Page 18 of Audiophile

His eyes roam over me—evaluating. “I’ll trade you one.”

Chapter eight

Petra

Screw it. I slipmy sneakers off to curl up on the sofa. Hugging a stiff pillow to my belly, I consider all the things Reed wants to know. They’re all sex-related, so I’m confident about striking the bargain. He knows the worst parts already.

“Deal,” I agree. The curiosity is eating at me. “Do yousleepwith more than women? Was your issue sleeping with a fan of Daddy Knight?”

His gold eyes are piercing as he takes a sip. “That was two.”

I grimace. “One and an extension.”

“My sexual preference is women, but I don’t discriminate against my listeners,” he says, one eyebrow raised high. “There’s enough Daddy Knight to include anyone who wants to listen. I have several collaborations with other male creators on their platforms. And yes, it was.”

“Then why would you sleep with me?”

“Don’t read anything into it. If you’re not up for it, then it’s not happening, and that’s a dead serious promise. Now. My turn.” His eyes glitter in the dim light of the side table. “Why haven’t you had sex in a long time? How long is a long time?”

I should’ve expected that. “That’s two. I was in a long-term relationship and I haven’t dipped my toe back in the water yet.”

“One and an extension,” he says, using my own words against me. “How long?”

I avoid broadcasting how flustered and humiliated I am by the answer. “A couple years.”

Both of Reed’s eyebrows shoot up. “Years, plural? Two?Three?”

I take a huge gulp, desperate for a buzz to offset my humiliation. “Four.”

“What?” Reed asks in total disbelief. “I changed my mind. You need to have sex with me—not for my sake. For yours.”

I snort and pierce him with a glare. “You’re a real ladies’ man, Reed. Know exactly how to get me going.”

“But you’re hot when you’re annoyed.” He winks, back in Daddy Knight territory. I roll my eyes as he sets our empty glasses to the side and folds my hands in his. They’re large and warm, and the just-waking-up sensation is back. “How do I actually get you going? Which scenes are your favorite? Do you listen to them multiple times? In the car? At work?”

“Doyoudo that? Don’t answer that. I keep it private, thank you.” I glance back down at my tingling hands in wonder. The only men to touch me lately are my family members. I miss this type of connection, no matter how little I know Reed.

I’ve had too much wine.

His agitated finger drums against my hand. “How have you been single for four years? You’re beautiful, kind, soulful. You smell like cookies, you’re hilarious—”

“I smell likewhat?” I pull away with a laugh. “You’ve known me for an hour, Reed. And I’ve only been single for five months.”

Reed goes entirely still. “You were in a relationship before that?”

“Yes.” I’ve definitely had too much wine, because words are spilling out when my brain should be holding them back. “I lived in LA with my boyfriend for a long time. An excruciatingly long time.”

“Without sex for four years?” Reed mumbles. His hand moves up my arm, and each stroke is a salve on a web of invisible cuts that’ve been left open for too long. “I can’t imagine you were okay being in a relationship with no intimacy. Not with your sex drive. What made you stay?”

I open my eyes—I don’t remember shutting them—and muster up some fight. “This is way beyond one question. And you know nothing about my sex drive.”

“Don’t I? Your listening habits say otherwise. Did he belittle you for wanting it as much as you did? Insecure men do that when they can’t keep up.” His hand smooths down the length of my arm to my hand, and my eyes want to close again. His voice gets quiet. “I can keep up, Petra. If not with my dick, then with my hands and mouth. I’m a hardworking man in all aspects.”

I tilt my head back, laughing, because his words are filthy, but he says it so sweetly. Similar to his Daddy Knight persona, but decidedly different.Oh no, I won’t be able to listen to those without seeing Reed’s face and comparing Knight to the side of Reed I’m experiencing now. I’m going to have to cancel my subscription.

“I don’t doubt it, but you weren’t going to push the issue, remember? What is your fascination with my sex life?”

He takes a quiet moment to play with my fingers and lace ours together.

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