Sweet Nothings: A Karma Café Novella by Tawny Weber Page B

turnovers were her new favorite treat.
    She eyed Jacob, sprawled on the bed with one arm over his eyes, his breath still labored and his heart pounding in his throat.
    Okay, her second favorite treat.
    He was amazing. Sexy, wickedly talented with that delicious mouth of his. And so sweet. Sweet enough that she’d felt like crying at one point. He’d totally focused on her, as if he only cared about her pleasure.
    And even as that pleasure had engulfed her, she’d felt something. Something more. Her heart, so carefully guarded, had peeked out. And, warming, it’d liked what it had seen.
    Maybe that was just great sex. It wasn’t like she had a lot of experience to compare it to. Or maybe it was more. But suddenly, she felt as if everything she’d been missing in life had clicked into place.
    She tried to shake off the nerves suddenly grappling in her belly. Silly. It was sex. Great, fabulous sex. That was all.
    But still...
    It made her smile. And hope.
    Something she hadn’t allowed herself in years.
    And something, she decided as she reached out to smooth her hand over the deliciously hard planes of Jacob’s rock-hard abs, something she’d think about later.
    Right now, she wanted to do him all over again.
    “Well,” she said, shifting to her elbow and giving Jacob a bright smile. “That was fun. What other tricks do you have to offer?”
    He moved his arm and slowly opened his eyes.
    He didn’t laugh.
    He didn’t even smile.
    The delighted sexual haze fading from her eyes, Bianca took a closer look at his face.
    He didn’t even look happy.
    Her breath hitched in her throat.
    Well, there went the rest of her sexual haze.
    Dammit.
    All of a sudden, she felt very naked. And not in a good way.
    Bianca might not have much—okay, any—experience with flings or casual sex. But shouldn’t he look a little happier? She might have been busy having the best sex of her life, but she’d been clued in enough to know he’d had a good time, too.
    So what was the deal? She thought this was what guys wanted. Easy, fun and no strings.
    Was he thinking that’s what she wanted? Strings?
    She frowned, replaying the last six hours in her head, censoring the good parts so as not to get too distracted.
    Nope. Not a single word about strings.
    “What’s going on?” she asked before she could stop herself. Then, as if she were still riding on the aggressive energy of that apple turnover, she poked him in the shoulder with her finger. “Aren’t regrets supposed to wait until morning? We can do a lot more between now and then to add to your list, you know.”
    Still no smile.
    Hurt and angry, she shifted into a sitting position, taking the sheet with her. As soon as she did, he moved away.
    “We shouldn’t have done this. I mean, it was great,” he quickly amended, the look on his face putting it in the same category as a root canal. “But we really shouldn’t have.”
    “Why?” The hurt was fading, leaving only anger. Anger like Bianca hadn’t felt since she was a teenager, back when she’d always let passion and emotions lead her into trouble. She should bank it down, try to be calm.
    But she was too pissed.
    “Truth be told, it’s sort of a conflict of interest,” he said quietly, giving her a look of apology coated with regret, then rolling out of bed.
    He didn’t even have the decency to stand there for a few seconds while she enjoyed the view. Nope, he immediately grabbed his jeans and yanked them on so fast she was surprised he didn’t give himself a wedgie.
    This was not quite how she’d expected her fantasy sex scenario to play out.
    “Why is us having sex a conflict of interest?” Frowning, she debated getting dressed, too. This seemed to be shaping into a fully clothed kind of conversation. But her clothes were all over the floor and she’d be damned if she was going to be bending and grabbing until she knew what interests were conflicted. Her stomach sank. “Are you married? Engaged? Otherwise