Missed Connections: Stepping Out by Marie Harte

for him. It doesn’t hurt we were both coming off a sexual hiatus.”
    “Hiatus. Yeah, that’s one way of looking at your dry spell.”
    Gwen frowned and continued, “My biggest surprise wasn’t that he was into sex, but that he wanted me to climax too. Like, every time.” She felt hot thinking about it.
    “I keep telling you. Not everyone is like the losers you’ve dated.”
    “Hey. Some of them were okay.”
    “Perry was a pompous ass. Before him, Dave—nice but boring. And you said he was a dud in bed. Then Mitch. Not much going on there but a love of sports.”
    “He liked sex.”
    “Yeah, for himself. Didn’t you say you had to do all the work to get happy?”
    “Oh. I’d forgotten about that.”
    “I would too if I’d been with Mitch. He was handsome, but such a prick.”
    Gwen sighed. “I spent the entire night with Conlan, Mia. What does that mean?”
    “That you couldn’t get enough of each other. Which I think happened.”
    “True.”
    “And you both wanted more from the other.” Mia watched her. “Did you cuddle? What was he like after?”
    “We didn’t cuddle right away. I mean, the first two times were like going up in flames. Wow.”
    “Nice.”
    “But then we cleaned up, talked, flirted, had more sex.”
    “You talked?”
    Gwen nodded, remembering how he’d asked her opinions on things, then listened . They didn’t know each other well, but she’d understood that Conlan was a rare man she liked. She wouldn’t call herself a man-hater, but for a long time, she hadn’t exactly liked the male gender as a whole. Her father and Trent were exceptions. Her experience with Conlan, though, skewed her perspective. A lot.
    “Ahem. You talked?” Mia prodded.
    “Sorry. I’m tired.”
    “I’ll bet. I’m just impressed you can walk without being bowlegged.”
    Gwen laughed. “Shut up. So yeah, he and I talked about a lot of stuff. Politics, favorite flavors, colors. Then he did me seven ways to Sunday. I mean, the guy is really creative.”
    “He is a writer.”
    Another thing Gwen loved about the guy. He understood the creative process. He also had a work ethic on par with hers. “Mia, I spent the night with him. And I wanted to.” She sighed. “I think the sex is clouding my judgment. I like him a lot.”
    “Finally.”
    Mia held up a hand, and Gwen reluctantly high-fived her.
    “I knew you’d see the light sometime.”
    “I texted him about coming over tonight.”
    “Perfect. I’ll stay at Trent’s.”
    “He texted me back right away. What does that mean?”
    Mia grinned. “One, he’s into you. Two, he’s not a jerk. Not playing mind games. Kind of like a dog,” she teased. “He’s hungry, he eats. He’s horny, he texts his love muffin.”
    “Okay, now that was just mean.”
    Mia snickered and got up to pour herself another cup of coffee. “Sorry. Couldn’t help myself. You’re so cute when you’re tuckered out from sex and suffering bedhead.”
    Gwen groaned. “I know. He saw me like this. Of course, he looked fantastic all mussed. His hair is short, so it didn’t mess. But that stubble on his chin, those sexy pecs and shoulders. Wow. He has a killer body.”
    “So this relationship is primarily about sex.”
    “Well, yes. No.”
    “Which is it?” Mia asked. “You’re obviously worried you’re liking him because he’s good in the sack. Yet you talked with the guy too, and you said he ‘listened.’”
    She was feeling way too much for a one-night stand. “You don’t need air quotes for that,” Gwen said irritably, now not sure if she’d made the right call inviting him over.
    “Yeah, I do. He’s the first guy you’ve given a chance since Perry. It’s natural you’re not sure if you can trust him. Take it slow. I mean, don’t count the sex as slow. If that’s working, go for it.”
    “It’s working. It’s the emotional quagmire I’m not sure of.”
    Mia just stared at her.
    “What?”
    “You do realize normal people don’t use