Page 16 of Love Me (Charlotte Monarchs Hockey #1)

Bree

B asking in post-sex relaxation with Luke is so easy—almost comfortable. Instead of awkward conversation or him rushing to get dressed and leave, we took turns slipping into the bathroom to clean up and crawled back into bed.

We’ve been lying next to each other, arms and hips flush, feet intertwined, for almost an hour. I’m reading an article on my phone about how to give mind-blowing head when a text from Luke pops up.

Wanna go to music trivia and then have sex?

Now?

No. Tomorrow. Trivia at Petra’s with KK & Gribsy. Sex after.

Why are you texting me this?

For fun?

I turn my head and glance at the man next to me, who’s smiling like a madman as his thumbs dance across his phone screen.

I’m not sure what to think about his text. We haven’t had the this-is-only-a-hookup talk yet. I just assumed he was on the same page.

I was a bit surprised when he agreed to come over tonight. Then again, what guy would turn down a sure thing?

I thought he’d avoid me since we’d run into each other at the hospital.

Most dudes would have backed off after finding out I’m the new nurse on the pediatric oncology unit where he volunteers regularly. Having to face someone you’ve slept with can be awkward even if you both agree that’s all it is.

Thankfully, we seem to have pretty good banter and share an understanding of the situation.

At least, I thought we did. Maybe we need to have a talk about it.

Later.

Right now, I only have one thing on my mind.

If you put down your phone, I’ll give you a blow job.

Without hesitation, he tosses his phone to the bottom of the bed and clasps his hands underneath his head.

I appreciate that he gives me complete control of his body. He lets me do anything I want and gives me feedback. Most guys aren’t going to turn down a blow job, but just knowing how excited he is and how much pleasure he gets from what I’m doing makes me feel amazing.

An ad on the sidebar next to the blow-job article I read gave me an insanely amazing idea I know Luke will be into.

Trivia with his friends will be the perfect place to test my theory and a fun, sexy way to prove I’m not looking for long-term.

Friends with benefits only.

“Of all the places I ever thought you’d ask me to meet you, I sure didn’t see this one coming, Tinkerbell,” Tonya says as she shuts her car door.

I’ve been sitting in The Scarlet Door’s parking lot for fifteen minutes, busting at the seams waiting for her to arrive.

In order to pull off my plan to blow Luke’s mind tonight, I had to recruit help, and I had a feeling Tonya would be the perfect person to ask.

“Guess you don’t know me that well, T.” My tone is light and flippant, but inside, my stomach churns with nerves and excitement. For as open as I am about sex and experimentation, I’ve never been in an adult store before, so I don’t quite know what to expect.

Walking into a sex shop in Charlotte, North Carolina, shouldn’t be that big of a deal.

During a trip to Europe after college, I strolled the streets of Amsterdam’s Red Light District watching prostitutes beckon clients from windows illuminated in red neon lights.

A random shop in a Bible-belt city shouldn’t be intimidating, but for some reason, my palms are clammy as we walk toward the entrance.

Maybe because the Red Light District is a tourist attraction.

Everyone is there to see what goes on, and nobody pays any attention to you unless you want them to.

One of my most vivid memories of that visit was walking into a movie theater—which was playing porn, obviously—and seeing all the come crusted on the walls and seats.

It was the only time in my life when a bodily fluid made me physically sick.

For some strange reason, I’ve always thought going to a sex shop would be similar: sticky floors and maybe a random dude jacking off in a corner. I’d much rather shop online and have products delivered discreetly to my door.

Unfortunately, time isn’t on my side.

There’s no doubt that Luke and I have amazing chemistry in bed. It’s not like I’ve never had good sex before, but he makes me feel the most comfortable I ever have. He gives me the confidence to be myself and take risks I wouldn’t think of taking with other guys I’ve been with.

Even after two years with Arkady, I never felt completely free to let go. Maybe it was the insecurity of that relationship versus the freedom of this fling.

Which is why the advertisement on the sidebar of the blow-job article I’d read on my phone this morning caught my eye.

It showed a tiny vibrator that tucks into a hidden pocket in the front patch of fabric in a thong.

According to the website, which I scoured after Luke left my apartment, the pocket keeps the fun vibrating part directly on the clit.

I’m sure it takes some maneuvering and practice to keep it in place, but I couldn’t stop thinking about how fun it would be to hand Luke the remote control while we’re at trivia tonight.

