Oughta Be a Movie: a Sugar-&-Spice romantic comedy by Susan Hammond Page B
Authors: Susan Hammond
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he painted and had no doubt that he had the sliding-out-of-there skill perfected to an art form. “Maybe you need to discover the lady’s favorite pizza toppings before you sample her pancakes.”
His bark of laughter drew a few glances then his hand squeezed her shoulder. “There’s a novel idea.” He looked at her closely. “Last time I noticed, you were a cute kid, collecting bugs and blowing things up. How’d you get so wise?” He swiveled their barstools so they were almost facing each other and leaned in. “And so sexy. What are your favorite pizza toppings?”
She laughed at the obvious flirtation. “Doesn’t work that way. You have to use your powers of observation.”
Instead of a retort, Chase slid back, looking over her shoulder.
“Collins.” She turned at the sound of Ben’s voice. Ben’s irritated voice. Had she ever heard that voice before? “You moving in on my date?”
Whoa. She checked to see how Chase was taking the words, the tone. With a small smile, a shake of his head. Amused? Resigned?
“Nah, just keeping things warm for you.” He stood up. “I don’t start fights I can’t win.” He nodded at Ben, then turned to Ali. “Save me a dance later if it’s okay with Harrison.” And with that he walked off.
Ben sat down on the empty stool, but still didn’t say anything to her. When he spoke, she wasn’t sure if he was talking to her or himself. “I never thought I’d be competing with Chase Collins for a woman.”
“He wasn’t—”
“Yes, he was.”
“Then it’s a good thing we’re not porcupines.”
Chapter 7
That got his attention and at least a half smile. “Did you say porcupines?”
“Yes. Have you ever thought about how they mate?”
“Very, very carefully?”
There it was. The first real smile since he came back into the club.
“Exactly! Think about it. None of the guys are going near the female without an invitation.” At his nod, Ali went on. “When she lets them know she’s in the mood, they have to fight to be chosen. That way she gets the biggest and strongest.”
“Or the horniest.”
She rolled her eyes. “Maybe. Anyway, when there’s only one left—and he’s probably pretty beaten up with the other guys’ quills sticking out every which way—he goes to the female and pees on her.”
His surprised laugh was more of a snort, but she finished her explanation. “If she’s impressed, he’s golden.”
At that, he started laughing so hard Ali thought he was going to fall off the barstool. He braced his arms on the bar, dropped his head, got himself almost under control, and then started laughing all over again. It took him a couple of tries, but he finally stopped laughing and wiped the tears out of the corners of his eyes. “Kinky little bastard, huh?”
He stood and turned her barstool around. Hands at her waist, he lifted her and set her on her feet, still smiling, leaning in until his forehead touched hers. “Just so we’re clear here.” Then his cheek slid against hers until his mouth was at her ear. His tongue traced the shell, and she shuddered. “I’m very fond of kink.” His teeth grazed her earlobe. “But not that one.”
Fond of kink? She needed to think about his words, but his lips skated down the side of her neck, and her neurons were misfiring. Other cells, however, seemed to be firing just fine. He kissed her on that spot where her neck curved into her shoulder. The soft kiss became a nip then a bite that hurt a little. But then it didn’t. When his tongue soothed the spot, her back arched, pushing her breasts against him, and she heard a sound like a puppy that wants to be cuddled and was pretty sure it came from her. She should explain about involuntary sexual responses, but did she really need to explain? Ben’s hands tightening on her waist left little doubt he knew exactly what kind of response she’d given him. He was saying something, but all she could hear was a roaring in her ears, almost
His bark of laughter drew a few glances then his hand squeezed her shoulder. “There’s a novel idea.” He looked at her closely. “Last time I noticed, you were a cute kid, collecting bugs and blowing things up. How’d you get so wise?” He swiveled their barstools so they were almost facing each other and leaned in. “And so sexy. What are your favorite pizza toppings?”
She laughed at the obvious flirtation. “Doesn’t work that way. You have to use your powers of observation.”
Instead of a retort, Chase slid back, looking over her shoulder.
“Collins.” She turned at the sound of Ben’s voice. Ben’s irritated voice. Had she ever heard that voice before? “You moving in on my date?”
Whoa. She checked to see how Chase was taking the words, the tone. With a small smile, a shake of his head. Amused? Resigned?
“Nah, just keeping things warm for you.” He stood up. “I don’t start fights I can’t win.” He nodded at Ben, then turned to Ali. “Save me a dance later if it’s okay with Harrison.” And with that he walked off.
Ben sat down on the empty stool, but still didn’t say anything to her. When he spoke, she wasn’t sure if he was talking to her or himself. “I never thought I’d be competing with Chase Collins for a woman.”
“He wasn’t—”
“Yes, he was.”
“Then it’s a good thing we’re not porcupines.”
Chapter 7
That got his attention and at least a half smile. “Did you say porcupines?”
“Yes. Have you ever thought about how they mate?”
“Very, very carefully?”
There it was. The first real smile since he came back into the club.
“Exactly! Think about it. None of the guys are going near the female without an invitation.” At his nod, Ali went on. “When she lets them know she’s in the mood, they have to fight to be chosen. That way she gets the biggest and strongest.”
“Or the horniest.”
She rolled her eyes. “Maybe. Anyway, when there’s only one left—and he’s probably pretty beaten up with the other guys’ quills sticking out every which way—he goes to the female and pees on her.”
His surprised laugh was more of a snort, but she finished her explanation. “If she’s impressed, he’s golden.”
At that, he started laughing so hard Ali thought he was going to fall off the barstool. He braced his arms on the bar, dropped his head, got himself almost under control, and then started laughing all over again. It took him a couple of tries, but he finally stopped laughing and wiped the tears out of the corners of his eyes. “Kinky little bastard, huh?”
He stood and turned her barstool around. Hands at her waist, he lifted her and set her on her feet, still smiling, leaning in until his forehead touched hers. “Just so we’re clear here.” Then his cheek slid against hers until his mouth was at her ear. His tongue traced the shell, and she shuddered. “I’m very fond of kink.” His teeth grazed her earlobe. “But not that one.”
Fond of kink? She needed to think about his words, but his lips skated down the side of her neck, and her neurons were misfiring. Other cells, however, seemed to be firing just fine. He kissed her on that spot where her neck curved into her shoulder. The soft kiss became a nip then a bite that hurt a little. But then it didn’t. When his tongue soothed the spot, her back arched, pushing her breasts against him, and she heard a sound like a puppy that wants to be cuddled and was pretty sure it came from her. She should explain about involuntary sexual responses, but did she really need to explain? Ben’s hands tightening on her waist left little doubt he knew exactly what kind of response she’d given him. He was saying something, but all she could hear was a roaring in her ears, almost
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