I snatched my hand from him and took another swig of Sheppy’s. “I am not talking about the last time I got laid, Ben. Boundaries much?”
He gave me a patient look. “You definitely need an orgasm, darling.”
I ignored his comment. “He’s just so—well I—he’s—the man is so f**king intense. His words, the stuff he does, the raised brow, those blue eyes—” I pointed my finger at my head like a gun and pulled the trigger. “I can’t think when he starts in with the commands.” I noticed Ben had pushed his plate away too. “You ready to go?”
“Yeah. Let’s get your sexually-frustrated vagina home. Maybe you can have a date with your vibrator and that will help.”
I kicked Benny in the foot under the table.
During the cab ride to my flat I thought about last night in Ethan’s car. I obviously felt comfortable enough to fall asleep. That had been a total shocker. I never did stuff like that. Ever. With my history, letting my guard down with strangers was not on the menu, especially the sleeping thing. So why had I done so with Ethan? Was it his gorgeous looks? I’d only really seen his face but I could tell he was built underneath the silk suit. The man had the whole package working for him. Why me when he could have anyone he wanted?
“So you’re booked for a studio shoot tomorrow at Lorenzo?”
“Yeah.” I hugged Ben. “Thanks for the referral, honey, and the dinner. You are the best.” I kissed him on the cheek. “Vaya con dios, you sexy man.”
“Love it when you speak Spanish to me, baby!” Benny motioned with his hands toward his chest. “Keep it coming! I want to impress Ricardo next time he’s in town.”
I left Ben in the cab with a smile on his face, blowing a kiss. I headed up to my little flat that I love and adore, was in my shower in under five minutes, and in my pajamas another ten after that. I’d just put my toothbrush in the holder when my phone went off. I looked at the display. Crap. Ethan.
I hit accept and gathered the courage to speak. “Ethan…”
“I like when you say my name, so I suppose I’ll forgive you for hanging up on me today.” His slow, elegant Brit voice settled over me, heightening my awareness of his maleness and the promise of sex instantly.
“Sorry about that.” I waited for him to say something else but he didn’t. I still hadn’t agreed to go out with him though and we both knew it.
Finally he asked, “So how were your plans tonight?” I could just picture that mouth of his in a firm line of annoyance.
“They were fine—good. I just got in actually…from dinner.”
“And what did you order at your dinner, Brynne?”
“Why must you know, Ethan?”
“So I can learn what pleases you.” And just like that he did it again! Taking my defensiveness away with a few small words and dripping of sexual innuendo as always. And making me feel like a cold bitch.
“I had a garden burger, fries, and a Sheppy’s cider.” I felt myself relax a little and softened my tone.
“Vegetarian?”
“Not at all. I love meat—I mean—I eat…meat…all the time.” Dear lord. The brief feeling of relaxation vanished instantly and I was back to tripping over my words like a teenager.
Ethan laughed into the phone. “So a good selection of meats and Sheppy’s on the menu will do it for you?”
“Hey, I never said I would go out with you.” I closed my eyes.
“But you will.” His voice did something to me. Even through the phone, without sense of sight, he compelled me to want to agree just to see him again. To look at him again. To smell him again.
I groaned into the phone. “You are killing me here, Ethan.”
“No,” he chuckled softly, “we’ve already established that I’m not a serial killer, remember?”
“So you claim, Mr. Blackstone, but know that if you do kill me, you’ll be number one on the suspect list.”
He laughed at that and the sound of him made me smile. “So you’ve been talking about me to your friends then?”
“Maybe I keep a secret diary and wrote about you. The cops will find it when they search my flat for clues.”
“Miss Bennett has quite the flair for the dramatic. Did she take acting lessons in school?”