laugh. I can’t help it. I mean, I’ve got the Manfaxes four different women ordered to prove it—four women in a short period of time. God knows how many others there have been. If he’s averaging four in a matter of two months, then he’s averaging twenty-four a year. Yikes.
He looks affronted at my amusement. “I’m serious.” He frowns. “I don’t screw every woman I meet.”
“I never said you did.”
“This is the strangest first date conversation I’ve ever had,” he tells me.
He’s right. It’s beyond odd. We’re talking about subjects I normally don’t discuss with men. I never keep them around to the point where we would. Ever.
What’s so special about him that has me switching things up?
I’m not ready to admit to myself just how much I like Adam, but how much longer can I get away with living in denial?
21
Adam
Roxanne unlocks her front door and throws a come-hither glance back at me. “Would you like to come in?”
One of my favorite things about her is her directness. Rocky doesn’t play games. When she wants something, she goes after it, and right now she wants me. Two hours ago, I jumped at the opportunity to have sex with her, and as much as it damn near killed me not to be able to follow through, I realize now that it was for the best.
“Yes, I would, but I’m going to head home.”
She spins to face me, her brow wrinkling with confusion. “If you want to, then why wouldn’t you?”
Placing my hands on her upper arms, my thumbs caress up and down her biceps. “I don’t want to rush things with you.”
“That’s a cute sentiment, I guess. I’m hardly a virgin. If I didn’t want you, I wouldn’t have invited you inside.”
“I assumed all of that. I still want to take it slow.”
Her forehead creases more. “What’s the point of going slow? We both want the same thing.”
“Maybe I want more than sex from you.”
“You don’t,” she retorts.
“Oh, but I do, Rocky.” My hands skim up her arms to her shoulders and neck, continuing to climb until they’re framing her face. “When we first met, all I could think about was getting in your shorts.” I wiggle my eyebrows and smile. “Since then, we’ve spent a decent amount of time together, and I’ve come to realize how much I like you.”
“You won’t sleep with me because you like me?”
“Let me finish. I like you as a person in addition to liking your body. I enjoy spending time with you, and I don’t want that to end.”
“Why would it, though?”
“You told me yourself that you don’t get involved in relationships, and I’m kind of crazy about you. As much as I want you, I’d rather be your friend and keep you in my life than sleep with you and lose you altogether.”
Her wide, unblinking eyes stare up at me. “You want to be my friend?”
I nod. “Yeah, I do. I’d like to be more, but you don’t want a relationship. And I can’t sleep with you and let you go. Once I had you, you’d be mine, and there’d be no turning back.”
“That’s crazy. How can you say that for sure? Maybe we’d have horrible sex and you’d never want me again.”
Leaning forward, my mouth hovering over hers, my hands slope down her neck. “Your pulse is racing from my touch.” Skimming my nose along the side of Roxanne’s, my lips brush the skin beside her mouth, and her pulse kicks up a notch. It takes every ounce of restraint I possess to keep myself from kissing her. If I put my lips on hers, I won’t stop until I’m buried balls deep inside her sweet pussy. “Do you really doubt that sex between us would be anything but mind blowing?”
“No,” she husks. At least she’s through denying the obvious.
Straightening up, I release my hold on her and take a step backward. “Go inside, so I know you’re safe. I’ll see you on Monday at work.”
She nods, her teeth briefly capturing the corner of her bottom lip. “Thanks for uh… dinner. I had fun.”
I grin, noticing her awkward pause, and wink to reassure her. “I had fun too.”
Opening the door, she silently slides inside. Standing in place, I remain until I hear the sounds of her locks clicking in place. I blow out a long exhale. I’ve got my work cut out for me with Rocky. I want her more than I’ve wanted anyone in the past. I won’t be the