Page 40 of Next Time We'll Fall

“I didn’t say it only had to be one night.”

“So, what? Two nights?”

“I mean, whatever you want.”

“I don’t want to spend the night with you. I’m not that sort of girl.”

“I know you’re not that sort of girl. I never said you were that sort of girl.”

“I just …”

“You just what?”

“I just wanted to make it clear that I think there’s something between us, and I think there has been some sort of …”

I pause because, as I continue speaking, her eyes are growing narrower and narrower.

“I think you’re very attractive, and I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings many years ago when I told you it wasn’t going to go any further. And I’m just saying that while we are now adults, we can pursue …”

I rub my forehead. I’m feeling nervous, and I know I’m not making sense.

“How’s Lani?” I say quickly.

“Lani? My dog?” She blinks rapidly and tilts her face. “What are you talking about? Why are you asking about Lani? You were just asking …” She pauses. “You know what, Rafe? I don’t really understand what’s going on and why you’re asking me this. Is this some sort of test to make fun of me, or are you just trying to prevent me from being on the reality show because you want to be on the reality show? I don’t care about being on a datingreality show. I have zero interest in that, and I think you know that.”

“I have an interest in you.”

She blushes deeply then. “What do you mean, you have an interest in me?”

“Do I have to repeat it? I find you extremely attractive. I find you to be beautiful.”

“Yeah, but …”

“But what?”

“I thought you weren’t interested because I was Mia’s best friend.”

“Mia is an adult. You’re an adult now. I don’t feel like I’m crossing any ethical boundaries by seeing if you’re interested in pursuing something with me.”

“Oh, so now you want to pursue something with me?”

“I don’t know,” I say, absolutely flabbergasted by the way this conversation is going.

I can tell by the look on her face that she’s as confused as I feel.

All I want to do is kiss her again. All I want to do is feel her soft lips on mine. I want to take off her top. I want to see her naked breasts. I want to suck on her nipples. I want to pull her panties down. I want to taste her. I want to be inside of her.

And yet, as I stare at her, I know I can’t tell her the depth of the depravity that’s in my mind because it makes me feel almost guilty. How can I tell her that I need her? That I need her badly? That my body aches for her? That my cock is twitching in my pants as we speak?

I grunt, and she stares at me with a teasing expression on her face.

For a few moments, I think she does know what’s going through my mind. She’s a woman after all, and she can sense in me the passion that I have for her. I’m not trying to hide it.I’m done trying to hide my feelings. I’m done trying to put my attraction to her to the side.

“You want to fuck me,” she says, shaking her head. “You want to get in my pants.”

“I don’t know why you would just assume that,” I say.

“You’re not that sort of man … are you? You don’t want to take off my panties right now, Rafe?”