such an effect on her when they were just making out, maybe she
wouldn’t be able to handle more. Especially when she knew Rain was just being
honest with her. He had no interest in a relationship. The only person he’d
ever been bothered to try one out for was Carolina. Carolina was the love of his
life. Part of her knew stopping right there was the best idea. Most of her just
wanted more of those intoxicating kisses.
“I think I
should take you home now,” he said, giving her one last tender kiss on the
cheek.
Even though the
kiss was chaste, the simple touch of his lips to her skin had her ready to tear
off both their clothes. Still, thinking about the fact that he wasn’t the
relationship type, and he was just trying to be honest with her and save their
friendship, was enough to make her agree. She’d grabbed her coat and let him
take her home.
Touching her
lips now, she smiled at the bittersweet memory. Now she had neither. She and
Rain had drifted apart since college, and she’d missed out on her big chance to
have sex with the most incredible guy she’d ever known. With the one person
who’d turned her on in ways no one else ever had.
Or had she?
Maybe Bettina was right.
#
Daphne was glad
for the interruption when her co-worker, Arlen, walked into her office that
afternoon. Arlen was six-foot-four and rail thin. His light brown hair was short
and fashionably coiffed; he had baby blue eyes. He was good-looking, but a
little on the average side. Not plain, not exceptional. The fact that he had a
great sense of style, though, gave him the aura of exceptionality. There’d been
lots of speculation in the way of office gossip over whether he was metrosexual
or gay until he’d brought his partner, Tom, to a company picnic. She had a
feeling he’d done it just to shut people up when the rumors had gotten back to
him. Daphne didn’t think it was anybody’s business or that it mattered. She and
Arlen had become friends right away.
Arlen folded
himself down into the chair in front of her desk and crossed an ankle over his knee.
“Ready for your presentation tomorrow?”
Daphne made a
face at her computer screen. “Not even close.” She was supposed to give a joint
presentation to the D.C. Zoning Commission and the D.C. Council’s Committee on
Economic Development on the benefits to the community of mixed income housing.
The final decision on the zoning application was to be made early in the new year . A representative from the real estate development
company her employer worked with would be present as well. It was her last big
work project until San Juan. Ah San Juan. She couldn’t wait. She needed a
vacation so badly, and she was looking forward to seeing Carolina. Those were
the only reasons. Yep. She wouldn’t allow herself to even consider other
reasons one might hypothetically, potentially look forward to such a trip.
“You want to
practice on me?” Arlen asked.
She often ran
her presentations by Arlen. They worked well together. “Maybe in a little
while. I literally have nothing right now.” Gathering her long black hair in
her hands, she lifted it from her neck for a moment before letting it settle
back behind her shoulders. She frowned a little. She was glad her hairdresser
was doing something with it before she went to San Juan. She and Bettina had
set up a hair and waxing day a few days before Christmas so she’d be good to go
for the trip. It was never hard to talk Bettina into doing a self-care day.
“So let’s talk
about the thing you’re really looking forward to.” Arlen uncrossed his legs and
leaned forward in his chair. “How excited are you for Puerto Rico?”
“Absolutely
cannot wait. I just got a swimsuit from Sand and Water yesterday.” Sand and
Water was a new swimwear shop not too far from Metro Center.
“I love that
place. I’ve already been in there so many times, and I don’t even have a warm
place to go to the beach this winter,” Arlen
wouldn’t be able to handle more. Especially when she knew Rain was just being
honest with her. He had no interest in a relationship. The only person he’d
ever been bothered to try one out for was Carolina. Carolina was the love of his
life. Part of her knew stopping right there was the best idea. Most of her just
wanted more of those intoxicating kisses.
“I think I
should take you home now,” he said, giving her one last tender kiss on the
cheek.
Even though the
kiss was chaste, the simple touch of his lips to her skin had her ready to tear
off both their clothes. Still, thinking about the fact that he wasn’t the
relationship type, and he was just trying to be honest with her and save their
friendship, was enough to make her agree. She’d grabbed her coat and let him
take her home.
Touching her
lips now, she smiled at the bittersweet memory. Now she had neither. She and
Rain had drifted apart since college, and she’d missed out on her big chance to
have sex with the most incredible guy she’d ever known. With the one person
who’d turned her on in ways no one else ever had.
Or had she?
Maybe Bettina was right.
#
Daphne was glad
for the interruption when her co-worker, Arlen, walked into her office that
afternoon. Arlen was six-foot-four and rail thin. His light brown hair was short
and fashionably coiffed; he had baby blue eyes. He was good-looking, but a
little on the average side. Not plain, not exceptional. The fact that he had a
great sense of style, though, gave him the aura of exceptionality. There’d been
lots of speculation in the way of office gossip over whether he was metrosexual
or gay until he’d brought his partner, Tom, to a company picnic. She had a
feeling he’d done it just to shut people up when the rumors had gotten back to
him. Daphne didn’t think it was anybody’s business or that it mattered. She and
Arlen had become friends right away.
Arlen folded
himself down into the chair in front of her desk and crossed an ankle over his knee.
“Ready for your presentation tomorrow?”
Daphne made a
face at her computer screen. “Not even close.” She was supposed to give a joint
presentation to the D.C. Zoning Commission and the D.C. Council’s Committee on
Economic Development on the benefits to the community of mixed income housing.
The final decision on the zoning application was to be made early in the new year . A representative from the real estate development
company her employer worked with would be present as well. It was her last big
work project until San Juan. Ah San Juan. She couldn’t wait. She needed a
vacation so badly, and she was looking forward to seeing Carolina. Those were
the only reasons. Yep. She wouldn’t allow herself to even consider other
reasons one might hypothetically, potentially look forward to such a trip.
“You want to
practice on me?” Arlen asked.
She often ran
her presentations by Arlen. They worked well together. “Maybe in a little
while. I literally have nothing right now.” Gathering her long black hair in
her hands, she lifted it from her neck for a moment before letting it settle
back behind her shoulders. She frowned a little. She was glad her hairdresser
was doing something with it before she went to San Juan. She and Bettina had
set up a hair and waxing day a few days before Christmas so she’d be good to go
for the trip. It was never hard to talk Bettina into doing a self-care day.
“So let’s talk
about the thing you’re really looking forward to.” Arlen uncrossed his legs and
leaned forward in his chair. “How excited are you for Puerto Rico?”
“Absolutely
cannot wait. I just got a swimsuit from Sand and Water yesterday.” Sand and
Water was a new swimwear shop not too far from Metro Center.
“I love that
place. I’ve already been in there so many times, and I don’t even have a warm
place to go to the beach this winter,” Arlen
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