Page 91 of Employing Patience

He shifts. “Yeah … it kinda smells like you, actually.”

“I noticed.”

“So, you don’t want to have sex?”

I suck a mark into his side. “I don’t recall saying that.”

“You said that’s not what we’re here for.”

“No, I said I didn’t want to rush. This body is mine to enjoy.” I grin up at him. “So let me enjoy it.”

He lets out a relieved laugh, sliding his hand through my hair. “You’re … not what I expected.”

“Oh, yeah? What did you expect?”

“A player.”

“Well, I’ve always been that.”

“Yeah, but …” He pauses to think, and I give him the time. “I pictured you as the type to fuck and run.”

“Are you into stereotyping people?”

He scoffs. “Do you forget I’ve worked downstairs for over a year now? I see the men come in, and I see them leave again. Some of the others even have bets on how long it will take. Apparently, your record is forty minutes.”

Well, that’s a fun piece of information. I never realized how invested my staff were in my sex life. Which, considering I know everything around here, is unsettling. “You ever won the bet?”

“No, I don’t play along.”

“Why?”

“Really?” With two fingers on my chin, he turns my face toward him. “I tried to pretend those other men didn’t exist.”

“Why?”

This time, he rolls his eyes at me. “Because I was insanely jealous of them. I wanted to be the one up here with you, and I thought I’d never have the chance.”

Hearing that shouldn’t make me feel as warm as it does. “I never knew.”

“I made it pretty fucking clear.”

“No, what you made pretty fucking clear was how you were straight and flirting with me to get ahead. Which I overheard you telling Courtney more than once.”

Joey’s whole face falls. “Ah.”

“Yep.”

With a sigh, he grips my shoulders and straddles my lap. “You didn’t like that.”

I give him a dry look. “Would you have?”

“Nah, that was shitty of me.” But even with his words, there’s a smile trying to lift his lips. “Wanna know why I said it?”

“Dying to.”

“Two reasons. First, I honestly never thought I’d be with a guy. I’ve had weird little crushes before, but nothing like how badly I wanted you. And second …”

I wait as he swallows and meets my eye.

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