Page 58 of A Whole New Trick

My one-bedroom apartment isn’t tiny, but with all the potted plants and homey decorations, it can easily look cluttered if I leave dishes out or have clean clothes lying over the back of my couch.

Dane walks inside and turns his head, taking in my living room with my hand-me-down furniture and plush cream rug.The bottom shelf of my bookcase is filled with textbooks from my school years while the rest are adorned with well-worn novels and knick-knacks from family, friends, and my travels over the years. Framed photos hang on the wall, as well as a painting of the Dallas skyline that I did myself at one of those drink-and-paint places with Carlee.

I follow Dane as he wordlessly wanders into my kitchen. He stares at my fridge. “That’s a lot of magnets.”

“I collect them.”

“I can see that.” He looks over his shoulder and smiles at me. “Your place is really nice, Morgan. Very homey.”

“Thank you. That’s what I was going for.”

“Am I really the only guy you’ve ever brought here?”

I nod.

“Not even ass face?” His features twist with disdain.

I laugh. “No, Aaron’s never been here. We broke up before I moved here.”

More like I moved herebecausewe broke up.

I wanted a fresh start from the life I led with Aaron. That started with a new place where he couldn’t drop by at will to try to convince me to take him back.

“Good.” Dane loosens the tie around his neck. “Mind if I use the bathroom?”

“Of course not. It’s down the hall.” I motion to the only hall in the place.

“Thanks.”

When I hear the bathroom door close, I let out the breath I’d been holding and look around the kitchen, flustered.

Should I wait for him here? Or should I go to my bedroom?

Does Dane do foreplay? I’m sure he does, but would he rather it happen organically while we’re watching TV or something? Or should we cut to the chase and kick things off on my bed?

Gah!I’m a mess. I need to pull myself together. Dane is just a man—a man with a chiseled jawline and perfectly sculpted muscles, but a man nonetheless.

I move into the living room and sit on my couch.

I bend over to undo the delicate buckle around my ankle when I hear the bathroom door open.

I look up, and my mouth dries. Dane stands at the edge of the living room with his shirt off. His muscular, tan torso dips and bulges as he walks towards me. “Let me do that.”

He kneels.

I suck in a breath as he takes my foot in his hand and kisses my ankle before unhooking the tiny buckle and sliding my foot free. He repeats the same with the other foot. This time, his eyes lock with mine as he kisses my shin. His hands rest on each leg, and he pushes the skirt wide. His kisses move to my thigh.

Sweet baby Jesus.

“Is this okay?” He asks, pushing my skirt even higher.

“Yes,” I say, breathless. “It’s more than okay.”

Dane smiles. “I’ve been thinking about doing this all day.”

“Doing what—Oh!”

His fingers hook my thong, moving the scrap of fabric to the side before pressing his mouth to my center and giving one long lick.

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