Free Succulence (Succulent Trilogy #1) by Lauren Lashley

bit. She handed me the keys to the car,
     
    “Honey, if it’s not too much for you, can you grab my card and fill the tank back up? If you can’t find a safe area, don’t bother.”
     
    “Sure, mom. See you in a bit.”
     
    “I’m headed to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.”
     
    *****
     
    His scent was fresh, woodsy and warm. I couldn’t help but to inhale it when he pulled me close, wrapping me in his deep embrace. Heady from the musky testosterone, my heart fluttered and I felt weakened by his bold passion.
     
    “Babe, you look amazing. And you smell delicious,” he moaned in my ear. His verbal delight cascaded against my ear, sending warm tingles that lit my lust ablaze.
     
    “You’re silly,” I giggled as I stepped back, breaking our embrace to reclaim my senses. His touch lingered on my skin, inspiring spicy tingles of desire through my soul. It had been almost a year since we were face to face, yet his effects were still intense. He wielded a penetrating seductive power over me. It was crazy, as if I had never released him – or my love for him – when I left for Dallas.
     
    Girl, keep your control. Remember, he dropped your ass where he was the minute you did what was important for you.
     
    I looked over the menu, willing my heart to return to a normal pace. Exotic, spicy aromas filled the air in Mamoun’s. We had met here plenty of times in our relationship, usually for late night conversations after long days at work at the bookstore. Because this was the only place in New Haven that had cheap, delicious fare so late at night, he and I had bonded over various nibbles on the menu.
     
    We both shared a love of exotic flavors, family, books, and of course, sex. All of these things and more made up the bulk of our conversations during the course of our relationship – well, with the exception of sex. We definitely acted on our sexual desires and urges together.
     
    “So, as I said, I wanted to know how you’ve been, lovely?” he said, breaking my concentration on the menu. With the recent memories of lobster and shrimp in my belly, I wasn’t that hungry, but I could always go for their Turkish delight and mango juice.
     
    I avoided eye contact. “Pretty good, and you?”
     
    “Can’t complain,” he said, grasping my hand in his. “Except for the fact that I missed you.”
     
    “Yeah… about that. I’m not so sure. You had a girlfriend pretty quickly after we were over.” I snipped at him for that. Pain and jealousy flickered momentarily through my soul like thunder and lightning. I don’t think I could ever forgive him for getting over me so quickly.
     
    “She was nothing. She was my rebound,” he replied, curling his lip mild disgust. “I thought she could help me get over losing you, but she really only reminded me of how special you were.”
     
    I pulled my hand away, crossing my arms against my chest. Was he fucking kidding me right now? My eyes narrowed in sheer irritation. “Lose me, Jared? You didn’t have to lose me. You chose to drop me – us – because you wanted to! You know we could have made this work. You simply wanted to cut me loose so you could satisfy your dick and get laid because you weren’t willing to try!”
     
    “Lower your voice, Amy.”
     
    “Don’t tell me what to do!” I sneered. Yes, it was after midnight and we were just one of a handful of peeps in a restaurant, so yes, my emotions threatened to cause a bit of a scene. But I didn’t care! How dare he try to put his decision to end us as something that was out of his control? He didn’t lose me. He never lost me. He let me go.
     
    Tensing his jaw, he ran his fingers through his thick, curly hair. He attempted to reach for my arm again, but was met with active bitch face. Sighing, he asked, “Can I explain?”
     
    I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from saying something bitchy and fucked up. It would ruin our time. I had spent a year away from this man, yet his spell over