“Consider the gauntlet thrown.”

  She pauses to decide whether or not she should accept it. I know she wants to. She loves challenges. She’s just hesitating because she’s not sure she can beat me. And it’s not because she doesn’t have enough money to treat me to dinner. It’s a matter of pride. I’ve never met a woman who hates losing as much as me.

  “Don’t worry,” I tell her. “We’ll do a practice round so you can get the hang of it first. Then we’ll have three rounds and tally the scores. How about that?”

  She looks at me. “That sounds fair.”

  I thought that would do the trick.

  I give her a grin. “So, are you ready to buy me dinner?”

  She gives me a grin of her own. “Oh, I’m ready to kick your ass.”

  ~

  And she tried. But in the end, I was still quicker, so here we are at my favorite tavern on the Pier with a free slab of barbecue ribs and a can of my favorite lager. Violet ordered the Cobb salad, fries, a slice of key lime pie and a glass of California Chardonnay. In spite of all that, she doesn’t look happy.

  “Good food, isn’t it?” I ask her.

  Violet doesn’t answer.

  “It’s even better when you’re not eating with a long face.”

  She lifts her head to meet my gaze, her long face still on.

  Okay. So that didn’t work. What else can I say to try and cheer her up?

  “For your first time, you did good,” I tell her.

  She pauses in the middle of eating a fry and narrows her eyes at me. “Better than all the other women you’ve brought here?”

  Violet sure is competitive.

  “Way better,” I answer.

  “Liar,” she scoffs.

  What the hell?

  “You’re just being nice, which you’re not,” she says. “You know what else you’re not? That good. You only beat me by twelve points. I’ll beat you next time. Also, I tallied my points faster than you did.”

  That she did, but only because I was distracted… by her. I didn’t really have a chance to look at her while we were playing because I had to focus to win. That was how good a fight she put up. When it was finally over, I couldn’t help but stare, and so I guess I got distracted.

  “You’re a sore loser,” I tell her.

  She looks at me with an angry expression.

  Okay. Fine. Maybe I shouldn’t have called her that, especially since she probably still is… sore after all the sex we had this morning.

  I let out a breath. “Fine. I’ll let you ask me a question as a consolation prize. Any question.”

  Her eyebrows crease. “Just one question?”

  “Fine. Three.”

  That makes her grin. Finally.

  She eats a forkful of salad and takes a few seconds to chew.

  “Okay. First question.”

  Here goes.

  “What’s your favorite movie?”

  I nearly laugh. That’s it? And here I thought she was going to ask me a serious question.

  Still, I decide to take this seriously and answer, “Imitation Game.”

  Violet nods. “Good choice.”

  I’m glad she approves.

  She takes a sip of wine as she thinks about her next question.

  “Would you rather… be able to read minds or be invisible?”

  “Hmm.” I set my fork down. “This one’s tough.”

  Especially since they’re not the super powers I’d really want to have. If I had to choose, my top three would be super strength, invulnerability and flight.

  “Read minds,” I answer.

  Then I could find out who’s really on my side and who’s not and make sure the latter don’t get in my way.

  “So you can get any woman to sleep with you?” Violet asks.

  Please. I don’t need to be a mind reader for that. In fact, if I could read minds, it would be too easy.

  “Is that your third question?” I ask her.

  Her eyebrows arch. “Oh. No, it’s not.”

  I didn’t think so.

  “Careful,” I say. “You don’t want to waste your third question.”

  Again, she pauses to think. I brace myself.

  “Why do you sleep around?” Violet asks.

  I wasn’t expecting that. And I don’t know the answer.

  Why indeed? Is it just because of what happened with me and Farrah? Or is it something deeper? Am I damaged? I don’t know. I’ve never been to a shrink.

  I shrug. “Because I love sex?”

  I thought Violet would blush. She looks pretty when she blushes. Instead, her eyes narrow.

  “You don’t sound sure.”

