Page 63 of Collide
Ben ushers us inside, guiding us toward a tiny, empty room barely large enough to fit a queen bed. Riley nods politely, though I catch the subtle flicker of doubt in her eyes.
“Are you okay living with a girl?” Riley asks cautiously.
“As long as you’re good living with Dax and Kira,” Ben replies, entirely serious.
Riley and I exchange confused glances.
Who the fuck are Dax and Kira?
Suddenly, a second ferret bounds up Ben’s arm, nestling affectionately against his neck. “Isn’t that right, Miss Kira?” he coos, gently petting the small creature.
Realization washes over Riley’s face. “Yeah…they seemawesome,” she replies uncertainly.
“They are,” Ben agrees, kissing Kira lightly on the head.
This is getting weirder by the second.
“So, how soon can I move in?” Riley asks abruptly.
Riley, no!I silently plead. But it’s too late—she’s already talking logistics with Ben, who looks completely indifferent to the entire conversation.
We say our goodbyes and quickly make our escape. My nostrils thank me the moment we hit fresh air.
We head back into Manhattan for lunch and some well-earned drinks.
“So, you’re really going to move in with Ben and his ladies?” I ask, sipping my iced tea and trying not to laugh.
Riley takes a sip of her pink lemonade. “My own room is a luxury I can’t pass up.”
I scoff. “But the smell?—”
“I’ll learn to live with it.” She shrugs. “Maybe get some delicious candles. He seems harmless enough.”
She takes another sip, then shifts her gaze to me, eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Oh, speaking of things that smell…delicious, how did it go with Alex?”
Heat floods my cheeks instantly, betraying me.
“That good, huh?” she pushes, a slow, knowing grin spreading across her lips.
“He’s just…he’ssohot.” I sigh, unable to keep the stupid smile off my face. “Tall, sexy, and intense. I don’t know, Riley. He’s nothing like the boys back home. He feels like a man.”
“At thirty-six, he better be,” she teases, nudging me gently.
I hesitate, biting my lip. “I told him I’m a virgin.”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “And? How’d he take it?”
“He was…remarkably cool about it.” I shrug, warmth rising again as I recall exactly howcoolhe’d been—and exactly how he’d made me come apart beneath him.
Riley narrows her eyes suspiciously, leaning in close. “Okay, what aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing.” I giggle, ducking her stare. “Eat your damn sushi.”
“Did he eatyoursushi?” she asks.
“Oh my God, Riley—no!”
You taste so fucking sweet.
