[Jake]

I can’t believe I’m nervous. I’ve never been nervous with a girl. Well, except my first time, but I was fifteen. What guy wouldn’t be nervous not only having sex for the first time, but with a seventeen-year-old who had a lifetime of experience above his? Besides, I’ve already had sex with Kayla. Twice. She doesn’t have anything I haven’t already seen. And tasted. And buried myself deep inside of.

And yet, as we sit on the couch, our pasta devoured, the kitchen clean, I can’t stop losing myself in those pretty eyes. I’ve always thought she had the most incredible eyes. It’s what first drew me to her. Well, her eyes and her ass.

“I’m not going to lie,” she says and gives me one of those flirty, come-and-get-me glances out of the corner of her eye. I’m going to lose my mind if she keeps giving me those looks. “I didn’t know you had it in you.”

I inch closer, unable to stop myself. She’s so sexy, even in sweats. It could be the wine, but then again, it could just be my reaction to spending the day with her. I enjoyed the hell out of it, at least when we weren’t trying to rip out each other’s throats. “What’s that?”

“You never told me you could cook. That was probably the best spaghetti I’ve ever had aside from Bainbridge Italian.”

“Ouch.” I slap my chest. She giggles and pulls a grin from me. “How can you say that? Homemade is so much better than commercial food.” I take a drink of wine. We’re on our last glass and I’m feeling the buzz. I need to be on shift at the firehouse at eight tomorrow, and she has to work at six. We can’t stay up much later or we’ll both regret it in the morning.

We have to find some way to release the restless energy building between us before I pop. I inch just a little closer and casually drape my arm across the back of the couch. She flashes a knowing smile and giggles again. The sound lands in my ears and tightens my chest, and I have no idea why.

“Do you really think this little pasta seduction you’ve got going is working?”

Homemade pasta is my thing. Women can’t resist a man who knows how to cook. But, judging by the way she’s watching me, like she knows exactly what I’m thinking, I can’t help but wonder. Has she already grown immune to my moves? They’ve worked on her before, but after the deed she ignores me like we don’t even know each other, which is yet another reason why I can’t stop thinking about her. I can’t figure her out. “I, uh, don’t know what you mean.”

“Sure, you don’t.” She slaps my knee and tosses back the rest of her wine. “Nice try, Lover Boy. Once we’re out of this hell we call joint domestication you can put those moves on your next conquest. I’m not interested.”

I don’t know what to say. Hell, I don’t know what to do. I’ve never had a girl turn me down before. Like, ever. Kayla fell for my moves the times we were together. So, why not now? This, right here, is why I never stick with one girl for too long. Leave her wanting more. Repeating that over and over in my head, I realize how ridiculous it sounds. Leaving her wanting more leaves me wanting more.

I can’t stand not knowing. If I ask her, she’ll tell me the brutal truth. Another thing I find myself attracted to, yet irritated when she tells me. It’s the mystery that is Kayla Riggs. “What’s wrong? I thought you liked my seduction techniques.”

“Not now that we have to live together. Let’s just keep it platonic. I’ve got enough stress in my life without adding another layer to it.”

Stress? If she only knew what her friends asked me to do. She knows about the wishes, just not what they are, and I’ve been sworn to secrecy. Not only am I to fulfill three insane wishes ordered by three insane women, I must do them all without Kayla knowing she’s acting out the requests.

If she only knew.

What the hell did I get into agreeing to share an apartment with this woman for close to a month? Sure, I get the benefit of being with Kayla every day, which makes the deal that much sweeter, but at what cost? I have to be celibate for the first time in almost ten years. Well, except when it comes to Kayla. According to the deal, I can have sex with her whenever I want, so long as it falls within the terms of our agreement. And she wants to keep it platonic?

This officially sucks.

Man up, Swanson. It’s not like this is forever. Why not make the most of it? After all, I do have three wishes to grant. I eye Kayla and offer her the sexiest of my smoldering grins. “You think sleeping with me would add stress?”

“I know it would.” She stands and yawns, stretching her hands high above her head. Her shirt lifts, displaying her delicious midriff. The flat of her stomach. The golden creaminess of her skin.

“You clearly don’t understand the benefit of a good orgasm.” I lick my lips as I imagine trailing kisses along that sweet, sweet flesh. I know how she likes to be touched, to be loved. And, truth be told, I like touching her, loving her.

“Maybe I’ve just never had one.”

I know a challenge when I hear one. I jump to my feet. “Want me to show you?”

“No, Jake. Not everything a girl says is an open invitation for sex.”

“What if we don’t count it, like your friends said?”

She’s already heading down the hall but stops and glances over her slender shoulder. Well, that’s an interesting look. It’s a cross between shock and playful. “What’re you suggesting?”

“We just fool around. No strings attached. If we put it out there upfront, it doesn’t count as a tap.”

“Says who?”

“Says me.”

“Jake, the rules—”

“We make the rules,” I insist, cutting her off. “Not everything is black and white. If we say it doesn’t count toward the three-tap rule, then it doesn’t. This is just us finding a way to get along. No wishes. No rules. Just you and me.”

She retreats a step. “And you think sex will help?”

“It can’t hurt. We both agreed that we only get along when we’re naked.”

“You won’t go banging other girls while we do this no-strings-attached thing?”

“Cross my heart.” I demonstrate by crossing my index finger over my chest.

“You’ll just be mine, like you said?”

My heart skips a bit at that thought. I’ve never been isolated to a single woman before. But hey, there’s a first time for everything. Besides, I made a promise to her friends, one I intend to keep. “To have and to hold.”

Shaking her head, she snaps, “That’s creepy.”

“What do you say?”

