Page 29 of Miss Behaved
“What I’m saying is, don’t let them pressure you into something that doesn’t feel right. Be true to your voice.” I scrunch my face. “Or something like that. I suck at the whole inspiring speech thing.”
“Well, I appreciate the effort.” Monica moves her hands all the way to her knees, and it brings her closer to me. That familiar lemon scent fills my nose. “But, to be totally honest, maybe I am ready to try something new. Lately, everything feels uninspired. Maybe I need to do what Tina talked about yesterday. Take a risk.”
“Like jumping in the pool in your bra and underwear?” I raise an eyebrow.
Monica blushes. “That was a little embarrassing. Sorry for taking my clothes off out of nowhere.”
I reach out and place my hand over hers on her knee. The skin-to-skin connection shocks my system. “Mon, you never need to apologize to me for taking your clothes off.”
That makes her smile. “It was therapeutic,” she says.
“Whatever you say.” I pull my hand away so I don’t overstay my welcome. “If it’s a therapeutic sexual awakening you’re looking for, I’d be happy to offer my services.”
Monica inhales sharply, and I wish I could bottle up that sound and listen to it over and over.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” she says. The words almost knock me out of my chair. Her confidence, even when she’s not feeling it, is the breath of fresh air I’m starving for.
“All right, colleague,” I say, giving her a pointed look that gets me a genuine smile. “Stop hitting on me, and let’s get to work.”
“Oh, I’ll try.” She rolls her eyes and grabs for her paper.
“Six-word stories.” I tip the pen between my fingers, tapping it against the table, one end then the other. “How about,All she needed was a spanking.”
“Poetic,” Monica says with a shake of her head. But even though she tries to remain passive at my dirty response, I know those eyes of hers too well. They’re liquid, churning, and I’m inching my way in. She can’t hide.
12
Monica
Pantiescan’tactuallymelt,can they? Because I swear, if Carson gives me that sideways smirk one more time, I’ll be going commando for the rest of the day.
I’m not sure what came over me last night, but stripping off my dress in front of him awakened me. Maybe I wanted to take him up on his flirting. Or, maybe I was seeing if I could call his bluff. But a sudden need to unleash my inner sexpot bubbled to the surface, and I wanted to make a bad decision.
If it had been any other man in that sexy, Carson-shaped package by the pool next to me, I might have been bold enough to do something about it. But Carson isn’t just any man. And no matter how alive I feel when I’m around him, I can’t cross that line with him again.
“What about,She was good at faking it,” Carson says with a grin.
At first I was dreading being paired with Carson for this workshop—or any workshop, for that matter. But at least he’s a good sport and participating so I can get the most out of it.
“Are all of these going to be about sex for you?” I ask him, poking his very firm bicep with the eraser end of my pencil.
Bad idea.
I do not need to keep reminding myself that this man is basically carved from stone underneath his very thin T-shirt.
Carson shrugs. “Who said I was talking about sex? Besides, women in my bed don’t fake anything.”
I laugh so hard it makes me snort. “Oh, bejeezus.”
“Did you just say bejeezus?” He lifts an eyebrow.
“Yes, I did.” I lift my head proudly. “And you, sir, are out of your gourd.”
“I’m just stating facts.” He lowers his voice. “Care to argue?”
I bite my lip and don’t say anything. The one and only time Carson and I weretogether,together was ten years ago, when I had just turned eighteen. And there was nothing fake about it.
Not to mention nothing like it since.
