The Intimacy Experiment (The Roommate #2)(99)
“If you let me finish this fire, I will let you do that bedroom thing you’ve been trying to talk me into.”
Naomi practically squealed. “Really?”
He released her wrists and shrugged. “Yeah. I trust you.”
She clapped her hands together. “If we weren’t already engaged, I’d totally ask you to marry me.”
Ethan rolled his eyes, but the color high on his cheeks gave him away.
“Hey”—she leaned forward—“you know all kinds of ancient Jewish wisdom, right?”
“Sure,” he agreed, preoccupied with running his hands back and forth from her hips to her thighs.
“Wanna help me with this speech? I keep coming up with ribald jokes that Clara’s already vetoed. She won’t even let me mention the time I walked in on them dry-humping, even though I’ve told her a million times it was the most romantic dry-humping I’ve ever seen.”
Ethan kissed her behind her ear. “I can see why she might not want that particular anecdote shared with her relatives.”
“Well, that makes one of us,” Naomi grumbled.
He let his hands ghost across her rib cage, teasing the sides of her breasts. “You already know my favorite scholarly Jewish position regarding maintaining healthy relationships,” he said, voice just a little rough. “‘Do not hurry in arousing passion. Prolong till she is ready and in a passionate mood. Approach her lovingly and passionately, so that she reaches her orgasm first.’”
Naomi grinned down at him. “I love it when you talk dirty to me.”
Okay, so maybe weddings weren’t so bad after all.
Acknowledgments
Writing this book might be the scariest thing I’ve ever done. It is certainly one of the most rewarding. I could not have pulled it off without the support of the following people and so many others whose words of encouragement, advice, and empathy have kept me going over the last year. I will strive for brevity below, but please know I am full of love and gratitude for you all in ways I cannot adequately express.
Jessica Watterson. Thank you for always making time to listen, even when I’m talking about the same thing I’ve been stressed about for months. Having you in my corner has made me believe in myself—not just as a writer but as a professional in this industry. I’m eternally grateful for your cheerleading, hand-holding, and artfully deployed emails.
Kristine Swartz. Despite my insecurities and reservations, you’ve encouraged this big, bold idea since day one. Thank you for helping me bring this story to readers.
Jessica Mangicaro, Jessica Brock, and the entire crew at Berkley. Has anyone ever had such a fun, creative, hardworking team? I think not! Thank you for bringing so much energy and enthusiasm to your work. I feel lucky every time I get an email from any of you.
Vasya Kolotusha. Thank you for the beautiful cover art. You’ve brought these characters I love so fiercely to life.
My Slack found family. When they talk about the power of a writing community, they’re talking about you. Every day you inspire me, you delight me, you surprise me, and you move me. Finding and keeping you has been the greatest gift.
Karen Averill. For so many reasons, I could not have done this without you. You showed up for me again and again over the course of development for this project. Your knowledge and passion have made these pages more honest and more powerful. I hope reading this makes you at least a little bit proud.
Heather Moran. One of the most brilliant (and busiest) people I know. I’m incredibly grateful that you found time to read this story early and provide invaluable feedback. I have always looked up to you, and it is an honor to have your influence touch this story.
Rachel Lynn Solomon. You changed my entire relationship to this book with your reading and response. I don’t think I can ever convey what that meant to me. You’re so special. Thank you for being my friend.
Felicia Grossman. Your early support and incisive close reading of this work helped me draw out important nuance. Your passion for Jewish stories not only helped encourage me to write this book but also helps push the entire romance genre toward more inclusivity.
Sonia Hartel. You GOT The Intimacy Experiment in ways I had previously only dreamed it could connect with an audience. I’m so glad we made that deal to forever exchange work. I love laughing with and learning from you.
Lyssa Smith. My alpha reader. You looked at that first messy draft and said Keep going. You’ve got this, and even though I wasn’t convinced, as usual, it turns out you were right.
Denise Williams. The dictionary defines friendship . . . No, but really, you are just the best. Smart, kind, compassionate, and SO FREAKIN’ FUNNY. You have hyped me up and talked me off the ledge. I’m amazed by you—by what you accomplish, by your Goodness, by your effort. I’m grateful for you on good days and bad days and every day in between.
Ruby Barrett and Meryl Wilsner. I could write a lot about how you believe in me. How it keeps me going. How it lets me strive and fail and flourish. But for today, I will write about how you believed in Naomi. How you pushed me to give her the story she deserves. How you never doubted she would find her readers. How you have yelled—with and at me—about your love for her in ways that make her feel larger than these pages. This is her story and my story and our story. It is a privilege to create at your side.