Page 29 of Diamonds & Deception

“Do you have a favorite breakfast joint around here?”

I haven’t gone out since I’ve been in town, but I can’t very well tell him that. “I don’t go out for breakfast much. I pick up a muffin and coffee from Dunks from time to time.”

We walk two more blocks before we stop in front of a cute diner. “How about here? Looks decent.”

The Morning Egg is cute and doesn’t seem too crowded. “Perfect.”

The sign inside tells us to seat ourselves. I follow Drake to a table by the window, and he hands me one of the plastic menus tucked between the napkin holder and a bottle of hot sauce.

“A little grease will help with your hangover.”

“I’m feeling a lot better. Thank you for the coffee, and for bringing me a second cup in the bathroom. I will say though”—I lower the menu and give him a serious stare— “I’m surprised you didn’t try to join me in the shower.”

“The temptation was real, sweetheart. Trust me.” He winks at me and then returns his attention to his menu. “When I take you again, I want you strong and able to handle what I have planned for you.”

My insides melt, and I squeeze my thighs together as moisture builds between them.

***

NOT JOINING NORA INthe shower showed more restraint than I thought possible. It’s true, though. When I touch her again, there’ll be no holding back. I haven’t stopped thinking about all the places I want to touch her. Lick her. Of the pace, the positions, the locations, I want to take her.

But I don’t want to take advantage of a weak, hungover Nora. In fact, I hadn’t planned on sleeping with her again until tonight, even if she hadn’t been through the wringer last night.

I haven’t dated a woman in years. Not since Kelsey. I’ve gone out with women, had sex with women, but no one ever held my interest long enough to put work aside and spend time with them. No one until Nora.

Spending the day with her like a normal couple before I fuck her six ways to Sunday is my way of showing her I think of her as more than a bed buddy. She joked around about me having a hotel room at my disposal to bring the women I seduce, but I could tell it bothered her.

Today is about redeeming myself, hence the reason I’m determined to keep my hands to myself. Well, not completely. I haven’t stopped touching Nora since she opened her door for me. But I’m not going to push sex on her.

Yet.

Tonight I plan on making her beg. Yell, curse my name until her throat is hoarse and raw.

I discreetly adjust myself and greet the server. We order omelets and hash browns and sip on our coffee.

“It’s definitely a three-cups-of-coffee morning. I’m going to be strung out on caffeine later though.”

“I can think of a few ways you can exert your energy.”

Just because I’m determined not to get her naked until the day is over doesn’t mean I can’t drop sexual innuendos any chance I get.

“Hmm. I wonder what that would be.”

We talk about the weather, about the city, and then I ask her about baseball. “Have you been to a Red Sox game recently?”

“Would you be surprised to hear I’ve never been to one?”

My eyes open wide in shock. “You live walking distance from Fenway, so yeah, I’m a bit surprised.”

Her teeth clamp her lower lip as if she’s thinking too hard about her next words. “I guess I never think about it because it’s right here.”

“Not a fan of baseball?”

“Actually, I love it. I played softball in high school, not that it’s a big deal. But, yeah, I like the game.”

We pause our conversation as our server delivers our food. After we salt, pepper, and take a few bites of our food, I ask, “What position is your favorite?”

She chokes on her food and reaches for her glass of water. “I, um...”

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