Текст книги "Some Sort of Crazy"

Автор книги: Melanie Harlow

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Текущая страница: 6 (всего у книги 15 страниц)

And I kissed her. Just like that, I kissed her.

I’d kind of intended it to be a quick, friendly, reassuring sort of kiss, but then I couldn’t stop.

I kissed her again. And again. I couldn’t help it.

She put a hand on the back of my neck, threading her fingers through my hair. “I can’t stop thinking about you, Miles.” Her words came breathlessly, as if they were taking her by surprise. “That’s why I came here tonight. I know you think it was about Dan and not you, but ever since you called me yesterday morning, I can’t get you out of my head. And the things you’re doing there…” She breathed deeply, inhaling and exhaling as her eyes traveled down my chest to where the blanket covered me to the hips and back up again. “The things you said to me on the couch…I want that. I want you.”

Oh, yeah. This is happening. Tonight.

I gave her a wicked grin. “Good. Because guess what?”

“What?”

I scooped her up and rolled over, pinning her beneath me. “The gentleman is on a break.”

He kissed me deep and hard, his mouth slanting over mine, his tongue sliding between my lips. I welcomed it, sliding my fingers into his hair, tasting him for the first time. It’s Miles! I’m kissing Miles! In his bed! I had first-time butterflies in my belly and felt the tingle all the way to my toes. It had been so long since I’d even kissed another guy—everything felt new and different, and I couldn’t catch my breath. I reveled in the weight of his body over mine, his hips between my thighs, his hard length trapped between us. I ran my hands down his bare back, tilted my hips to meet his, my entire body hot and alive, radiating with desire.

This, I thought as we frantically tore off each other’s clothes. This is fire.

Miles knelt between my thighs, and my heart clamored in my chest. His body was beautiful. Ever since I’d walked in on him shirtless in his pajama pants, my nipples had been hard and my panties damp. I’d had to look away, scared my arousal was too obvious and he’d go sleep on the couch or something. Now I stared unabashedly at his muscular chest and stomach, the ink covering his arm, the V lines low on his torso that pointed directly to his thick, hard cock. Having only seen one dick in my entire life—and frankly, it was nowhere near as impressive as this one—I felt like I’d just unwrapped a shiny new toy, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. I sat up and reached for him, but immediately he pushed my hands away and tipped me backward again, bracing himself above me.

“Want something?” The sly grin was back.

“Yes,” I panted.

“What do you want?”

He wanted to hear it again? Perfect, because I’d say it all night long. “I want you to fuck me. Hard.”

“Hmmmm.” Sitting back on his heels, he put his palms on my quivering stomach and slid them up to my breasts, squeezing gently. Then he began circling his thumbs around my nipples, making them tingle and ache without even touching them, a sublime little torture. “I love hearing you say that, and you’re so fucking beautiful,” he said, finally brushing the backs of his fingertips over the taut peaks. Then he pinched them¸ hard, and I cried out—in pain and relief. “But you were a bad girl today, weren’t you? Coming over here in your black lace panties telling me to fuck you.” He pinched me again. “Pretending all this time to be the innocent girl next door, teasing me with what I could never have, when you really just wanted to get fucked.”

I started to protest, to tell him I hadn’t been pretending, that I really was sort of innocent where sex was concerned, but he immediately clamped a hand over my mouth, hard.

“No excuses, Naughtalie Nixon. You misbehaved, and now I have to punish you.” Suddenly he flipped me over onto my belly and hitched up my hips so I was on my knees. When I tried to get up, he grabbed a handful of my hair and held my head down, pushing my cheek into the mattress. “Don’t. Move. Or you won’t get what you want.”

I’d always liked the low, gravelly sound of his voice, but now it made me so hot I wanted to scream. It was Miles, but it was a side of him I’d never known, still playful but also commanding, and it almost made him seem like a stranger. I could feel his cock pressing against my ass, and I shivered in anticipation, biting my lip. What would he do to me?

