Book 1 - Page 32 (1/2)

”Yeah, I did.” And I got riled up just thinking about it. We'd connected. I knew it. I'd wanted him more than anything last night, and today I wanted nothing to do with him ever again. ”It was intense. The best s.e.xual experience of my life, and he was right there with me. I know he was. First time he'd ever made it in a car, and he was kind of resistant at first, but then I got him so hot for it he couldn't say no.”

”Really? Never?” He ran a hand over his morning stubble. ”Most guys scratch car banging off their f**k list in high school. In fact, I can't think of anyone who didn't, except for the nerds and fuglies, and he's neither.”

I shrugged. ”I guess car banging makes me a s.l.u.t.”

Cary grew very still. ”Is that what he said?”

”No. He didn't say s.h.i.+t. I got that from his 'friend,' Magdalene. You know that chick in most of the photos you printed off the Internet? She decided to sharpen her claws with a little catty girl chat in the bathroom.”

”The b.i.t.c.h is jealous.”

”s.e.xual frustration. She can't f**k him, because apparently girls who f**k him go into the discard pile.”

”Did he say that?” Again, fury laced his quiet question.

”Not in so many words. He said he doesn't sleep with his female friends. He's got issues with women wanting more than a good time in the sack, so he keeps the women he bangs and the women he hangs out with in two separate camps.” I took another sip of my coffee. ”I warned him that sort of setup wasn't going to work for me and he said he'd make some adjustments, but I guess he's one of those guys who'll say whatever's necessary to get what he wants.”

”Or else you have him running scared.”

I glared. ”Don't make excuses for him. Whose side are you on, anyway?”

”Yours, baby girl.” He reached out and patted my knee. ”Always yours.”

I wrapped my hand around his muscular forearm and stroked my fingers gently along the underside in silent grat.i.tude. I couldn't feel the mult.i.tude of fine white scars from cutting that marred his skin, but I never forgot they were there. I was thankful every day that he was alive, healthy, and a vital part of my life. ”How'd your night go?”

”I can't complain.” His eyes took on a mischievous glint. ”I s.h.a.gged that busty blonde in a maintenance closet. Her t.i.ts were real.”

”Well, then.” I smiled. ”You made her night, I'm sure.”

”I try.” He picked up the phone receiver and winked at me. ”What kind of delivery do you want? Subs? Chinese? Indian?”

”I'm not hungry.”

”You're always hungry. If you don't pick something, I'll cook and you'll have to eat that.”

I lifted my hand in surrender. ”Okay, okay. You pick.”

I got to work twenty minutes early on Monday, figuring I'd skip running into Gideon. When I reached my desk without incident, I felt such relief that I knew I was in serious trouble where he was concerned. My moods were s.h.i.+fting all over the place.

Mark arrived in high spirits, still floating from his major successes of the week before, and we dug right into work. I'd done some vodka market comparisons on Sunday and he was kind enough to go over those with me and listen to my impressions. Mark was also a.s.signed the account for a new e-reader manufacturer, so we began the initial work on that.