Page 2 of Last First Time
But wait, this is Reed. He’s basically my best friend. I’m not supposed to think that he’s hot in that lady parts sort of way. I’ve been his wing-woman as he fucked his way throughout most of northern Indiana during our college days, before he got into politics and started keeping all of that manwhore stuff under wraps.
I haven’t seen him with anyone since his campaign season kicked into high gear a couple of months ago. Reed was the youngest mayor in the history of Valentine, and now he’s running for re-election. But he’s always been very up front with me that he was angling for state legislature, then governor. Someday, the entire state of Indiana will be under his care. Because he is actually a really good guy who wants to make the world a better place. He’s exactly who the world needs at this point: a real good man.
Speaking of which, I need a real good man. Not the occasional random hook up with mister itsy bitsy teenie weenie, or even good old reliable Grimace, my favorite purple vibrator. I need a night of hot, sweaty, exhausting sex. The kind that will leave me walking bowlegged for an entire week. And here is Reed, the ultimate good guy who also happens to be so hot that panties combust from mere proximity to him.
“What did you want me to ask you, Reed?” I lick my lips, and let my eyes linger on the sharp planes of his face. My voice is probably more of a drunken slur than a purr, but I’m willing to let it go if he is.
His eyebrows rise, and he laughs a little too loud, squeezing me closer. Have his muscles always been this big, or has he been working out a little extra? Either way, yes please.
“Hey beautiful, are you okay?” Caiden’s voice interrupts my private naughty Reed thoughts, dang it. Now I suppose Reed’s going to put me down and we’re both going to pretend like this wasn’t the most awkwardly hot thing to happen since we met, other than that one time we almost kissed.
“Yeah,” I sigh. “I’m fine.” Assuming a lot horny and a little bit pissed off counts as fine. And even though I’m supposed to be having a shouting type conversation with the douche-bro who grabbed me, I can’t seem to take my eyes off Reed. His face, his eyes, then his lickable biceps that flex as he gently lowers my clumsy, drunken self to the floor.
Delilah and Joe slide past our awkward threesome, still grinding away on each other like they’re already on their honeymoon. I’m about to yell at them to get a room, but then Caiden reaches for my arm, rubbing a little too hard for it to be comfortable or comforting. “You sure? That was a great big fall for such a little girl.” My entire body stiffens at his words.
“First of all, if I said I’m fine, then I’m fine.” I pull away from his hand. “Second, I may be a lot of things, but I’m not a little girl.” I spank my own ass, then rub it a little. “See? All woman right here.”
Reed grins at me, his blue eyes sparkling under the dim lighting. “Damn right,” he murmurs.
“Caiden, you need to leave your keys in the fishbowl and get a ride home.” I tap the pointy toe of my no-nonsense boot. “I’ve got a deal worked out with our local law enforcement that if you’ve had too many, your keys stay in my fishbowl until tomorrow. Today’s your turn.”
He scowls at me, either pissed because I’m giving him the brush off or because I’m telling him to leave. “You’ve been drinking right alongside me, beautiful. So, I’m only going to drop my keys in there if you drop yours too.”
Ugh. This guy. This guy right here is exactly the reason I have so many vibrators, and why I haven’t dated anyone in all the years since I moved to Valentine. He’s precisely the kind of man who always has to have the last word on everything forever. Including thinking he gets to dictate my behavior and actions, even though he probably doesn’t even know my first name.
“Don’t you worry about me, sir.” I give him a hair toss, and my polite to the customers but might still murder you smile. “I’ve already got a ride home.” And because I am also a little bit of an asshole, I wrap my hands around Reed’s muscles, smoothing and stroking him through his fancy dress shirt, which probably costs more than the rent for the bar.
“Him?” Caiden scoffs. “What does he have that I don’t?”
I can feel Reed’s arm tighten, can practically hear his adrenaline kick in. “A working knowledge of female anatomy, for one.” I smile, baring my teeth. “Also, I trust him. He’s not going to hurt me by dragging me down off the bar because he’s drunk and got a little carried away.”
Caiden flings his keys in the fishbowl so hard I’m afraid it’s going to go sliding off the bar. “Suit yourself, bitch. I’ll be back tomorrow to talk to the manager about how you’re acting.”
I flip him off, then kiss my middle finger at him. “Riddles is my bar, asshole. That means I am the fucking manager. Now get out.”
The small knot of onlookers who gathered to watch this shitshow go down breaks into applause and hooting cheers as Caiden stomps out the door, slamming it closed behind him.
My pulse is racing. I should be relieved that Caiden’s gone, but I’m still so pissed off about the way he acted. Like he was entitled to get to come home with me tonight, even without knowing my name or the first thing about me.
And I’m so tired of going home alone. I know I work crazy hours making Riddles the best damn bar in Valentine, but I always thought I’d meet the right guy who would be able to understand my ambition, and still fuck me into a coma every few days. Now here I am on the late side of my twenties with only a really toxic ex and a stream of douche-bros trying to get in my pants. And Reed, my perennial not-really-a-date guy.
Reed wrapped his arm around me, strong and comforting. “Hey Karisma, you doing okay?” His voice is pitched low, right in my ear, and my neck breaks out in goosebumps at hearing his voice saying my real name in this low, sexy as hell voice.
He’s the only person in Valentine who knows my real name. It’s not like top secret or anything, but I haven’t gone by Karisma since I was in college, which was when I met Reed. Here in Valentine, everyone knows me as K.T. because I have a certain tough as nails reputation to uphold and it doesn’t involve people dropping my ultra hippy moniker when they’re ordering up shots.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m okay.” My voice comes out much more breathy than it usually does. The little showdown with Caiden effectively killed off my intense whiskey buzz, but I’m still aching to be touched. Really touched by a good man who has real life bedroom skills, and can muster up all that steamy passion that says he can’t wait to take me home and do everything dirty we can to one another.
I shiver as he leans closer, the heat from his body engulfing me. “I’m going to take you home tonight. So let me, okay?”
Yes. Definitely all of my lady parts are on board for this plan. I mean, it’s Reed, so nothing’s going to happen, but until we say goodnight, I can keep pretending that it might.
“I’ll let you do whatever you want tonight, hot stuff.” I chuckle at him and shoot him a wink. He has to know that I’m mostly kidding, right?
Reed
“Whatever I want?” My pulse pounds as Karisma’s magic words unlock the Neanderthal in me.
I am normally a gentleman because I was bred and raised to be one, and also because I have been active in politics since my student council days. But I’ve been waiting for fourteen years, eight months, and nineteen days for this particular girl to take a chance on me. And maybe she’s only kidding, but what if she isn’t?