He sat back, letting go of my hair. “Say you were a bad girl.”

I giggled—mostly from nerves—and he cracked one palm hard across my ass, making me yelp.

Fuck! That kinda hurt!

But it made me want to please him.

He put his hand over the stinging skin. “Say it.”

“I was a bad girl,” I said softly, coquettishly.

He smacked the other cheek even harder, and I cried out again. “Louder, Natalie.”

“I was a bad girl!”

“Good.” He smacked me a third time. A fourth. “Tell me to spank you harder.”

“Spank me harder.” Wincing, I braced myself for the sting, but it didn’t come.

“Say it like you mean it, please.”

“Spank me harder!” I yelled. Crack! His palm slapped my ass with enough force to bring tears to my eyes, but I was so turned on I was smiling deliriously.

“Good girl.” He rubbed both hands over the burning skin. “Fucking hell, your ass is phenomenal. I could punish you all night.”

“No,” I said breathlessly. “You promised to fuck me.”

“That’s right.” Reaching beneath me, he turned me onto my back and slipped a hand between my legs. “I promised to fuck you hard, didn’t I. Are you wet for me?” He stroked me shallowly, finding my pussy slick with desire.

“Yes.” I whimpered as he slid one finger easily inside me, and then two, his thumb rubbing my clit.

“Good.”

I rocked my hips against his hand, panting in frustration. “Miles,” I begged. “Now.”

“So impatient,” he chided. “It took me years to get you into bed, honeypot. You have to let me play a little.” Moving down the bed, he lowered his head between my thighs and replaced his thumb with his tongue, licking my clit with long, firm strokes. “Mmmm, don’t come until I say so, OK? You are absolutely fucking delicious, and I need to savor every bit of this meal in case I never get to eat out at this restaurant again.”

“Oh, God.” My entire body was so coiled up with sexual tension, I was nearly in tears, yet he could still makes jokes and tease me.

He bit my inner thigh as he twisted his fingers inside me, putting pressure where I’d never felt it before, a spot that had my eyes rolling back in my head.

“If you don’t want me to come too soon, you better stop touching me like that.”

“You like that?” His fingers plunged deeper inside me as he teased my clit with the tip of his tongue, his lips, his teeth.

My legs twitched. “Fuck yes. Oh God.”

“Don’t come yet, you naughty thing. Wait for permission.” But then he buried his face in my pussy and sucked my clit into his mouth, flicking it hard with his tongue.

I felt myself spiraling upward, and had no idea how to control it. Unable to help myself, I rocked my hips instinctively, grinding against his mouth. “Oh God, I’m sorry, it’s been too long, and you’re too good, and I’m going to come so hard, and oh fuck—Miles. Yes. Yes! Yes!” I moaned in agony and delight, my hands clawing at the sheets as the orgasm reached its highest peak. At the moment of release, I grabbed his head, fisting my hands in his hair as my body released all the tortuous tension inside it in blissful pulsing waves.

“Fuck.” Miles crawled up my body, licking his lips. “That was so hot. But you are a very bad girl to come before I said you could. I knew you were just pretending to be such a goody two shoes all these years.”

I laughed, trying to catch my breath. “You know what? Maybe I was.”

“And inside you was a wanton little harlot just waiting for me to let her out.”

I reached between us, finally wrapping my hand around his cock. “I want you inside me.”

“Yeah? You want my cock inside you?” He closed his eyes, his game face slipping slightly as I worked my hand up and down his hot, hard length.

“Yes. But first.” I shimmied down between his legs until my head was right between his thighs.

“What’s this?” Miles looked down at me in surprise.

“What if I never get to eat at this restaurant again?” I asked coyly, angling his cock toward my mouth and rubbing its smooth tip on my lips. I had never, never, acted this boldly before, but Miles was inspiring me to let my instincts take over, play a little, take my time and enjoy this for what it was—good, dirty fun. How had I gotten to be so serious about sex?

“Ah. I see. In that case…” He tipped forward, bracing himself against the headboard. “Bon appétit.”

