The audience is floored by those words, and Dortha covers her mouth.
“That is beautiful,” she breathes, “how about you, Jane?”
I shrug. “I tell him ‘good morning’ and go back to sleep.”
The audience laughs again, and Dortha nods with approval.
“I did the same with my exes,” Dortha says and adds, “What do you two enjoy having for breakfast?”
“I like eggs benedict with a side of turkey sausage and toast,” Riker answers.
“Cereal for me,” I say briefly, I never have time for a big breakfast.
“Mmm.” Dortha nods. “So, I know it’s still early, but any ideas for the honeymoon? Where might you be going?”
“We haven’t thought of a place yet,” Riker says, “though I would love to go to Italy.”
“Ah, Italy,” Dortha dreamily sighs, “one of my exes took me there once…and then left me. Anyways, what is your perfect Sunday?”
A moment of awkward silence looms until Riker clears his throat and answers, “Lying in bed with the love of my life.” He pulls me closer to him, and my cheeks heat up.
“And you, Jane?” Dortha leans in with excitement in her eyes. There’s excitement in everyone’s eyes, intensifying the tension in my body. So, I blurt out, “I like staying in with Riker too.”
Everyone is once again floored by my words, and Dortha takes the opportunity to ask more questions than I think was intentional. I lose count of how many. At first, I thought I was getting the hang of this, but with all this attention as the questions keep coming and coming, I’m not sure how much I can handle it. Now my mind turns to Nia as I wonder when I can see her again.
11 Riker
As soon as the cameras quite rolling, Jane is off the couch and running from the set. Her long legs move quickly, as if she’s being chased by a horde of brain-eating zombies. Her lips are pursed into a tense line, and her fists are clenched so tight I almost expect her bones to pop through the smooth, dark skin that’s stretched taut along her knuckles. My dick twitches just thinking about what those hands are capable, but I know this isn’t the time.
“Jane, wait,” I run after her, hooking my fingers around her elbow and pulling gently. “What’s going on?” I’m genuinely confused. I thought the interview went great.
“This is never going to work, Riker.” She’s shaking her head adamantly, as if the motion itself will make her words truer.
“What are you talking about?” I place one hand on each of her shoulders and squeeze softly as I peer down into her warm chocolate gaze. “We did great.”
“This isn’t a good idea. We know nothing about each other. Look at the way we answered those questions. We’re not compatible at all. How long do you honestly believe we can fool people for?” She lets out a frustrated breath.
“What do you mean, not compatible? There’s so much chemistry sizzling between us that, if someone lit a match, we would probably both combust.” She starts to shake her head. “You can’t deny it.” My voice is determined. I’m not ready to let her walk away just yet.
She sighs as if in defeat. “I won’t deny that there is something…physical between us, some kind of attraction. Perhaps under different circumstances, I might want to examine it closer, but physical attraction doesn’t make us compatible. It sure doesn’t mean that we know each other.”
“Semantics,” I say.
“Our lives are too different.” She insists. “You caused a scene in a casino by throwing an obscene amount of money in poker chips all over the place. You were arrested. You have no sense of responsibility. You just do and say whatever you want, whenever you want.”
“Wait a minute,” I try to cut in, but she’s on a roll, now.
“I have responsibilities. I don’t have a lot of money, but I do well enough, and I work hard for what I have. I don’t have the luxury to just walk away whenever I feel like a change. I have...” She stops short, and a look crosses her face that I can’t quite understand. It’s almost like guilt or uncertainty, but I can’t be sure. Whatever it is, it only lasts a moment before she smooths out her features.
“We just don’t know anything about each other,” she says flatly.
I can feel her pulling away, and something inside me threatens to come loose. A deep ache churns in the center of my chest at the thought of not being with her. Whatever this is that’s simmering between us, every cell in my body is screaming at me to hold on to it.
“I know one way we can fix that,” I say.
“Ho…”
My lips crash against hers before she can even finish the word. I take advantage of her mouth being open, mid “how,” and delve in, licking, caressing, tasting. She tastes like warm cookies on a cold winter day.
She stands frozen, stunned, hands hanging slack at her sides. I wrap one hand low around her waist, pressing her lower half against my ever-growing erection. Moving my other hand up, I cup her cheek. And then…she comes alive.
Her hands go around my neck and she angles her head, allowing me deeper access into the sweet warmth of her mouth. Her tongue moves against mine, twisting, tangling, fighting for control. She runs her fingers along the nape of my neck, her long nails sending a trail of desire surging down my spine. My dick throbs, growing thick and heavy.
She slides her hands down my back and grips my ass, pressing me from behind as she grinds her pelvis against the hard length of my cock. I break from her mouth and trail wet steamy kisses down along her collarbone. Her breathing grows rapid, and her breasts rise and fall in quick succession.
I wrap a hand around one swollen peak, kneading the firm mound. I can
