Text Appeal (11 page)

A soft puff of laughter escaped her lips. “See, Charlie Singleton, that’s why I like you so much.”

“Why’s that?”

She shrugged. “You’re not afraid to tell it like it is. You’re the Devil himself, and making no excuses for it.”

Charlie took a step back. “Goodnight, Riley.”

“Goodnight.”

He waited until she was in her apartment before he headed down the stairs. He was on the landing when she called to him.

“Charlie, wait!”

He turned to see her standing at the top of the stairs.

“He doesn’t,” she said. “He doesn’t do any of those things for me.” She took in a shaky breath. “And I don’t know why I’m with him, but…” She looked away. “Maybe I shouldn’t be.”

Chapter Seven

I think we should talk.

Attempting a serious conversation with her boyfriend via text message probably wasn’t the most mature thing she’d done. She sent the text in part to make
herself
stop lying in bed, wine warming her blood, thinking about
Charlie
. No doubt about it, the man made her wish she were the kind of woman willing to have a wild and reckless affair. She couldn’t believe she’d kissed him.

She’d kissed another man. No it was worse. She’d kissed another man and wished he hadn’t stopped.

It was time to come clean with
Chaz
. She would start by admitting that there’d been something missing in their relationship.

Chaz’s
response came quickly.
What do you want to talk about?

Her cheeks burned with shame. Never had she had to tell a man she’d been unfaithful, even to the most innocent degree. She would tell him. She would.
If there was a
reason
to tell.
But first she needed to know if there was any heat left between them.

Her thumbs hovered over the phone’s keyboard.
Sex,
she finally typed.

On your mind too, huh?

She licked her lips. If there was even the slightest ember still burning between them, didn’t she owe it to
Chaz
to see if she could get it blazing again? And what if she couldn’t?

Much to her shame, her ING’s instant answer to that question was a mental image of Charlie. The disintegration of her relationship with
Chaz
would mean a chance for that affair with Charlie. But was that really the kind of woman she was? Someone who preferred a hot affair to a lifetime of stability?

Why couldn’t she get as excited about
Chaz
as she did about the bad boy who was no good for her?

Chaz’s
next message came before she had replied to his last:
Are you wearing it?

She glanced down. The oversized nightshirt was no black leather bustier.

No.
Nothing that…interesting.
Did you have a nice evening?

She put the phone back on her nightstand, closed her eyes, and pictured the way Charlie’s eyes had turned hot as he’d fed her. In addition to a bottle of wine, she’d eaten most of his steak and very little of her own meal, and she couldn’t deny that
she’d been more turned on while Charlie slid a fork from her lips than she’d ever been lying under
Chaz
.

She needed to do something about that.
Stat.

Her phone buzzed again.

Put it on.

She stared at the screen. This was
Chaz
. And this was what she wanted. Did he really want her to text him about putting on sexy lingerie?

Are you coming over?
Maybe he didn’t intend to text at all.

If you put on that leather get-up and tell me you want me there—me and not anyone else—I’ll be over in a heartbeat.

Riley smiled and chewed on her bottom lip. She wished she
could
tell him that, but while her lips were still warm from Charlie’s kiss, she knew it would be a lie. Besides, this was a side of
Chaz
she’d never seen before, and she liked it. She didn’t want him to come to her apartment and freeze up. Instead, they could flirt like this and make her ING forget about Charlie Singleton.

And if she couldn’t forget…
She wasn’t ready to go there yet.

Lacey was out for the night, and Riley had the apartment all to herself. Her ING purred as she stood and walked to her closet. Running a finger along the smooth leather, she imagined Charlie’s smile as he’d bought it for her. Part of her wanted nothing more than to parade around in this for him. Her breathing
accelerated,
and she imagined him sitting in a chair as she strode in front of him. She’d saunter across the room, sway to some jazzy tune, and pass him long glances over her shoulder until he begged her to come to him.

She squeezed her eyes shut against the foolish fantasy—told herself it was probably a very bad idea to wear something for one man that made her think about another—but she pulled off the nightshirt in exchange for leather. She was lacing up the corset when her phone buzzed again.

