Page 13 of About That Night

I stare at her blankly. She can’t be saying what I think she’s saying…“Which night?”

“I haven’t done anything since I was with you in New Orleans.”

I’m pretty sure my dick grows six sizes in three seconds at the information. “You haven’t been touched by a man since I touched you?” That is both astonishing and hot as hell. This is twice now in five years that she’s told me I was the last man to touch her. My hands are itching to just reach over and pull her onto my lap and show her how hard I am for her.

She shakes her head. “I’ve been busy.”

“No one is that busy,” I say. “I would have sex on the public bus if that was the only time I had to do it. Or in my sleep. In the dentist’s chair. Whatever it takes.”

Chastity laughs. “I guess I don’t know what I’m missing.”

I feel outraged and offended by that.

“Hey now. That feels like an insult. You know exactly what you’re missing. I had to put my hand over your mouth so you wouldn’t wake the whole house up, remember?”

I want her to melt at the memory. She doesn’t give quite the reaction I want.

She nods. “I remember. But a relationship just hasn’t presented itself, and I’m not about to take any chances on casual sex. It’s too risky. Things were really hard for a few years, and I’m just starting to get my life stabilized.”

I hate everything about what she just said. Because it sounds like she is both exhausted and lacking in emotional support from her family, who I decide I despise. She’s also clearly unwilling to have sex with me tonight, which I already have my heart and cock set on. Plus, it sounds like she’s distanced herself from the memory of how amazing it felt to have my tongue stroking her to orgasm and how freeing that can be.

Makes all your worries melt away, that’s for damn sure.

Conway appears before I can argue with her that life is full of risks, but with the proper birth control, this one is fairly low. Not that I want to talk her into anything, but I think she’s really limiting the amount of pleasure that can be wrested from life by sticking to her no-sex creed. Nothing releases tension like an orgasm.

“Sorry about that,” Conway says. “Ignore the riff-raff. What can I get you to drink, Chastity?”

She actually looks at me with a beseeching gaze. “I’m not really sure…”

I recall Chastity is not a drinker. She wants me to suggest something for her. Maybe she’s tired of making decisions, tired of being the only one doing everything. I feel the sudden need to help her in any way that I can. “How about a sweet tea?”

Gratefully, she nods. “Yes, that sounds perfect. Thanks, Hank. Thanks, Conway.”

I ignore the way my brother is looking at me as he heads to the end of the bar.

“So do you want to be in a relationship?” I ask Chastity.

She nods. “Yes, I would love to get married someday and have another baby in the next decade.”

The B word. That should be like a bucket of ice water over my commitment-phobic head, but it feels right for Chastity. “Sure. That’s what a lot of people want.”

“Not you?”

I shrug. “Of course I want kids someday. But I’ve dated a lot of women, and I haven’t wanted to marry any of them. I think that says more about me than it does about them, though.” I’m not sure what it says exactly. “I believe in love and marriage. I just haven’t felt the way you’re supposed to feel about someone when you talk about forever, you know? You should get married, Chastity. You deserve to be happy.”

“Hank, can I ask you something?”

Her hand lands on my arm. It feels like she’s about to ask me something I’m going to hate. She seems nervous. I also like the way her small hand feels on my rough skin. I briefly glance down at her touch before looking up at her. “Of course. Ask me anything.”

“This is going to sound weird, but do you think you can teach me how to date?”

I have no idea what I thought she was going to say, but this isn’t it. I eye her.

“I don’t even know what that means. Why do you have to be taught how to date?”

“Because I’ve never dated. I’ve never even been on a single date in my entire life.”

For a second, the words don’t compute. I have to play them back in my head again before I realize she is saying she’s never had a boyfriend. Never even been on a date.

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