Page 68 of Talk Wicked to Me

Emerson sighed with relief.

“Besides,” Evie said, “after that kiss I witnessed between you two in front of the office last week, I’m surprised you’re not already pregnant again.”

More laughter rang out.

“Ohmygod, bite your tongue. I’m just regaining my ability to think straight.” Emerson found herself laughing, too, and threw caution to the wind. “And Baz and I haven’t done that yet.”

“That’s okay,” Starr said. “Every woman is different after having a baby. I didn’t want to be anywhere near a man for months. But that might have had something to do with Gracie’s deadbeat dad.”

“Justin was so loving and protective, all I wanted was to be close to him,” Chloe said. “I practically ripped his clothes off a month after giving birth.”

“Not me. I was so tired, I waited six weeks,” Leah said. “But we did everything other than the deed before that.” She picked up a cookie, studying it. “Some stuff way before that.” She took a bite, grinning from ear to ear.

“It’s not that I don’t want to,” Emerson admitted. “I do. His kisses leave me breathless and wanting more, but…he hasn’t tried to do more.”

“That doesn’t sound like Baz at all, which can only mean one thing,” Evie said.

Emerson deflated. “That’s what I was worried about. I’ve never been in this position before. It’s me, isn’t it? He doesn’t want me like that, right?”

“What? No. That’s not what I meant,” Evie said. “Just the opposite. Baz doesn’t usually connect with women on an emotional level, but he’s been connected to you since you first walked into the clinic. He tried to hide it, but I’ve never seen him so focused on anyone the way he is with you and Brennan. He talks about you two incessantly, and he shows us pictures of you guys all the time. If he’s holding back, it’s for your benefit, not because he doesn’t want to do more.”

“Now, that sounds like Baz,” Steph said.

“That sounds like all the Wicked guys,” Chloe added. “Justin waited a year for me to come around to seeing him for who he was.”

“Tank waited for me, too, and even then he was super careful,” Leah said.

“Blaine, too,” Reese said. “But once he opened that door?” Her eyes widened with delight. “There was no holding back that pleasure train.”

“Let’s not rub it in for us single girls whose only pleasure trains have batteries,” Starr said, making them laugh.

“You really don’t think it’s because he doesn’t want me like that?” Emerson asked.

“No!” they all said at once.

“I hope you’re right.” She clung to that hope.

“He’s going away after the rally,” Evie reminded her. “He probably doesn’t want to start something and leave you hanging, or he might be worried about you asking him to stay.”

“I wondered about that. But I would never keep him from anything he wants to do, and we’re not that kind of serious.” Even if Baz makes it feel like we are. “I don’t expect a commitment while he’s away. What should I do if I don’t want him to keep holding back? I know I should talk to him about it, but I can’t. It would be too embarrassing. Making a move would be a heck of a lot easier, but I’ve never made the first move with a guy.”

“Then it’s time to change that. You can’t let guys have all the control,” Evie said.

“I agree. You have to go for it,” Madigan said. “Whip off that dress and climb onto his lap.”

Emerson laughed. “Have you guys been talking to my friend Gwen?”

“Great minds think alike,” Madigan said.

“I agree with Mads,” Marly said. “Ride that biker and show him what he’s missing.”

“And throw in some dirty talk. Guys get off on that,” Evie said, sparking an avalanche of suggestions on how to seduce Baz and loads of laughter.

By the time Emerson left the cove, she was high on the girls’ support, bursting with confidence, and ready to make her move. She got even more excited about taking control as she drove home. The sight of Baz’s motorcycle in the driveway brought a flash of how sexy he’d looked when she’d opened the door, and thrills skittered through her.

She strutted up to the front door and strode inside with her head held high, ready to seduce her man. Ollie bounded over as she set her things on the table by the door, and she loved him up as Baz said, “We had a great night. B’s sleeping in his crib. How’d it go?”

He rose from where he was sitting on the couch, and holy hotness. He was shirtless, all those delicious planes of muscled, inked flesh taunting her. His jeans hung low on his hips as he came around the couch. His feet were bare, and God, she wanted him. His gaze slid down the length of her, just as it had when he’d arrived, igniting the inferno of desire that had been building for weeks. He flashed those panty-melting dimples, and her mind went blank. “Why don’t you ever do more than kiss me?” came rushing out, breathless and desperate, but she couldn’t have stopped it if she’d tried.