That Day, Karen Deen [early readers .txt] 📗

be going to furniture heaven, but besides that, I’ll have you sorted in a few hours.”

“Oh my god, I can’t ask you to do that. You’ve already done enough favors for me. I don’t expect you to fix my house too!” She turns to face me, her hands on her hips as her voice creeps to a higher pitch.

I can’t help myself.

“And what favors would they be, Asha? Rescuing the dog and you from a storm or the hot fucking we did last night to take your fear away?”

Her cheeks blush up nicely with that glow I love, and she puts a finger into her mouth, chewing on a nail, looking down at her own feet and running one foot over the other.

The soft vulnerability has taken over the confidence from a moment ago.

“Both.” Her voice is soft and then the last words are a mere whisper. “But mainly the amazingly hot sex. Nothing will ever compare.”

I want to agree, but I just stand there staring at her and wanting more.

And yet you want to walk away from this.

You are such an idiot!

Chapter Four

ASHA

Those eyes just burn me, but in the best possible way.

It’s like they are stripping off my shirt and searing my body everywhere he would like to be touching. It’s intense and like nothing I’ve felt before.

But the strangest pull he has over me is his ability to have me saying things I would never repeat to anyone else.

Damn, woman, who tells a guy to his face that the sexual favor he gave her was out of this world? I mean, who does that… seriously. I couldn’t write this shit if I tried, it’s too crazy. Not that anything we did last night felt like sleezy sex. I can’t believe I jumped into his arms and begged him to fuck me. It’s something I can imagine happening if I was drunk, but not sober. I mean, not that I regret it one bit. In fact, if I had the guts, I’d ask for a rerun now just to try to figure out what the hell we shared last night. Poor Kurt agreed to a one-night stand, and instead I’m standing here trying to work out how to ask him to stay without embarrassing myself again.

The reality of it all, though, is that in the light of day, all my confidence is gone, and I know there is nothing I can say that won’t make me sound like some clingy woman. Say something. The pregnant pause is awkward.

“I, um… dressed. Yeah, I should umm, get dressed. Clothes, yes, clothes sound like a good thing.” When he looks at me like this, I can’t form a sentence that even makes an ounce of sense. Which is crazy because I can write thousands of words in a day, but right now I sound like a kid who’s anxious about something.

“Real cool, Asha,” I mumble as I make my quick exit down the hallway to my bedroom, better known as the scene of the crime.

“Heard that. You really need to learn to whisper quieter.” His deep laugh from behind me just makes me move quicker, knowing I must seem like the weirdest woman he has ever met.

Closing the door with more force than I should, I lean my back against it, closing my eyes, trying to breathe again. No matter how much I try, just being close to Kurt makes me feel different. Not in a bad way; in fact, in a good way—or should we say it’s in the amazing category.

“Pull yourself together and get back out there. Clothed and a little more stable.” I suck in a deep breath and push myself off the door, thinking about how I need long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, scarf, and hat, so no part of my skin is showing. Nothing tempting so it will stop him from looking at me like I’m his next meal. Hmm, like an ice cream that could be licked, my wandering mind says as I’m getting dressed.

“Stop being so ridiculous. You sound like you’re a horny twenty-year-old.” I check myself out in the mirror. Now that’s more appropriate. Black t-shirt and a pair of gray cut-off shorts. My first thought was a skirt but then that wouldn’t work real well outside in the breeze while cleaning up. So, shorts it is then.

“Breakfast is ready,” I hear from the kitchen in the same happy voice I remember from last night when we were talking. It’s got power but a softness to it. I like it… a lot.

Heading down the hallway, the smell wafting towards me makes my tastebuds tingle.

“Wow, are you good at everything? That smells amazing.”

He gestures with his chin towards the table as he carries two plates towards me. “I’m good at most things, but some things I’m amazing at!” And there go the tingles again. No need to convince me of what you are amazing at, Kurt.

“We’ve already established that.” I try saying it quietly, but Kurt’s laugh tells me it didn’t work.

“You really do need to work on your mumbling under your breath skills. One day it will get you into trouble.” He places my plate in front of me with my omelet that both looks and smells fantastic.

“Like it hasn’t already,” I say, scooping the first forkful into my mouth.

All Kurt can do is laugh at me. I’m not helping my cause to show him that I’m not as nutty as I seem.

I’m about to open my mouth to defend myself but he just looks at me and smiles.

“Just eat, Asha. To me it’s kinda cute.” Looking down, he then starts to shovel his food into his mouth like he’s starving.

The first bit of food that hits my tongue reminds me how hungry I am this morning too. No dinner and mind-altering sex can make a woman ravenous, and we are just talking food here.

“Yes, sir,” I answer, only to hear a deep groan from across the table opposite me.

We both sit