Page 31 of Sex Positive

“Thanks.” Shutting her laptop, she slides it back in her bag. When she goes to put her shoes back on, Wes’s long fingers gently clasp her elbow.

“Not to mention,” he whispers, his lips grazing the shell of her ear, “how goddamnsexyyou looked doing it.”

Her pulse trips, her mouth going dry, the memory of his mouth on her skin sending a bolt of heat through her. She’s undone by his words, undone in a way only he has ever managed. When he drops his hand, she steps back, her palm sweaty around the strap of her bag, a swirl of heat and desire pulsing between her legs.

Leaning against the counter, he regards her with interest, then raises a hand and tucks one of her wild curls behind her ear. “You always know what you want and how to go after it, don’t you?”

She forces herself not to lean in, not to press him against the counter and beg him to finish what he started in her apartment. She blinks, a flush crawling up her neck, a rebuttal catching in her throat about how she oftendoesn’tget what she wants.

He winks. “Have a good night, Rogers.”

She leaves before she does something foolish.

Nine

“How do youfeel about podcasts?”

Victoria looks up from the medical journal she’s reviewing, twirling her pad thai around her fork. She swallows the bite in her mouth. “I like them. Seems like everyone has a podcast these days, but there was a really helpful one my classmates and I listened to during med school that broke down important board topics.”

Charlie leans back in her office chair, tapping a chopstick against her rice container. “How would you feel about beingona podcast?”

Victoria looks thoughtful, then points her fork at Charlie. “Which one?”

As succinctly as possible, Charlie explains the basics, glossing over the theme of the podcast and stressing its wide reach and how it can help garner attention for the clinic.

By the end, Victoria appears intrigued, a brightness in her gray eyes that had dulled from the stress of the clinic’s impending sale.

“And you think we could get enough support to remain open?”

Charlie shrugs. “I’m hoping it will help, at least. Carolyn sent some inquiries to her media contacts, and we did have that nice write-up in the local paper the other day.”

They have seen an uptick in appointment requests and have received a few small donations. But right now, this seems like their best option.

Victoria nods slowly, glancing out the window. Charlie holds her breath, carefully watching her mentor’s face.

“Theo Fox?” Victoria faces her again. “He’s an actor?”

“You could say that,” Charlie replies, hiding her amusement as she pictures Theo’s indignation at Victoria having only a vague idea of who he is. “His parents are Cecilia Gao and Christian Fox. He’s only had a few minor roles.”

Victoria taps her chin. “Interesting. And I’d go on and talk about the clinic?”

“That and whatever else you want. The benefits of STI testing, communication during sex, destigmatizing genital herpes.” Charlie waves a hand. “Like the talks you do around here. His producer will contact you to discuss your ideas. Theo records in New York, so if you’re amenable, he’d prefer to do it there.” She hesitates before adding, “His podcast recently started catering to a specific crowd. He wants to change that, and having you on might help him as well as us.”

Victoria types something before turning her attention back to Charlie. “What kind of crowd?”

Charlie pauses, trying to find a polite way to describe Theo’s audience of overtly masculine listeners. Before she can, however, there’s a knock on the office door.

Dwayne, one of the clinic’s security guards, stands at the door, accompanied by—

Speak of the fucking devil.

Dwayne points to Theo with his thumb. “This man says he’s here to see you.”

Theo flashes his signature movie-star grin, wiggling his fingers.

“Who are you?” Victoria asks, and Charlie is granted her wish of witnessing the brief flash of confusion that crosses Theo’s face when someone doesn’t immediately recognize him.

Gliding into the office, he recovers quickly, his gaze fixed on Victoria. “Someone who is looking forward to getting to knowyou.”