Free Subway Girl by Adela Knight

told me you stopped by the restaurant. And, to be fair, yeah, I’ve had my share of women. I told you I’d given up on relationships. But I need you to hear this, Julia” He tipped my head farther back to make sure I was looking at him. “Fuck, don’t cry. Listen to me, okay?”
    I nodded. “I’m listening.”
    “I haven’t taken a woman there since you. I haven’t had a woman since you. I’ve been going crazy trying to find you. I couldn’t remember where your apartment was. I didn’t hear you give the address to the cab driver and it was dark when we got there. Shit.” He jammed his fingers through his hair and then cupped my face in his hand. “I rode that subway every day for three weeks hoping you would be there.”
    I gave him a shaky smile. “I took a cab to work for a month because I couldn’t stand to get on the subway. It reminded me of you.”
    Rivers ran his thumb over my bottom lip. “Christ, Julia, I don’t know what you did to me that night, but I can’t stop thinking about you. And it’s not just the sex. Although, that was mind blowing.” He grinned and I laughed. “It’s you. I know it was only one night and it sounds crazy, but I want you. All of you.”
    I kissed his thumb and rose up on my tiptoes and placed a soft kiss on the corner of his mouth. “I’ve missed you, too,” I murmured.
    I felt him let out a breath, like he’d been holding it waiting for my reaction.
    “Do you want to get out of here?” Rivers asked.
    “Yes.”
    “I promise. I’ll behave tonight. No sex. Just a normal night of getting to know each other. Maybe a kiss or twenty before I leave.”
    I laughed. “A kiss or twenty?”
    “Yeah, well, I can’t seem to stop at just one.”
    “I’ve got news for you. There will be sex tonight. I haven’t had good sex since that night with you. And my vibrator just isn’t getting the job done anymore.”
    Rivers stopped walking. I’d taken three steps before I realized he wasn’t beside me. I turned around and went back to where he stood. “What’s wrong?”
    “Nothing.”
    “Then why’d you stop?”
    “A vibrator?”
    “Yeah, so?”
    “Kinky. I love that.” He gave me a big grin and winked.
    I rolled my eyes. “I hardly think you can call a vibrator kinky.”
    “No, but it’s a start. We can work up from there.”
    “Huh. Yeah. That sounds fun.”
    Rivers leaned close to my ear. “And the thought of you with a vibrator is sexy as hell.”
    I laughed. “Okay, well, maybe I’ll let you watch.”
    He groaned and cursed under his breath. “You’re a tease.” He kissed my temple. His lips were warm and his breath tickled my skin.
    We passed our table and I made the introductions quickly. “This is Rivers. Rivers, that’s Jenny, Frank, and Jeff. We’re leaving now. You guys enjoy the rest of the party. Bye.”
    I turned and started walking pulling Rivers behind me. I knew if we hung around Jenny would bombard us with a million questions I didn’t want to take the time answering.
    Rivers hailed a cab while I claimed my wrap from the coat check. We were on our way to my place in less than five minutes. We talked during the cab ride, idle chatter to pass time, mostly about what we did for the holidays and how crazy our families were. It made the ride seem shorter than it should and when we pulled in front of my building butterflies started growing in my stomach.
    “Do you want something to drink? I have the hard stuff you like.” I asked once inside my apartment.
    “Yeah. Thanks.”
    I grabbed us both Cokes and sat next to him on the couch. “So, how come you were at the party tonight?”
    “Oh, um, I’m looking into acquiring the company.” He set his Coke on the coffee table.
    “I remember. You work in finance, mostly acquisitions.”
    He smiled. “Good memory.”
    “So your company is looking into merging with that company?”
    “Something like that, yes. And you? How did you end up there?”
    “Just went with some friends.” I