Inhale, Exhale by Sarah M. Ross Read Free Book Online Page B

against me.
    “Um, no. Just keep going.” My body reciprocated her touches, but it wasn’t on fire.
    This is what I need , I tried to convince myself. Just a quick lay that I never have to think about again. Someone to take the edge off so I can refocus my priorities.
    I opened my eyes, but it wasn’t the bimbo I saw. It was Jillian. My eyes focused on those pouty lips, begging to be sucked, slightly apart as she panted on top of me. Her long hair fell down past her shoulders, the ends tickling those perky nipples. I groaned at the sight, reaching my hand around the back of her head to pull her closer to me.
    She squealed as she shoved her tongue down my throat, almost choking me. The fantasy disappeared as I realized it wasn’t really Jillian. Ugh. I needed to get this over with and get this girl out of here. But it would take forever if I had to keep staring at her.
    I flipped her over and pushed her up on her knees, hoping a change of positions would allow my fantasy to come back. I closed my eyes, allowing the image of Jillian to return.
    “Oh yeah. Take me, baby,” the bimbo chanted.
    “Shh! Don’t talk.” I grumbled, pushing her face into the mattress a little. Not enough to hurt or suffocate, but enough to keep her quiet. Her scratchy voice would not help me get the job done.
    I thought of the little strip of skin on Jillian’s back that she exposed the other day. Milky white and soft as butter. I rubbed my hands on the spot, sliding them up her waist, cupping her breasts and rolling her nipples into tight buds.
    It was exactly the image I needed, and I finished with a roar.
    I stayed still for a few seconds, calming my breath again and withdrew, heading straight for the shower and disposing of the condom on the way. There would be no cuddling tonight. In fact, I hoped she’d be gone by the time I got out.
    Ten minutes later, as the hot water cascaded over my back, I heard the front door close. “Thank God,” I mumbled. I turned the water off and reached for my towel. As I stepped out of the shower, there was a note on my bathroom mirror written in lipstick. It read, “Had lots of fun! Call me! XOXO” and had her phone number with her lip prints below.
    “Not likely,” I muttered before I crawled into bed naked and fell sound asleep.
     

CHAPTER EIGHT

    This past week had been the longest in my recent memory and now that it was finally Friday, I couldn’t wait to not have to think about Allegro—or its cute employees—for two whole days. While I’d started to get the hang of the phone system, my computer had crashed three times, forcing me to call IT to send someone to fix it.
    And—of course—each time it had been Grant who came to fix it. It was a strange juxtaposition. Each time I saw him and spent time with him—even ten minutes or so—I found myself enjoying our witty conversation and sarcastic banter. Christian never laughed at my jokes like that. He didn’t always get a lot of the literary allusions or historical references I made. It wasn’t that he was stupid, but school was never his thing. Of course, then I’d think of Christian and knots of guilt formed in my gut.
    “Are you sure you’re not breaking it just so I can come back out here? ‘Cause if you want to see me, you don’t have to break expensive equipment to get my attention,” Grant said earlier that day. It was the third time I’d had to call IT, and the third time I’d gotten to see the mischievous smile on his face as he walked toward me.
    “No, I promise you. I really am this dumb.” I winked playfully, allowing myself to flirt for a minute. It was harmless, right? I’d never actually act on it.
    “I’m pretty sure the fact you can say that sentence in several other languages suggests otherwise.”
    “Sono davvero questo stupido,” I repeated in Italian.
    Grant ran a knuckle down my arm, leaving a trail of goose bumps along the path. “Beautiful,” he said in a whispered breath. My own breathing