Keeping one hand wrapped around the base, I swirled my tongue around the tip, closing my eyes and focusing on the velvety feel of his skin, the salty-sweet taste, the sound of his labored breaths above me. Lifting my head off the bed, I took the head in my mouth, sucking gently at first, and then harder. With my other hand, I reached between his legs and played with his balls, cupping them gently and sliding my finger along the sensitive spot behind them. When he moaned, I picked my head up further, taking his cock into my mouth as far as it would go, letting the tip hit the back of my throat.

“Jesus,” he rasped above me, his hips beginning to move. “That feels so fucking good. You are invited to this restaurant eight days a fucking week.”

Grabbing his ass, I pulled him toward me, jerking him into my mouth with one hand and sucking greedily. He began to thrust faster, his hips pumping in deep, forceful jabs that pushed my head back onto the bed. A tingling rush of heat swept up my center as I imagined him driving into my pussy that way. Moaning appreciatively, I slid one hand up the front of his body. Really it was just a cheap feel of his abs and chest, but when my fingertips brushed over his nipple, he inhaled sharply and groaned in pleasure.

What’s this? Miles Haas has sensitive nipples?

It’s hard to smile with a dick in your mouth, but I was pleased as punch when pinching one resulted in another quick intake of breath and a throb of his cock.

“Christ,” he growled, pushing off the headboard and taking my head in his hands. “Is this real?”

I looked up, our eyes met, and something happened between us, shifting the mood from playful to serious. His expression was hot and dark as he curled his fingers in my hair, pulling it as he slid his cock deeper into my mouth, so deep I nearly choked.

“I love how deep you take me,” he whispered, holding still. “I love watching my cock slide between your beautiful lips. I love the sounds you make. I could come so hard right now.”

I was totally willing to let him, so I was surprised when he pulled out of my mouth and stretched out over me.

“But I’ve been waiting to get inside you for so long, and if I only get one chance with you, this is what I want.”

“Yes,” I breathed. “It’s what I want too.”

The hot, wet tip of his cock teased my pussy. “Do you… Let me get a condom.”

For a second I thought he wanted to do it without protection, and the way I felt right now, I’d have let him. Still, I was glad when he got out of bed and rummaged through a bag on the floor near his closet. In less than a minute he was back, rolling on the condom before positioning himself between my legs.

I touched his cheek, overcome with affection for him. “See? You are a gentleman, Miles.”

He kissed me. I thought he would tease me some more, make me wait, order me to say something dirty, but he didn’t. He just kissed my lips and slid inside me silently, reverently, my breath still as he reached the deepest spot.

“Are you OK?” he asked.

“Yes.” Closing my eyes, I smiled at the perfect fit.

“Can I keep going?”

My eyes flew open. “There’s more?”

He smiled, making my heart flutter furiously in my chest. “Yeah.”

I took a deep breath, wrapping my legs around him. “Give me everything.”

He pushed in even deeper, going slow, allowing me time to get used to his size.

“It feels like the first time,” I whispered, gasping at the way he filled me, at the way the twinge of pain only added to my arousal.

“It is.” When he was completely sheathed inside me, he closed his eyes. “It fucking is the first time.”

“Miles,” I whispered, my body igniting again. “Your voice does things to me.”

“My voice, huh?” He began to move over me, rippling, rolling undulations of his body that had me sighing. No wonder he wrote about sex—he was so good.

“Yes.” I ran my hands down his sides, up his back, digging my nails into his skin.

He groaned. “Everything about you does things to me. Fucking everything. Your eyes, your laugh, your perfect mouth. And don’t even get me started on your ass.” He moved his hips a little faster, but stayed tight to my body so the base of his cock rubbed my clit.

“Oh God, that feels good.” The lovely storm inside me built again, and I knew without a doubt Miles would indeed give me a first—two orgasms in one night. “You’re gonna make me come twice. I’ve never done that.”

