Page 13 of Sexploration

I’m so fucking glad August hit him.

“Welp.” I sigh. “Looks like I need to get my stuff out sooner rather than later.”

“Why?” He sits up straighter, his brow furrowed. “What does it say?”

“He wants to keep the house, to buy me out. Which I was expecting. But he wants me out by the time the divorce is final. And that can happen in as little as ten days. Once I sign these, the countdown begins.”

“Wow.He’s such a sorry bastard,” he grits with a shake of his head. “He cheated on you and still wants to call all the shots like you’re the asshole.”

“Basically.” I shrug and slip the papers back into the folder, placing them on the end table. “It’s pretty on par for him, though, really.”

“Why the rush? That doesn’t make any sense. Unless...”

“He wants to move someone else in,” I finish for him. “That’s exactly what it is. He didn’t shy away from telling me he was in love with his mistress. Apparently, this has been going on for a while.”

“I shouldn’t have stopped with one punch.” His tone is dark, his eyes vacant as he cradles his sore hand.

“No... it’s fine.” I reach across the couch and squeeze his arm, giving him a warm smile as his gaze focuses on me. “I’m fine.”

“That you are.” He throws a flirtatious smirk my way, but there’s still a shadow of worry in his eyes.

“Seriously, though. This is a good thing,” I tell him, trying to reassure myself as much as him. “Tommy has already moved on,and into someone else.” He watches me a little too intently as my hand slips back into my lap, making it hard to think straight. “And I’m free to start my sexploration.”

His eyebrows shoot up. “I’m sorry... your what, now?”

My face heats with embarrassment. I didn’t mean to blurt that out. “Oh, sorry... it’s just this stupid inside joke with Parker,” I explain, fidgeting with a loose thread on my pajama pants. “Something I said when she was pushing me to... startdatingagain.”

He chuckles. “Knowing Parker, I’m betting dating wasn’t the D word she was throwing around.”

The nervous tension in my body eases, a grin spreading on my face. “You would win that bet.”

“Andyou think you’re ready for that now? Because, you know, I’m more than happy to help you take those training wheels off.” There’s a seductiveness in his voice, heat returning to his stare as he subtly scoots closer.

It’s becoming impossible to deny this thing happening between us. I’ve been telling myself that he wasn’t really interested in me, that his kiss was fueled by kindness, not desire. But the glimmer of longing in his eyes earlier made things much clearer.

If you keep putting those gorgeous lips on me, I can’t be held responsible for my actions.

I’d be lying if I said the thought didn’t excite the hell out of me. Already, I can feel my body anticipating it. The feel of his lips on mine, his hands wrapped in my hair as he pulls my head back and licks his way down the column of my throat.

Goose bumps pebble on my skin, my nipples hardening beneath my shirt.His shirt.It still smells like him too, clean and masculine, making it even harder to resist the temptation to take him up on his offer.

“Actually...” I clear my throat, wetting my dry tongue. “Maybe you could help me.”

He settles next to me, reaching out to play with a piece of my hair. It’s like he’s staring straight into my mind, reading every thought crossing my mind, every wish and desire laid bare before him. The air in my lungs stills as he leans in, my lady bits practically begging me to go for it.

“I thought you’d never ask.” His words brush across my lips, his mouth growing dangerously close to mine now.

It would be so easy to...

“No!” My shrill voice echoes through the room as I rush to my feet, putting some much-needed distance between us. “That’s not what I mean.”

This can’t happen. He’s my brother’s best friend. And currently, my roommate. What’s that saying, never shit where you eat? It’s bad enough that thoughts of him fill my mind each night. Reminding myself he is off limits is the only thing keeping me from giving in to the overwhelming urge to call him into my room.

There’s no doubt in my mind that sleeping with August would be phenomenal. He would probably make my body feel things I didn’t even know it was capable of feeling. But then what happens? This can’t go anywhere real. It would never work. He’s only twenty-six. There’s still so much possibility ahead of him. But I’ve already done the marriage thing, and kids probably aren’t happening for me.

I only see this ending one way—badly. It could cause issues between Milo and August. Or just make things uncomfortable.

“Okay, gorgeous.” He relaxes back and places his hands behind his head, amusement bouncing across his features. “How can I be of service then?”

---