Page 140 of For Love or Money
He gave a groan of frustration, then ruffled his hair and shook his head as if waking himself up. ‘No need for that,’ he said. ‘I’ll just suck it and see.’
‘Suck it and see?’ She giggled as he bent his head to her again, kissing the tender flesh of her inner thigh.
‘Okay, why don’t I shut up now and show you what I mean?’
‘That sounds like a very good idea.’
It wasdark outside when Stella woke hours later, Rafe’s arms tight around her, his warm body entwined with hers. She felt the soft rise and fall of his chest, his breath warm on her skin as she studied his beautiful face. She could still hardly believe she was here with him like this, that last night had happened. It was all a bit overwhelming. Tears welled in her eyes as she thought of everything that had happened, the things Rafe had whispered to her last night, the promises he had made against her skin.
She felt him stir, and his eyes fluttered open. ‘Hey.’ He reached for her, pulling her into his arms. ‘I’m sorry.’ He stroked her hair, kissed her cheeks.
She sniffed, pulling a little away to look at him. ‘What are you sorry for?’
‘Whatever I did to make you cry. I presume it’s my fault.’
She smiled. ‘You’re right. It is your fault I’m crying.’
She saw him struggle not to flinch. ‘Sorry. Whatever it is, I’ll make it better, I promise.’
‘They’re happy tears, you dope.’ She cuffed him playfully on the chin and swiped at her eyes.
‘Really? So you’re not crying because it was a bit shit?’
She laughed. ‘No. It was amazing.’
‘Because if itwasa bit shit, you should tell me now. I’ll do better next time.’
‘I don’t think you could.’
‘I could try. I’d Google it.’
She giggled. ‘What would you Google? How to make a trans woman happy in bed?’
‘Yeah. Something like that.’
‘You know what the first hit would be if you Googled that?’
‘What?’
‘A picture of you.’
He grinned. ‘Seriously?’
‘Don’t look so smug.’ She frowned, but she couldn’t stop smiling. ‘I mean, there’s always room for improvement.’
‘Now that,’ he said, pulling her closer, ‘is fighting talk.’
47
Lesley looked along the candlelit table as the Dinner Dates guests took their seats, and wondered what she was doing here. She’d only said she was coming back to spite Al. She didn’t have to follow through – it wasn’t as if he’d know (or care) either way. It had been a mistake to come. She just wasn’t in the mood for making an effort tonight, and even if she did meet someone interesting, she wouldn’t be good company. They’d be seeing her at her worst, her absolute dullest. She was too down – too sad and lonely and pining for ...
‘Hello.’
She looked up and was shocked to see Al slide into the seat across from her, like he had leapt out of her thoughts – her deepest longings made flesh.
‘Hi, I’m Al,’ he said, extending his large hand across the table to her. Dazedly she shook it.
‘Lesley,’ she said. Great! She wasn’t even getting a real date opposite her. Helen was obviously a man down, and Al had stepped into the breach, helpful as ever. Despite the fact that she’d already given up any hopes for the evening, she still felt pissed off that she was being short-changed – her and all the other single women here.