“Oh, fuck.” He moved his hands beneath me to grab my ass, tilting my hips as he drove into me, and at first it hurt because he was hitting me so hard and deep, but then something started to happen inside me—it felt like an orgasm was building, but it wasn’t centered in the usual place. I mean, one was building there too, but this was something else. Muscles deep within I didn’t even know I had were tightening around him like a vise and suddenly I couldn’t see or speak or even hear. My world went white as the contraction reached its apex and it seemed like I would balance on the precipice forever, suspended there between purgatory and nirvana. My mouth hung open, and I dropped my head to the side, desperate for climax, as he slowed down, the tip of his cock teasing that perfect spot. Oh God… I was going to die.

“You want it?” Miles growled in my ear, the little pulses of his hips driving me mad. “You want everything?”

“Yes!” I cried, near tears. “Yes!”

He rocked into me hard and fast. Then it began—the longest, most intense orgasm of my life. An orgasm that jarred my bones, stopped my heart, stole my breath. It was more powerful, more potent, more euphoric than any orgasm I’d ever experienced. It was a moregasm, and I never wanted it to end.

In the final throes, Miles changed his position a little and lasted only about two seconds before I felt the skin on his back ripple with gooseflesh and his body went stiff above me. I lifted my hips, giving him more friction, and he moaned as his cock throbbed deep inside me.

He dropped his head into the crook of my neck. “Oh my God. Natalie.”

I ran my hands through his hair, overcome with affection for him. “What?”

“I… I can’t find words.”

“No?”

“No. Wait, yes. Hold on. I need to breathe. I’m not thinking straight.” He laid his cheek on my chest.

Every part of my body was still tingling as I cradled his head. “It’s OK, honey.”

“Wow.” He inhaled and exhaled. “This is crazy. I have spent a lot of time fantasizing about fucking you. Like, a lot. But the real thing just blew the fantasy out of the water.”

“Oh, stop.”

“No, I mean it.” He picked up his head and looked down at me. “In general, I’m a fan of sex, but that—that was something else entirely.”

“I agree. What the hell did you do to me in there? I’ve never felt that before.”

“Good.” He kissed my collarbone. My breast. My cheek.

“We must have really needed that, huh?”

“Well, I did. That’s for sure. Nine years, I’ve been waiting. And yes, you were worth it.” His whole body shivered.

I giggled. “Oh yeah?”

“Definitely.”

“Good. Maybe I won’t make you wait another nine before we do it again.”

He looked elated. “Seriously?”

I shrugged. “That was the most fun I’ve ever had in bed, spankings and all.”

“Sweetheart, you keep being bad like you were tonight, and I’ll spank you as often as you like.”

“We’ll see,” I said slyly. “Now you better let me get some sleep because I have to get up and go to work in like an hour or something.”

Miles rolled off of me, put his glasses on and picked up his phone. “You have to get up at four?”

“Yes. What time is it?”

“You don’t want to know.”

“Tell me.”

“Two fifteen.”

“Oh God. Tomorrow is not going to feel good.”

“But tonight did.”

I smiled. “Yes. It did.”

Miles went across the hall to the bathroom, and when he came back, I went. After cleaning up a little, I looked at my reflection in the mirror and actually felt like smiling. My hair was a wreck, my eyes were still puffy, and my face was a little scratched from Miles’s scruffy chin, but I looked happy. Relaxed. Satisfied.

With a spring in my step, I went back into Miles’s room and jumped into bed next to him. Immediately, he pulled me into his arms, spooning me.

“This is what I wanted to do earlier,” he said, his arm tight around my waist. “Before the sex happened.”

I laughed, snuggling back into him. “This probably would have led to the sex anyway.”

I felt a little nudge against my ass.

“Um, it still might.”

I sighed, but secretly I was thrilled. “OK, but a quickie this time. No eating at the restaurant first.”

