Page 59 of Wildest Desire

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As soon as we got back, Selena came over with work stuff and there was no way I wanted to sit and listen to all that. There are so many other things I could listen to, like Joe. I haven’t spoken to him all week. There must be something interesting happening in the building.

“I’m going to talk to Joe. I won’t leave the building,” I quickly add before Ethan tells me that I can’t leave. Shutting the door behind me, I head down to the lobby. “Look at the most handsome man in the building,” I say to Joe as I lean on the desk to kiss him on the cheek. “So, I’ve been away for a week, what have the neighbors been up to?” I pull a chair close to him.

“Well, before we start that, you need to tell your man that the penthouse is looking fantastic.”

“He said we’re going to look at it once this meeting is finished. So, what’s happening? Anything new with apartment twenty-eight?” I ask. Joe and I think the woman that lives there is a cougar. There are always young men walking in and out of there.

“There were three this week. One was in and out within thirty minutes, then another followed an hour later, so I think she's a high-class escort instead,” Joe whispers the last part and I can’t help but laugh at him.

“You know, I never thought about that. Or, she could be a sex specialist, helping men that find it hard to please the women in the bedroom,” I tell Joe who gives me a look of horror.

“People do that?”

“Yeah, all the time.”

“What happened to romance? What happened to a guy buying a girl flowers and chocolates? What happened to making the girl feel like she's the only one in the world and without them nothing seems right?” Joe looks at me, and I feel all warm inside, thinking about how he must have been with his wife when they first started dating.

“I've no idea. But, now that I think about it, Ethan has never bought me flowers or chocolate, but he does make me dinner every night,” I tell Joe as I look over to see Ethan walking over to us. “I've no idea what happened to old romance, it seems to be all about sex these days, Joe,” I say, but look at Ethan.

“What’s all about sex?” he asks, moving closer to the desk.

“Joe and I were just talking about romance in the old days and how no one ever does the whole flowers and chocolate thing. I told him it’s all about sex now,” I say.

“I can be romantic, and I don’t think our relationship is all about sex,” Ethan says, and I start laughing and look over at Joe. “What? I don’t believe it is.” Ethan turns to Joe, “Joe, when you and your wife got together, what was the longest you… I mean…”

“He wants to know the longest you went without sex with her,” I finish Ethan’s question. For someone so confident, he sure is shy when it comes to certain things.

“Well, there was the war, but when I was home it was probably no longer than three days,” Joe says as he looks at Ethan.

“We’re lucky. Because of men like you, I don’t have to take time away from her because of a war. Thank you, Joe, but I can go three days without touching her.” Ethan looks back over at me, and I start laughing even more.

“Do-do-do you not remember... How we met?” I ask him through my laughter.

“Yeah, but I have you now, and I know in three days’ time you will be in my bed. When we first met, I was trying to get you in there and then stay in there,” Ethan tells me. He has a point, but the worst part is I’m not sure I'll last three days without him touching me. “Before you, I didn’t have sex for a while, so I think I’ll win this round.”

“Oh, please. You will crack before me. Let the teasing begin,” I tell him, watching as Selena exits the elevator.

“It’s on,” he says, before looking at Selena. “I have to go to the office, because it seems like I took one too many days off and they have fucked everything up. Please don’t leave the building,” Ethan says, looking at me.

“Leave, I have to work on a game plan,” I tell him with humor in my tone. There's no way I’m losing this fight. “I’m regretting it already.” He leans over to kiss me. “I'll be back in an hour.”

I continue my conversation with Joe as if there was never an interruption. “So, what about the couple in apartment ten?” We know they're having some trouble because Joe hears them fighting all the time.

“Well, I’ve not seen him this week—”

“Do you think she has murdered him?” I ask, cutting him off.

Joe starts laughing. “You are a little different, aren’t you?” Joe asks, and I smile at him.

I enjoy Joe’s company. If he weren't here during the day when Ethan works, I would be so bored. I’m not sure how I would get through the day, but I’m happy. He’s so nice and caring.

Chapter 26

Ethan

Why the hell did I make this bet with Lexi? How the hell did I forget her teasing when first met? The worst part about it now is we sleep in the same bed, so last night was fucking painful.

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