Page 45 of Dead Serious with Benefits
“He sounds so disappointed that he’s not as spoiled a brat as he thinks,” Will said with a snort. “And he wasn’ttoodisappointed since he’s done it a couple of times since. Won’t hear me complain.”
“Well, this is the epitome of professionalism,” Ward said with a weary shake of his head. “What is it with you? You have an effect on people I can’t explain. Will has never told our little secret unless he was going to get something out of the deal.”
“It probably helped that I figured out the answer for myself,” I said with a shrug. “Nothing particularly special about that.”
“So you say,” Ward said, watching me for a moment before turning to look out the window.
That same discomfort he’d had before was still hanging around, and I watched him, trying to figure out what it was. Had I said or done something since the last time we’d seen one another? Or had something shifted in his head without my knowing? Was he simply not as interested in me as before?
There was one way to find out, and I reached out to set my hand on his thigh, closer to his knee than his groin, but still close enough that it was...suggestive. He flinched in what I hoped was surprise, looking down at my hand, then up to my face. The corner of his lips twitched, and he slid his hand over mine, curling his fingers against my palm and giving it a little tug. Now my hand sat firmly in the middle of his thigh, which I thought was the perfect spot. Close enough that he was definitely interested in my hand being a lot further up, but keeping everything in control since there was something else we had to do tonight.
“Is there anything I should know about tonight?” I asked, flexing my fingers slightly to push into this thigh, but not moving any further.
“Were you anyone else, I would warn you to behave, and try not to upset people...as hilarious as that can be sometimes,” he said with a chuckle. “But you? I don’t think I have to worry about you much. You’re neither the sort to offend people nor be bothered if someone comments.”
“Comment?”
“There are still plenty of people around here separated from the real world, that talking to someone like you is treated like dealing with a zoo animal. What’s the phrase I heard once? Benevolent condescension? Some of these people will compliment you or ask a question they find benign, but both can be like a slap in the face.”
“I deal with the extremes of people in the throes of grief; a little insult from someone who clearly doesn’t know better isn’tgoing to get under my skin,” I assured him. “Anything else? Am I...showing up as a friend?”
He gave me a sidelong grin. “No, don’t worry about that. For all my mother’s failings at being a decent human being, hang-ups about sexuality are not one of them. In fact, if I were to settle down into a respectable relationship with a nice guy or girl, she would be overjoyed...if she can actually feel something like joy.”
“A respectable relationship?” I wondered.
“Yes, monogamous, all sex vanilla or at least out of sight, no one from a background or vocation that would cause trouble, things like that,” he said with a wink. “So, do try not to take Will up on his not-so-subtle suggestion to sleep with both of us later.”
“I’ll do my best,” I said. “Perhaps another time, Will.”
Will glanced in the mirror as he pulled into a long drive. “Hear that, Ward?”
“He’s kidding,” Ward said, looking at me curiously. “Weren’t you?”
“You’re the one who keeps assuming I’m well behaved, you tell me.”
“I...can’t tell if you’re joking or not.”
“Would it bother you if I were willing to try something like that?”
“A threesome with Will and me?”
“Yes.”
“That depends.”
“On?”
“Whether or not I was still at the top of your list.”
“Ah, so if you’re more important, you don’t mind if I have a bit of fun with a third with you, but if not?—”
“You got it.”
“Is that possession, or are you already interested in making me something more than a date?”
“Let’s wait to see how tonight goes and how we both feel before we settle that.”
“Then I’ll wait to see if I’m interested in exploring sharing.”