“No promises.” He kissed the back of my neck, my shoulder blade, my upper arm. “It so happens that I have a taste for buns right now, and you, my sweet, have the best buns around.” He kissed his way down my arm and threw the blankets off, putting his lips on my hip. When he sank his teeth into my ass, making me shriek, I realized I didn’t care if I ever slept before the sun came up.

Who knew what tomorrow would be like—maybe we’d go back to being just friends, maybe not. I was just as confused about my feelings as I had been before.

But if I only had one night with Miles, I wanted to make it count.

Jesus. Fucking. Christ.

How was it possible that Natalie was even better in my bed than she’d been in my head? No woman should have been able to live up to the idealized version of her that I’d dreamed about, but not only did she look gorgeous naked, have a deliciously sweet pussy, and insist on sucking my dick, but she was playful enough to let me spank her, submissive when I wanted her to be, and yet unafraid to take what she wanted from me. To ask for it. And the way she looked up at me when I was inside her—like she’d never been with anyone else. Like she’d waited for me all this time. Like she was mine.

It was almost enough to make me believe it.

But then, everything with us was always almost.

I almost lost control when she pinched my nipple.

I almost asked to fuck her without a condom.

I almost told her I loved her when it was over.

Almost.

She’d changed the subject and gotten out of bed before I could embarrass myself, thank God, and I’d had a few minutes to regain my fucking sanity. Then we cuddled up close and I’d had every intention of letting her close those big blue eyes and get some sleep.

But her ass…it was right there next to my dick, and I cannot be responsible for ideas my dick gives me when it’s close to her ass. I just can’t. Even when the idea is to bite it so hard she screams.

And then it was like magic, because instead of telling me to fuck off and leave her be, she turned to me and opened her arms. And her legs. And her lips. It didn’t even feel real. Was it just make-believe, like all the games we used to play?

I want you, she said.

I trust you, she said.

Give me everything, she said.

That was my favorite—give me everything.

I would. I would give her everything.

Even if it was only make-believe.

The next day at work should have been miserable. I think Miles and I might have slept for half an hour, but even after we did it a second time, we found it hard to sleep. Our bodies were tired, but we kept making jokes, or kicking one another, or bringing up a childhood memory that made us laugh. The entire night was just ours, like we existed outside of time, in our own little world. Granted, the beginning of the evening was a bit shaky, and there were plenty of cracks on his part about my drunken attempt at seduction, but by five AM when we stumbled out to his Jeep, shushing each other because my parents’ house was right next door, exhausted and sore and smiling, I was convinced it had been the best night of my life. Not just because of the sex, but because it was the lightest I’d felt in I couldn’t remember how long. I had no clue what the hell was going on with my life, but for once, I didn’t care.

Miles drove me to my house and dozed on the couch while I took a two-minute shower and changed, then he insisted on coming into the shop with me and helping me open up. I told him it wasn’t necessary, but he said he’d work for buns, so I let him stay.

We were like two goofy kids all morning, snickering whenever we made eye contact, making jokes about glazing buns, and sometimes just dropping everything to kiss—he’d back me up against the giant stainless refrigerator, I’d jump up and straddle him out of nowhere, he’d corner me in the walk-in pantry.

It was silly and sexy and exactly what I needed, so I didn’t dwell on the fact that in the three years since I’d owned this shop, not once had Dan ever come in to help me open up. I don’t even think he’d ever offered—if I’d stayed the night at his place, he drove me to my condo and went right back home, or he’d let me take his car.

But Miles…Miles stayed with me.

So all morning I ignored my phone when I saw that it was Dan calling, and I never opened any of his texts. If he showed up, I’d kick his sorry ass right out.

When Hailey arrived, I could see her looking back and forth between Miles and me, wondering what was going on with us. I’d introduced him as an old friend the other day, but even though she was barely out of her teens, I think she knew better. The air between us crackled with sexual energy.

At around noon, the caffeine buzz started to wear off. “Oh my God,” I said, slumping onto the kitchen counter. “I’m dying. I’m not gonna make it.”

