Grounded (Up in the Air, #3)(113)

He groaned and slapped his forehead. “I need to get that image out of my head. That was cruel. Do you mean that your last boyfriend didn’t make sure you got off?” He asked the question like he just couldn’t help himself. I knew him well enough to know that he couldn’t.

I laughed, trying not to make it sound as bitter as it actually was. “No. I’m saying that none of them did. Selfish pricks.”

He ran a hand over his face, and it went a little slack before he looked at me again. “That hurts me deep in my soul, baby. I wouldn’t do that to you. I’d make sure you came, first and last. I’d go down on you every time, if that’s what you like. I’d lick-“

I held up a hand, giving him an arch look, though I was far from unaffected by his little speech. I wanted badly to see if he was really that good… But I shook myself out of it.

He grimaced. “Sorry, sorry. That was out of line. You can’t tell me stuff like that. It makes me want to punch somebody and, well, do things to you that do not need to be spoken out loud. But it does prove my point about me needing a ‘don’t list.”

I nodded. It was becoming apparent that we both needed one. “Yes. Don’t you worry about poor old me. I like my vibrator just fine. Better than any cock that’s ever come near me, in fact.”

He closed his eyes, lowered his head, and held up one finger, as though he needed a moment. I giggled, because I had been trying to torment him, and I saw by the oversized bulge in his jeans that I’d succeeded.

I snapped my fingers at him. “Okay, okay, let’s get on with it. Get started with your list.”





‘THE FRIENDS DON’T LIST’ - Because I like you too much to sleep with you.





1. No sex, no making out, no kissing.





“No getting off and thinking about you?” I asked. Yes, I was trying to torment him.

He held up that finger that made me giggle again. He looked like he was thinking hard for a long moment, finally shaking his head. “Nope. Can’t do that. Sorry. It’s like saying I won’t get hard when I see you wearing a bikini. It would just be a lie. But I won’t torture you with the details, I swear.”

I nodded, still smiling. Teasing just never got old with him. He made it so much fun. He made absolutely everything fun. “The same,” I told him. “I’ll try not to be too loud when I cry out your name as I get myself off.”

He shook his head, looking pained. “So jacked up,” he muttered under his breath.

After a long pause, he started writing again without another word.





2. No getting jealous or complaining about who the other one is dating or hooking up with.





“That goes for you too, right?” I asked archly. “No punching guys in bars for looking at me funny.”

“I didn’t punch him. I just choked him a little.”

“Um, yeah, that sounds worse than punching. Not helping your argument.”

He completely ignored that, writing.





3. We can hang out whenever we want, but we won’t call it a date, even if we’re doing date-like things



“Would oral be considered date-like?” I asked, just messing with him, as usual. I’d never been able to have sexual banter with a man that didn’t end up making me feel like shit. It was just the opposite with Tristan. For some reason, with him, it made me feel warm and fuzzy every time.

He sent me a twisted grin. “I’m pretty sure that would be breaking the no kissing rule.”

“Pretty sure it leaves wiggle room.”

He gave me a look that could only be described as longing. “I do love the way you wiggle.”

I giggled.

He went back to writing.





4. No nagging.





“That counts for you, too. No telling me when I’ve had too many shots. That’s for me to decide.”

He sent me an exasperated look. “Well, if you drink enough shots that you climb on the bar to dance, and some guy grabs you, don’t nag me for beating the shit out of him.”

“That sounds like a clear violation of rule #2,” I pointed out.

“That’s not jealousy. That’s me being protective of my best buddy.”

I rolled my eyes. It was a fine line.

He started writing again.





5. Always remember that we like each other too much to sleep together, and that sleeping together will ruin EVERYTHING.





6. If the words ‘I love you’ are ever mentioned, it will be assumed that it is in a friendship type context.





7. No talking dirty, or talking about dates with your vibrator.





He sighed, immediately crossing #7 out.





7. No talking dirty, or talking about dates with your vibrator.





“That one is just no fun at all,” he explained.

I giggled. Only Tristan could make me giggle. He sent me a warm smile.

“I named my vibrator after you,” I told him with a smirk. “He’s small, but he makes up for it by working hard.”