Gentleman Nine(46)

“Tell me about it.”

I couldn’t help leaning in to taste her lips. She opened them eagerly to receive my kiss.

My erection was so hard it was painful. I was sure there were other sexual things we could do if she didn’t want to have intercourse, but I wasn’t going to pressure her into anything if she wasn’t feeling well.

We lay in silence for a while until she surprised me when she asked, “Is everything okay back home in Chicago?”

My chest tightened. “Why do you ask?”

“Just wondering.”

That was an odd question that seemed to come out of nowhere. There was a lot going on in Chicago, but it was the last thing I wanted to think about right now.

“Everything is fine.”

I only wanted to think about her. About her lips that were swollen from my kiss. About her skin that was blushing from the way I was looking at her. About how badly I wanted to be inside of her. I honestly couldn’t deal with anything else.

Unable to resist the need to touch her, I brushed my thumb along her collarbone. “Why do you have to look so beautiful right now?”

She sighed. “I don’t feel beautiful.”

“What can I do to make you feel better?”

“Just keep lying down with me. Let’s talk for a little while.”

Kissing her neck, I spoke into her skin, “I can do that.”

She looked up at me. “Am I being too needy? I know this is just supposed to be sex.”

“I like talking to you. A lot. I like doing a lot of things with you, as you know, but just talking is cool, too.”

“How was work this week?” she asked.

“I’ll be happy to be done with this contract. It’s been stressful, but it’s been worth it just to spend this time in Boston with you.”

“I wish you didn’t have to leave.”

It pained me to hear her say that. “You think you’ll ever move back to Illinois?”

“I don’t know. I really love it here. And I couldn’t imagine leaving the people I work with right now, especially Milo.”

“That’s true. That would be tough.”

“My parents want me to move back. I miss them, but it’s been liberating being away and living on my own. Of course, I’d never intended to be alone. I only came out here in the first place because of Rory’s job.”

“Whereabouts does he live exactly? I never asked.”

“He’s about thirty minutes from us in Reading. That’s north of the city. When we broke up, he moved closer to his work up there. Before that, we lived together in Boston in a different apartment near Fenway Park. After the breakup, my father came out and bought the condo I live in now as an investment property.”

“Your dad owns your place?”

“Yes. So, I’m paying the mortgage between my rent and then whatever I get from the Airbnb people.”

“Wow. I had no clue.”

“Do you think I’m a spoiled brat because Daddy owns it?”

“You work harder than anyone I know, so no, of course I don’t. You’ve never taken advantage of your parents’ money.”

Amber never flaunted her wealth growing up. She started working the first chance she got and never spent money like crazy.

I’ll never forget the first time I went to Amber’s house back in Illinois. It was after Lainey died. She was always over at our place, so I’d never had a reason to go to hers. I remember at the time being unable to believe that she actually lived in what seemed like a mansion to me because she’d never given us any indication that she came from money.

“Well, I insisted on paying the entire mortgage. Renting out the room really helps with that. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to afford it.”

“Do you rent to only women?”

“There have been a couple of men.”

That hadn’t even occurred to me until now. I couldn’t stand the idea of her living with strange men. Just the thought made my blood pressure rise. Fuck. This was going to worry me after I left.

“How do you vet people?”

“Background checks.”

“You still don’t really know that they’re safe.”

“Nothing in life is a hundred percent.”

“I’m not gonna lie. That freaks me out a little.”

“Then stay. You won’t have to worry about it.”

The smile she flashed was so freaking adorable.

“I wish I could, Amber. Believe me.”

Her eyes seemed to be asking me why I couldn’t. I desperately wanted to tell her, but I wasn’t ready for the emotional toll that would take on me. Instead of thinking about it, I opted to bury my mouth in her neck.

I spoke into her skin, “I want you so fucking badly.”

She let out a shaky breath. “I’d give anything to feel you inside of me right now.”

Pulling back in surprise, I said, “You want to have sex? Then, what the fuck are we waiting for?”

“I didn’t think you’d…want to. Because I have my period.”

“Are you kidding me? I feel like I’m gonna burst, Amber. I was only holding back because I thought you didn’t want to.”

“No. I’m even more aroused on my period. I just thought it would gross you out.”