  “Well, it’s true,” I tell her. “I just don’t know if it’s good enough for you.”

  She says nothing and goes on to eat her salad in silence.

  Okay. Now I wish I could read her mind.

  Have I offended her somehow? Does she hate me more now? Is she never going to have sex with me again?

  When Violet showed up at my door, I was genuinely surprised, more so when she started kissing me. I didn’t think she’d want to have sex with me again. I didn’t think I’d want to have sex with her again. But I did. And so we had sex again and again and again. And still, I want more. Weird.

  “Did you sleep with Casey?” she asks me.

  My eyebrows furrow. “Who’s Casey?”

  She sighs. “My friend from Wharton. The one you saw with me at the café. The one you said you’d ask out sometime.”

  Oh. Her. Honestly, I can barely remember what she looked like.

  “No.”

  “Okay.”

  She continues to eat her salad in silence. What? Does she not believe me?

  I suddenly have an urge to tell her that she’s special, that she’s unlike all the women I’ve met. Maybe then she wouldn’t look so worried. But if I did, would she believe me?

  I decide not to.

  “Do you want to walk around after this?” I ask instead before glancing at my watch. “If we finish in half an hour, we can still go to the garden. Then we can go to East End Plaza, which has the best views of the lake. How does that sound?”

  Violet doesn’t answer at once. During that moment she takes to make up her mind, I worry she might say no. I secretly let out a breath of relief when she nods.

  “Yeah. Okay.”

  I smile. “Great.”

  Hopefully, all the walking will cheer her up.

  ~

  It did.

  At least, I thought it did because Violet was smiling and chatting and taking pictures almost every step of the way. But now that we’re on the Centennial Wheel, which I thought was the perfect way to cap our evening, she’s back to being quiet again. And unmistakably sad as she looks out of the car.

  “Is everything okay?” I can’t help but ask.

  She turns to me with a forced smile. “Yeah. This night has been fun.”

  I’m glad to hear that.

  She turns her gaze back to the skyline in the distance. “And the views from here are just spectacular.”

  “They are.”

  Then why does she look sad?

  “I’m fine,” Violet tells me. Or is she trying to convince herself? “I just… I don’t know… It’s… I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay.”

  “I thought I would be fine riding a Ferris wheel since it’s already been nearly two decades but I guess I’m not,” she says. “I…”

  Violet draws a deep breath.

  “My dad and I used to ride the Ferris wheel every summer, up until he… left.”

  That’s why.

  She wipes the corner of her eye then shakes her head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

  “It’s okay,” I tell her again. “There’s no need to apologize. It’s just… We can’t just jump off the Ferris wheel.”

  “I know. I’m fine.”

  No, she’s not.

  I take her hand and squeeze it as I look into her eyes. “If only I could fly you away from here.”

  This is why I’d rather be able to fly than read minds or be invisible—so that I can fly away whenever I want.

  “If you could fly, I bet you’d be flying away from me,” Violet says. “I’m such a lousy date.”

  “You’re not.”

  She snorts. “I’m sure none of the women you’ve brought here before have cried.”

  I nod. “You’re right. That’s because I’ve never brought a woman here before.”

  I don’t know why I said that. Violet’s gaze just seemed to pull the words right out of my mouth. And there’s more.

  “Not on this Centennial Wheel. Not to the Navy Pier, which happens to be one of my favorite places in the world, by the way.”

  Violet frowns. “I don’t believe you.”

  “It’s true. I like Venice, too, and Kyoto and—”

  “I mean about you not bringing any woman here before,” Violet says.

  Oh, that.

  I stroke her hand. “Well, it’s true whether you believe me or not.”

  For a moment, she obviously still doesn’t, but then I see a glimmer in her blue eyes. A glimmer of faith. Of hope. And of joy.

  And desire.

  She leans forward. I meet her halfway. Our lips meet for just a few seconds but I feel the heat from it all throughout my body.

  I stroke her cheek. “Now I really wish I could fly you away from here.”

