Absinthe

Chapter 19: Third Date Rule

The next two weeks were two of the most boring ones I had ever had since I came back home. Faye

was still pissed off with me for not letting her know about the JM money issue. Cassie had gone MIA

after her career problems were forcibly brought out in the open because of that stupid game we played.

Derrick was flooded with hospital work, so I didn't get the chance to talk things over with him, which

meant I was still guessing as to what I had done wrong. As for Janus, well, he and I weren't that close

to begin with.

That meant I ended up spending most of my time with Robert. For some reason, he had a lot of free

time for a lawyer.

"Aren't you supposed to be working?"

"This is work," he said, lazily sipping wine and leaning against the head rest of my Jacuzzi.

"Oh, so I'm a case you're working on?"

"It's the responsibility of name partners in a law firm to bring in long-term clients," he explained.

"Hence, here I am, flexing my muscles so this hottie beside me will give in and decide to be one of

ours."

True to his word, Robert flexed his biceps and gave me the most cringeworthy wink in the history of

mankind.

"Um, I'll pass. Thanks."

"Oh c'mon!" Robert protested. "This move has gotten me more than 50 guys into bed!"

"Proud of being a man-whore, aren't we?" I teased.

Robert's mouth fell wide open, and there was a look of genuine dejection on his face. "I meant that a lot

of people find me attractive. It's disappointing that you don't seem to."

I took a sip of wine from my glass and placed it carefully back on the tray on the Jacuzzi's edge. I

studied Robert's features. His eyes were closed, but his facial expression was solemn.

I would have sympathized with Robert if I hadn't had any corporate training. Closing your eyes was one

of the first maneuvers I had learned from my boss. It was an effective technique to mask your

emotions, and it was handy in negotiations.

Unsure of how to respond to a sudden counterproposal from a prospective investor? Close your eyes,

don't show a hint of excitement or worry, and pretend you're deep in thought. More often than not, the

other person will betray themselves by saying more than what's necessary.

So I was not falling for that trap. Not with Robert.

"I have some really good cheese. Want me to get some?"

As I had predicted, Robert gave up his drama and opened his eyes. "Is it because of what I did with

Chef Maxwell?"

"Huh?" I asked, feigning ignorance over Robert's misguided actions during the cook-off preliminaries.

"I'm sorry. I acted poorly, but please acknowledge the fact that my intentions were good."

Spoken like a true lawyer. "It's okay. It's all in the past now."

"Can we start over?"

"With what?"

"Now that JM's out of the story, I want you to know that I'm pursuing a relationship with you," he said.

"Full-time."

Robert was staring at me. Maybe Faye was right. Perhaps Robert is the perfect man for me. He's

successful. He has money. He doesn't have any ulterior motives in chasing after me.

"I'm sorry, Rob," I started. "I told you I'm not ready yet."

"I haven't forgotten that, but I'm letting you know that that's not stopping me from winning you over."

It must have been the wine, the warm and fuzzy feeling from the bubbling Jacuzzi, Robert's confidence,

his wet blonde hair, his chiseled jawline, the fact that his sculpted body was triggering unholy thoughts

in my brain, or a combination of all those things, but I didn't even bother trying to resist when Robert

kissed me.

His kiss was not gentlemanly this time but greedy and envious, as though he was eager to erase the

doubts I had regarding my attractiveness and to remove the traces of JM's dishonesty.

He pinched my right nipple harder than I was comfortable with, and his other hand kept me pinned

against the Jacuzzi wall.

I pulled away to ask him to stop before it got out of hand. But before I could, his lips and tongue found

my chest, and it was then I knew that no matter how much my mind and mouth protested, my body

would betray me and give in to Robert's touch.

Just then, I felt Robert despite the jets of water rushing upward. I felt him strong and firm as he grazed

himself against my now parted legs.

Fuck, this is trouble.

Robert lifted me off the Jacuzzi floor as he expertly pulled me even closer. My legs were now latched

onto his waist, and I found my hands resting on his shoulders.

"I want you," Robert said as he left marks on my exposed torso.

He yanked hard at my swimming trunks, which made me wonder if all lawyers are a natural at getting

people naked.

There was a big problem, though. I may be a self-declared slut, but I'm a hygienic one. I hadn't

prepared in any way for this, and there was no way I was letting my Jacuzzi get stained with peanut

butter.

"Rob, please," I said. "Stop."

"I can't." As if he'd heard nothing, Robert continued kissing my ears and caressing my exposed butt

cheeks.

"Rob, listen," I tried again. "I haven't cleaned." Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

"I don't care." I felt his fingers trying to find their way inside my you-know-what. Seriously? This dude

wanted to do me in the hot tub?

"Fucking hell, Rob," I said in annoyance partly because Robert was not listening to me and partly

because of how good the way his tongue tickled the inside of my ears felt. "We can't do this! I thought

you said you wanted to win me over!"

That seemed to do the trick—Robert stopped.

"I won't ever talk to you again if you force this to happen now," I added.

"Don't you want it, too?"

I leaned forward and kissed Robert hard, pulling him toward me again to let him know that I was also

aroused.

"That's your answer," I said. "But if we're going to do this, let's do it right."

Robert broke away and submerged his head in the Jacuzzi, presumably to calm himself down.

"Are you giving me permission to court you?" he asked when he resurfaced.

I nodded. "Who knows? I might say yes to sex with you after our third date."