Take the Chance (Top Shelf Romance #9) - Brittainy Cherry Page 0,338

by now.” I start to unscrew the cap but Charlene stops me.

“You have to shake it first.”

“Like real paint.”

“Exactly.”

Charlene’s feet are delicate, much like the rest of her. I definitely don’t have a foot fetish, but I can appreciate that even her feet are pretty. While Charlene indulges in brain candy, I focus on the task of painting her toenails. It isn’t exactly easy. I have to use a Q-Tip dipped in polish remover a couple of times when I mess up, since Charlene’s toes are small, and my hands are not.

“I think Miller has a foot fetish,” Charlene says as I finish the first coat. She’s informed me already that they’ll require two, which is fine with me. I’m touching her, and I’d like to continue doing so in a way that doesn’t make it seem like I’m here just for sex.

“How do you know that?”

Charlene arches an eyebrow. “Sunny mentioned that he likes to paint her toenails.”

“I’m painting your toenails, and I don’t have a foot fetish.”

“She also told us he likes to kiss her toes, and her face went completely red when she said that, so I have a feeling he might like to do more than that.”

“You girls certainly like to share.”

Her eyes stay fixed on her mug. “I keep it pretty vague. Violet always draws her own conclusions.”

I wonder how much harm I’ve done her in asking to maintain such a high level of privacy. In doing so, I’m responsible, in part, for creating some of the distance in this relationship. My own secrets don’t make it any better.

“And that’s how you managed today?” I ask.

“No one made a big deal out of it. Except Violet and her Area 51 fears, but those are kind of justified, so . . .”

“Area 51?” Alex used the same term earlier. I have no idea what aliens have to do with sex.

“Anal invasion.”

My smile is automatic and likely lecherous. “Ahh. Violet is opposed, then?”

“She’s a little wary of Alex’s size.”

I’ve played hockey with Alex for years. There’s a lot of time spent in the locker room showering and getting changed when you’re on an NHL team. You get used to seeing a lot more of people than you would in most professions.

Charlene must read my confusion. “He’s a grower, not a shower.”

“And you know this how?”

“I accidentally got a peek in Vegas when we had to pry Violet away from Alex for the wedding. You would not be granted access if you were packing a cannon like that.”

I’m not sure if I should be offended or not. “I’m above average.” I know this because I’ve read the articles and taken the necessary measurements.

“Trust me, I’m very aware of how above average you are. But Alex is scary huge.”

“Huh. Well that’s . . . interesting.” I accepted a long time ago that Alex is the better player on the ice, but I always thought I had a leg up—proverbially speaking—in this department. As a competitive person, I’m displeased to find out he’s winning in that area, too. So far he’s more accomplished in hockey, relationships, cock size, and who the fuck knows what else.

“How were the guys today? I’m sure they had all kinds of things to say.” Charlene bites her lip and dips a finger in her hot chocolate before slipping it in her mouth. I’m not sure if it’s meant to be intentionally sexual or not. I choose to pretend it didn’t happen rather than offer her something significantly larger to dip in there.

“Randy wanted to know who wore the ball gag.”

Charlene’s eyes widen. “What did you say?”

“Why does it matter?”

“I don’t know. Just curious, I suppose.”

“I told them no one wears it.”

“That’s it?”

“And that you don’t like the way it tastes.”

She traces the edge of the donut on her knee. “I could try it again if you want.”

Would I like to see Charlene wearing a ball gag? I mean, I wouldn’t be opposed. But is it something I need? Absolutely not.

“I don’t ever want you to do anything you don’t one-hundred percent enjoy. My concern today is that you weren’t overwhelmed by questions, or a sense of responsibility or ownership for what happened. I don’t want you to feel as though you have to tell me anything you talked to the girls about today, but I hope if there’s something that isn’t working between us, you would come to me so I could try to fix it.”

She tips her head to the side, eyes locked on