Page 12 of Foreplay on Words

His brow furrowed as he looked at me, confusion marring his handsome features.

“My name.”

He continued to stare at me blankly.

“Chase. My name is Chase.”

“Oh God, I’m sorry. I guess I just got so used to seeing Chastity Rose on all your books...” He trailed off as his cheeks darkened with a rosy flush.

“All my books, huh?”

He scratched the back of his neck and averted his eyes.

“Exactly how many of my books have you read?”

It somehow seemed natural to tease him. And it secretly thrilled me that he’d read my work—and more than one book by the sound of it.

“A few.” He cleared his throat and looked into my eyes. “I wouldn’t be a good writer if I didn’t do my research. And I enjoyed researching you…I mean your work.”

And then it was my turn to blush. Check and mate, Evan Stineman.

Evan

Connecticut

I couldn’t believe I lost track of time. I had so much nervous energy pent up that I knew I needed to run it off. Adrian would kill me if my first impression was a panic attack at the front door.

Chastity—correction, Chase—had been the only thing on my mind the whole day. And subsequently, I’d spent the entire day on the verge of panic. It was either run it off or turn into a gasping mess on my shower floor.

When the box from Adrian had arrived only days ago, I’d plowed through the two books of hers that he’d included. I didn’t even look at the other half dozen books in there by other authors because I’d already made up my mind.

After I was done with those, I’d spent the next day on my tablet, buying the rest of her books one after the other on Kindle. I couldn’t stop.

I’d saved the book with Michael and Kayla for last and finished it in hours. I couldn’t put it down. Well––that wasn’t entirely true. I’d put it down a few times when I was so hard I couldn’t focus anymore and had taken matters into my own hand.

Oh God, don’t think about masturbation while she’s standing two feet in front of me. These shorts hid nothing.

Fuck. I was all sweaty. I probably smelled. Such a great first impression, you moron.

“Research is always good,” she smirked, a dimple appearing on her right cheek. As I continued to stare at her, trying not to be a total creep, I realized her pictures didn’t do her justice. She was stunning. Her long blonde hair fell past her shoulders in soft waves. Long dark eyelashes framed bright blue eyes. She was tall, but still a good six inches shorter than me.

Shit. I was staring for too long.

“Um. You can sit in the living room or out on the back patio if you want. I should probably take a shower.”

She smiled and nodded as her gaze slowly traced down my torso—my body responding as if her fingers were doing the same. I’d started to sweat through my shirt, and it was stuck to my chest in a few places, making me want to pull it off, but she’d likely flee back where she came from if I randomly started stripping. When her eyes lingered on my waistband, I knew I needed to get out of here before I rose to the occasion.

“Make yourself at home while I, uh...get dirty, I mean cleaned up,” I stuttered nervously.

“Okay. I might go check out the lake. Your property is really gorgeous.”

No, you are really gorgeous.

“That way?” she asked as she pointed to the door that led to the sunroom. I blinked a few times as I tried to process her question and will my mouth to move.

Shit. I was staring again.

“Uh. No.”

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