Sexting the Limits (3 page)

message.”

“From who?”

“See, that‟s the thing. I don‟t really know. He started texting me from a number that

I don‟t recognize and he wouldn‟t say who it was.”

Rory sounded a lot more interested now. “Well, if you don‟t recognize the number

and they wouldn‟t reveal their name, how do you know it was a he?”

“No. No way was this a girl,” Celeste said firmly.

She hadn‟t even considered that her mystery man might be a mystery woman. She

tried to think back through their conversation to see if the person had let slip any

pronouns that might shed some light on the gender.

“You sound really sure. What did this supposed guy say?”

Celeste squirmed uncomfortably. “Nothing, really. He knew that I had lost my

phone, said he hoped I found it and then some other stuff.”

Rory laughed. “What kind of other stuff?”

“Just some personal stuff. He kind of came on to me. Called himself a secret

admirer.”

“More like a secret stalker.”

“Rory!”

“What? I‟m just telling you that this
guy
sounds creepy. Also that I‟d like for you to

read me these text messages.”

Celeste snorted. “Well that, my friend, is not about to happen in this lifetime or any

other. But I‟ll let you read them tomorrow evening. Over drinks at The Lucky Stripe,

maybe? On me. Well, on the house anyway.”

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Remy Richard

“Sounds good. But why are our drinks on the house? Do they know what kind of

bankruptcy they‟re encouraging with this offer?”

Celeste laughed. Rory had a sarcastic sense of humor behind her straight-laced

teacher exterior and it cracked Celeste up. “I believe that they may have gotten that

bulletin. The bartender invited me back in tomorrow night.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. The very
cute
bartender invited me back, I should say.”

Rory‟s voice turned amazed. “Well, look at you, girl. When it rains, it pours, doesn‟t

it? First a mystery man and now a cute bartender.”

“It‟s not like that, Rory. He was the one who found my phone.”

“Your knight in shining armor!”

“Well, not exactly. He found it in the lost-and-found box at the bar when I went

there looking for it.” Celeste stood and wandered around her apartment until she

wound up in the bathroom. She was tired but restless, like she‟d jump out of her skin if

she didn‟t move around.

“Hmmmm. You know what, Celeste? I bet your mystery man is whoever found

your phone in the first place. Who could have turned it in?”

“Well, considering that I lost it at The Lucky Stripe, anyone there could have found

it. But I was sitting with Noah the night I lost it. So maybe he turned it in.”

Rory let out a disbelieving snort. “No way. That guy couldn‟t be helpful even if he

wanted to…and I am highly skeptical that he‟d ever want to.”

“What‟s your issue with Noah? He‟s a nice guy. Plus he‟s very easy on the eyes.”

Celeste pulled her robe down from a hook on the back of the bathroom door and began

to undress.

“And doesn‟t he know it.”

Celeste snickered at Rory‟s barbs. To Celeste‟s knowledge, Noah was the only

person Rory disliked. At least he was the only person Rory ever spoke badly about.

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Sexting the Limits

Celeste had asked on several occasions what the issue was but Rory had remained

uncharacteristically close-mouthed.

“Wow. This is a lot of hate for a Sunday night. I think I‟m going to have to let you

go on that note. Noah‟s always at The Lucky Stripe. We can find out tomorrow if he

turned in the phone and if it‟s him sending me the text messages. Good night, now,”

Celeste said, yawning.

“G‟night. See you tomorrow evening.”

Celeste hung up the phone, then took a quick look at her phone‟s inbox. She hadn‟t

received any more text messages during the time she‟d been on the phone with her

friend. She surveyed her wreck of an apartment with a tired sigh. There would be time

enough to clean up later in the week. Right now all she wanted was a long shower and

an even longer sleep. She would figure out all of the cleaning, and the mysteries, the

next day.

* * * * *

Rory‟s bright-blue eyes widened over the top of Celeste‟s phone. Celeste nodded,

gratified that she wasn‟t the only one who was affected by the sexy words. Her mystery

man had been sending her texts all throughout the workday. Monday had never been

so exciting. She‟d kept her cell in her lap under her desk all day so she could read his

messages the instant they arrived. The text messages had been growing more and more

scandalous. Sweet, seductive words detailing what her mystery man found so

appealing about her had come across the screen every couple of hours. At times, he had

taken her breath away. He delivered the same heat and lust she‟d felt when David had

been writing to her, only with five times the punch. It was as if her mystery man had

reached into her naughtiest secret dreams and pulled the words straight out. When she

closed her eyes, she imagined him as a shadowy, well-built form capable of giving her

immense pleasure without expecting anything in return. So most definitely a fantasy

man, if her experience was anything to go by.

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Remy Richard

“Wow.” Rory was finished reading through the list of text messages Celeste had

received that day. It was quite long and quite hot. “That‟s some mystery man you‟ve

got there.”

Celeste nodded and reached for the phone, not wanting to miss the next message.

She hadn‟t received one in a few hours though. After work, she‟d turned the volume on

her phone as loud as it would go so she could hear it from anywhere in her apartment.

Even knowing that there was no chance she could miss the text alert chime, she had still

checked the phone every few minutes. She‟d left all of the organizing that she had

intended to do for another night and spent her time getting ready to go out. If she met

her mystery man tonight, she wanted to look good. She wanted to live up to the sexy

image that he had of her. If that meant that she was a little more provocatively dressed

than The Lucky Stripe called for, then so be it.

Rory covertly pointed to the male patrons in the bar around them. “So why do we

think your mystery man will be here again?”

