Page 86 of Meet Me In The Dark
His gaze cuts to me briefly, then back to the road. “Okay, I’ve given you something personal. Your turn.”
“Pass.”
“Not how this works.”
I bite the inside of my cheek, fully aware that my next words are a terrible idea, but my brain has taken a vacation without telling me. “Alright, fine. I’ve never called anyoneSirduring sex before.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice the slight pause in his breathing. He swallows, as if he’s replaying the exact moment in his head.
“I’ve never had anyonecallmeSirduring sex before.”
I whip my head toward him. “What? No. That’s bullshit.”
His mouth curves. “Honestly.”
“You asked me to.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Yes, you did. You asked me a question, I said yes, and you said, ‘Yes, what?’”
He leans back in his seat, eyes still on the road, but every line of his body radiates smugness. “Yeah. I was looking for you to beg. I thought you were going to sayplease.”
“Youweretrying to teach me manners.”
“What?”
“Never mind.” Heat detonates in my chest and shoots straight down. My thighs press together because my body is a traitor. “Oh my God. No.”
“Yes,” he says, and the way his voice dips makes the word feel filthy.
“Julian, stop talking.” I slap my hands over my face, but unfortunately, my ears still work.
He tries to smother his laugh, but it breaks free.
“Why the hell didn’t you stop me?” I blurt, my voice slightly strangled.
The laughter fades.
His answer is so blunt, so unflinching, it robs me of oxygen. “Because I fucking liked hearing you say it, Celeste.”
I’m gone. Brain melted. Nerve endings fried. Someone call the coroner, because I am officiallydeceased.
But even I laugh after that because if I don’t, I might cry. Eventually, it fades, and the car settles into a comfortable quiet.
“Do you think it’s strange?” I ask into the stillness.
His eyes flick to me. “What?”
“That we forgot to kiss that night.”
“Forgot? That’s one way to put it.”
“Well, I have an excuse. It was my first time. I was a nervous wreck.”
“I’m taking that excuse.”
My brows pull together. “There’s no way that was your first time.”
