Free Intoxicated by Jeana E. Mann Page A

They do it all on their own.”
    “Maybe, but you treat them like they’re disposable. I have too much self-respect to subject myself to that kind of treatment again.”
      “If I didn’t respect you, we wouldn’t be here right now. I would be off in pursuit of a sad little groupie. Give me a chance to show you how much I like you.”  
    “Why do you like me, Jack? I mean, why me? I’m not your typical target. I just don’t get it.”
    He leaned back on his hands, considering. “You mean besides the obvious things like you’re big boobs?” She rolled her eyes and he grinned. “I like the way you call me out whenever I say something like that. Most girls put up with anything I say even when I can tell they don’t agree. I like that and I like that you’ve got your shit together. You don’t need a man. You can take care of yourself. I like the way your green eyes flash when you’re pissed but don’t want to show it.” The timbre of his voice deepened as he trailed a hand up the length of her calf. “And I like the way your breath catches when I touch the back of your knee like this.”
    “I do like that,” she whispered. The pressure of those two fingers made her heart pound with desire.  
    “So what else have you got? Might as well get it all out on the table.”  
      She sucked in her breath and tried to concentrate as his fingers tickled the sensitive skin behind her knee. A pleasant heat was building beneath her skin, brought about by the gentle pressure of his fingers and the wine. “So let’s say that I do sleep with you. How do I know that I won’t catch some hideous STD? How many girls have you been with anyway?”
    “A gentleman never tells,” he admonished. Unfazed by her look of doubt, he continued. “I get tested on a regular basis and I always, always use a condom. I was just tested a few weeks ago. I’m clean as a newborn baby – well, almost – and I haven’t been with anyone since.” Dimples flashed. “Okay? Next issue?”
    “Alright. Good answer.” She rushed her words together. “The thing is…I don’t believe in casual sex and I just don’t like it that much. Sex should be between two people in a relationship that…”
      “…are in love, blah, blah, blah.” He interrupted by raising his hand, a small twig caught between thumb and forefinger like a cigarette. “We’ll come back to that later. Now…let’s go back to that second thing. What was that again?”
    “What?” She pretended ignorance and clapped an invisible hand to her forehead. I can’t believe I said that, that second thing. I shouldn’t have said that . Especially to Jack who treated sex as a sporting event and who would never let it rest until he had thoroughly inspected, analyzed, and driven it into the ground.  
    “That second thing you said. You don’t like sex? Are you kidding me? Christ!” He seemed thoroughly nonplussed by the confession. “How can you not like sex? Jeez!” He dropped the twig and ran both hands through his unruly hair.
    “It’s not that I don’t – don’t like it,” she stammered, hopelessly humiliated once again. “I can do without it, that’s all. Girls aren’t like guys. Guys need it. All I can every really think about is how soon it will be over.” There…now I’ve done it. The excellent wine had loosened her tongue and once again she’d said way too much to the beautiful bartender.
    Jack stared in disbelief. “Not like sex? I had no idea. I just don’t get it unless…,” he paused, eyes narrowed, his mind working through the murky black depths. “Have you ever had an orgasm?”
    “I’m not going to discuss this with you,” she said, indignant and embarrassed beyond belief. He had – stunning perception and alacrity in full force – landed upon a very sensitive subject. She leaped to her feet and ran down to the edge of the lake where the water lapped around smooth multi-colored stones. Jack sprang up and trailed on her