Page 97 of Wait For It

“Oh, Ariana,” Tsega laughed, shaking her head in mock exasperation. “What am I going to do with you?”

It wasn’t her actions, but Killian’s I was most interested in.

What would he be willing to do with me?

Chapter Nineteen

Killian

“It’s unbelievable how much you don’t know about the game you’ve been playing all your life.”

-Mickey Mantle

“So,where are you taking her?The Corner Bistrois supposed to be good—” Tsega paused to give me a once-over before shaking her head. “No, you’re not really dressed nice enough for that. Guess it’s ninety-nine cent pitchers of beer and a basket of wings down at the sports bar, huh?”

I’d worn my nicest jeans and button-down shirt too, dammit.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, pal,” I muttered as she playfully socked me in the arm. If the mischievous smirk was any indicator, she was going to continue to play dirty to get what she wanted out of me.

Tsega had been hounding me since I stepped foot in the parking lot. The tiny woman went after information like a terrier with a chew-toy—not that I’d dare voice that thought.

No, I enjoyed my balls right where they were, thank you very much.

She punched the button for Ari’s floor as we stepped onto the elevator before lowering her hand to her hip. “As I’ve been forced to hear about this date no less than a hundred times today, the least you can do is tell me where you’re going.”

But I wasn’t willing to divulge a single detail. It was my first real chance to be alone with Ari, and I wasn’t willing to take the chance of anything spoiling our first official date. It was in my nature to be a little superstitious, which was probably why I’d gone ahead and worn my lucky socks too.

Technically, it wasn’t our first date, as we’d shared meals several times over the last eight weeks. There was something about being able to touch her without a nurse or staff member nearby that made tonight different.

I couldn’t think of getting Ari alone without recalling last weekend at the aquarium—the feel of her body pressed against mine, the taste of her skin, the unapologetically loud moans she’d given me when I used my teeth.

Suffice it to say that I’d enjoyed some very lengthy shower sessions over the past seven days.

But we were taking things slow. I made a show of checking my watch to clear the images from my head while debating whether or not I should have gone with a bigger bouquet of flowers when I was suddenly confronted with all five feet, zero inches of Tsega’s attitude.

“You know I could make this date very uncomfortable for you, buddy.”

I cocked my head to the side, thoroughly amused. “Did you ask me something, Tsega?”

She calmly leaned back against the railing, her lips twisting to the side. I was more than a little surprised her head hadn’t popped off from all that bottled up energy. “I know something you don’t.”

“Good for you.”Nice try. I wasn’t breaking that easily.

“Yep.” Tsega took a step toward me, keeping her chin high as if trying to appear taller. “It involves lace…”

“Okay, and?” I scoffed, trying to hide the fact that my jeans suddenly felt too tight. I should have gone with the joggers, or maybe a nice pair of pajama pants. No one ever considered pajama pants—fashion’s most underrated piece of clothing.

Comfort over style, Reed.

“I’m talking skimpy little scraps of lace. Now, what’s the purpose of something that’s not only see-through but doesn’t even cover—”

“Papi’s!” I snapped, regretting that I hadn’t thought to take care of myself beforehand. Nothing was guaranteed to end a first date faster than me showing up with a hard-on. “Christ, I’m taking her toPapi’s. I know the owner, and it’s one of the few places I can go where no one bothers me. After, I thought we’d go next door toAnchor Lounge. There, are you happy now, you maniacal little fairy?”

Tsega nodded with a wide grin. “Oh, extremely. I like you, Reed. You’re good people.”

“Yeah? You have a funny way of showing it,” I grumbled, my mouth twitching before I could stop it.

The elevatordinged. Tsega waited until the doors opened before adding, “Two words—black lace.” With that, she stepped off the elevator, laughing like an evil villain in a children’s cartoon.

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