Free Private Affairs by Jasmine Garner

and spotted a floral dress crumpled in the corner. I looked between the dress and his naked form.
    “Oh, I’m sorry; I didn’t realize I was interrupting.”
    He followed my gaze and his eyes widened. “Oh, no. It’s not what you think.”
    I threw my hands in the air, my heart racing at the thought of running into whoever he was entertaining. “It doesn’t matter what I think. I’m-I’m going to go.”
    I shouldn’t be here. I ran out of his house and sucked in breaths of humid summer air as soon as the breeze hit me.
    He grabbed my arm, his lips right next to my ear as he spoke gruffly. “Listen to me. It’s not what you think.”
    “But-”
    “I have a friend staying with me until she gets on her feet. She’s messy. Nothing more. Now, come have a drink with me. I’ll make you one of my chocolate shakes.”
    My eyes narrowed. “I’m not going to have a drink with you. I know what you did. I know you wanted me here.”
    “I tried to catch your attention in the store, but you ignored me.”
    “You know damn well you could’ve tried harder; you could’ve gotten my attention if you wanted to.”
    His hands dropped to his side. “I didn’t want to cause a scene. Come in, I know you miss my shakes.”
    If there was one way to get me back inside of his house, that was definitely it. Chocolate shakes were my weakness, and he made the best ones I’d ever had.
    “Fine. Just one. And then I have to get home.”
    I chuckled as I passed the dress again. A friend. Yeah, right. But what did I expect? I was seeing other people. And why did I care? I was supposed to be getting over him, anyway.
    I followed him back into the kitchen. I sat on a stool at his island countertop, my palms clammy while I watched his muscles flex as he glided around the room. The chain he kept around his neck dangled lightly in the silent room, my ring right over his heart.
    “I changed the recipe a bit- a healthier version. Do you mind?”
    I shook my head and he started the blender. “Work your magic.”
    He slid the drink in front of me and leaned over the counter, eyeing me darkly as I took my first few sips.
    “How is it?”
    I smiled as the creamy wetness cascaded down my throat. “Just as good as I remember. Maybe even better. Thanks.”
    In college, each dorm building had a shared kitchen in the basement. Whenever I’d come to his room after arguing with my mother, he’d cheer me up with a shake. It was my ultimate comfort food, and I needed it now just as much as I did in college.
    Wes leaned against the kitchen counter and smiled at my reaction. I diverted my eyes away from him and drank faster. Time for the reminiscing to end; I needed to get out of his house.
    I took a large gulp of the drink. I wanted to savor the taste, but I didn’t want to linger around him and his half-naked body for much longer.
    “So, how’s your girlfriend?”
    “Fine,” I said, watching the milkshake decrease as I drank it through the straw.
    “And how have you been?”
    I shrugged, rubbing my eyes in agitation. I really didn’t want to have a conversation with him.
    “I’m good. I’m wonderful, actually.”
    “Did you tell your girlfriend you’re having second thoughts? Seems like you still enjoy my dick an awful lot.”
    I shook my head. “No, I don’t.”
    He chuckled. “So, why have you taken it twice?”
    My eyes narrowed, but my menacing expression was hollow. I had no rebuttal.
    He walked over and stood next to me, hands folded across his chest. “You still don’t want to admit it, huh?”
    I looked down at my glass. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “You’re a liar. An awful one, at that.”
    I bit my bottom lip and flushed under his glare as he looked me over, obviously reading me like a book. I needed to stay strong; if he sensed weakness, he would pounce.
    I’d been doing a good job at pretending like I wasn’t a thin strip of fabric away from seeing him in the full glory of his sexiness. But the