"Er...um...it's fine ."
I didn't know what he heard in my voice, but his went husky. "You weren't working out, were you ?"
"I...um, yes. I was doing..." Looking around the room, up at the ceiling over me, I blurted out, "I was doing sit ups ."
"Really. So, you're lying on the floor ."
"Yes." Squeezing my eyes closed, I went to push my hair back. But I caught the scent of myself on my hand. Slowly, I opened my eyes and stared at my fingers, realizing that it wasn't a bad scent. It was just...me. My arousal .
"How many?" Jake asked .
"Twice," I murmured, not really aware of the question .
"You did twice sit ups?" Now he sounded reallyintrigued .
And I realized I was screwed. "I...would you just mind your own business?" I snapped .
"Sure...but can I ask you something?" The teasing note in his voice should have warned me .
I chewed on my lower lip. "What?" I asked warily .
"Were you thinking about me when you were masturbating ?"
"I...you...damn it." The click announcing another call on the other end of the line seemed like a life preserver thrown to a drowning woman, so I said brusquely, "I have to go. Bye ."
I hung up on him mid-laugh and answered much more cautiously. "This is Michelle ."
"Michelle!" Aunt Blair sounded as sunny and happy as she had every time we talked. "Darling, the editors love the idea. It's a go. If you get it to me by Thursday, we'll go live Friday ."
Shit.