Perfection

Page 28

"How is it fair that you can go have sex, but I can't?" she demanded, crossing her arms beneath her ample br**sts and unintentionally shoving them up until he swore, prayed, that they'd pop out of her blouse.

"It's just the way it is," he said tightly, pressing the gas pedal harder in an attempt to get her home and out of his hair before she drove him crazy.

"I don't see how it is. I want sex. I miss sex and used to love it. I've decided that I shouldn't have to worry until I'm ready to have a relationship, which probably won't be for another year or two before I have sex again. So, I decided that I should be allowed to enjoy being single and have sex with whomever I want, whenever I want," she informed him in a tone she probably thought would make him think twice about arguing with her. "Now," she said with a slight roll of her hand back towards the direction of the bar, "take me back there so I can have sex. "

"Not happening. "

"But I want sex!" she whined. "Really good, hot, sweaty sex!"

"Uh huh," he said, ignoring her adorable little pout. "You're really not interested in a relationship right now?" he asked, allowing his mind to go somewhere that he knew was dangerous.

Out of the corner of his eye he looked her over, wondering if he could actually go through with this. When his eyes fell on her large br**sts he knew damn well that he could.

"Nope," she said, making the word pop. "That's too much work right now. I want to focus on getting my life together and be in a better position if my life ever crumbles around me again. I want to be able to take care of myself. I also want to live a little. Something I haven't really done," she said wistfully.

"You're serious?" he asked, even though at the moment he didn't doubt her for a second.

"Yes. "

"You only want sex, nothing more, right?" he stressed.

She rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Didn't I just say that?"

"Good," he said, not bothering to hide his shit eating grin.

"What's so good about that?" she asked, sounding confused.

"Because this will work out for me," he said, giving himself another pat on the back for coming up with another excellent plan. If she went along with what he had in mind, and why wouldn't she? he was a Bradford after all, he could work her out of his system and keep her safe. So, really he was doing her a favor by offering to do this.

He sighed heavily, sometimes he was just too damn giving.

"What will work out for you?" Zoe asked, sounding groggy.

He reached over and took her much smaller hand into his and held it, running his thumb over the back of her hand.

"You and I are going to have sex. "

"Really?"

"Yes. "

"Now?" Zoe asked, sounding so damn hopeful that he couldn't help but laugh.

"No, not now, my eager little drunk. When you're sober and you agree to my game plan. " And only then. He wasn't stupid enough to completely trust Zoe to make this agreement until she knew what she was getting into and what he wasn't willing to give her.

Chapter 15

Oh god. . . . . . . .

She was dying. There was no other explanation for the way she felt. Her head was pounding, her mouth felt like something had crawled inside and died and she felt sick to her stomach.

Hoping that today was Sunday and really having no other choice but to lay there even if it wasn't, she closed her eyes and prayed for death or unconsciousness and not really caring at the moment about which wish was granted.

Sometime later she woke up feeling slightly better. Her stomach wasn't as bad and her headache had dulled a bit. She turned her head and stared numbly at her dark windows, wondering if it was morning or night. One look at her alarm clock let her know that it was seven p. m. Sunday night.

Well, she thought, carefully getting out of bed, at least she hadn't missed work. She stumbled over to her bathroom and flicked on the light and winced when it nearly blinded her. Why was everything so bright, she wondered as she relieved herself.

A few minutes later when she was more oriented and coordinated she turned on the shower, thankful that it was at full blast and loaded her toothbrush up with toothpaste and began the job of getting rid of the taste of old gym socks. After she brushed her teeth once more she gargled with mouthwash for an extra two minutes. She climbed into the shower and groaned as hot water poured over her and made her feel more alive.

What the hell happened last night?

She really couldn't remember much, but she knew that would change. The few times she'd gotten drunk in her life she had the misfortune of remembering everything that happened the next day, a rather nasty side effect of having a photographic memory.

A rather frightening thought occurred to her. What if she'd had sex? Did she make him wear a condom? Did she enjoy it? After a minute she relaxed. No, she definitely didn't have sex since she didn't feel tender between her legs, but that didn't mean she hadn't done something equally as stupid.

If she didn't push it she'd remember sooner rather than later. She knew the key was just to relax and let it come to her.

"You feeling better?" Trevor suddenly asked, making Zoe wince. Damn hangover making everything sound sharp and loud.

"Yes, I think so," she said loud enough to be heard over the sound of running water and through the wall. She wondered if Trevor had been a witness to anything stupid she may have done.

"That's good," he said absently. "I took care of Toby today. "

"Oh, thank you," she said loudly, feeling horrible that she'd neglected the poor baby.

"Zoe?"

"Yes?"

"Do you remember anything about last night?" he asked, sounding a little more than simply curious.

"Not yet, but I will," she said, swallowing nervously. "Did I do something monumentally stupid?"

"You mean besides going to a bar to have sex with a complete stranger and getting drunk?" he asked, dryly.

She sighed with relief. If getting drunk was the only stupid thing she'd done last night then she'd count herself lucky. Then she cringed when his words sank in.

He knew.

"I'm guessing I was pretty chatty last night," she said, trying to sound casual about the whole thing and praying she'd been able to keep her mouth shut about some of the more embarrassing details.

"No. Not really unless you count letting everyone in the bar know how badly you wanted to have sex last night. "

"Damn it," she groaned. "Next time I'll have to make sure to pass on the liquid courage. "

"There won't be a next time," Trevor said firmly, making her frown.

"That's not really your decision," she said tightly. She'd been bullied enough over the last three years. She wasn't about to let Trevor think he could boss her around, well, and not pay her for it that is.

"You and I came to an agreement last night so I think it's safe to say that it's very much my business," Trevor said, making her more than a little nervous.

What had her drunken big mouth gotten her into now?

"Um, and what agreement is that?" she asked, trying to sound cool and collected when on the inside she was freaking out and hoping that whatever he was about to tell her was insignificant like promising not to drink, which at the moment she was completely on board with.