He was with a gorgeous blonde just two months ago.

I hadn’t had an orgasm in eight months and hadn’t slept with anyone since Oscar.

He was the most popular boy at school, and I was the girl with glasses, braces and a funny wardrobe.

It just wasn’t ever going to work.

His hand twisted, dislodging mine from his wrist and his fingers laced in mine.

“Un-unh, Jet. You can’t switch off on me just like that,” he said and looked at me closely.

“I have to go to work,” I told him.

“Talk to me,” he returned.

With my other hand I pushed at his shoulder, using my body to push at him too.

He didn’t budge.

We were ful -frontal, skin-to-skin, it felt good and, al of a sudden, I wanted to cry.

“I have to go,” I said, a little desperately.

He lifted my hand and held it between our bodies.

“Talk to me,” he repeated, quietly this time.

I glared at him.

“I have to go,” I repeated, a lot louder this time.

He lifted our hands up to his mouth and touched his lips to them, his eyes never leaving mine. Then he held them to his chest and I had to remind myself to breathe.

“Did someone hurt you?” He asked softly, his eyes had gone funny, gentle and something else, something I couldn’t read.

I blinked, confused.

“Pardon?” I asked.

“Hurt you, touched you in a way you didn’t want?” he explained

I blinked again, then my breath caught in my throat.

“Do you mean rape?”

He didn’t answer, he just looked at me.

“Why would you think that?” I asked.

“One second you’re running hot, the next, ice cold and near tears. It would certainly explain why you’re so guarded.

Cariña, I’d like to understand,” he said it like he meant it and that pleasant feeling hit me again but this time it was so powerful, it knocked the wind out of me.

“I haven’t been raped,” I spoke quietly.

“You’d tel me?” he asked.

“I’d tel you, I answered.

I didn’t realize how tense his body was until I answered I didn’t realize how tense his body was until I answered him and he relaxed against me.

“Then tel me what it is,” he said.

“It wasn’t that,” I replied.

“Then what is it?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Jet.”

“Real y, Eddie, it’s nothing.”

His brows came together when it dawned on him I wasn’t a wounded soul but instead, just an idiot.

“It’s not nothing. If it was nothing, right now, instead of talkin’, we’d be in about the same position but your legs would be wrapped around my back. It’s something.” My stomach curled.

I ignored it.

“It’s nothing.”

“Goddamit, Jet,” he said through clenched teeth, losing patience.

“Eddie, I have to go to work.”

“No, you have to talk to me. You don’t talk to me, I’m cuffin’ you to the bed until you do talk to me.” I stared at him.

“You wouldn’t do that.”

“Fuckin’ try me.”

Oh… dear… Lord.

I stared at him again trying to figure out if he would do it.

The look on his face said he would.

“Get off!” I bucked against him, to no avail.

“Talk!” he snapped.

“I haven’t had an orgasm in eight months! Okay?” I

“I haven’t had an orgasm in eight months! Okay?” I yel ed, “Now get off!”

Yeesh.

The lengths a girl had to go to were ridiculous and embarrassing.

He stared at me.

“You’re joking,” he said.

“Would I joke about something like that?” I asked.

“I wouldn’t joke about something like that.” I gave him a look.

He grinned.

“It isn’t funny,” I snapped, feeling immensely stupid.

“No, you’re right, it isn’t. I’m just glad there’s final y a problem of yours I can fix.”

Uh-oh.

“I don’t think…” I started but he kissed me again. It was a great kiss and then it was al hands, mouth, teeth, tongue, both his and mine. It was delicious; it was almost even beautiful.

When his hand went between my legs again, he didn’t mess around with my underwear. He just dipped right in, his fingers pressing, hitting the perfect spot and they began moving.

It didn’t take long. As I said, it’d been a long time but he had talented fingers, strong and creative. I was breathing heavy against his mouth, I was holding on to him tight and then it happened.

And it was glorious. Fucking unbelievable and trust me, it was definitely worth the f-word. It was worth a thousand f-words.

After I finished, I opened my eyes and saw him watching me with a look that was both soft and satisfied even though he’d gotten nothing out of it.

I didn’t have time to be embarrassed. He rol ed over me and pul ed me off the bed so we were standing at the side, his arms came around me and he pressed me deep into his body.

“Now, I’l take you to work,” he said and he bent his head and touched his lips to mine. Then he let me go, turned and walked away.

I stood and watched him go. He had a great behind, I’d been spending months appreciating it through his jeans but now I could see that fact especial y as he was only wearing a pair of blue and white striped boxers.

By the way, Big Head Todd and the Monsters was stil playing on the CD.

* * * * *

Eddie parked behind Fortnum’s and I got out of the truck. He did too so I hurried forward but my sexy green sandals slowed me down. He caught up to me and grabbed my hand so we walked into the store, fingers laced together. Indy, Al y and Tex were al behind the espresso counter and their heads came up when we entered. Indy and Al y took one look at Eddie and me and smiled. Tex scowled.

There was a line of customers, ten deep, ready to give their orders.

“The cavalry arrives!” Tex boomed. “These two ain’t worth shit behind the counter. Get back here, Loopy Loo.” I started to walk forward but Eddie’s hand tightened in mine and I turned around.

“I have to get to work,” I said, like the mil ionth time that day.

He closed in on me and said, “Okay, but first, promise me you won’t go lookin’ for your Dad.”

I thought about it, then nodded. I decided that if I didn’t make my answer verbal then maybe it wasn’t a ful -blown lie, more like half a lie or even a third of a lie, which wasn’t as bad, was it?