  She gazes straight back at me and grins. “Me too.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Violet

  As soon as we get inside the elevator, Asher and I continue kissing. After we get off, I lead him down the corridor and we stumble into my apartment, which is closer. We’ve barely managed to make it through the door when I start taking off his jacket.

  I don’t even know why we’re having sex again. We did it countless times this morning and I’m still a little sore, a little tired. All I know is that I’ve had the most amazing date and I don’t want it to end just yet.

  Yes, there were times when it was a letdown, like when I lost to Asher in that maze game or when we started talking about his sleeping habits and when I acted like a fool crying on the Ferris wheel, but overall it’s been amazing, incomparably better than the first time Asher asked me out. This is how that date should have ended. This is how this one will.

  This time, I get to bring him home to my bed.

  I take off Asher’s shirt next. He takes off my cardigan and my blouse. Then I get rid of my pants and kick off my shoes while he steps out of his.

  Stripped down to our underwear, we head to the bedroom but only make it as far as the kitchen. Asher backs me up against the counter. I feel its cold edge against my waist, just above the garter of my panties.

  I grip the edge and lean on it as his tongue melts mine. His hands run across my back and over my breasts, which have started to swell against the padding of my bra. He clutches my ass and gives each soft cheek a firm squeeze before turning me around. I lean on my arms over the counter.

  Asher unhooks my bra. As the straps hang from my arms, he puts his hands on my breasts and licks my ear. He plants kisses in my hair and down my back as he plays with my nipples. He traps the stiff peaks between his fingers and twists them or pinches them gently then rubs them. Heat spreads beneath my skin.

  He pushes my hair aside and plants his mouth on the nape of my neck. His thumbs slip beneath the garter of my panties and tug them just below my hips, just low enough so he can slip his fingers inside me from behind. They slide in easily.

  My body welcomes them, remembering the sensation they gave me just hours before. My mind gives in to the pleasure, knowing resistance is futile. All I can do is try to keep standing as Asher’s fingers move inside me. When my knees and elbows start to tremble, I bend forward, leaning on my elbows. My nipples brush against the cold marble. Moans spill from my lips.

  Asher’s fingers reach in deeply and I let out a soft cry. They press against spots hidden deep inside me, spots that turn me into a mess inside and out. And yet, they feel so good that I can’t stop moving my hips against him, wanting those digits even deeper.

  No. I want something else even deeper.

  When Asher withdraws his fingers, I think I might be getting it. Instead, his arm goes around me. His fingers search for my nub.

  I grab his wrist as I straighten up and lean against him. Then I place his fingers where they should be. They start to strum and my body arches. My head crashes against his shoulder.

  Asher kisses my neck as he strokes my breast and my sensitive nub. I turn my head and our mouths collide. But then the pleasure from his fingers becomes too much and I have to break the kiss to let out a gasp. I cling to his arms as I try not to collapse on the floor.

  His fingers enter me once more and I tremble. He starts to move them in and out of me and I grind against him, wanting more. I feel something hard poke my back and excitement shoots through my veins.

  It’s exactly what I want.

  I turn around and go down on my knees so that my face is at the same level as his crotch. Then I lower his boxers to free his cock. I already saw much of it this morning, but the sight of it hard and leaking still takes my breath away.

  I wrap my fingers around the base and press a kiss against the tip. Some of the liquid oozing there ends up on my lips. I leave it there as I brush my lips against the side of his cock, spreading the substance on his skin. Then I clean it up with the tip of my tongue.

  Asher’s hands land on my shoulders and grip them firmly as a shiver goes through him. He sucks in a deep breath.

  I continue to lick his cock all the way to the base. Then I take his balls gently in my hand and press a solemn kiss on the soft skin as if in apology for hurting them before. I still can’t believe I did that.

  “I’m sorry,” I whisper against them before bringing out my tongue.

  “It’s fine,” Asher tells me hoarsely. “Just be… gentle with them from now on.”

