Free The Exception by Adriana Locke

to go on when dealing with someone like her.
    “Now that we are on the same page—”
    “I didn’t say we were on the same page. I just said thank you,” she said.
    “Why are you so dead set against seeing me outside of work?” Girls begged me to take them to dinner and to fuck them sideways. What am I missing?
    She was quiet for a minute. “Okay, let’s discuss this.”
    “Yes, let’s discuss this.”
    “What do you envision us doing?”
    I gave her my sexiest smile, the one that usually ensured I would get whatever I wanted. “I would lay you down, on this desk would work, and then I would pull your dress up to your waist.”
    “Cane!” she said, giving me a pointed look. “This is my point.”
    I looked around the room, searching for answers. Or a camera. “You are not interested in having sex at all? Or with me? Because I’m kind of a catch, you know.”
    She looked at me unentertained.
    I raised my eyes in mock horror. “You aren’t a lesbian, are you? That must be it! It’s the only logical explanation.”
    Jada tossed her napkin on her desk and laughed. “No. I am not a lesbian, Cane!”
    “So, are you going to lie to me and tell me that you didn’t enjoy kissing me?” I held her gaze, challenging her to dispute what I knew to be true.
    “I think it would be pointless for me to say I didn’t,” she said, looking away.
    And the truth shall set you free …
    “So you enjoyed our kiss, which I already knew—just so you know. And you aren’t a lesbian—which I also already knew. Although I would have no problems with that, for the record. But another thing I know is that you want me, Jada. I see it in the way you undress me with your eyes. The way your cheeks heat when I look at you, the way your mouth moved against mine, the way your body responds to me.”
    I leaned a little across the desk, closing the distance between us. Her breath hitched as I took over her personal space, her eyes growing wide.
    That’s so fucking sexy.
    “The way you get nervous when we are talking and you twirl that ring or play with your hair. You want it, Jada. And I’m totally up for giving it to you.”
    She looked down and realized that she was twirling the ring. When she looked up, I was looking at her knowingly. “See what I mean?” I leaned back in my chair, my point made.
    “That’s a coincidence,” she scoffed, trying to make light of my observation.
    “No, it isn’t. It’s the truth. And I’m going to tell you another truth right now. A woman knows, within a minute or two of meeting a guy, whether or not she is going to fuck. It is really that simple.”
    Jada’s mouth opened and shut quickly, flabbergasted at my statement.
    I stood up and leaned against the table, looking directly into her green eyes. I loosened my tie, stretching my neck at the sudden freedom. Her eyes widened farther and I watched her force a swallow.
    Game. On.
    “It all comes down to what a woman needs to hear to go forward with her decision. Some girls want to hear how beautiful they are. Some want to feel needed or smart—witty even. And then there are those that just want a little positive reinforcement that the guy won’t think she’s a whore.”
    I watched her for a moment as she tried to process what I had just said. “And there are some that just want to have a good time and just want to hear ‘go’.”
    Jada sat absolutely still, her breath labored and lips parted slightly. I knew what she was thinking, what she was considering, and it turned me on to watch those thoughts run so obviously through her mind. She adjusted in her seat, the sexual tension getting the best of her.
    “So, the question is, baby—what is it you want to hear?”
    “I don’t want to hear anything,” she nearly whispered, her voice so soft I almost couldn’t hear it. Some internal battle played out across her beautiful features and I was interested to see what side would win. It was a few moments before she seemed resolute,