Page 44 of The Need to Know

Run, run, as fast as you can, while you can, my subconscious told me in an almost motherly voice.

“So,” I said.

“So,” he repeated.

“Maybe we should walk the line and see what happens? No kissing or touching, and no lingering around for too long either,” I said. “Give us some time to see whether this is better off as a friendship, or, if we should just hook up and walk away. To see where we naturally land.”

“That sounds like dating with extra steps,” he pointed out.

“Oh no,” I was quick to deny with a smile. “Definitely not because you ‘don’t date.’ I mean, if I meet someone who fulfills what I want, or you meet a woman who gets you, we’ll have our answer.”

“So, what if you don’t meet someone, but I do? A simple one-night stand.” It sounded like a challenge. “What then?”

I didn’t like that idea, but Ezekiel clearly didn’t think of sex as an intimate act. There would be no reason to get upset or jealous if he did hook up. Just like he couldn’t do the same if I did meet someone else.

“We’re not tied to each other, we’re just prospects.” I gave a shrug and gathered the bottle of water. “It won’t affect my decision. Just like if I meet someone and you don’t.”

Ezekiel smirked. “How long is this trial-run going?”

“Until we know…?”

He blinked. “We can hang out some more. I’ll give you all the time you need, but if it drags, I’ll make the choice for us.”

I chuckled. “Impatient?”

His hungry eyes met mine. “Curious.”

Same. My eyes fell to his lips, wanting to savor them and feel them on my skin.

Ezekiel watched me, reading where my mind was and knowing the dirty thoughts running through it, it seemed. He came closer, giving me a rush with his nearness. Before I could calculate what he was doing, he leaned over, grabbed my chin and tipped my head back. I closed my eyes, waiting.

And waiting.

His warm breath radiated across my face as two soft lips grazed my forehead and I felt my heart collapse in my chest.

I opened my eyes and he was watching me. “Until we know.”

I. Was. Drenched. “Until we know.”

“So you just left it at that?”

I met up with Cesar for a workout Thursday morning. Despite her saying she would need it, I didn’t see Nastasia anywhere around the vicinity. At least, not yet.

Cesar was curious, and I didn’t blame him. I was curious as well. Taking the time to plan a trip to Stokely Park with a picnic was new for me, not my style, but something about Nastasia made me want to put in the extra effort.

Some of my rounds didn’t like the pageantry of going out to eat or getting drinks. They just wanted the dick and for me to leave until the next time they wanted it. Realistically, in a friends-with-benefits scenario, it was I fuck you and you leave or vice versa. Now, there were other women I had I could kick it with and go out and grab food with before or after, but Nastasia didn’t seem like the type who would go for that. I was still feeling her out and her approach was much more different.

For starters, her energy was different, the type that was a quiet confidence, rather than an out loud one like Paisley. The fear in her voice when I’d mentioned linking up on the phone Monday let me know that I couldn’t press heavy for a hookup. Her last relationship had left her scarred and she wasn’t really trying to rush into anything physical. All signs were there to just walk away, but damn, shorty was pretty. Conversation was simple and easy, and could go deep or light—either way, it was nice.

The gym wasn’t crowded for ten a.m., but I kept my voice low as I stood with Cesar by the treadmills telling him about my time with Nas.

“That sounds like dating with extra steps,” Cesar noted after hearing about the whole encounter.

“Exactly what I said,” I responded. “Except she said it’s non-exclusive. If I want to fuck around still, I can.”

Cesar studied me. “Are you?”

I met his gaze. “Permission or not, that sounds like a trap.”