  I try to do that. I try not to apply too much pressure on them with my mouth or with my fingers. I simply cradle them in my palm and plant kisses on them. Then I turn my attention back to his cock. I lick the tip, which sends another shiver through him, then I wrap my lips around it.

  I take his cock slowly inside my mouth. I can’t take much of it, but what I can I rub with my tongue. I suck and Asher’s fingers bite into my skin.

  His hands move to my hair as I start to move my head back and forth. His fingers get lost among the curls. I move my head faster and feel the friction build. My lips grow numb from the heat.

  Suddenly, Asher holds my head steady and takes over. He jerks his hips, thrusting his cock into my mouth. He shoves it in and I almost gag. Tears bead in the corners of my eyes.

  Then he pulls away. I fall back on my heels as I take gulps of air. He grabs my arms and pulls me to my feet.

  “I’m sorry.” Asher wipes the corners of my eyes. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

  I shake my head. “It’s… fine.”

  I was just surprised, that’s all.

  Asher strokes my cheeks. As his eyes gaze into mine, I once more find myself unable to breathe. He cups my face and gives me a kiss. It’s so tender that my heart skips a beat.

  I don’t care what just happened. Everything has been perfect. Well, almost. There’s one more thing I want. And I know Asher does, too.

  He turns me around once more. As he pulls my panties down to my ankles, I bend over the counter again. He kisses the back of my shoulder as he grips my hips. He enters me with a single thrust and I cry out.

  He pounds into me and all I can do is cling to the counter for dear life. It’s cold and hard but I don’t care. There’s enough heat in my veins, filling every part of my body. Soon enough, it explodes. My toes curl. A cry rips through my throat as my body quivers.

  Asher manages a few more thrusts that rock my trembling body. Then he pulls out and I feel a warm splash on my back as he grunts. More drops follow.

  I lie still over the counter until he’s done and even after. I just can’t seem to move. I think I’m about to fall asleep, in fact, when I feel something coarse against my skin. I realize Asher is wiping my back with a paper towel.

  After he cleans me up, he carries me to my bed and tucks me under the covers. Then he starts to leave. Without thinking, I grab his arm. A single word leaves my lips.

  “Stay.”

  For a moment, Asher just looks at me. Then he crawls under the covers beside me and wraps his arm around me. My lips curve into a smile.

  As I close my eyes, I can’t help but think how good this feels, maybe even better than the sex. And even as the haze of sleep starts to settle inside my head, my mind starts to wonder.

  If I had agreed to have sex with Asher back then, would we have ended up like this? Would we have started a relationship, become boyfriend and girlfriend? If I ask Asher if he wants to have a relationship with me now, will he say yes?

  Chapter Seventeen

  Asher

  I don’t know.

  As I have Sunday brunch with Ethan and Stella on the patio, I can’t stop thinking about everything that happened between me and Violet yesterday. We had so much fun and the sex was just as mind-blowing for me as it obviously was for her.

  I don’t remember ever being so happy spending the day with someone, not even with Farrah. And I definitely didn’t sleep in her bed. But I did that last night. I slept in Violet’s bed. I wasn’t planning to, but when she asked me to stay, I just couldn’t refuse. I thought I was just going to hold her until she fell asleep, but I ended up falling asleep as well. I only left early this morning when the sun was just starting to peek out.

  So what does it mean? Are we going to keep doing this? Do I want to? Does Violet?

  I don’t know.

  “Had a late night?” Ethan asks me as he picks up his cup of coffee. “Let me guess. You were clubbing again.”

  He probably thinks I had sex in my lounge, too.

  “No.” I take a big bite out of a roll of bread. “I didn’t go to a club. I was at the Navy Pier.”

  His eyebrows go up. “You were?”

  “I love it there,” Stella gushes. “Ethan and I went on the Ferris wheel once and the views were just lovely. But I guess I can’t go anymore. I have a feeling I might throw up.”