Page 42 of Power Play

“I’m going to ask the question I don’t want to ask, but I have to ask before we start any of this. When was the last time you were tested? You mentioned your husband was a fucking ass—sorry. Unfaithful to you, and I want to make sure there’s no?—”

“Ex-husband,” she says, interrupting me, and her lips twitch. “He is an asshole, though.”

“My bad. I don’t know how that insult got in there.”

“Must’ve been a casual slip of the tongue. As for the unfaithful part, I took a test after I found out about his affair. Everything came back negative, and I haven’t been with anyone since.”

“I don’t have anything to report on my end either.”

“Being celibate for years will do that to you, I guess.”

I huff out a laugh. “When we get to the sex portion of this arrangement, I’d like it if we used a condom.”

“That’s fine by me. Safety first, right?”

“Right. Do you have a preference on what type? Latex? Synthetic? Glow in the dark?”

“Glow in the dark?” Piper bursts out laughing, and it eases the tension I’ve been carrying around all afternoon. “That’s not a real thing, is it?”

“According to Grant it is. The picture on the box is of outer space. I guess you use them when you want your dick to be out of this world.”

“Oh my god.” She clutches her side and wheezes. “It’s not a dick. It’s a rocket ship.”

“I mean, you can ride both. They both make you see the stars. I’m not an astronaut, but I think they both involve thrusting too.”

“You’re making me get a cramp.” When she finally settles down, she wipes her thumb under her eyes. “I feel like I should be taking notes, because I am downrightcluelessabout aesthetically pleasing condoms that transport you to different galaxies. What else do you have for me, teach?”

“Okay, smart-ass. This next part might make me sound like an prick, but it needs to be said. I like you as a person.”

“Shucks, Liam. I like you as a person too.”

I bristle at that, glazing over her compliment before I can think about it for too long. “That being said, we’re not dating. This arrangement between us is only physical. I’m not your boyfriend. My priority is hockey. When the two of us are intimate with each other, I’ll treat you right. I’ll show you what you want to learn. In the real world, though, I’m not going to hold your hand.”

“Wow,” she deadpans. “I’m falling in love with you already. Please stop being so irresistible You’re making it impossible to stay away.”

“Sarcasm isn’t a cute look on you, Mitchell.”

“You’re smiling.”

“I’m not smiling. I’m grimacing.”

“Sorry. My mistake. You’re right about the physical component. I’m finally doing my dream job, and work is my focus. I want to stay in DC long term, and the way to do that is to perform above and beyond the expectations in place for me. That won’t happen if I’m distracted. We’ll have plenty of fun, but it’s confined to the bedroom until we head to your sister’swedding. After that, we can break this off and get on with our lives.”

Piper is eager to get the ball rolling. She’s moved to the edge of the couch and is watching me in the way I’ve seen other women watch me: like she’s going to stake a claim on me. Like I’m something she wants very, very badly.

And,fuck, I want her too.

Now that I can have her, now that I can touch her, I’m fuckingdesperatefor it.

The guys tell me I need to relax, and this is me relaxing. Finally letting go a little and enjoying what’s around me.

I walk toward her. She tracks my movements until I stop right in front of her. I reach down and curl my fingers under her chin, lifting her head so our gazes collide.

“I wasn’t kidding about communication, Piper. You need to tell me what you’re thinking and how you’re feeling. If there’s something you don’t like, we stop.”

“I promise I will. Are we going to go to your bedroom?”

“No. We’re staying out here tonight.”

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