Talking About Sex.... Vicki Lewis Thompson

was a wreck. Her tender, caring side felt sorry for him and wanted to invite him back to her bedroom for the fun and games he’d hoped would happen.

      But she needed to remember that he’d broken into her apartment expecting to seduce her. The wine and candlelight had been part of a carefully constructed plan. With the old Katie, it would have worked beautifully.

      Instead she wanted to change the dynamics, and inviting him to her bedroom this soon would destroy all the progress she’d achieved so far. A bad girl wouldn’t make things that easy for him. A bad girl would expect him to wait a little longer.

      She took a calming breath and laid the candle on the coffee table.

      Jess glanced at it before refocusing his gaze on her. “Now what?” he asked quietly.

      “We make a date for tomorrow night.”

      Disbelief flashed in his eyes. “You’re sending me home?”

      “It’s been a lot of years, Jess. I think we need time to get reacquainted, don’t you?”

      “Like this? With me watching you masturbate? What kind of ridiculous idea is—”

      “You don’t have to come back tomorrow night if you’d rather not.”

      A muscle worked in his jaw. “Maybe I won’t.”

      “Suit yourself. But if you decide to, make it about six. I’ll have some snacks for us. Maybe something…interesting.”

      “I’d expect cucumbers and bananas, at this rate.” His gaze burned with frustration.

      “I’m sure I can think of something more creative than that.”

      “No doubt you can. But you’d better know now that I plan to take part in whatever you dream up. Sex isn’t a spectator sport, you know.”

      “You don’t think so?” Her research for the talk show was really coming in handy. “Don’t you ever use mirrors?”

      “I—no.”

      “You should try it sometime. Mirrors give a whole new dimension to the action.” She didn’t know that from firsthand experience, but she had no trouble imagining it.

      He studied her, his jaw tight. “I don’t know what to make of you, Katie. I thought we could just have sex.”

      “It’s not that simple.”

      “I can see that.”

      Maybe now was the time to dangle a carrot in front of Jess’s nose. “In any case, if you decide to show up tomorrow night, I’ll make you a promise.”

      “What’s that?” He looked wary.

      She smiled. “You won’t be just a spectator.”