Free The Casual Rule by A.C. Netzel Page B

business.”
    “I guess so.” God, I’m an idiot.
    “Might have been fun,” he says flirtingly, running a knuckle down my forearm.
    “I guess we’ll never know.”
    “I guess not.”
    “Can I ask you something personal?” This has been bugging me since we left Marcello’s.
    “Sure,” he says.
    “Is Camille one of your…casual relationships?”
    “A long time ago,” he answers bluntly.
    “Because you don’t do serious relationships.”
    “You remembered.” He smiles. “We’re just friends now.”
    “I see.”
    He cocks his head to the side and frowns. “Why did you want to know?”
    “I don’t know. Just wondering, I guess.” And she was shooting me her death stare all during your photo shoot.
    We reach the front door of my building and stop. That went fast, much too fast.
    “So,” I say.
    “So.”
    “Thank you for walking me home.”
    “It was my pleasure.” He takes my hand and sweetly kisses the back of it.
    I put my key in the door, turning it until I hear the lock click and unlock. I turn back to Ben. He’s so close to me, we’re practically touching. He smells so good, it’s intoxicating.
     “I like your hair like this.” He reaches out and lightly runs his fingers through a few wavy strands. My breath hitches and I briefly close my eyes at his touch. I feel that pull, the energy that crackles between us, it’s so powerful I can almost touch it. I know he feels it too. My eyes focus on his mouth. Oh, those perfect lips
    “Thank you again,” I mutter.
    He looks at me intensely, his gaze darkening. He runs his index finger down my cheek then lightly traces my lips with his fingertip. My lips slightly part, as I close my eyes and hold in a breath.
    He grabs my face with both hands, tilting it up toward him and covers my mouth with a hungry kiss. I respond back immediately, running my hands up his chest until they’re around his neck matching his fervor. His tongue slides into my mouth, twined with mine, dancing, inciting a salacious moan from him. He’s pressing his hips against me, holding me tightly against the door. The feel of his body against mine has every nerve ending in my body tingling.
    “I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t have done that,” he breathes as he leans his forehead into mine.
    I nod, still breathless. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to kiss Ben. Now that I know, I wish I didn’t. It’s better than I could have possibly imagined.
    I peek up at him. I know he’s sincere in his apology. This is the moment where I usually have the good Julia in angelic white on one shoulder and bad Julia in slutty red on the other whispering in either ear, confusing the hell out of me. I shoo them both away and for the first time in my life, I stop thinking and live in the moment.
    “Ben?” I murmur as I lift my hand to his hair and sweep it off his forehead.
    “I’m sorry, Julia.”
    “Just shut the fuck up.” I grab his leather jacket, pulling him close to me, and kiss him. Hard.

Chapter 5
    I pull away from Ben, panting. Our eyes fixated on each other, like lions ready to pounce. He swings me over to the side of the doorway and with his free hand turns the door knob, opening the door. Grabbing my hand, he pulls me into the building, closing the door behind him with his foot. He grips the top of my shoulders and pushes me against the wall of the small common area.
    He kisses me hard, grinding his pelvis into me. Holy Shit! I realize we’re getting it on in a very public area and reluctantly know what I have to do.
    “Ben, we have to stop. We’re putting on a show.”
    “What floor is your apartment on?”
    “Third.”
    “Elevator?”
    “Yes.” I take his hand, drag him over to the elevator doors and push the call button. He presses me against the wall while we wait, nuzzling into the crook of my neck with light kisses. His stubble is rubbing up against my jawline. God, I love his stubble. I inhale his Benessence and I know I’m a goner.
    The