Page 33 of Foreplay on Words

“I guess I had it built up in my head that this would take longer,” she sighed.

I knew exactly how she was feeling. I was happy that we accomplished our goal in record time, but that also meant we probably didn’t need to keep her here for two weeks.

“Hear me out...” A plan started formulating in my head as she looked up at me. She was either going to think I was insane or a genius.

“I’m listening.” Her face had brightened a little, but she was still skeptical.

“What if we sold you staying longer as a mutually beneficial situation?”

“What are you proposing?” she frowned.

“Maybe I have some expertise that would help you with your next book.” I wasn’t sure what that was, but Adrian and Isobel didn’t need to know that.

“Naked chef?”

I laughed as she smiled at me, reaching forward to play with my fingers as our hands rested between us.

“Not quite. How do you feel about collaboration?” I knew we were both resistant to giving up control of our work, but we’d meshed well in a matter of days. I wasn’t ready to part yet.

“Like you being my consultant after I’m finished being yours?”

“No,” I shook my head, “like a true collaboration. Shared byline.”

“Are you saying?” She looked up at me with wide eyes.

“Write a book with me,” I breathed heavily, waiting for her answer.

“Isn’t what I write a little too...soft...for what you normally write?”

I almost felt bad for the loud laughter that burst out of me.

“Ouch.” She sat up and pulled away from me, disappointment clear on her features.

“No...no!” Taking a deep breath, I calmed myself and scooted closer to her, using my finger to push a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She sighed and closed her eyes, a shy smile showcasing her dimple again. “What you wrote kept me anything but soft...for several days.” And immersing myself in her writing helped me feel closer to her sooner than I’d anticipated. While I was awkward as fuck, I had opened up to her quicker than I had to new people in the past.

Her eyes popped open and flared with something akin to need as she scooted even closer to me.

“Is that so?” She slowly skated her fingers over my knee and thigh, causing me to shift a little.

“Mmhmm. Kind of like you’re doing right now,” my voice was a rough whisper as I felt all the blood pooling in my groin.

“Whatever will we do about that?” She fluttered her eyelashes at me dramatically and ran her fingernails across the fabric of my pants, dangerously close to my burgeoning erection.

“Are you trying to kill me?” I choked out as I tried to maintain the illusion of composure.

“La petite mort, maybe.”

“Shouldn’t we be brainstorming?” Her eyes had turned predatory again, and I was a little nervous about what was going on in that brain of hers.

“Maybe we need some hands-on research...” When her hand reached my zipper, I was solid and throbbing.

“Chase...” I warned as she slowly started to pull the tab down, the teeth making a steady clicking sound as they slowly disengaged.

“Shh...” she soothed as she stared down at where her hands were at work, unbuttoning and spreading the fabric apart. “Just sit back and relax.”

“Kind of hard to do when a girl has her hand in your pants,” I laughed nervously. A woman had not touched or seen me like this in a long, long time.

“Oh, it’s hard, alright,” she smiled deviously as she tugged at the waistband of my boxer briefs. I lifted my hips and helped her push my pants and briefs down my thighs.

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