Page 106 of Manhattan State of Mind

The drive back to the Bear Mountain villa feels like one of the longest trips of my life. Lucy and I attempt a light conversation with the driver in an effort to ignore the massive bulge in my tux pants.

I reach out and take her hand, coaxing it from its protective position in front of her chest, and place it onto my thigh. She doesn’t pull away, but the rigidity in her fingers speaks volumes.

I didn’t mean to savage her in that cloakroom like some horny teenager, but goddammit, something in me unhinges when she’s nearby. I’m playing a dirty game because I know she wants me sexually.

I was drowning in my own sweat when that schmuck Derek swaggered over and began jabbing at me, sure that he was going to spill all the fucking beans. The last thing I need is Lucy hearing about my sordid exploits from that halfwit. It’s got to come from me, and it’s going to, sooner rather than later.

Upon reaching the villa, the distant chatter and laughter drifts from the garden—sounds like my liquor cabinet has been ransacked.

“Lucy,” I start as she edges toward the door, looking ready to bolt, “are we good?”

She gives a nod, eyes fixated anywhere but on me.

“Will you stay with me tonight?” I ask. “Just sleep, if you don’t want anything else. I want you close, that’s all.”

“I can’t,” she stammers, striding into the villa. “I should… I need to crash early. Matty and I, we have… work to do.”

She backs away as she speaks, putting more distance between us with every word until she has literally left the kitchen. She’s as freaked out as the first time we fell for each other.

I suppress the instinct to chase after her, knowing it’ll only spook her more. Instead, I treat myself to a shot of scotch, letting it burn its way down. One step forward, two steps back. I’m an idiot. A lovesick, foolish idiot.

I take the bottle of scotch to bed.

???

Two fingers of scotch deep, I’m wide awake, zeroing in on the soft pitter-patter of hesitation by my bedroom door. The steps go away and come back again.

I toss the blankets away from me.

She lingers in front of the door without making another move for what feels like an eternity until I can’t take it any longer. Wrenching open the door, I find her there, fiddling with the strap of her jersey dress. It drapes softly over her curves, as flattering as any ballgown.

“Hey,” she says awkwardly.

“Hey yourself,” I reply, unable to contain my smile.

Her eyes take a round trip from my boxers back up to my face, and my cock twinges at the attention.

“I didn’t get back to you before.” She shivers despite the warm evening.

“Back to me about what?” I play along.

“When you asked how your… scenario sounded.” Her words hang in the air, her gaze locked on me as she takes a small step forward. “Well, it sounds exactly like what I need.”

Her baby blues are the size of dinner plates, staring up at me with this raw vulnerability, and damn if it doesn’t catch me right in the throat.

“Excellent.” My voice drops a whole octave. “Because I’ve been wanting this for a long time.”

I throw the door wide like I’m about to kick off the Super Bowl halftime show.

Lucy takes a tentative step inside, looking around like she’s just set foot on a different planet.

“Wow.” She comes in to stand in the middle of the room, scanning it awkwardly. “This is like my entire apartment, squished into one room. I should have known it would be the biggest bedroom in the house. Though I was half expecting a50 Shadesdungeon.”

I chuckle. She had a similar observation the first time she was here. My bedroom is minimalistic and practical. “How so?”

“Matty’s dead certain you throw some crazyEyes Wide Shutparties here.”

Matty needs to learn to keep his trap shut.