“Michelle,” he whispered, in a voice that was both savage and tender. And she understood then completely what he’d done. He hadn’t merely won her over. He’d claimed her as his own.

6

Addictive

When she hung up the phone after taking a quick call from her brother, Jack pulled the beautiful woman who’d spent Friday and Saturday night with him back onto the couch.

“Why is ‘Ode to Joy’ your ringtone?” he asked, as he tugged her against him. She’d come home with him on Friday, but then left after midnight. She’d returned on Saturday, but left late that night too. Maybe it was self-protection; maybe his mattress wasn’t her favorite. But he hoped to convince her soon enough to stay the night. He liked having access to her. Being near her eased the ache of guilt that surrounded him. Hell, it did more than ease it. It erased it. It blotted it out. With Michelle, he felt strangely free of that clawing sense of self-condemnation that surrounded him like a bad cologne. The scent of regret.

“Because it’s a happy piece of music,” she answered as he ran his fingertips along her waist. It was Sunday evening now, and he planned to have her one more time before she left. But for now, he wanted to talk.

“So’s Jack Johnson. But he’s not your ringtone,” he countered.

“Are you saying this cigar isn’t just a cigar?”

He laughed. “Shrink humor?”

“Of course.”

“And yes, what I’m saying is most people don’t pick something like Beethoven’s Ninth unless it means something to them. I want to know what it means to you,” he said, running his hand along the fabric of her skirt as it fell on her hip. She’d worn nothing but skirts whenever he’d seen her, and he was ready to build an altar to the absence of those pesky wardrobe items like pants and jeans. Never had he been more grateful to be with a woman in a skirt.

She pressed a hand against his chest. “I thought this was just sex,” she said, and her tone was playful, but he sensed she was covering something up.

He brought her hand to his lip and pressed a soft kiss. “Forgive me for asking a question that doesn’t involve your magnificent ability to climax multiple times with me.”

She swatted him playfully. “You are a cocky bastard. Trying to use all those orgasms against me.”

“I would never use an orgasm against you. I only use orgasms for good. In fact, I think more orgasms could bring about world peace.”

“The more you come, the less you fight.”

He nodded knowingly. “Exactly. Anyway,” he said, returning undeterred to the topic, “your ringtone. What’s the story? Is it because of that guy you liked? Is that why you’re avoiding answering the question?”

Her eyes widened. Perhaps he was right. Perhaps she was still in love with him. A kernel of jealousy rooted into his chest. He hadn’t expected to feel that so soon. He’d have to fuck the in-love-with-another-man problem right out of her too.