Page 84 of Indiscretion

I hesitated. “Can’t. She died.”

Naomi locked eyes with me. I could see the wheels in her head turning. She was a lawyer, so she wasn’t about to let go now that she’d latched on to something interesting. It would lead to an all-new round of questions. I might’ve answered her question honestly, but that was different than going down a long, ugly road. So I picked up the menu.

“We should probably figure out what we’re eating before the waiter comes back. I’m not even sure what I ordered for appetizers.”

She held my eyes a moment more, but then nodded. “Sure.”

How the hell had we gotten from me telling her I wanted to lick every inch of her body to talking about Bailey? I had no damn clue, but I wanted to go back in time a few minutes. Instead, I settled for changing the subject.

“How long have you been vegan?”

“I guess about seven years now.”

“What made you make the change?”

“My sister had just been diagnosed with leukemia for the first time. I spent a lot of time in the oncology department at Johns Hopkins, waiting while she got chemo or had her exams. They have a lot of literature on cancer lying around there, so I started reading. There are a ton of studies that link red meat to various cancers, so I figured it was something I could change easily enough that might give me a better chance of staying healthy. Both my mom and sister were diagnosed by twenty-seven. I started by cutting out red meat. I didn’t really miss the burgers and steaks, so I wound up taking the next step and cutting out all animal products. Eventually, I cut out processed foods and dairy, too. I know it’s not for everyone, but it makes me feel like I’m doing what I can. I promise I’m not one of those preachy vegans who criticizes what others eat. My friend Mary is like that, and even I want to stuff her mouth with sprouts when she gets on her soapbox.”

I smiled. “Does it bother you when other people eat meat?”

“Not at all. Though sometimes the smell can affect me. I’m not sure why, since it never used to.”

“Ah. That’s right. You don’t like meat breath.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Your nephew overheard you tell your sister. You might want to talk lower around that kid.”

She laughed. “Oh gosh. Good to know.”

We spent the next hour and a half enjoying our meal and polishing off a bottle of wine. I was glad when she declined a second, because I didn’t want either of us to be drunk. I wasn’t sure anything was going to happen tonight, but on the off-chance I got the opportunity to touch her, I wasn’t about to let the issue from last time get in the way again.

Toward the end of the evening, the waiter brought a slice of dairy-free cheesecake. I had no idea it was possible to make it that way, but it actually looked like regular cheesecake.

Naomi took a spoonful of the creamy dessert into her mouth, and her eyes shut as she let out a moan. “Oh my God. This is so good.”

Maybe I was immature, but I couldn’tnotimagine her saying that about something else. My cock buried deep, her eyes fluttering shut—so, so good.

She scooped up a second spoonful and held it out to me. “Try it. It’s amazing.”

I shook my head. “However good it is, it’s not as satisfying as watching you eat it, trust me.”

She blushed. “Why do I get the feeling you’re imagining something different going into my mouth?”

“Because you’re a very smart woman.”

She laughed. “And you have a one-track mind.”

“I do when it comes to you lately. Does that bother you?”

“No. I probably shouldn’t tell you this, because you definitely don’t need any encouragement, but I find it refreshing that you say what’s on your mind.”

I licked my lips. “That’s good. Because I like telling you, though some things more than others.”

She shook her head, but smiled. “Tell me what you were like as a teenager.” Naomi slipped another bite of dessert into her mouth. “I bet you were a handful.”

“I was.”

“Were you prom king?”

---