“You’re inviting me back?” She looked so happy.
“I don’t know how to say no to you.”
She laughed. “Show me the rest.”
I didn’t know how to feel as I showed her up the stairs. She peered into my office and into the hallway bathroom.
“What’s in there?” she asked, pointing to the closed door.
I stepped in front of her. “The only room that’s still a work in progress.”
“You can show me next time then.” She wandered down the hall and into the master bedroom. “Wow, it’s so much bigger than I expected.”
“That’s what she said.”
She laughed. “Perve.”
“The first thing you said when you stepped foot in my bedroom was that it was bigger than you expected. You walked right into that one.”
“Fair enough. I can’t believe you make your bed. I absolutely hate making my bed, knowing I’m just going to mess it up at night. But James always does it or has Ellen do it. Is that like a rich person thing?”
“Penny, you’re rich too now.”
“Not like you guys.”
“Exactly like us. You’re one of us.” I made a point to make sure all my friends’ wives felt like they were a part of this world. Because I’d failed on that before. I wasn’t naïve. I knew we weren’t untouchable. But I wanted them to know that they belonged. Especially Penny.
Her smile suddenly looked shier. “Thanks, Matt.” She peered into the bathroom. “You’re very…neat.”
“That’s probably the worst description after nice.”
“Too bad. Because you’re also nice.”
Maybe it was just me, but it felt like the air crackled between us. The bed was literally four feet away. What would she do if I backed her up until her thighs hit the mattress? Or if I pushed up her skirt? Or if I kissed that shy smile right off her face? Would she tell me to stop? Beg me for more? Because I couldn’t stop picturing her on her knees begging ever since she’d graciously put the image in my head outside.
The damned teakettle started whistling.
“Which is why I’m going to find you a nice girl.” She patted my chest as she walked by. “Come on, we have teatime and plans to discuss.”
That sounded like the gayest thing ever. What were we, two women at a 1900s luncheon? But I followed her out of the bedroom anyway. I wasn’t sure why. But I’d follow Penny anywhere. Maybe it was the smell of her perfume. Or her subtle Delawarean accent that reminded me of Brooklyn. Or maybe something else entirely.
I watched her pour the boiling water into mugs and place tea bags into each.
“Do you have any honey?” she asked.
I shook my head.
“Oh, first time tea drinkers should really have honey. What about sugar?”
I shook my head again.
“I guess I was wrong before. This is a bachelor pad. You’ll just have to tolerate it without any sweetness.” She sat down on one of the stools at the kitchen island and blew at the steam coming off her mug.
God, those lips.My cock twitched to life.
“Matt?”
“Sorry?” I hadn’t realized she’d said anything.
