Page 24 of The Playboy

A third.

I wanted to wake up in the morning and taste her again.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

A grin spread across her face, and she wiggled—slowly at first and then a bit harder until I was willing to put her down.

She immediately went for her clothes, pulling up her thong and clasping her bra, tugging the dress down her torso until everything was back in place.

“I just … have to go.”

Leaving directly after.

That was different. Because that was always me.

I took out my phone, tapping the screen several times until I had a new Contact loaded. “Why don’t you give me your number—”

“No numbers.”

Her reply was like a slap. One that brought me back to reality.

When was the last time I’d asked for a woman’s number?

Marley?

And that was how many years ago?

Why had I just asked for hers? Why had I made an attempt to get in touch with her when that was something I never did?

When that was something I never wanted?

Yet I found myself saying, “Why aren’t we sharing numbers?”

“For the same reason we didn’t share names.” She placed her hand on my chest, like she was soothing a baby’s back. “Because they don’t matter. This was … just this. One night, and”—she smiled—“it was a hell of a good night.”

I laughed.

Was this a joke?

Was she really being serious?

How was she pulling a move from my playbook?

“You’re right, I definitely lost myself in you.” She leaned up on her tiptoes and brushed her lips against mine. “I did doubt you, and, man, did you prove me wrong.”

She walked toward the door and hit a button along the side, which opened it.

“Hold on a second,” I said, taking a step toward her, not caring that the condom was hanging halfway off my dick. “You’re just leaving?”

She looked at me over her shoulder as she descended the first step. “And you’re not going to follow me.” Her fingers lifted into the air, and she gave me a slight wave.

And just as I got to the stairs to reach for her, she was gone.

TWO

Brooklyn

Idon’t understand how our house gets this messy, I thought as I stood in front of the kitchen sink, filling a glass of water and scanning the dishes that were overflowing.

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