Fighting Dirty

Knowing he could see her, she whispered brokenly, “Armie...”

“You’re beautiful.”

A wave of flushed heat stained her breasts, throat and face—but she didn’t deny him.

Nice. She wanted to satisfy him. Not as much as he wanted to satisfy her, but that’d be impossible anyway. With one fingertip, he parted her lips, barely entered her, and teased along already slick, sensitized flesh. “If you grab a condom,” he told her in a growl, “you can ride me.”

Biting her lip and closing her eyes, she nodded. Then she inhaled and stared down at him. “I need to know what we’re doing today. And no, don’t go into more sex jokes. I’m off—”

“Well I’m still trying to get off.”

“—and I know you don’t usually hang at the rec center on Sunday. At least, not all day.” She cupped his face. “So what are we doing? Should I get dressed and leave?”

“No.” Hell no. He was on the ragged edge and she talked about booking?

“Or we could have sex, and then I could head home to shower.”

“I have a damn shower.” And he’d already imagined being in it with her.

“Or,” she said, visibly bracing herself, “we could spend the whole day together. Sometimes having sex, maybe watching a movie. I could cook for you and we could talk more. Whatever you want.”

Why the idea of spending the day with her panicked him, Armie couldn’t say. Other than indulging in a sexual marathon, he’d never spent that much time with a woman. Sure, he wanted to talk with her. And he’d help her cook.

The idea of the two of them, all cozy on his couch, soaking up a movie—the image played out like a daydream, surreal but awesome. And that left him unsettled, too, but he hoped he hid it well. As quick cover, he teased, “Whatever I want, huh?”

She surprised him again with a very serious, somber nod. “I trust you, remember? I know you wouldn’t ask me to do anything I didn’t want to do.”

What did she want to do? His heart started pounding, only partly because of the carnality of her offer. The rest was straight-up uncertainty of the future, of wanting what his conscience told him he couldn’t have. She taunted him with near impossibilities. As exposed as he felt, he couldn’t bear the idea of ever hurting her again—and yet, letting her in might cause her the most pain.

Still, it was possible that she’d get her jollies, and then move on. His guts cramped at that thought, but it’d be best for her. She wanted this, with him, and he was more than happy to oblige her. But anything more?

The future, her future, would be up to her and Rissy was a smart woman. She always made good choices.

Odds were she wouldn’t choose him.

“All that?” she asked, touching her fingers to his brow, easing his frown. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot.”

The vulnerability on her face decided him. “Stay.” He took her shoulders and pulled her down so he could hug her to his heart. “I need to jog, then we can shower. And a movie sounds great.” He turned to put her under him. “But first, I need you.” He kissed her, his lips brushing over hers, nudging hers to open so he could slip his tongue in, gradually going deeper, hotter, until they were full-on making out.

She’d clearly forgotten about morning primping.

When he took his attention to her delicate throat, she gasped, “Okay.”

“This is going to be fast.” Waking up with Rissy had him ready to explode. “But during the shower I’ll need you again.”

She laughed as he put damp nibbles down to her breasts. “Sounds like a plan.”

“And maybe during the movie...”

“Bad,” she whispered, when he latched onto her nipple and sucked softly. “You are so bad and, oh God, Armie, so incredibly good.”

* * *

ON WEDNESDAY, AFTER a crazy day at the bank, Merissa was more than thrilled to be heading home. She hadn’t been at her house much, mostly just to grab clothes and check on things. So far with Armie, the more time they spent together, the more he seemed to want her around.

She loved every second with him, so she’d never complain, but she wished she knew what it meant. There were times when he looked like he wanted to devour her. Granted, she was usually naked while receiving those hungry stares.

But there’d been a few other times, like when she woke up on Monday and found him propped on an elbow, just looking at her all superserious and intense. For a second, she’d thought she saw love in his eyes. But then he kissed her and she couldn’t concentrate enough to analyze anything, much less Armie’s moods.

So far, the way they worked it was that she’d spend the night with him, then run home early enough in the morning to change into her work clothes. But each day before she left, he’d give her one of those probing stares, almost as if he fought with himself, or couldn’t figure her out, then he’d say, “See you back here later?” As if it didn’t matter, but in his dark eyes, she saw the uncertainty.

She wasn’t a fool. She knew she wouldn’t change Armie. But she now knew the facts, knew of his childhood and everything he’d gone through. It didn’t explain his sexual overdrive, but it did make sense when she considered his apparent lack of interest in a lasting relationship.

She respected her brother for keeping Armie’s secrets, but if she’d known sooner, it might have made a difference.

Never would she pressure him; she had too much pride for that. But she couldn’t help hoping that he’d enjoyed their time together as much as she did and that maybe, just maybe, he’d fall in love with her.

March had rolled in with unusual springlike weather, and as Merissa left the bank, she didn’t bother buttoning up her coat. The sun felt heavenly. Soon the days would be getting longer; a blessing, given it was usually dark when she went into work, and dark still when she got off.

She’d almost reached her car when her phone rang. Thinking it’d be Armie, she paused to snatch it out of her purse and swiped the screen without even seeing the number. “Hello?”

“You hussy.”

Oh. Not Armie, but her closest friend, Cherry. “Hey.” Continuing on to her car, now smiling, she asked, “What’s up?”

“Armie, apparently nonstop. I mean, that’s all I can assume since you’ve been MIA and so has he. I’m right, aren’t I? Please tell me I’m right!”

Laughing, Merissa unlocked her car and got in. “I told him you would demand I tell you everything.”

“Great. So let’s do dinner. I want to hear every juicy detail.”

“Umm...” Much as she loved Cherry, she really looked forward to heading over to Armie’s.

“No hedging,” Cherry told her. “Armie’s held up at the rec center so you may as well kill some time with me. I’m not taking no for an answer.”

“Okay, but only if you promise not to tell anyone.”

“Ohmigod.” Cherry’s voice lowered to a scandalized whisper. “It’s all kinky, isn’t it? I knew it would be.”

She laughed. “No, and where do you want to meet?”

“Rowdy’s will do. I love their soup on Wednesdays. How soon can you be there?”