Page 37 of Playing Hard to Get

That beautiful smile grew as she read my text. I settled in behind a rack of suit jackets. At the rate of Vivian’s previous responses, I could be there a while. She sucked that pointer finger as she stared at her phone.

Vivian: Yes.

It came after only five minutes. Fastest response I'd gotten since last year. And my heart raced as I read the word.

I followed up immediately on a hunch.

Me: Where are you?

My phone dinged less than a minute later.

Vivian: NYC.

With another chuckle, I shook my head. Across the street, Vivian had her lip pulled between her teeth, her eyes on her screen. I decided to play her game, and sent a quick message back

Me: Me too. We should meet up.

Vivian’s brow furrowed and she picked up the phone, her thumbs a frenzy on the screen.

Vivian: You’ll have to find me first.

She set her phone down and sat back in her chair. She wrapped her arms around her body. The smile was gone.

I wanted to bring it back.

Climbing out from behind the clothing racks near the front windows, I stopped at the door to shoot off another text.

Mitch: What will you give me if I do, sweet girl?

I pushed out the door and headed down the street, keeping my eyes on her as she picked up her phone. She licked her lip, chewed on it, and her fingers typed out a response. I lost sight of her face as I walked on by, then crossed the street, coming up behind her. I switched my phone to silent a second before it buzzed in my hand.

Vivian: Whatever you want.

My eyes squeezed shut and took a deep breath as my heart pounded in my ears. This was what I'd been waiting for.

Me: What if I want to kiss your neck?

Vivian: If that’s what you want.

Me: What if I want more?

Vivian: You’ll have to find me first.

I shoved my phone in my pocket and snuck up behind her. My hands landed on her shoulders as I said, “Found you.”

Her body tensed beneath my palms. I ran my hands down her arms and nuzzled my face into her neck.

“Mitch.” Her voice was a breathless whisper, and she leaned her body into mine.

My lips pressed into her neck. Once, twice. God, I missed the taste of her skin. I moved my mouth to the side of her face and whispered against the shell of her ear. “I want more.”

She turned her face to me. My name was on her lips, but I stopped her as I captured her mouth with mine. Her lips parted and I swept my tongue against hers. She was divine, the nectar of the gods. A taste I craved before I’d ever tried it.

“Mitch.” Vivian pulled her mouth away from mine but pressed her forehead against my own. I thumbed the pulse point at her throat.

“Come home with me, Viv. I can't tell you how bad I want you right now.”

“I can't. We can't.”