The Side Effects of You by Anna Black Page B

hotel.”
    I took a deep breath. I didn’t know this man, and I didn’t know how serious things could get if I bent the rules. I mean, I was the GM. No one had to know. The owner didn’t even live in this state anymore.
    â€œListen. I like you, Jayden, and I want to get to know you too. If we hang and do bad things, and you get mad and try to sabotage me, I will deny, deny, deny.” I laughed.
    He grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it. “I’m too old to play games, so you don’t have to worry about me.”
    â€œOkay.” I smiled. I was tipsy and was feeling good, and I wanted to be close to him. I had no intention of giving him my goods, but I knew I wanted to be close to his skin.
    We said our good-byes, and Jayden and I walked back to the hotel hand-in-hand. We went through the side door. I didn’t worry about the cameras, because I knew his door was too far down the hall to be caught on the monitor at the front desk.
    We quietly slipped into his room. I flopped down in the chair, and he went into the bathroom. I wished I had showered and changed before going over to the restaurant. I got up and tapped on the bathroom door.
    â€œI’m going to go and change, and I’ll be right back, okay?” I said through the closed door.
    â€œOkay,” he answered.
    I went to my apartment, stripped, and hopped into the shower. Ten minutes later I had dried off and gotten dressed. Before I could head back to Jayden’s room, Ana walked in. I was going to keep going, until I took a look at my baby’s face. I didn’t know what had happened, but I knew someone had whipped her ass. I couldn’t go back to Jayden’s room right now.
    Damn!

Chapter Eight
    Samantha
    Relax , I told myself when he touched me. I didn’t want things to go too far. I was terrified that they would, so I backed away. “Ethan, baby, please. We gotta stop.”
    â€œWhy, baby?” he whispered, his voice low. “I want to taste you.”
    I wanted him to taste me too, but I was terrified. I hadn’t had an outbreak, thank God, in over two years, but I knew I wasn’t cured.
    â€œI want you too, so bad, baby,” I panted. But I couldn’t risk it.
    â€œJust let me. I am into you, Sam. I want more than a fling,” he said, breathing heavily into my neck.
    I froze, then got up from my sofa and moved away from him as fast as I could. This was where we’d always end up after our dates, at my house on the sofa in my living room, making out.
    â€œWhat’s wrong, baby? Why are you holding back?”
    â€œIt’s too soon.” That was all I could say.
    â€œSamantha, I’m all in. I’m not going to play you. I think about you every minute of the day, and I’m so into you. I want you.” He stood and walked over to me. “I’m not trying to move too fast, but I’m feeling you, Sam. I want to be with you, make love to you, and take this good thing to a more passionate level.”
    I lowered my head. “I know, Ethan, and, baby, trust me, it is not you.”
    He lifted my face by my chin. “Then, tell me, what is it? I mean, we’ve hung out every night since we got together. We are on the phone more than I have ever been on the phone with any woman. Why are you holding back, babe? Do I make you feel uncomfortable? Are you not feeling me too?” His expression was serious and sad.
    â€œOf course I’m feeling you, Ethan. Trust me, baby, I’m feeling you, and the time we’ve spent and the long talks and all mean so much to me, but I’m not ready for the physical part yet, okay? Can you understand that, please? Let’s just move a little slower.” I tried to sound cautious, not callous.
    â€œYeah, I understand.” He backed away and put his shirt back on.
    â€œBaby, please don’t be mad.”
    â€œSam, I’m not mad at you. I’m not. But I really like you, and I would