Page 16 of Flirt Away

She took the bottle. “Follow me.”

“Hmmmmm. Gladly.” He tucked one side of his hair behind his ear and stared shamelessly at her round ass as she led him through the family room, the kitchen, and finally out onto the back patio that overlooked Lake Washington.

However, the only thing he saw was Dixie.

He hadn’t noticed anything else.

She turned and leaned against the railing. The sun tried to peek through the haze, but it was halfway behind the mountains anyway. Soon, it would be dark, and the pitch-black sky would cast the eerie canopy Seattle was notorious for, blocking the stars and making it impossible for the moonlight to punch through the clouds.

But the sound of the water gently lapping at the shore and the soft lighting from inside was all they needed to create a sexy and romantic atmosphere, making it nearly impossible for him to remember all the questions that loomed in the back of his brain.

He set the bag of groceries down on the side of the grill and caught her gaze. “I’m glad you finally called.” He fired up the cooking apparatus and began preparing both the meat and the veggies he’d brought. It took his mind off the sexy woman and kept it on why he wanted to chat.

“I’m sorry it took me so long. I could say I was busy with work, but that would only be an excuse.”

“It’s okay. I just wish you hadn’t run out the way you did. Especially after what happened.”

“Me, too,” she said.

“Can I ask why? Did I do something wrong? Because I thought it was amazing and wicked, though I wouldn’t want you to think that I introduce every woman to the club like that. Actually, if anyone found out, I would be fired on the spot.”

“Well, I won’t tell anyone.” She took a corkscrew and worked on the wine bottle, twisting and turning. It only served as a reminder of the other night.

“It’s important to me that you know I’ve never been with a woman who’s been to the club.” Zane closed the lid to the grill and took the glass she offered. He studied her as he took a few slow sips of the full-bodied cabernet. It was one of his favorite blends, yet it was under thirty dollars a bottle.

“I hope you don’t find me rude, but that’s hard to believe, considering how easily it happened.”

“Only because I find you completely irresistible.” He lowered his chin and arched a brow. “I’m finding it difficult to stay over here by the grill and cook the food when what Ireallywant to do is get you out of those jeans and return the favor.”

She waggled her finger. “Using the wordfavorjust pushed you back into the friend zone.”

He tapped his chest. “Ouch. Why?”

“Giving you an orgasm shouldn’t be considered a favor just because I didn’t have one. Would you expect me toreturn the favor?”

“Ah, I see. We’re going to play the semantics game.” He tossed his head back and laughed. “If I’d said I wanted to make you come like you’ve never come before, would that be acceptable?”

She held her wineglass near her full breasts and nodded as she swallowed. “Sex shouldn’t be tit for tat.”

“No. But I wouldn’t want you feeling anything but fully satisfied. Did you feel that way when you ran out of Club Allure?”

She shook her head. “But not because I wanted more than what happened. I didn’t. Honestly, that was the fantasy.”

“You’ve daydreamed about watching bondage and jerking someone off?”

She nodded. “Not necessarily bondage or in a club. But watching someone have sex while giving a man a hand job, yes. Only my fantasy ended with dinner.” She laughed. “I mean. Finger-licking, normal conversation, and bread-breaking. Unfortunately, I freaked out.”

“Why?”

“I felt like I took advantage of you. And then I just didn’t know what to say. I don’t normally behave like that.”

“Trust me. I would have stopped you if I didn’t want you to do that.” He quickly lifted the grill cover and poked at the steaks, flipping them and adding the foil package of asparagus. “I think it was exactly like you to do what you did. You’ve just never taken control of your sexuality.”

She raised her glass. “You have no idea how funny that is.”

“Enlighten me.”

“I’m a relationship counselor, and one of the things I specialize in is helping couples take control of their sex lives.”

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