Free Beautifully Decadent (Beautifully Damaged Book 3) by L.A. Fiore

so damn sexy. “Twist my arm.”
    In my head, we were no longer talking about my desserts and what I was twisting wasn’t his— Pull it together, Avery.
    My face was on fire because my thoughts were so uncharacteristic; my reply was short and sweet. “Thanks.”
    He studied me, his head tilted in much the way Loki’s did when I spoke to him. That grin never faded when he said, “I’ve got to get to work. Nice meeting you, Natalie.”
    “Back at ya.”
    We watched him walk to his barn and a glance at Nat confirmed that her eyes were on his ass too. “I am so killing you in your sleep.”

    Settling at a table in Lunar Moon pub on Riverdale Avenue, Nat ordered two bottles of her favorite red wine before I had even removed my jacket.
    “Dinner is my treat and don’t argue, Avery.”
    “I’m not going to argue. You make the big bucks.”
    “Yes I do.”
    We scanned the menu, “I think we should get a bunch of appetizers.” Nat declared.
    “Sounds good.”
    Dropping her menu, her focus shifted to me. “I have news.”
    My attention was split between the menu and Nat. “What kind of news?”
    “I’ve met someone.”
    That unexpected comment gained my full attention. “What? When did that happen?”
    “At the conference in Seattle, the reason I couldn’t help you move in. He lives in Manhattan and yet it takes me traveling across the country to meet him. He’s a personal trainer, one that focuses on rehabilitation for sports-injury patients.”
    “And you were at a conference together? Doesn’t seem like you practice the same kind of medicine.”
    “Yeah, well, sports injuries aren’t just of the bone and muscle, head trauma and concussions are huge.”
    “True.”
    “Anyway, his name is Tyler.”
    “From the way you’re grinning, I’m guessing his first impression was a good one.”
    “Yeah. He’s so alpha and yet there’s a tenderness to him that just turns my insides to goo. And you know how the men I’ve dated tend to shy away from talk about my job; Tyler is fascinated with what I do. Not intimidated or uncomfortable, outwardly interested. And the sex…I thought it was lies, the way romance novels depicted sex, exaggerating for the benefit of entertainment. Oh no, I’ve first-hand experience that a man can actually give you multiple orgasms in one night.”
    At this point, I spit out my water. Nat hardly noticed. “I want you to meet him. I could be in an orgasm-induced bubble, seeing more fabulousness than exists because the man can play my body like an instrument.”
    “Seriously, he’s that good in bed?”
    “Better.”
    I was jealous, absolutely, because my sexual experiences had been good, but not great. And certainly not an orgasm-induced bubble great. “Definitely, I want to meet him? Orgasm-induced bubble?”
    She sighed; clearly even the memory was good. Then she said, “It’s more than that. Sure it started as sex, but we’ve spent every night I’ve been free together. I enjoy his company.”
    “Man moves fast.”
    “Is that bad?”
    “I don’t think so. If he knows what he’s found in you, he’ll want to make it clear he’s interested.”
    “That’s what I think too.”
    “I definitely want to meet him.”
    “I’ll find out his schedule and we’ll arrange something.”
    “I’m happy for you, Nat.”
    “I want you to find someone.”
    “Let me get my footing with my job first and then I’ll think about a man.”
    “That’s fair.”
    The waitress returned with our wine. “Do you want to sample it?”
    “Not necessary.”
    After the wine was poured and the apps ordered, Nat’s attention turned back to me. “So are you ready for your first day?”
    “Some days I think yes and then some days I wonder what I’ve gotten myself into.”
    “Sounds normal.”
    “I’ve been baking like a crazy woman, but the sheer volume in addition to the caliber of the restaurant, and the expectation of excellence from the patrons, it’s nerve racking.”
    “You