Anyone But Rich (Anyone But..., #1)(50)

“Wait, with which part?”

“You were an idiot.”

I laughed. “Fair enough. But what about the rest?”

“I think I’m supposed to hold my cards close here,” she said, “but I was never good at card games. I don’t care about my pride. I just don’t want it to end. These few weeks have been amazing. Even with all the stuff going on in the background, I don’t think I’ve ever felt happier. So, yes. A big, big yes.”

“I’m happy that your answer is a yes, but I don’t recall asking a yes or no question.”

Kira pointed her spoon at me, presumably meaning some kind of threat. “I don’t think being an ass is your best strategy right now.”

“No? If you were in my shoes, what would be your next move?”

She took a bite of the dessert and paused just long enough to savor it. The fact that she could still pause at a moment like this to enjoy some good food made me like her even more. “That depends,” she said finally. “If I’m going to tell you what your next move should be, I think I need to know your intentions.”

“Getting you into my bed. Naked, preferably.”

She choked on the sip of water she was taking.

It was good to see I could still make her blush.

“Well,” she said slowly, “if that was your goal, I’d say you should tackle the biggest obstacle first.”

I sighed. “Is this where you tell me I need a time machine? Or maybe a way to wipe your memory?”

“No. The biggest obstacle is that we’re in a restaurant right now and your bed is at least thirty minutes away. I’m also fully clothed, and the bra I’m wearing has a strap that’s a little tricky.” If it was possible, her blush deepened.

My eyebrows crept upward. Kira had the most adorably dirty mind for someone who came across as innocent as she did. I still suspected she was a virgin, but there was such a vulgar streak to her that it was almost hard to believe. I felt the last shreds of my reservations evaporate into thin air.

Screw consequences. Screw my parents. Screw anything bad that might come from following my feelings. Actually, better yet. Screw Kira. That sounded like a better plan.

“We could call for a helicopter,” I said. “Also, I’ve got bolt cutters in the garage at my place. I don’t care if your bra is made of Kevlar. It’s coming off.”





Chapter 19





KIRA


I’d thought Rich was kidding about the helicopter. Apparently, when you have billions of dollars, it’s actually not that hard to arrange for a helicopter to pick you up on short notice. Less than ten minutes after my vagina stole control of my brain from me, I was ducking into a helicopter in the empty parking lot behind the restaurant.

The ride was incredible. I got to see West Valley like I’d never seen it before. Unsurprisingly, Overlook Point had never done the town justice with its measly view. This was the way to appreciate all the natural beauty of the place I’d called home all my life.

I was unfortunately too distracted for most of the ride to give it the attention it deserved.

I don’t know what I expected, but nothing had gone the way I imagined. The last time I’d spoken to Rich, he looked like he had made up his mind. He and I were over, and that was final.

At dinner, I’d seen an entirely different look in his eyes. It had barely been twenty-four hours since the party, but Rich didn’t look anywhere near sure about ending things. I hadn’t mentally prepared for that. Before I knew it, I felt like I was sitting in the back seat as my lower half ran my mouth and essentially asked him to take me back to his place and sleep with me.

Oops.

Considering I still wasn’t sure I would know which end of the penis went where, it was a bold move. Foolishly bold, for certain. It was also too late to back out.

I should have felt terrified. For all I knew, I’d be a bumbling, clumsy mess. My dress would get stuck on my chin, and I’d be left flopping around blind and half-naked in front of Rich. Despite what I’d said to Miranda and Iris, I knew from my brief explorations with masturbation that I was incapable of enjoying myself in a quiet, dignified manner. As soon as the heat started flowing, I turned into a version of myself that I wasn’t proud of.

By the time we landed in Rich’s backyard, my fists were in tight balls around the hem of my dress, and I was starting to wonder if I’d be able to seize the controls of the helicopter from the pilot and fly away. Couldn’t my stupid, horny mind have said something more practical? Maybe I could’ve told him the biggest obstacle was that I never slept with guys on Thursdays, and we’d have to wait until Friday? Technically it would’ve been true, since I never slept with guys on any day of the week, but who was keeping track?

A day would’ve been enough time to do some internet research on how to be good in bed, right? And why had I never thought to research that before now? Was I an idiot?

We hopped out of the noisy helicopter, leaving the sound-canceling headphones in our seats. Rich waved to the pilot once we were on his back patio, and within seconds, the roar of the engine was just a distant, faint sound.

We were alone, and the quiet was terrifying.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Oh, absolutely,” I said. I was talking too fast, I realized, but I wasn’t sure I could stop myself. “I’m completely okay. Sex isn’t a big deal to me, actually. I have sex all the time.”