Had he not enjoyed himself as much as she had? He’d certainly seemed…enthused. For God’s sake, he was still kind of hard when he pulled off the condom. So he’d been turned on. And the things he’d said during the throes had been rather convincing. He’d even invoked deities.
She shouldn’t ask. That would be lame. She’d pulled off the sexy, brazen woman act before—she’d even demanded he eat her, for Pete’s sake—so to ask would be to totally erase her provocative babe cred. If she even had any.
“Was it—was it unsatisfying?” she asked as he bent to pick up his jeans. She feared he’d get a head rush since he remained stooped over while clutching the denim in one fist. “You can tell me. I won’t cry.” She crossed her arms over her breasts. They were still red from stubble. And bite marks.
Yep, there she went, getting all lubed up again for a party that would not be occurring.
He pulled on his clothes, dressing silently. And fast. She’d never had a guy bail on her immediately after sex, but she suspected this might be the first time. Which sucked, because he was her ride. The trip upstate to Yardley would be a bucket of fun, because she knew he wouldn’t leave her on her own. He’d just not talk to her and make her life miserable.
But hey, she wasn’t crying about her show anymore, so…win?
“Get dressed.” He picked up her dress and sweater off the floor and set them on the table, then strode to the door to pull the chair away.
“But—”
“We’re leaving in five.” He glanced back over his shoulder as he opened the door. “No, it was not unsatisfying. Are you fucking kidding me? Jesus, Summer.” He slammed the door shut behind him.
She grinned and hopped off the table. And winced.
Looked like she’d need a hot bath—or five—before bed. But dang, it had been so worth it.
Chapter Seven
Much to Summer’s shock, Chase asked if she minded spending the night at his place again. It was late. He was tired and had an early meeting in the city. Since she’d figured he would dump her off like last week’s takeout as soon as humanly possible, she eagerly agreed.
Would they actually sleep together in his bed? Whoa, too much to anticipate. But still, it was possible.
The ride home went a
bout as well as she’d expected. Chase fiddled with the radio, with the to-go cup of coffee he bought on the way, with the folded papers in the ashtray. He couldn’t seem to settle. Since his attempts to be casual amused her, she folded her gloved hands primly in her lap and hummed under her breath after pleasantly refusing his offer for coffee or a late night snack. She nearly said she was horny again just to tease him, then decided that would be skirting too close to the truth.
“Can you stop that?” he snapped, making her pop open her eyes—she’d been almost asleep—and gaze at him in confusion in the wavering beams of light from oncoming traffic. They were almost to Chase’s building. “It’s really annoying.”
“What?”
“You know damn well what. Stop humming. I get that you enjoyed yourself. You don’t have to be smug about it.”
She tried to stifle her laughter, but it was no use. “No? Well, I stand corrected then. Suppose I’ll sit here and stew like you.” She fixed a pout on her face and hunched over. “Better?”
He picked up his coffee and slapped open the top. “Yes. Thank you.”
A few minutes later they walked into his apartment. She tugged off her coat and tossed it on the couch. “I’m going to take a shower before bed, okay?”
No answer. She turned around and realized the room was empty. Fabulous. Clearly Chase had gotten more spooked than she’d thought.
She glanced up as he came down the hall with a stack of bedding in his arms. “Oh hell no. I’m not sleeping out here. You invited me over, I’m not getting guest accommodations.” She walked over to him and poked him in his formidable chest. “I’m your lover now, remember?”
If he tightened his mouth anymore, he would look like he’d swallowed a lemon whole. “Having sex once doesn’t mean we’re lovers. Technically.”
“Merriam-Webster would beg to differ, and so would I. I’m not sleeping out here. You can’t make me.”
The slightest hint of a smile lifted his lips. “Fine, squirt, where do you want to sleep? And only sleep,” he stressed before she could pounce on him for calling her squirt. He hadn’t used that dreaded name since high school and she’d be damned if he’d resurrect bad habits now.
“Your bed.”
He jerked a shoulder and headed down the hall. “As you wish. But I need to get up early, so don’t cover hog. I have to get some actual sleep.” Yet again he overemphasized that word like she was some sort of middle of the night sex creeper. The jerk.
Rather than continue to argue, she went into his bathroom and shut the door. Very softly, like a mature adult. She wasn’t going to have a tantrum.