Read Online No Regrets by Claire Kent - Free Book Online Page A

now.”
    “Really? It’s not like I expect you to drop everything just to—“
    He made an amused, throaty sound. “Are you serious? I’d drop pretty much anything for the chance to get you back in bed.”
    “Oh. Good.” I was getting excited now—in more than one way.
    “So do you want to come on over? Or I can go—“
    “I can come over there. I’m downtown anyway, so I’ll just drive over.”
    “Why are you downtown?” he asked, as I pulled the car out of the parking lot. “You weren’t on a date, were you?”
    “Some date that would be, if I had to make a stop at your place afterwards for a little satisfaction.”
    He chuckled. “I’m happy to provide satisfaction in the event of any bad dates you happen to have.”
    “That’s good to know. It wasn’t a date. I was out with friends. It’s actually my birthday.”
    “Is it really? Happy birthday. Did you have a good day?”
    “Yeah. It’s been good. They had a cake for me at work, and then my friends got together for dinner.” I stopped at a light, trying to remember which road was the quickest route to Josh’s building.
    “So the real question is, has anyone given you your birthday spankings?”
    His tone was light, teasing, but the words made my body clench with interest anyway.
    What had gotten into me? I’d never been like this, turning every random comment into sex.
    He must have sensed something in the silence. “You liked that idea, didn’t you?”
    “I certainly didn’t call you up, hoping for birthday spankings.”
    “Well, that was your mistake. But sometimes good things happen to us, whether we ask for them or not.”
    I laughed, torn between humor and rising anticipation. “And you’re so sure birthday spankings would be one of those good things?”
    “Hell, yeah. They’d be good for you. I can promise you that.”
    So that got me even more excited. And I was still about two miles away from his building. His voice had gotten slightly breathless, and he seemed to be moving around, so I asked, “What are you doing?”
    There was a slight pause. “I’m trying to pick up a little before you get here.”
    I giggled again. “Oh, I see. Is it a mess there?”
    “I wouldn’t say a mess, but it’s not exactly neat.”
    “I don’t care what your place looks like. I’ll be there in just a few minutes.”
    “Sounds good. I’ll be waiting.”
    I disconnected the call and tried to talk myself down. There was no sense in building up my anticipation too high, since reality might not measure up.
    Josh was good in bed. No question about that. But every sexual experience wasn’t going to be mind-blowing. That just wasn’t life.
    I was feeling basically in control as I headed up to his apartment and knocked on the door. He swung it open with a smile, looking laidback and startlingly handsome in a white t-shirt and khakis.
    I blinked at him. “You put your pants back on.”
    He grinned and let me in the door. “Didn’t want to overwhelm you too quickly with the sight of me in all my naked glory.”
    “That would be overwhelming.”
    We stood smiling at each other in the hallway for a minute.
    “I thought you weren’t going to call,” he said at last, glancing down and then back up.
    I dropped my purse to the floor of the hallway, near where he had a couple of pairs of shoes. “I didn’t know if I was or not.”
    “I’m glad you did.”
    “Me too.”
    “Happy birthday.”
    “Thank you.” I felt a little silly, and I shifted from foot to foot. “Are you really expecting to give me birthday spankings?”
    “Well, not right away.” His mouth quirked up slightly. “In the right context, it can be hot, but if you just jump right into it, it feels kind of…”
    “Weird.”
    “Yeah.”
    “That’s what I thought.”
    “Do you want a glass of wine?” he asked, walking toward the kitchen.
    “That would be great.” I started to relax, since drinking a glass of wine felt normal, comfortable. Certainly more