“Yes, you will.” Miles was on dish duty, loading cups and plates and silverware into the washer since I’d asked Hailey to be more visible up front today. My puffy eyes with dark circles underneath were not fit to be seen out there.

“I’m not. I’m gonna die. Need sleep.”

“We’re gonna nap so hard when we’re done here, Nat. I’m serious. Fucking gold medal nap.”

“Nap. Naaaaaaaaap,” I moaned.

“A couple more hours. You can do it.” He came over and took me by the shoulders, straightening me up. “Hey. You’re taking the day off tomorrow. You work too hard.”

I laughed weakly, but I felt like crying. “I can’t do that.”

“Yes, you can. And you will. If I have to pay your staff myself, you are doing it.”

I sighed. “Michael will be back. He can probably handle things for a day.”

“He can. I am sure of it.”

“You don’t even know him.”

“Doesn’t matter. You hired him, so he’s talented and competent. He can run a goddamn diner for a day.”

I made a face. “It’s not easy, you know.”

“I know. Believe me.” He gathered me close, and I rested my head on his shoulder, thinking that if he just stayed still, I could sleep like this, standing up. “There’s a reason I chose writing as a profession. I don’t want to be in charge of people. I’m barely good at being in charge of myself. But you’re amazing at it. You’re so amazing that Michael has picked up on exactly what to do to keep this place going in your absence for a day. Or a week.”

I pulled away from him. “What week?”

“A vacation. You need a week off, I think.” He rubbed his hand over his jaw, then snapped his fingers. “A road trip. That’s it.”

“You’re insane. I can’t leave here for a week!”

“A road trip to…” Miles went on as if I hadn’t spoken. “Detroit!” His face lit up. “We’ll drive down to Detroit, spend a few days there hanging out, and I’ll show you all my favorite places. How about it?”

“A week? No way.” I folded my arms. “Can’t do it.”

“Then three days.” Miles took me by the wrists and shook my arms. “That’s all I ask. Three days of relaxation and fun with me, and then you can come back here, be a grown up and make that frowny face all you like.”

I snatched my arms away. “I don’t make a frowny face!”

He burst out laughing. “You do. It looks like this.” He set his jaw stubbornly, his bottom lip a little pouty, and squinted.

I winced. “Please tell me I do not make that face.”

“You do,” he assured me. “But I would too if I dealt with managing people day in and day out. Or if I just got out of a dead end relationship and needed to have some fun.”

I looked away, a little sadness seeping into my bloodstream for the first time today. I’d successfully avoided thinking too much about Dan, for the most part, unless it was to make unfavorable comparisons to Miles. But that wasn’t really fair. Miles wasn’t here to stay, either.

A week. That was his best offer.

Should I take it?

“I don’t know,” I said. “Let me think about it.”

Miles grabbed my face and planted a big kiss on my lips. “You’re adorable when you’re serious. It makes me want to spank you.”

“Shhhhhhhh!” I shoved his hands down. “Someone might hear you.”

“Good.” He grabbed me again, pulling my head to his chest and yanking on my hair. “Everyone should know the real you, you dirty slut.”

“Oh my God.” I pushed him away, but I had to laugh. “You are a horrible person, and I am too tired to deal with horrible people right now. That’s the whole reason I’m back here today.”

“Fine. I will go out and charm your customers for you.” He adjusted the crotch of his pants. “You’re welcome.”

• • •

Two hours later, Miles drove me back to my house, and I had a hard time staying awake on the ten-minute ride.

“Want to come in and nap with me?” I asked. “Then when we wake up, I can give you a tour.” I did want to show him the house, but honestly I just didn’t want to part with him yet. The moment he left my side I’d have to deal with the fallout of my relationship, including the fact that Dan had cheated on me, and I didn’t think I was ready to face that yet. Miles was the perfect distraction, and I was giving myself permission to be distracted for the time being. Something I’d never done before.

“Hell, yes.” He turned off the car, and pulled the key from the ignition. “You were right. Working that place is exhausting.”

