“Anything.”
He did a double take when he heard what I said, his chin rising slightly so he could focus on me once more. Then a gentle smile came over that handsome face. “I’m not asking from a place of jealousy. I’m just curious—”
“No.”
“No, what? You didn’t give me a chance to finish.”
“Nothing has ever happened with Charlie. Ever.” My lovers always asked me this question because they couldn’t understand our friendship. Dax had already asked me this before, but he must have wanted to ask again now that I was more vulnerable than I used to be.
He looked amused by my response. “You get that question a lot, then?”
I nodded. “And my answer has never changed. Why do you ask?”
He shrugged. “You guys just have a really deep connection. When we’re playing basketball together, you can communicate telepathically. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
I continued to eat. “You’ve never had a girl friend?”
He shook his head. “None that I haven’t slept with. I guess my only female friend would be my sister, but that doesn’t really count.” He finished his food quickly and left his plate on the counter beside him.
“Well, it happens. There’s never been any attraction between us. Even if there were, I would never jeopardize our relationship for anything.”
He crossed arms over his chest as he watched me. “I guess I find it hard to believe because it’s impossible not to be attracted to you, not to think you’re special, not to think you’re a bomb-as-fuck woman. How is it Charlie doesn’t see that? I have no idea.”
I looked down at my food because I didn’t know what to say. It was such a compliment, a really nice one coming from a man like him. “You know, a lot of men I meet think I’m a bitch. I’m ambitious, opinionated, independent—those aren’t exactly sexy traits to most people. You’re one of the few men who actually sees value in them. So, it’s not me—it’s you.” He was a perfect man for me, someone who admired my spunk and was man enough to handle it. “Charlie doesn’t like that kind of woman. Look at Denise. She’s very quiet, submissive. And that’s fine, there’s nothing wrong with that, but I’m just not Charlie’s type.”
He stared at me for a long time with that absorbing gaze, pondering everything I said. Then he gave a slight nod. “I guess I can understand that.”
“Not everyone thinks I’m as special as you do.”
“Well, that worked out in my favor.” He gave a slight smile. “I’m man enough for you, and I know most men are boys, so that’s not surprising.” He grabbed his plate and carried it to the sink so he could rinse it off and leave it for his housekeeper.
It was nice to be in a relationship with someone who admired me so openly, who was excited for my accomplishments, who could handle my fire with his own inferno. I suddenly felt a jolt of fear, because I realized I had something really amazing…and I wouldn’t know what to do if I ever lost it.
When I walked in the door to my apartment on Monday morning, Charlie was sitting at the dining table with a cup of coffee next to his laptop. After he sipped his coffee, he raised his eyes and looked at me for a few seconds. “Wow, you look totally different.”
I hadn’t worn makeup in several days because I didn’t bring any in my overnight bag, and I was wearing the exact outfit I’d been wearing on Friday night. It was the ultimate walk of shame. I threw my purse on the table and kicked off my heels. “That’s what a fuck-a-thon does to you.”
He chuckled. “Way to rub it in, man.”
I made myself a cup of coffee and sat across from him. “It’ll happen for you, Charlie.”
He didn’t look at his computer. Instead, he just stared at me. “It’s nice to see you happy.” The statement came out of nowhere, containing a noticeable level of affection that showed his sincerity.
I gave a smile. “Thanks…”
“Now I need you to move in with him or marry him so you’ll get out of my hair.” He turned back to his work and looked at his computer.
“Like you could afford this place without me.”
His eyes were back on me instantly. “I probably could if you didn’t eat half my lunch every day. That shit adds up.”
I rolled my eyes and took a drink from my mug. “I pay for all the groceries, alright? And I throw in free condoms too. You basically got your own Instacart worker over here.” I snapped my fingers and pointed at myself.
He chuckled. “Fuck, I hate condoms. I want to be in a real relationship again so I don’t have to wear them anymore…” He gave me a serious look, like he expected me to do something about that.
It was too early in the morning to talk about Kat. “Yeah, it is pretty great.” It was so sexy not to be separated by latex, to feel each other so intimately, to feel his seed every time he gave it to me.
He gave an irritated sigh. “Jealous.”
I smiled and brought my mug to my lips. “You should be.”
2
Carson
“So, you’ve been doing the nasty-nasty, then?” Matt asked from across the booth in the bar, his beer sitting in front of him.
“Might be…” I gave a shrug before I took a sip of my wine.
Charlie drank from his glass and scanned the bar as if he expected Denise to appear out of nowhere.
“Come on,” Matt said. “You tell us more details than we want to know about everything, and now all of a sudden, you’re closed like a clam?”
“Why do you want to know?” I countered.
“Because he’s hot.” Matt raised his arms like he couldn’t believe I didn’t understand his interest. “I want the 4-1-1. So, size, skill level, all that good stuff.” He snapped his fingers a couple times. “Chop-chop.”
I tried to suppress a grin because I couldn’t believe I was the only one who got to know those details. Women had come before me, but I suspected it wasn’t as good for them as it was for me. I knew how Dax felt about me, so when we were together, it was special. “What about Jeremy?”
“Yeah,” Charlie said. “Do you think he’d appreciate you wanting the details of some other hot guy?”
“Are you kidding me?” Matt said. “He thinks Dax’s hot too. He’s always thought he was hot. He’s gotten to see him in the locker room a few times, but I haven’t had the pleasure.”
I swirled my glass of wine before I set it down. “He’s very good in bed. I’ll tell you that much.” I gave a thumbs-up.
“Obviously,” Matt said, rolling his eyes. “I already knew that.”
Charlie glanced at the entryway before he nudged Matt in the side. “Look, your boyfriend’s here.”
“No.” I pointed my index finger at my chest. “My boyfriend is here. Your boyfriend is at work or the gym or something.” I turned to Dax and raised my hand in the air so he could easily find us.
Affection entered his gaze when he spotted me, and he walked over in jeans and a shirt, looking sexy with those broad shoulders and that chiseled waist and narrow hips.