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“I heard you bent the rules a lot lately.”
I glance over at her, a smirk on her lips.
“The Bishop brothers?”
Oh, that.
She laughs. “I see that look. Bit of a touchy subject?”
“Sort of. It’s been an adjustment for sure.”
“Well, from what I remember, Gabriel and Archer weren’t anything like each other. They only look alike.”
I make a noncommittal noise. Yes, their features are similar, but to me, Archer will always be the one I’m attracted to.
“I was surprised when I heard you and Gabriel were engaged to begin with. Seems like a mismatch in personalities. You and Archer make more sense.”
A goofy grin creeps over my face. “We do?”
“Yeah. You’ve both got that untouchable vibe.”
My smile slips. Untouchable? Does everyone still see me like that?
“How could I be more… touchable?”
“What?” She glances over, taking me in. “Shit. I fucked up again, didn’t I? I need a filter for my mouth or something.”
“No, no. It’s fine. I mean, it’s not fine. But it’s not your fault.” Ugh, what am I trying to say? “Just, could I ask you for some advice?”
“Me?” She points to her chest. “People are usually asking me to stop offering unsolicited advice.”
I smile, the sudden heavy weight in my stomach easing a bit. “This, um, relationship between me and Archer… it’s very new. And we haven’t exactly… in the bedroom…”
“He can’t get it up?” she asks sympathetically. “They’ve got pills for that, you know.”
“No, it’s not that.” I grimace. Oh God, wouldn’t that be just my luck? “I really want to… consummate things…” I search for a way to ask what I want without tipping her off to the real situation. I wouldn’t normally confide such a personal thing to someone I don’t know well, but I’m desperate for some advice. And there’s something about her that invites unusual conversation. “But it seems like he wants to take it slow. How can I speed things up? You know, seem more touchable?”
Sandy steers her over to a tree for a potty break, and Claire eyes me carefully. “Everyone always thought you were beautiful.”
Um, okay.
“But you had that whole Ice Queen thing going on.” She holds up a hand before she even finishes speaking. “Not that you deserved it,” she adds. “But maybe he’s still seeing some of that.”
Yeah, don’t think that’s the problem. He doesn’t even remember me from back then.
“Instead of icy, you need to be someone who heats him up.”
“So I need to be a… she-devil?”
She throws her head back and laughs, nearly cackling. “Something like that. Show him you have a wild side. Guys like a girl they can get freaky with. Lady in the streets, freak in the sheets.”
I cross my arms over my chest, glancing around in case anyone overheard. “I need to be freaky?”
“I’m not saying install a sex swing in your bedroom or anything, but show him you’re going to do more than just lay there while he grunts on top of you. That you’ll make it exciting for him.”
Okay, yeah, that’s more reasonable. Sex should be exciting. The thought of him naked, that big, powerful body over me in bed… look, I’m excited already.
“Dress up in sexy lingerie and fuck me heels. You can’t get more obvious than that.”