Page 9 of Last First Time
“It was pretty darn epic. Who knew the most important part of your name was actually the stupid Roman numeral? Four. Maybe I should start calling you that instead of Kade.”
I snort. “Kade? That’s rich people slang for someone who is a fourth son. You know, the roman numeral type.”
“Are you kidding me? I thought it was some kind of cute pet name from your growing up days, and instead I’ve been calling you the Fourth over and over again?” She groans. “I am so embarrassed right now.”
“Embarrassed? I don’t even remotely get it. I thought we decided we did a good job with the nudity and orgasms bargain.” I smooth her hair underneath my hand again. It feels like silk under my touch. Well, silk that had been rumpled thoroughly against the flooring for the last forty-five minutes or so due to some pretty epic fucking.
“I’m not talking about the orgasms, Reed. I’m talking about your stupid Rich Boy nickname. Do all of the Mitzi and Bitsy type women you’ve banged call you Kade and know it’s slang for the number four?”
I lean away from her because honestly, this conversation is going off the rails quickly and I don’t understand why. “Karisma, I honestly have no idea what you’re trying to ask me. Are you seriously trying to talk about other women I’ve slept with when we’re both still hot and sweaty from the best sex of my entire lifetime?”
She sighs, then sits up. “See, this is why I can’t do the whole relationship thing with you. We come from totally different worlds and basically have nothing in common. I don’t even speak the same stupid language as you.” She curls up until her knees are covering her perfect tits and everything else, then she waves an arm at me in a casual, dismissive way that I couldn’t possibly hate more. “You need to go.”
“What the fuck, Karisma? How did we go from screaming and epic to you need to go, in less than five minutes?” I can feel myself getting angry with her, and that’s not what this situation should be. We’re supposed to be cuddling, and maybe thinking about the next round of orgasms. Why is she so determined to mess this up between us? “Are you seriously calling this off over my nickname?”
Her eyes go flinty and hard, so I scramble to my feet and shove my feet into my rumpled pants as quickly as possible. There’s no way I’m going to take the chance of not getting out of here before she breaks things off with me.
I know she said we needed to keep this whole thing casual and all, but there is no way on earth that this was not my last first time. Now that I’ve had her, it only confirms that she’s the only one for me. There’s no way I can settle for anything less than Karisma Troudeau in my life, and fuck anybody who says differently. Even her.
“I didn’t say we should call this off. I only said you should go. Not that we shouldn’t do it again sometimes.” She smiles, but in a dangerous, feral way. “You’re so much better than a vibrator. I’d be stupid to give all this up already.” Every word that spills from her lips hurts, so thank goodness I’ve already put my clothes back on. At least I don’t have to be naked when she’s throwing daggers at me with her words.
“Wow, Kar. Just wow.” I sigh heavily and run my hands through my hair, making it stick up all extra sweaty crazy. “I never pictured you acting like this with me of all people.” I don’t even bother with my jacket, shoving it under my arm. “Fuck you.”
I stalk toward the door, without looking back at her. “You already did, Kade.” Her voice is brittle, snagging on my stupid nickname like it’s a dirty word.
On the way out, I slam the door as hard I can.
K.T.
Ihave to call Amanda, my backup bartender, to cover at Riddles so I can go look for a new place for my bar. I’d intended to have Reed come with me for location shopping, but given the way I completely ruined things between us last night, I decide to forego that plan.
Why did I have to go and mess everything up? It was just plain stupid. I knew I’d been orgasm-drunk, but why was I mean to him? Now I’m stuck in the land of my many, many vibrators and probably out one best friend. Great job me. Maybe I’ll go ahead and move, starting over again in some new place where I don’t know anyone.
With a giant sigh of regret, I walk out of Riddles into the noon sunshine and promptly faceplant right into a hard, male chest. Reed’s hard, male chest. Oh shit.
“Reed.” I move to push my hair behind my ears, but it’s still up in my work ponytail. That leaves me flapping my hands around my face like I’m shooing away a fly or something. Idiot. Why am I such an awkward idiot face? Gah. “Um, hi.” Clumsy, super awkward, mean after great sex, and the world’s worst conversationalist. For sure he hates me now. But if he actually does hate me, then what is he doing here?
His face is placid, stoic. “Where are you off to, K.T.?” He’s wearing another suit, clean and professional. If it weren’t for the coldness of his eyes and voice and the lingering ache of all the secret places of my body, I would almost believe I’d imagined everything about last night.
Okay. Well, if he’s going to pretend like nothing is going on between us, then I’m willing to play along with him. “Who me?” Yeah, way to act casual. “I’m going to look at some possible places for Riddles to relocate. I pulled a list this morning. I was going to ask you to come—” I cut off as his eyebrows fly up, and I can feel the hot blush taking over my entire face. “I figured you’d be busy with all of your campaign and Mayor stuff.”
His mouth kicks up to one side. “I suppose it’s your lucky day then. I’m free until five, at which point I’m supposed to give a speech at the elementary school.”
I can admit when I am wrong. Even in broad daylight with all of our clothes on. “Reed, about last night….” I stop because I have no idea what to say next. I shove my hands in my pockets, then look up at him, hoping he’ll give me an out. He doesn’t.
After waiting until the pause grows unbearable, he finally says, “Yes?” And then he stands there, one talented hand shoved deep in the pocket of his fancy slacks, hip cocked up, and acting as casual as if this were any other day between Kade and Karisma, the two long-time friends, instead of the embarrassing morning after we had the best sex ever and then I went apeshit bananas for no apparent reason.
I huff out a frustrated breath. “I’m sorry I was such a fucking jerk to you last night, okay?”
And finally he gives me a real smile, with that adorable dimple and everything. Now this is a man who knows how to ignite a girl’s panties. “You can’t even apologize to me without sounding like you’re still really pissed off at me. Did you know that?” He puts his hands on my shoulders and shakes me a little bit.
“You can go ahead and add it to the long list of things I’m bad at.” I want to hug him so badly, but manage to keep my arms still by crossing them in front of me.
“Hey, Kar. I probably should have expected you to be this way. You’ve got a reputation for being half-feral, and I know you like to keep that going around town.” He shoves his hands through his hair and then pins me with those deep blue eyes. “But you and me, we’re different. I really don’t want you to talk to me like that again, no matter what. We’re better than that.”
I shake my head. “I hear you, but we both already know that I will definitely screw this up again. Probably later on today.”
He laughs and I glare at him mutinously. “Quit laughing at me, Rich Boy. I’m letting you know the score. Now, do you want to come with me or not?”
