Sexy Jerk(35)

"I figured," he grins. "Pepperoni or cheese?" he asks pointing to the pizza box.

"Cheese, please."

He puts a slice on my plate. "Ahhh . . . please. That is a word I intend for you to repeat many times tonight."

Once I chew my first bite, I lean in a little closer. "Like you, I don't beg."

He gives me a wicked smile. "We'll see."

I roll my eyes and take a sip of wine. This is going to be a fun night, I can already tell.

By the time we finish eating, we've each drank two glasses of wine and talked in depth about the various buildings along the river, which I've been to, which he's been inside of, and how the city has changed since I moved away.

After wiping my mouth, I set my napkin down beside my plate and look over toward Max. To my surprise, he is out cold. "I can't believe he fell asleep," I say to Nick, "just five minutes ago he asked for another slice and more milk."

Nick stands and clears our plates. "I guess school tired him out today. While I move him into Lucas's room, feel free to take a closer look at my bedroom."

Picking up my wine glass, I look over at Nick. "Just like that? You aren't going to use any of your arsenal of romance tricks on me first?"

His gaze narrows and he takes a step closer. "Arsenal of romance tricks? What the hell are those?"

I sigh. "You know, your game. Your technique. Bring a woman up here, show her the view, give her a night cap, light a fire outside, talk about shallow things, and seduce her into your bed, or-"

He brushes his thumb over my lips to silence me. "First of all, I don't have an arsenal of romance tricks, and even if I did, I would never use them here. I'm not in the habit of bringing women back to my place."

My head spins with this information. This really isn't his bachelor pad then. At least not in the traditional sense of the word. Still, I don't falter. "Why not?"

"I don't like things to get too messy."

"You mean, you like to be able to cut and run when you're ready."

"Yeah, I guess so."

I set my glass down and stand up. "And yet I'm here."

He looks down at me. "You're different."

"Why?" I ask breathily.

"I don't know."

"What if I don't want to be different?"

Nick runs his fingers over my bare shoulder. I opted for braless tonight, to make my sweater look sexier. His fingertips coast lightly down the slope, and then he draws them down the center of my off-the-shoulder sweater, stopping just below my belly button. The move thrills me. "We don't always get what we want, baby. Like right now what I want is you naked in my bed, but you want to go round for round."

This time I step toward him and bring my mouth close to his. "I don't want to go round for round. In fact, I'm really glad you invited me over," I concede.

He takes my mouth with his and suddenly his hands are tangled in my hair, yanking me closer so there is no space between us. After a long while, he breaks away and sucks in air to catch up from his kiss. "I'll accept that as an I'm sorry and forgo any punishment . . . this time."

Gasping for my own breath, my jaw drops open. "That wasn't, I didn't, I'm not into."

He raises a brow. "You're not into . . . what, Tess?"

"That kind of stuff," I say meekly, hating the taste of the fib on my tongue.

"You don't have to be embarrassed, Tess. I know you like it. I know how much it turns you on when I talk dirty or when I tell you to get on your knees."



       
         
       
        

Words won't form, so I say the one word that will come out. "Jerk."

He smiles in amusement. "You can deny it all you want. The truth doesn't lie."

I cross my arms over my chest.

"Oh, come on, don't be mad. Someday you'll be able to admit it, but for now, we'll pretend you're appalled by my vulgar behavior."

My eyes drift over him in mild irritation, but in the end, I can't stop from allowing my lips to turn up, just a little.

At that he swats my ass. "I'll grab us a brandy as soon as I tuck Max in, and we can . . . talk."

Not entirely certain I want to have the conversation about kinky sex, I think about what it is we should talk about. In the end, I decide to let it be, and ask, "Do you want some help?"

Nick gives me a sly grin. "No, I got it. You just make yourself at home."

I watch him pick Max up, all six-foot-two, or maybe three inches of him, and think he's right.

I do like it dirty.

I do like it when he commands me.

I do like it when he takes control.