making me laugh. All I know is I’m giddy, lighter inside than I have been in a long time.
“What do you get when you mix quantum verification problems and hot sex?”
“I don’t know. What?” I ask.
“Beats me. That’s why I asked you.”
I roll my eyes, but he can’t see me in my current face-down position. “I’m trying to give up bad math and sex jokes, but it’s hard, Nate. Really, really hard.” He lets out a roar of laughter, and I say, “We need to get ready for the party.”
He snatches a few tissues from the box on my desk, and my stupid heart misses a couple of beats when he reaches between my legs to clean me. What is it about this man’s consideration that gets to me? I’m not sure, and I’m not about to give it any more thought.
“I think you need antiseptic and a bandage,” I say as he disposes of the condom.
“I’m not putting a bandage on my ass.”
I dress, and ask, “Why not?”
“Try explaining that to the guys.”
“Do they see your ass often?”
“Can we please stop talking about my ass, especially when yours is so much nicer.” He pulls up his pants and buttons up.
Once we’re both decent again, I smooth my hand over my mess of hair and look at him.
“There is something else I’d rather talk about.”
“What?” he asks and angles his head.
“You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” I say, and nibble on my lip to keep my grin at bay. “You can say no.”
“Just tell me what it is.”
“I thought it would be fun if we both dressed up. I went to the Halloween store the other day. They didn’t have much left, but I grabbed us each something.”
“Tell me you didn’t.”
I give him a coy look. “Now, that would be lying.”
Chapter Twelve
Nate
“Nope, no way, not happening,” I say, my brain kicking back into gear after that fantastic round of sex. Maybe that’s what Kira had in mind. Maybe she thought without all my synapses firing, I’d say yes in my post-orgasm bliss. It’s a theory, but it’s not logical, considering I was the one who jumped her. That, and she doesn’t seem like the kind of girl to use sex to get what she wants. I’ve met far too many of them in my life.
Kira stands back, folds her arms, and glances at the costumes on her bed. “Come on, why not? I think it’s cute.”
I step back and shake my head. “I’m a guy, Kira. Cute is not what I’m aiming for.”
“What did you dress up as when you were young?” she asks, real curiosity in her eyes.
“Batman, Superman, Spiderman.” I lift my arms and flex my biceps. “The Hulk.”
“I’m sensing a theme here.” She frowns at the costumes. “No worries, it was a last-minute thought. You don’t have to wear it.”
Last-minute thought, my sore, pierced ass. I’m guessing she put time into this. She never had a Halloween, Nate. Never had the chance to dress up.
Jesus, I’d be a real prick if I didn’t do this, and if I do, I’ll be the laughingstock of Lunenburg. I fight an internal battle, but everything softens in me when she runs my costume through her fingers and begins to fold it. The disappointed look on her face is like a goddamn punch to the gut.
“One condition,” I grumble.
Her eyes light up. “Really.”
“If I’m going to wear a yellow jumpsuit with a wedge of cheese wrapped around my torso, then your mouse costume has to be sexy, and something I can easily remove from your body later.”
“Deal.” She grabs the set of ears and puts them on her head. “I’ll add whiskers with makeup, and this is my suit.” She holds up a gray fleece suit and gray leggings. It’s not sexy, but somehow, I know it will be once she’s in it.