9. Colder

It had beenthe longest Friday night in a damn long time. The rain had finally let up and it was like the hoards had been released after dinner. There'd been no time for a break or even a sip of water tonight.

My head ached and my back was screaming from being on my feet the entire time. We'd even called in three extra people to help, and we'd still been slammed.

I nearly groaned when the elevator opened to my floor. It was quiet and the lights were dimmed due to the late hour. 2AM was last call and we'd still had stragglers until three.

The only good thing about rolling in this late was the utter quiet of my floor.

I dragged my ass off the elevator to my door and dropped my keys in my exhaustion. A bang from the other end of the hall dented my haze. Then the breathy tones of Taylor Swift's new album floated out from the girls' apartment.

Guess even they were up late tonight.

Even exhausted, a flash of memory from my moment in the elevator with Naomi intruded as it had all afternoon. Those big blue eyes and that mouth—fuck. I thumped my forehead against the door. I definitely didn't need to think about that again.

I dumped my keys in my dish on the inside of my door and saw the little gift bag I'd picked up while I'd been out with Eli for lunch. It was stupid but seeing how engrossed she'd been in the book and her clear interest in that dragon, I'd been unable to resist getting them both for her.

I should probably just go down and set the bag in front of her door since I'd probably crash most of the day tomorrow. I'd slept for shit the night before with Naomi on my mind and now after this endless exhausting workday? Yeah, I'd probably end up down for the count for hours.

With keys and bag in hand, I went back out into the hall. The closer I got to their door, the louder the music got. The song had changed to one of Taylor's anthems and the pair of them were singing their hearts out.

I had a feeling they'd both be sleeping it off all day too.

Maybe I'd just give this to her later.

Suddenly, the door swung open. "Oh, you're not delivery!" Naomi leaned against the door with her hair wild around her face. Her eyes were soft, and her cheeks flushed with exertion and alcohol.

"Nope. Well, I have something but it's not food. Sorry."

Her lower lip jutted out. "We ordered pizza. Did you know Jimmy's delivers this late? Isn't that crazy?"

I pressed my lips together. I did know that—I'd convinced my big brother that staying open on Friday nights would be a good return since so many places closed early. "You don't say?"

She dropped her head back. "Ugh, a greasy pizza sounds so good right now. I'm starving."

All of a sudden, I was very un-tired and starving for something else entirely. Her long neck was bare, and she was wearing a cropped baseball shirt with sparkles across her chest. And no freaking bra.

Her nipples were twin points, proudly showing off the faded letters of Syracuse University. Not to mention her endless legs in the navy shorts that barely hit her thighs.

Fuck me.

I cleared my throat. "I'm sure they'll be here soon."

"S'okay. We'll survive." She spotted the gift bag in my hand. "Whatcha got there?"

"A little welcome to the building present."

"For me?" She closed the door and the music dimmed slightly as she leaned against the door. "You didn't have to do that."

"I know." I gripped the back of my neck and held it out. "It's not much."

She took it and crushed it against her chest. "I love it."

"You don't even know what's in there."

"I don't care. That was really so nice of you." She peered into the bag then her gaze shot back to mine. "Oh. You got me the book. I thought you got it for you."

"You'll have to tell me how it is."

Her big blue eyes sparkled with drunk pleasure. "I will. And…" She dug deeper and found the little box. "Can you hold this?" She shoved the bag at me and flipped the flaps of the little gold box open carefully. Then she squeaked and held it against her chest. "You didn't."

"I did."

She threw her arms around me. "Colder, I love it. He's the cutest ever."

The scent of raspberries and warm female crashed into me, and I couldn't stop myself from wrapping my arms around her. "I'm glad."

She wiggled free and looked at the little crystal dragon with such adoration that my blood warmed and my chest actually tightened. "I shall name him Reid."

"Reid?"

"Yeah, he looks very wise and studious."

I laughed. "If you say so." He just looked purplish blue to me.

Carefully, she tucked him back in the box. "I love him and the book. You're really nice."

"You're really drunk."

She licked her lips. "Yes. I am very drunk, but you're still really nice. And I have a question for you."

"Okay, shoot."

"Can you show me sex?"

I was pretty sure my jaw unhinged. "I'm sorry?"

"Sorry, that didn't come out right. I want to have sex with you. For research purposes."

"How much have you had to drink?"

"Quite a bit. Which is why I'm asking actually." Her brow furrowed. "I don't think I'd have the guts to do it if I wasn't drunk."

"Uh."

"I'm writing. And I love my story so much."

"That's great." The topics of conversation were flipping fast, and I had to be more exhausted than I thought. "I'm glad you're working on your book again."

"I am too. I really, really love it. But I need help. Your help."

"To read it?"

She shook her head. "No. God, no. I'd die a little bit if you read it right now. It needs work. Lots of work." She pushed her hair out of her face. "But I need work too."

"You definitely do not need work. You're killing me here."

She frowned. "I know it's asking a lot. I'm a really good student though. Like more than a 4.0."

I laughed. That didn't surprise me in the least. "That's not what I mean. You're drunk and I'm so exhausted I'm obviously not comprehending what you're saying."

"I want to pay you for your research."

"You want to what?" Now my jaw was officially dislodged and rolling down the hallway.

"Yes. I mean, I don't have the money now, but like an investment."