“In one of his texts he mentioned that he might see me here tonight.” Celeste pulled

her peach bellini closer and took a long sip. The drink was sweet and refreshing—just

her style. To her disappointment, Grant wasn‟t there yet this evening. The bartender on

shift had known exactly who she was as soon as she had said her name and had

promised them free drinks all night. So apparently Grant had made good on his

promise to let his boss know that she‟d drink free. She‟d been hoping that he‟d be the

one serving her. The bartender had said he might be in later.

Celeste shook her head and forced her thoughts from Grant to the puzzle of her

secret admirer. “Yes, someone here in the bar. Probably Noah, given the fact that I lost it

when I was with him.”

Noah definitely could be classified as a regular at The Lucky Stripe. They were all

regulars to some degree, though. It was a great local place in a neighborhood that held

mostly young, single professionals. It had interesting drinks and cool people in an

environment that was much more laid back than the usual club and bar scene. It was

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Sexting the Limits

the kind of place where if you wanted to talk and dance all night you could and if you

wanted to be alone in a back booth you could do that too. Noah had been there when

the girls had arrived, playing pool in the corner. He had waved at them and turned

back to his game. Not exactly the behavior of a besotted would-be lover.

Rory rolled her eyes at Celeste‟s latest mention of Noah. “I wouldn‟t put it past him.

Pretending to be a secret admirer is exactly up his alley, although I can‟t see him writing

all of those hot things.”

Celeste pushed her drink back. “First of all, I don‟t think Noah is as bad as you

make him out to be. And second of all, why would he have to pretend? Maybe he really

does secretly admire me.”

Rory‟s face softened. “Of course he could, honey. I‟m sorry. You‟re entirely

admirable, secretly and not so secretly. And, may I add, quite doable in that dress.

Really pulling out the stops for the mystery man?”

Celeste blushed red. “No. He just makes me feel sexy, makes me want to let my

inner vamp out a little.”

“I‟ve tried to let my inner vamp out before. It didn‟t go well.”

“Really?” Celeste was intrigued. Rory wasn‟t the type to put on big displays and

Celeste had certainly never thought of her as anything close to a vamp before. That

Rory had tried was very interesting. That she thought she‟d failed, even more so. But

before Celeste could pursue that line of questioning with her friend, Noah arrived at

their table.

“Good evening, ladies.” Noah Sellig was tall, blond and brown eyed. A good-

looking charmer who knew that all women everywhere would fall at his feet. All except

for one, apparently. If looks could kill, Rory‟s glare would strike him down. The sparks

between him and Rory could have set a small fire. A relationship between the two of

them would have been interesting to watch play out. Of course, that would mean that

Celeste would be down one mystery man suspect. Even though Noah seemed like the

most obvious choice, Celeste hoped he wasn‟t her mystery man. As for who she hoped

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Remy Richard

it was…her gaze slid once more to the bar empty of Grant Morgan. She tried to contain

a sigh. The attraction appeared to be all one sided if he couldn‟t even manage to show

up for the meeting that she
thought
he had arranged between the two of them.

Noah recalled her attention by reaching over and plucking her phone from her

hand. “So I see you‟ve found your phone. Glad to see that the crisis is averted.”

“Oh thanks. How‟d you know that I lost it, though?”

“Rory left me a message asking if I‟d seen it.” He turned his attention toward the

young woman looking at him like he was the lowest form of life on the planet. Celeste

took advantage of his preoccupation with Rory to snatch her phone back. Her heart had

been doing somersaults the whole time he was holding it. She forced herself to calm

down and listen to what he was saying to her friend.

“I have to admit I was surprised. I didn‟t think you had my number,” he said.

Rory twisted her mouth into something that could possibly pass for her usual smile.

“Oh sure I do. A lady never knows when she might need a villain.”

“I don‟t know which is more farfetched. Me as a villain or you as a lady.” Noah said

this bit staring straight into Rory‟s eyes. He quickly continued before she could make a

reply. “I seem to remember some very unladylike actions from you.”

Celeste raised an eyebrow. “This would be a very interesting conversation if I knew

what you two were talking about. Care to share?”

Rory turned bright red and picked up her drink to hide behind as she drank it.

Noah drew a deep breath and turned back to Celeste, all charming smiles again.

“Oh, I mean the obvious love and warmth that your friend here bears for me.”

“Obviously.” Celeste took a long sip of her drink, draining it. Noah quickly offered

to fetch her another and Celeste agreed. He offered to get a refill for Rory as well, an

offer she studiously ignored.

As soon as he had left Celeste turned to her friend. “What the hell is going on?”

Rory‟s face heated in a blush. “I don‟t know what you‟re talking about.”

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Sexting the Limits

“Whatever the two of you have going on, he couldn‟t have cared less that I was

here. I don‟t think he‟s my mystery man.”

Rory leaned forward. “I think you‟re reading too much into this. He hates me and I

hate him. Maybe he‟s trying to throw you off the scent.”

“Maybe…” Celeste was pretty sure that wasn‟t the case but Rory seemed upset, so

Celeste decided to let the conversation drop. “At this point, I‟m content to let it be a

mystery.”

Rory‟s mouth fell open. “Wait. You don‟t want to know who it is? I can barely stand

it and I‟m not even the one getting the texts.”

Celeste shook her head. “Oh, I want to know. I just don‟t want to know right now.”

She leaned closer to Rory and lowered her voice. “I mean, it‟s all so sexy and hot. It‟s

been a long time since I‟ve felt wanted by a guy.”

Rory laughed. “Give me a break. Guys notice you all of the time. If you weren‟t so

into your ex, you‟d see that you have to beat them off with a stick.”

“I‟m not into David anymore, so you can forget that.” Celeste was a little louder

than she intended so she purposely lowered her voice again. “Maybe wanted was the

wrong word. Maybe what I meant to say was that I wanted to feel
chased
. Like a guy is