Page 45 of Touch Me

Alex quirks the side of his mouth and nods. “So, you think he’s hot or not?”

“Uh, hot, I guess,” I reply, trying to shrug off the insinuation.

“That’s so hot,” Ashley says, grinning and squirming in her seat.

“Easy, Smash. Not everyone is as open as you. It doesn’t mean they’re banging,” Jen says. Her eyes dip down to her lunch and back to me. “Are you banging?”

“No. Definitely not banging.”

I’m suddenly reminded of the scene in the kitchen last night. How he was so close I could smell him. His breath erratic. His skin warm and so deliciously reachable.

“Do you want to bang him?” Ashley asks around a mouthful of food. The blush on my cheeks spreads to my chest at the accusation.

“Ashley!” Jen and Alex chide in unison.

“What? I’m just asking.” She holds up her hands in mock surrender. “Hot older brother. Alone in a house together. I mean, what’s wrong with tapping that? Does he have a girlfriend or something?”

“No, no girlfriend. He doesn’t talk much.” I shrug and avoid their eyes. “Kind of keeps to himself.”

“Ooh, a sexy recluse. I think that’s a kink.” Ashley waggles her eyebrows.

“You’re ridiculous.” Jen shakes her head. “I apologize on her behalf.”

Ashley scoffs. “Don’t apologize for me. I’m totally serious. There’s a whole genre of smut books based on that scenario alone. I can recommend some decent ones if you need pointers.”

“Thanks, but I’m good. I’m not trying totap that,as you so eloquently put it.”

“What’s he look like?” Ashley asks, not taking the hint to drop it.

“Tall, black hair, blue eyes, lots of muscle,” I admit with a shrug. “Typical hot guy, I guess.”

“Does he have a penis ravine?” Ashley asks flippantly, as if we were talking about what kind of car he drives.

I choke on my fruit. “I’m sorry, what?” They’re all looking at me as if I know what that is.

“You know, a penis ravine,” Ashley says, making a V with her hands and pointing them down toward her crotch. “The sexy V-shaped lines leading to his peen that make even the smartest girls stupid with lust.”

The other two don’t even bat an eye at her line of questioning. I glance over my shoulder hoping there are no tethered toddlers within earshot. I’m going to have to get some superhuman control over my nervous system if this is how normal lunchtime conversations are going to play out.

“Well, I, uh, I don’t know. I guess I haven’t seen him with his shirt off.”

Huh?I wonder why that is. He works out all the time but never takes his shirt off. Actually, he wears long sleeves all the time. Isn't that miserable working out with that much clothing on?

“Do you at least know if he’s packin’ a gherkin?”

I swallow too quickly and cough. “A gherkin?”

Ashley holds up her hand with her thumb and forefinger spaced a few inches apart. “It’s a little pickle.”

“I know what it is.” I drop my head into my hands. “Of course, I don’t know the size of his penis.”

“Well, check that shit out,” Ashley exclaims. “You don’t even have to touch him. Does he wear sweatpants?”

“Yeah, I guess,” I answer, looking at Jen and Alex for clarification.

She smirks, giving me a side-eye. “Gray ones?”

“Yeah?” I draw the last half of the word out. Not in a million years could I have predicted this conversation on my first day of meeting these people.

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