Page 41 of Tease Me

But I wasn’t quite ready, and the touch that usually set off rockets inside me was uninteresting.

Continuing to rub, I tried to produce the arousal that often came to me in an instant. But for some reason, today, I was flat. Maybe the anger I’d accumulated earlierwas still there, stiflingmy libido.

I stopped and removed my hand.

Mason’s groin was a flagpole beneath the trunks, but otherwise, he hadn’t moved. My shoulders sagged.

This was too hard. It’s not meant to be hard.

I huffed. “I’m sorry.Thisisn’t working. I have to go.”

Chapter Twelve

I reached for my dress and turned it over, searching for the right way up to put it on.

“What? Don’t go.” Mason held up his hands. “I’m sorry. It’s me, isn’t it? Please continue.”

I paused, my arms threaded into my dress, ready to curl it over my head.

He wriggled to the edge of the bed and sat with his feet on the floor and a massive erection that looked like it was trying to burst from his trunks.

“Are you married?” I asked.

“No.”

“Girlfriend?”

“Recently separated.”

“Oh.” I took my arms out of the dress. “How recent?”

“Three weeks.”

“Hmmm.” That was recent. “Do you still love her?”

He cocked his head and looked up to the ceiling. “Yes and no.”

“Well, that’s cryptic.” I held my dress against my nakedness.

“It’s a long story.” His shoulders sagged as if burdened by the weight of the world.

For some inexplicable reason, I felt sorry for thiscompletestranger, and after a deep sigh, I put my therapist hat on and strode to the bed. “May I?” I indicated to his side.

“Sure.” A small smile curled at the sides of histotallykissable plum-colored lips.

I felt ridiculous sitting there in just my underpants but resisted covering myself and forced confidence into my demeanor. “Want to tell me what happened?”

“There’s not much to tell.Shewants to get married. You know, settle down, have kids, get a dog, a home, and a huge fucking mortgage. I don’t.”

Hmmm, he was talking my language. “What do you want?”

“I’m only twenty-six. I’ve spent my whole life doing what everyone else wanted.Gota degree in engineering—my parents’ passion, not mine.Gotengaged to my high school sweetheart—her idea, not mine. Helping my brother in his bandfrom time to time—his idea, not mine.”

“You don’t like the band? But you’re so incredible.” It always surprised me how good I was at lying.

He shifted in his seat to look directly at me, and I, too,shiftedhis way. His stunning eyes were as blue as Arctic ice.

“Thanks. I love playing guitar. But not like that.”

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