Page 74 of Seven Year Itch
My mind reels with this proposition that I did not have on my bingo card in my postdivorce era. A sex-only affair with Calder Fletcher... the asshole who ruined my house and my wedding dress seven years ago. It sounds like a horrible idea that’s sure to end in catastrophe. I call him Killer Calder for a reason.
Then again, it also sounds kind of poetic in some strange way. It’s like revenge sex or something. And he’s not the same guy he was seven years ago. I’ve seen that in more ways than one the past few weeks.
I shake that thought away, trying not to let my heart get too involved with this discussion. “I thought you never hook up with girls twice.”
“I don’t usually, but it’s not really a rule I have.”
“So I would be an exception?”
Calder’s jaw muscle twitches. “Sure, Ace. You’re an exception.”
“Why exactly am I the exception?”
He exhales. “I just think you’ve been out of the game for a while, and jumping headfirst into a sex club is too risky.”
“Risky.”
“You have to walk before you can run,” he adds with a sexy smirk that sends my belly into somersaults. “And with any luck, even walking will be hard when I’m done with you.”
I turn away from him to stare ahead at the highway, my eyes fixating on the lights of the cars in front of us as I try to process all of this. I had a good feeling Calder would say yes to my wingman request because I knew he’d do anything to get his membership reinstated. But this... this is unexpected. And kind of appealing for obvious reasons.
The truth is, when I saw Calder stomping down that hallway toward me at Lexon, I had almost an out-of-body experience. I was already fantasizing about him so much when I was with that man, it felt like I was in some sort of sexual hallucination. I’d already been using our night in Mexico as content while I was using my vibrator at home and low-key hating myself for it, so I was certain my mind was playing tricks on me when he came striding toward me.
Then I realized it was really happening. Calder was stepping in between me and this guy who wanted to take me into the bondage room. Could it be that he was jealous? Did I want him to be jealous?
God yes.
But not for like emotional reasons. It’s just lust. And hate. And there’s something incredibly empowering about making a man like Calder Fletcher jealous. Whatever it was, it made for some seriously sizzling sex because we are two-for-two now with no signs of decline.
Randal and I never had sex even half that good in all our years of marriage. In our early dating days, the sex was good... but it didn’t feel like what I’m experiencing with Calder. And the surge of confidence I feel over just the idea that Calder was jealous tonight is life-changing. Is this what a sexual awakening in your thirties is like? Maybe I wasn’t just boring in bed... maybe I was just boring with Randal. And maybe exploring this newfound sexuality with Calder for a few weeks will help me take this into my future relationships.
“So how would this work?” I ask, turning to face him as he continues driving. His wrist is draped casually on the steering wheel, his other arm outstretched on the back of the seat behind me. All of this is so easy for him.
Calder’s brows lift. “Just thinking off the cuff here... but I vote wefuck... a lot.”
He turns and hits me with those green eyes of his and I have to look away as a blush crawls over my face. I run my hands over my lap as my thighs squeeze together to fight off the ache that radiates through my core.
Fuckis a good word from his mouth.
I clear my throat and refocus. “Okay, but I still can’t get over the fact that you hate me.”
“It was always you that hated me, Ace. I’ve just been defending myself around you for the past seven years. I don’t hate you. I don’t particularly like you... but I don’t hate you.”
I frown at that observation. Surely the hatred went both ways, right? Him calling me a Karen wasn’t exactly nice. But me calling him Killer Calder every time I’ve seen him for the past severalyears isn’t real inspiring for a friendship. Either way, it does neither of us any good to look backward.
“If you want, I can come up with some kinks or exploratory things we can try out.” He glances over at me and waggles his brows. “A list of sexual activities you can consider.”
“Oh please. You’re going to come up with a list?” My tone is unapologetically ruthless. Calder is exceptionally talented with his hands, his tongue, and yes, with his anaconda. But his laissez-faire attitude toward the details I wanted in my home was partially the reason it was so hard to work with him. “You could barely put together a punch list for me on the house reno. No way you’re going to come up with a list for this.”
He sighs. “You know, Ace, I might just surprise you.”
Chapter 24
Game of Telephone
Calder
“Hey, guys!” Everly’s voice peals through FaceTime on my phone as Wyatt drives us all back to Fletcher Mountain after a particularly grueling day on the job site.