Is it on?

She slipped into the red leather thong and nearly moaned. The leather was firm and unyielding, creating subtle, delicious friction as she moved.

I just need to add the matching red stilettos,
she typed.

She pulled the shoes from the shelf and slid them on then stood to study herself in the mirror. Her skin was still flushed from the residual effects of the wine, and the pulse at her neck fluttered. The leather cups lifted her breasts, making them appear fuller than they were. Her phone buzzed.

By all means...

What now
?
she
typed. Dear God. Was she really doing this? But she wanted to. She wanted to get her mind off Charlie Singleton as the cure to her sexual woes and explore a sexually fulfilling relationship with
Chaz
. She wanted something wild in her life, something fun and wicked. She wanted Charlie—no,
Chaz
!—to send her dirty text messages. She wanted him to tell her he was hard for her.

The phone buzzed in her hand, reminiscent of the vibrator in her drawer. A small smile curved her lips. What would
Chaz
think about that little toy?

She read the message.

Take a picture.

She swallowed hard.
Of...?

You’re not that naïve, Riley. I want a picture.

The next message came immediately after.
Use the mirror.

She fumbled with the phone for a minute before figuring out how to use the camera.

She studied her reflection. As a final touch, she pulled the tie from her hair and let it tumble around her shoulders. Holding her breath, she held out her phone, and took a picture of herself in the mirror.

Her finger hovered over the
Send
key, and her heart pounded. Would he like the way she looked? And why was she thinking about whether or not Charlie would approve of the way his gift hugged her body more than she was about
Chaz’s
inclination toward leather?

“Just send it,” she muttered, punching the button before she could talk herself out of it.

She stared at her phone. Nothing happened. She squeezed her eyes shut, wishing she could hit the Universe’s “undo” key. What the hell did she think she was doing?

Her phone buzzed and adrenaline pumped through her.

You just have no idea.

Then tell me.

It’s a damn waste for you to be all alone wearing something that fucking sexy.

Her heart pounded.
So come over and keep me company.

She gripped her phone. She hadn’t just told him to come over, had she? Oh, Jesus. What if he did? Then this would end. He’d never talked to her like this in person, and she silently prayed he’d turn down her offer.

You have no idea how tempting that is. Do you really want me to?

She relaxed.
This is fun too.

Afraid you’d do something you’d regret?

Regret? What did he think they would do?
I’d regret ending this conversation.

I hate not being able to see you. I love watching you enjoy yourself.

She smiled. This was why she didn’t want to end this.
Chaz
liked her, she knew that—otherwise, why would he waste his time with her?—but he wasn’t one to
talk
about it. Having him talk about it made her feel good.
Not
much to see. I’m just alone in my bedroom. Not like I’m touching myself or something.

Well, why not?

Her mouth went dry. She settled onto her bed.
Because my hands are busy texting you.

I wouldn’t want you to stop doing that.

That’s what I thought.

How’s the leather feel?

Snug.
Naughty.
She chewed on her bottom lip and wriggled a little so the leather rubbed against her swollen clit. Had
Chaz
had some lingerie fetish this whole time and never told her?

Tell me what it makes you think about.

Charlie Singleton
was probably not the response
Chaz
was looking for. Instead, she typed,
Hot, sweaty sex.
Fast and desperate.

Why do you hide this side of yourself?

She could ask him the same, but she didn’t. In fact, she wasn’t sure what to say, so she said nothing.

Do you have a small vibrator?

She giggled.
That’s none of your business.

Ahh
, so that’s a yes. Get it out and lie on your bed.

She opened her nightstand drawer and stared at the little bullet vibrator. She’d used the handy little toy, but never in the presence—phone, text, or otherwise—of
Chaz
or any other man.

Prop yourself up on some pillows and spread your legs.

Her mouth felt dry, but she wanted to follow his directions more than she wanted to quench her sudden thirst. She licked her lips as she sat on the bed and did as he directed.

I can’t believe I’m doing this,
she typed.