"Investment?" Had I already fallen asleep and was dreaming? There had to be some logical explanation for this entire conversation.

"And you said earlier—you know, when we were at the library coffee shop—that you'd help me. I mean, if you're still attracted to me. Are you still attracted to me?"

What the hell was I supposed to say to that?

"Naomi…"

"This will be a mutually benefissshul—beneficial—" She covered her face. "I'm messing this up."

I set the bag down and pulled her hands away. "You're not. But you're not paying me for sex, Naomi."

"I'm going to be asking you to do lots of stuff." She lifted her chin and stared directly into my eyes. "Lots of stuff. I want to learn everything."

"Jesus." Just the thought of her in my bed was enough to put me on the floor, but to want to try everything with me? Everything was a big word and covered so many things.

"So you should be investment, I mean, invested in it too."

"Naomi, you're really drunk. You don't even know what you're saying."

"But I do. I really do." Her voice pitched low in a stage whisper that definitely still carried. "I want orgasms. I want to learn what it's like to love sex. It's really sad to realize that all three guys I've slept with were bad at it. It makes a girl wonder if it's her."

"It's not." I swallowed down a groan and was very happy that I'd untucked my shirt because my dick was super interested in her offer. "But sex isn't transactional. At least it isn't for me."

"But I'm going to be super annoying asking all sorts of things. Like about you and how you like things. How your male brain works about it."

"How long have you been thinking about this?"

"Like…what time is it?"

"After three." Seemed like way after at this point, but I was certain of nothing at this point. Had I entered an alternate reality?

"Gosh, that means it's been hours. Me and Iona have been talking about my book, but we're girls, you know?"

"You certainly are." At a loss, I shoved my fingers through my hair.

"I need the male point of view. What is it like to want a woman? How does it feel for you? What's it like when you get hard? I have so many questions. I want to be authentic."

I was officially in a whole new dimension.

"Naomi."

She stepped closer to me, her toes bumping into my scuffed work kicks. She laid her hand on my chest and leaned in. "I want you to be the one to teach me."

"You're killing me." I knew she was drunk. Not sloppy with it, but she was definitely well past the point of having a filter. And I was tired and weak.

"Just think about it."

"I don't have to think about it, dammit." I slid an arm around her waist and dragged her close. "I just don't want you to regret this tomorrow. Will you even remember it?" My mouth hovered over hers. I could practically taste the crisp wine on her breath.

I was a damn bartender. I knew every scent that came with alcohol.

"You'll do it?" She licked her lips.

"We'll talk about it tomorrow."

She went up on her toes and closed the gap. Her lips were so damn soft. I tasted the sweet wine and even sweeter Naomi.

"Slow," I murmured against her mouth.

She pulled back a little. "First lesson?"

I groaned and tangled my fingers in her hair. "First lesson." I covered her mouth with mine and swooped in with my tongue to taste her. The hot slide of her tongue along mine, her breasts against my chest, the quick draw of her breath—all of it pushed me to the edge.

Exhaustion made me just as reckless as Naomi.

At least for a moment.

I crowded her into the door and learned her mouth. Indulged in the clean scent of her wrapping around me along with her soft skin brushing against mine.

"We gotta stop," I said against her mouth.

"We can go to lesson two," she mumbled. "I'm good with more. Lots more."

"Tomorrow."

The distant ding of the elevator and familiar scent of my brother's pizza drifted down to us.

"I can come home with you." She tucked her finger into my belt, then she fumbled with the buckle as she aimed her attention downward. "Is that a tiger?"

I arched a brow. If she wanted to call my very happy cock a tiger, who was I to say otherwise?

"Your buckle."

I laughed. "Oh." I grabbed her wandering fingers and drew them up to my mouth. "Your pizza is about to be delivered."

"I'll bring some over."

"Come find me tomorrow. When the wine is out of your system."

She pouted. "I'm not that drunk."

"First lesson covered. Now here's the second lesson—a real man wants the girl to remember the first time they get naked."

"Oh, I won't forget."

"I'll make sure of it, Naomi." I stepped back, even though every fiber of my being wanted to scoop her up and bring her to bed with me right this instant. No waiting. "Make sure you drink a big glass of water with your pizza." I picked up her bag and handed it to her. "And aspirin."

"Fine. But I'm still paying you for your services."

The delivery guy paused, and his eyebrows shot up.

That was going to haunt me. I sighed. "Hey, Brian."

"Delivery for Iona?"

The door swung open, and Taylor came blaring out as a grinning Iona stepped into the hall. "That's me. Finally!" She glanced from Naomi to me and then back to her. "You guys put on quite the show."

"Show?" Now it was my turn to raise my eyebrows.

Iona shoved a ten at the delivery guy. "Thank you!"

"Sure." Brian grinned at me. "See ya around, Colder." Then he turned on his heel and headed back down the hall.

I sighed. I was so going to hear about this from my brother.

Iona pointed up to the camera above the door. "Security. A girl has to be careful. Thanks for the free show." She slapped my arm. "You've got good technique." Then she grabbed Naomi and shoved her through the door.

"How long were you watching?" Naomi furiously asked under her breath in that same non-whisper.

"Just long enough not to interrupt." Iona smiled. "We've got pizza to eat. Night, Colder."

Then she slammed the door in my face.

"Night," I muttered.

Looked like it was going to be another sleepless one for me. Great.