Her question took me be surprise. “I didn’t want to be too forward.”
Straddling my lap, Natty cupped my face in her hands. “You really are one of the last real gentlemen left in this entire city.”
Before I could challenge her statement, she crushed her lips to mine, and b
eing gentlemanly flew out the window in an instant, letting my primal hunger flood in. Gripping her hair in my hands, I plunged my tongue into her mouth, tasting the sweet subtle notes of the wine she had just consumed.
Pulling away from me, her eyes smoldered. “Some simple rules for the evening.”
“All right,” I agreed, letting my hands run down her sides.
“We don’t let this turn into a thing. We’re a one-night, fun-filled adventure, and that is it. We can have our fun, but after that, it’s over.” She was resolute in her plan.
“What if it goes well?” I naïvely asked.
“Even if it does, a deal’s a deal. You don’t have my number, and you won’t come back into the bar. Agreed? If not, I’ll see myself out.”
“Deal.” There was no protesting it. There wasn’t a point. One night of fun or nothing at all—the choice was simple in my young brain.
Chapter 1
Stormi
A few weeks later
“Cierra hurry up!” I grabbed for my twin sister’s hand. “We’re going to miss our train.”
Her eyes were still locked on a Bruce Springsteen poster advertising the next few dates of his current tour.
“But the Boss!” she exclaimed as I dragged her along.
“We can look it up when we get back to the apartment. I have to get these notes in before my boss pushes my story again. If I’m going to be taken seriously, I cannot be late again.” My heart was racing. I knew it was crunch time. I was on the brink of finally being taken seriously as a sports journalist, but my big break wasn’t going to come if I didn’t put in the work in a timely manner.
“Fine.” She gave in and trotted behind me.
We squeaked in just as the train’s doors were about to close.
“Thank God,” I said with a sigh, gripping the side rail as the subway car started to whisk us to Chelsea.
Cierra continued to go on and on about how badly she wanted to finally see Bruce Springsteen in concert. “You know he isn’t going to be touring forever. We could go as our Christmas presents to each other.”
Just as I was going to give in to my twin’s wishes, a familiar face caught my eye.
“Where do I know him from?” I shamelessly stared at the young, tall, broad-chested man who sat gripping a cane only seats away from where we stood.
“Never seen that guy in my life.” Cierra shrugged.
My sister and I were opposites in almost every way. She loved dolls, pink, and dresses. I loved sports, reading, and combat boots. The only things we truly shared were our last name, dark hair, green eyes, and love for each other. She was the yin to my yang, the perfect balance that I needed in life.
“Holy shit!” I exclaimed. “That’s Cason Bennett.”
“And who in the ever-loving fuck is Cason Bennett?”
“He’s the guy who blew out his knee in the Otters game last month. No one can get an interview with him. He’s been refusing to comment on his situation.”
Cierra shot me a devilish simper. “That’s going to change today.”
Grabbing my elbow, my twin escorted me over to the melancholy man with headphones in.