until last night. From there, Iproposed roommates with benefits, and we’ve practically been unable to keep our hands off each other.”
“So it sounds like you two have an active sex life,” she says.
“It’s so good, Lo. He’s fantastic in bed. Our bedroom chemistry is unreal.”
“True as that may be, I know you didn’t fall in love with him because you like the way he fucks you.”
“No,” I sigh. “It’s everything in between. We started using sex as a way to get to know each other better, and that led to us genuinely enjoying being together. Things became less physical as we started an actual friendship.” I lower my voice. “Lo, he came to support me that day at Brooklyn College.”
“He did?” Harlow seems genuinely surprised. I told the girls how well that day went for me, but I never told them Ari was there.
“Yes,” I nod. “He said he wanted to support me, wanted me to see someone who was proud of what I was doing. He brought a bouquet of sunflowers, too. Because they’reyellow.”
“Oh my God,” she squeals. “This is so cute!”
