facing away from his side of the bed.
“I’ve tried, it never quite works,” he admits, sliding under the covers next to me.
That has me flipping quickly back over. “Twenty bucks if you try it in front of me.”
Because I can’t not try to convince him to do this. It’s too hilarious just thinking about it.
“Why would I do that when you have a perfectly good set of lips?” he taunts.
I giggle and realize I’ve missed pillow talk. “You’re almost as shamefully dirty as I am.”
“I’ll wear that proudly. Now, since you’re sleeping over, we have a lot of hours in which to occupy ourselves. So, sex or sleep?”
“Sex. Definitely sex.”
15
Forrest
The scent of Penelope’s shampoo lingers on my pillows days after she leaves.
At first, I consider washing them. The fruity smell is driving me mad because my cock keeps thinking she’s near and hardening at the first whiff. But then I decide to keep it until it fades, which is probably more pitiful than anything I’ve ever done regarding Penelope Briggs.
Not that I feel anything toward her … no.
I shake my head before that trail takes me to the deepest part of my thoughts and keep clicking through the screen I’m on.
“Where are you, you son of a bitch?” I mutter to myself.
For once, I’ve put a pause on scheduling anything with anyone, including Penelope, so that I can go on one of my week-long hack binges. My brothers call them my lost days, where I can go without food or water for extended periods, just trapped in my own interweb maze.
But it’s necessary if I’m going to crack this case. Kline is on my ass, considering I discovered another two business accounts the prick has hacked into four towns over. And I should be able to catch whoever it is … I am the best. But this person is good too, covering their tracks, using decent technology to switch IP addresses and destroying the trails in which they used to break into the systems.
It was both pissing me off and fueling me to go even more full throttle into forensic detective mode. As if I weren’t completely obsessive and compulsive about my job or my craft.
By the time the banging on my front door actually registers, I’m sure the person has been out there knocking for a while. Because I look up, confused about the time of day, or even what day it is. It’s felt like years since I bent my head to the screen and began my deep dive through back channels and the networks in this county to chase our cyber thief.
My legs are wobbly as I stand, probably from lack of food and too much adrenaline. I reach the front door and swing it open, completely unprepared for the onslaught of aggressiveness that comes flying my way.
“Forrest Nash, you’re a fucking piece of shit! I can’t believe I slept with you without even knowing what you did!”
And speaking of completely unprepared, I’m blindsided by the thwack of Penelope’s palm across my cheek. The sound of the slap reverberates in my entryway, and I cry out from the surprising sting of it.
“What the fuck! Are you crazy?” I yell, holding my cheek as I gape at this madwoman who’s invaded my hookup buddy’s body.
“You want to talk shit about me in town to throw off any scent that we’re friends who fuck? That’s fine. But don’t talk about my kids. You have no right, you have no idea what my life is like. I’m a warm body to you, that’s all. But what you might have failed to realize is that you’re just a hard cock to me. I could get the same pleasure from a vibrator and wouldn’t have to return the favor. So the next time you decide to run your mouth about my parenting style, go ahead and shove it.”
Oh shit. Well, I guess someone finally did spill the beans about my bar-emptying statements a while back.
“P, listen—”
“If you use that nickname again, I’ll slap your other cheek,” she growls the warning.
I hold my hands up in surrender. If I had a white flag, I’d wave it. “I shouldn’t have said it. I’m coming right out and saying I’m truly sorry. Which, since you know me, should be proof enough that it’s genuine.”
“Just because you’re a sarcastic asshole every day of your life doesn’t mean I have to trust that you mean an apology.” Her face is so red from anger, I’m afraid it