AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Because liking your kisses isn’t good. We’re like oil and water. We don’t seem to get along.” Her sad admission shocked and impressed him. Bash wasn’t used to such honesty.
“I think we’re more like a fine olive oil and aged balsamic that just need to be better mixed. What do you think?” he asked, hoping to convince her to give him a chance.
“Maybe?” Shopgirl stepped closer to him and wound the hoodie’s strings around her fingers. He felt his temperature and irritation rise at her nearness.
“What do you want, Penny? I don’t like being toyed with.” He’d gone into this conversation wanting her to agree to coach him on social skills, but now his only goal was to survive it.
“Are you offering to be my toy?” She pulled on the strings and he realized she was flirting with him. A type of toying, but one that usually ends pleasurably. He saw two options for them. They could explore their attraction or remain acquaintances. The latter would be unsatisfying, but easier. While the former had the potential to increase his people skills, bookstore knowledge, and relaxation while spending time with shopgirl. As aggravating as she was, he was more relaxed and confident around Penny than anywhere else, except on the field with a football in his hands. He’d let her decide, but if he got a vote, he’d choose the option with kissing. With companionship.
“I don’t play like that.”
“How do you want to play?” One hand trailed down his chest and snagged the edge of his pants. Her smile looked forced. She’s nervous, he realized, and then wondered why she was playing at the aggressor if it made her uncomfortable. Shopgirl was full of contradictions.
“With rules.” He removed her hand from his waistband but brought her fingers to his lips, hoping a gentle kiss would salvage his rebuke. Bash hated rules. Insisting on them only proved how desperate he was.
“Which are?” she asked. Penny didn’t sound upset and her shoulders relaxed, so Bash took that as a sign that he’d made the right move. Rules for both of them.
“I’m not a piece of meat you can call when you get an itch.”
“That’s fair, and I wouldn’t, you know?”
“And delete any hook-up apps.”
“You’re awfully demanding.”
“Do it now, or no deal.” Bash knew he was over the line in expecting this when they hadn’t clarified or committed to anything.
“I don’t have any,” she muttered. Penny’s femme fatal act crumbled like a sandcastle at high tide.
“Doesn’t every single person?” he asked, surprised.
“Do you?”
“No.”
“Then not every single person does, do they?” Penny poked him in the chest. “What other demands do you have?”
“I need conversation.”
“Conversation?”
“Yes. You know, talking. That other thing you can do with your mouth.” He touched the corner of her lips, and he heard her sharp intake.
“You want to talk to me? It seems like we barely stand each other.”
“Bizarre, I know. But I need conversation. Consider it to be intellectual foreplay.”
“So, dirty talk?” She shifted slightly away from him, sounding uncomfortable.
“No. Talk, talk. Like how was your day? What did you do? Any good passes? Sell lots of books? That type of talk.”
“This sounds like dating.”
“You make it sound like I’m asking you to do your tax return. I’m just asking for respect and companionship. And practice.” If he was making demands of her, she had a right to know what drove him.
“Practice?”
“I’ve been told my people skills need work, and from what I’ve seen you could give a master class. You seem to know what people need even when they don’t, and you are always kind and considerate. I’m not, and I need to be.” Need not want, and he hoped she didn’t question his choice of words. He knew he needed to improve, but he didn’t want to. His heart wasn’t interested in failing.
