"Or nothing," I say.
"That's supposed to be my line," he says.
"I know."
He motions for me to come here.
I move closer, close enough to touch him.
He wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me into a soft, slow kiss. There's heat in it, absolutely, but there's something else too: affection.
Is that a normal part of a friend with benefits? Or is it a sign of danger?
After one second with my lips against his, I don't care what it means. I soak up every drop.
He's a good kisser. Tender and firm and completely intoxicating.
I pull back with a sigh. "I was supposed to teach you."
There are tins of cardamom, ginger, and tea on the stove. Plus, a container, the container of almond milk I requested. Somehow, I'm the only lactose intolerant person in my family. Unable to drink milk in a family that sells Vietnamese iced coffee to the masses (it's mostly sweetened condensed milk, though my parents were ahead of the dairy-free curve thanks to me. They have a very popular, very expensive coconut-milk version).
Their chain is as high-end as Blue Bottle or Philz, which is why they stand out. Really, it's smart business, but hey, now I'm thinking again. And I don't want to keep thinking.
"Are you sure you're okay?" he asks.
"A little disoriented. You're a good kisser."
He blushes. With his skin tone, it's obvious. And it's sexy too.
I've never found a guy's blush sexy before, but Patrick—
Maybe we should stop talking and have sex now. "Do you want to go upstairs?"
"Already?"
"Or wherever the bed is."
"You don't want to try the chai?"
"I'm being rude, aren't I?" I ask.
"I forgive you." He turns off the stove. "Chai? Or upstairs?"
"One sip."
"Good. It's not worth the wait." He scoops a sip into a mug and hands it to me. "You'll still have to teach me."
My fingers brush his as I take the mug. Even though I've felt his fingers inside me, this feels alarmingly intimate. "Thanks."
"Don't thank me until you try it."
I blow the hot molecules from the top. When the tea is cool enough to drink, I take a sip. "Oh."
"Yeah."
"It's…"
"Terrible?"