“I say you’re delusional. Have a nice night.” She disappears down the hall. When a door slams, I sigh. Living like this is going to be torture. How am I going to do this? Not only do I have to come up with some way to get these wishes fulfilled, I have to actually live with a woman. I told myself I’d never live with a woman until it was too late. Yet here I am, living with a woman who could be smoking hot if she’d just let herself have a little fun. Hell, she might even smile more.

It clicks. That’s what her friends want. The present Kayla Riggs is a woman on a direct path to Mediocreville. At best. They want her to experience life, live a little, before she makes the biggest mistake of her life by settling for the first yes man to flash his secure, nerdy smile.

Challenge accepted, ladies.

This could get interesting. Kayla needs to learn to have a little fun. I need to learn to tone down on mine. We’re a perfect match.

Holy shit, no. As soon as that thought enters my mind I’m ready to wash my brain out with something strong, like tequila. Knowing where it led me the last time—in Kayla’s bed—I immediately squelch the idea. This is going to be a long month.

I turn off all the lights, check the doors and windows, and head to my room. Once I strip down and jump into bed, I straighten onto my back, lace my fingers behind my head, and stare into the darkness, trying to figure out what to do first. Shannon’s request is for me to give Kayla an orgasm every day, and not just at night before we go to bed. She wants me to make it spontaneous, unexpected. Mel wants me to give Kayla a ride on a fire truck—in every sense of the word. Both of those requests can tie together, and I’m game. It’s Ciara’s request that has me a little worried. I’ve never had a threesome and don’t know how I feel about sharing her with another man at the same time. I’ll have to think about that one. Eventually, I drift off to sleep, still wracking my brain on where to start.

I’m on a beach, soaking up the warm rays of the sun as this beautiful girl with chestnut brown hair and dancing hazel eyes curls up next to me. I’m naked and she takes full advantage of it by fisting my cock and squeezing. I hiss in a breath and rock my hips.

“No strings,” she says in a melodic voice that comforts me.

“No strings,” I whisper in agreement.

And then her lips are on mine. I flutter my eyes open. Holy shit. The haze fades and I realize it’s not a dream after all. It’s Kayla, and she’s kissing me in my bed. No, she’s not just kissing me. She’s consuming me. I thrust my fingers into her hair and lift my head to take control. She resists and I pull back, not wanting to do anything she doesn’t want to do. “What is it?”

“No strings,” she repeats. “FTFs. Everything we do, we do without any expectation. I’m not your girlfriend or even your booty call. If something serious comes along, we’re done. No hurt feelings.”

“Wow,” I murmur with a smile and play with her scalp. “I think you may just be the perfect woman.” She slaps my chest and I roll, curling her under me. She’s naked and I’m beyond turned on that she came to my bed for one reason and one reason only. Gotta love a woman who knows what she wants. I settle between her legs, my cock resting perfectly against her coarse hair.

I nip her lips, teasing her before really kissing her. “This is what it is, Kayla. Two people enjoying each other’s company.”

She giggles and I tense. God, I’m lost the instant she makes that sound. It’s the best aphrodisiac and shatters my control. I break our kiss in search of a hard nipple and take it between my lips. She arches her back and whimpers, which only makes me suck harder. I love her little sounds. They drive me to make her do them more.

I slip a hand between her thighs and slide my fingers into her saturated folds. “Damn, Kayla. You’re so wet.”

“Don’t waste it.” She rocks her hips. I sink a finger inside her, pull out, and add another. “Jake,” she whispers. “More.”

“Whatever you say.” I grab a condom out of my nightstand, roll it on, and press the tip of my cock against her hot entrance. She locks her ankles behind my ass and forces me in to the hilt. I shudder from how tight her body grips me. The sensation boils in my balls and I take several breaths to stop myself from driving into her. Instead, I hold perfectly still. Her muscles clench and I grit my teeth. “Holy shit, woman.”

“Jake.” She whimpers and grabs my neck, pulling me to her. Our lips meet, and we take our time tasting each other, teasing each other. I’ve always loved kissing this woman. She gives as well as receives. Our tongues dance as we start to move. Slow and steady. That’s something else about Kayla. She doesn’t want it quick and fast. She takes her time, explores her options, and I love it.

I grab her legs and hold them at the ankles. Now on my knees, I thrust deep. She cries out and digs her nails into my thighs. I clench my teeth and push deeper. Jesus, how does she do it? She has me ready to explode already. “We have to slow down, baby.”

“Like hell.” She clamps down, and I’m right on the edge. When she rolls her hips, granting me even better access, I’m so close I see stars. “Jake.” Hearing my name falling from her lips is too much. I pump into her, long and hard, driving her to cry out and dig her nails in even more. “Jake!”

She arches her back and screams. Her body fists me, convulsing as her orgasm takes over. I thrust deep, making sure she enjoys every last wave. Once she falls to the bed, I slam into her and detonate. I stiffen as I give her everything I am. I’ve never held back with Kayla. I release her ankles to lean in and kiss her. She devours my lips as my orgasm drains me. Only after I can no longer move do I roll off and gasp for air as I stare at the ceiling.

“That was awesome. Thank you.” She climbs off the bed and heads for the door.

“Where’re you going?”

“Back to my room.”

“Don’t you want to hang around until we’re ready for round two? You’ve always wanted more than one.”

“No.”

“Kayla?” I push up to my elbows. “Is everything okay?”

“We both agreed this was just physical. I’m done. You’re done. That means we’re done.”

“But…” I don’t even know what to say to that. Girls are supposed to want to cuddle. Talk about it. Something. They aren’t supposed to have sex and run.

“But what, Jake? No strings attached, remember?”

I nod. This feels wrong. Is she pissed? I can’t tell. She doesn’t look pissed and even blows me a kiss as she leaves my room. I fall back on the bed and rub my hands over my face.

What the hell just happened?