Once the idea was in my head, the need for instant gratification consumed me. I don’t have the patience to place my order online and wait. If I could find it at one of Charlotte’s adult toy stores, it could be buzzing in my pants today.

Petra’s, the loud, crowded bar where we planned to meet Kristen and Pavel for trivia, would be the perfect setting to try it out. I’d already built a good rapport with KK and trusted her enough to fess up in case we had technical issues.

I hope Luke likes the idea. But part of me is still nervous he might not go for it since we’ll be out with his friends. Maybe he’ll think it’s a bit creepy.

He seemed the most reserved of the group, almost like he’s the big brother or the voice of reason. That laid-back, mature vibe is one of the things that draws me to him. He has quiet confidence and doesn’t need to overcompensate with a loud, boisterous, frat-boy personality.

Contrary to the name of the store, The Scarlet Door’s entrance is really two tempered-glass doors with horizontal iron bars to keep the riffraff out. Must not be the best neighborhood.

Tonya enters confidently like she’s walking into Target or a grocery store. I follow, glancing from side to side as if my parents are going to catch me going in.

“Stop hiding behind me. You’re twenty-six years old!” Tonya says without looking back.

She’s right. I’m being ridiculously immature about the situation. I take a deep breath and straighten up as I walk in.

It’s a spacious store but seems sterile. Which may be a good thing considering the merchandise. It’s not cluttered, and we’re the only people inside except for the tall, slim Black guy behind the counter. He looks young, early twenties maybe, and has a bright, gorgeous smile.

Tonya waves at him. I smile, hoping I don’t melt into a puddle of embarrassment.

“Hey, ladies. Welcome to The Scarlet Door. Can I help you find anything?” he calls out.

Tonya looks at me, and I quickly shake my head no. “Just looking right now,” she answers. “We’ll let you know.”

“Just holler if you need me.” His voice is smooth and silky, which doesn’t help the nervous feeling bubbling inside me.

I don’t know who I expected to work at this place, but I’d pictured a little old lady, like Dr. Ruth, but with a Southern accent.

Not a hot dude waiting to ring up my adult toy purchases.

Instead of dwelling on that disturbing thought, I follow Tonya past multiple racks of multicolored lingerie before she stops at a table full of bottles and tubes.

Lube. Awesome.

Tonya picks up a green bottle with a black label. “Good head,” she says, reading the label out loud, then purses her lips and sets the bottle down. “Not if it’s mint-flavored. I’d rub toothpaste over him if I wanted that.”

“Please stop.” I don’t want her to go into further detail, especially since we both know toothpaste would not make a good lubricant.

“What?” Tonya asks. “I don’t like mint.”

“Shhh!” I glance at the guy behind the counter again, who reminds me of one of my first boyfriends. I shake away the memory of all those silly rollerblading dates we’d gone on in high school. Seems light years away from wandering around a sex shop.

“How are you a nurse? We have to deal with more disgusting fluids than lube!”

“This is a completely different experience. I never thought I’d be doing this.” I pause and look at her still handling the lube bottles. “With you.”

Tonya’s large, brown eyes sear into me for the second time in less than five minutes. I hate how she can call me out with a simple look. I should bring her along next time I have to confront my parents.

“Who else was going to do this with you?”

“I should’ve come alone.”

“Pssshhhh!” She waves her hand. “You never would’ve walked in the door.”

“Yes. I would have.” I fold my arms across my chest as if pouting. “I really want to surprise Lu…” I trail off as I realize I was about to give my secret away.

“Excuse me?” Tonya catches my gaze and grabs my forearm to keep me in place. “Who are you trying to surprise?”

Shit.

“Luke.”

“Luke who? Luke Daniels? The volunteer?”

I nod.

“The volunteer that you denied being attracted to?”

“Technically, you guys never asked if I was attracted to him. You said he was interested in me.”

“I knew it!” Tonya releases my arm and bounces on her toes. “Oh, Tinkerbell. You’re a secretive little thing, aren’t you?”

My heart speeds up at the thought of Tonya telling anyone about this outing. Especially our colleagues when we’re all sharing crazy stories at the bar after a shift. “Can we please keep this between us?” I ask.

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to tell anyone about how freaky you are or about how you’re trying to get with Luke,” Tonya assures me. As a freak herself, I know she thinks I’m just closeted.

My heartbeat settles back to normal. “Thank you. I’m going over there.” I point toward a random section of racks and shuffle away without even knowing exactly what I’m headed toward.