Page 8 of So This Is War
“Care to tell me your name?” he asks.
“Think you’ve earned it?”
“I think so,” he says. “I got you over here, didn’t I?”
“You did.” I lean back on one hand, and this time, I catch him giving me a full perusal, his eyes fixed on my chest for a few beats longer.That’s it, take your fill.
I’ve always been open about my sexuality. I’ve never been offended by a man’s blatant gaze. I find it empowering that I can create such desire in someone else,andI have the choice of whether I want to indulge in that desire. So having Levi give me a possessive once-over only turns me on.
“Does that grant me your name at least?”
“Maybe,” I say. “I think I need to know more about you first.”
He turns toward me, tucking one leg up against mine so there really is no room between us. “What do you want to know?”
I let my eyes linger on his lips for a beat before I ask, “Was I your first choice when you came down here?”
“Yes,” he answers.
“How do I know you’re not lying?”
“Because you’re a redhead, and redheads make my blood boil in a good, heart-racing way. You also have amazing tits. And when I got closer, I saw how light your eyes were and was captivated. No one else in this room was worth my time compared to you.”
“What a line,” I scoff as I reach for my drink and take a sip, letting his words hit my soul. Once I swallow, I say, “But it did make me all warm inside.”
“That’s a start. Tell me, what do you do?”
“Nothing,” I answer. “I’m still in school.” He pauses, and I can see the panic on his face, so I place my hand on his thigh and add, “Grad school.”
“Oh.” He nervously laughs. “Okay, that, uh . . . that sits better with my conscience.”
“Ten years older than me sits better with me too. I like them older.”
“Yeah?” He lifts a brow. “Why’s that?”
“More mature,” I answer. “I’ve seen my fair share of idiots my age, and they just don’t vibe the way I want them to.”
“And how would that be?” he asks.
“Well, I prefer when the man I’m with actually makes me come and doesn’t leave it up to me while he’s cleaning himself off.”
His brow creases together. “Did a guy actually do that to you?”
I hold up two fingers and wiggle them at him. “Twice. I also prefer for the man I’m with to have some meat on his bones, the ability to grow facial hair, and some semblance of an idea of what it means to seduce a woman.”
“No problem there,” he says as he leans his shoulder against the back of the couch but stays turned toward me. “I once grew a beard so thick that I lost a jellybean in it.”
I let out a laugh just loud enough to draw attention from other tables.
“Wow, you sure know how to turn a lady on, lost jellybeans in beards.” I shiver. “Really gets me hot.”
“I knew you’d appreciate that.” He smiles, and it’s so incredibly sexy that I find myself leaning toward him. He takesadvantage of the lean by placing his hand on my leg and drags his thumb softly up and down my inner thigh. Fuck, I hate that I didn’t wear a skirt tonight. His hand on my bare skin would undoubtedly feel sublime.
“What else do you look for in a man?” he asks. “Maybe I can check off more of your boxes.”
“Hmm, well, large hands.”
He lifts his hand from my thigh and holds it up, then takes my hand and places it right up against his, comparing the size. No contest, his eclipses mine.