I smiled. “Only on no sleep. Otherwise it can be fun. Come on in.”

Bleary-eyed, we stumbled into my house, managed to get up the stairs, and tumbled across my bed sideways, me on my stomach and Miles on his back, our legs hanging off the side. We didn’t even take off our shoes, didn’t say another word, didn’t move for hours, waking only when my phone rang. I heard it, but it sounded far away, like it was in a dream. Eventually I realized what it was and reached into my purse, which rested near my head. The screen said Skylar.

“Hello?” I croaked.

“Hey, where are you?”

“I’m home.” I wiped drool from my mouth and frowned at the wet spot on my comforter. “Why?”

“Dinner at Mom and Dad’s, remember?”

“Oh crap. No, I didn’t.”

“Well, come over. We’re waiting for you.”

I thought about making an excuse and turning her down. What could I say? My mind was a dead zone, and all I could do was whine. “But I’m tiiiired.”

“Come on, Mom’s grilling Italian sausage.” She laughed. “And you need some sausage.”

“Hahaha.”

Miles opened his eyes, rubbed his face with one hand, and looked over at me. “Did someone say sausage?”

Ten minutes later, we were on our way to my parents’ house.

“Do not say anything to them about anything,” I warned. “Not Dan, not us, not anything.”

“Why? Are you ashamed of me?” Miles feigned offense, putting a hand on his chest. “I’m hurt by this, Natalie. You want to hide our love.”

I rolled my eyes. “Look, I’m sure this is all fun for you, but breaking up with Dan is a big deal for me. I’m not ready to announce it yet.”

He went quiet for a moment. “Is it because you’re not ready to face it yet?”

“I don’t know. Maybe.” I glanced over at him. “Is that OK?”

“It’s fine.” He put his hand on my thigh, which was bare since I’d changed from my work shorts into a short white skirt I’d paired with a soft gray t-shirt. “I think the guy was an ass, but you loved him for a lot of years. I’m sure that doesn’t just turn off overnight because you’re mad. No one would ever stay married if that were the case, not that many people stay married, anyway.”

“Right.” Sighing, I rolled down my window and closed my eyes, letting the wind hit my face. I was mad, not as mad as I’d been last night, but still. Dan should have been honest with me from the start about feeling trapped. But then again, wasn’t he right about me needing time apart too? Hadn’t I felt relief when I realized I could run straight to Miles and not feel guilty about it? What did that say about me?

“Stop thinking so hard.” Miles rubbed his hand on my leg.

“I can’t help it. I was totally shocked and hurt when he said he’d cheated and wanted time apart, but look how quickly I jumped into bed with you.” I twisted my hands together in my lap. “Am I a bad person?”

“No. Jesus Christ, Natalie.” He shook his head. “You’re a great person. And you were totally faithful to him for ten fucking years. You jumped into bed with me because A, let’s face it, who wouldn’t? And B, we’ve always wondered what it would be like. At least I have.”

“I have too,” I admitted. And it exceeded all my expectations. I didn’t even know sex that good was possible.

“That doesn’t make us bad people, it makes us two consenting adults who had fun together. You didn’t cheat on anybody, you didn’t hurt anybody, and the world did not explode because you had someone else’s dick in you.”

“Felt like it did.”

One side of his mouth hooked up. “Good.”

We stopped at the wine store because Miles didn’t want to show up empty-handed to dinner, and he lectured me while I perused the selection.

“You’re way too serious for being so young. You always have been. The rest of us have been fucking up our lives and having a damn good time doing it for years. Now it’s your turn.”

“To do what? Fuck up my life? I’ll pass, thanks.”

“No, just…treat yourself. Go a little crazy. All that mature, responsible behavior cannot be good for your mental health.”

I looked at him over my shoulder. “And I suppose going a little crazy involves a trip to Detroit and lots of sex with you?”

He put his hands out toward me, palms up. “I am totally willing to sacrifice my time and virtue to help you reclaim your lost youth.”