Dex stared after her and sighed. "That is one fine a.s.s."

"Attached to one p.i.s.sed off woman. She'd sooner punch you than date you, dumba.s.s." Anson cuffed his cousin in the back of the head.

"Oh, you're one to talk. I saw Riley hotfooting it away. Guess your plan to annoy her into your bed isn't working."

Anson shoved Dex, and Dex shoved back. Jack would have stepped in except the bravado and trash talk amused him. Then they turned on him.

"So, Jack" Anson said. "You and Ann."

Dex nodded. "They looked pretty chummy to me the other night at dinner."

"I don't kiss and tell. But then, I don't have to." Jack smiled.

"a.s.shole." Anson sighed. "At least she's nice. Riley is a huge pain in my a.s.s."

"You mean you'd like her to be," Dex murmured.

"Shut it. Just because it's obvious to the rest of the world how much you want inside Maya's pants does not mean I'm mooning over Riley. I'm trying to be friendly while building a solid business. But the woman is colder than ice."

"Uh huh." Even Jack didn't believe that one.

"I know, right? He thinks we're stupid." Dex laughed. "Cousin, if you're not trying to win the woman over, why did you move your business right next door to hers? Why send her bouquets of flowers?"

"Really? Flowers?"

Anson flushed. "He's talking s.h.i.t."

"Am I?"

"I need a drink." Anson shoved his cousin once again and stalked away.

Dex smiled. "It's fun watching him flounder. Everything's always come a little too easy to him. But not Riley."

"Don't they hate each other?"

"She hates him for sure. Anson feels anything but for his chocolate G.o.ddess."

Jack coughed. Not exactly a PC thing to say. "If she hears you call her that, she'll kill you."

"I used to call her that back in high school and she liked it. Remember? She made the best chocolate chip brownies ever."

"Oh yeah." Speaking of which, he wondered if she'd make some for him to take on a picnic with his redhead.

Riley returned with Ann, who was all smiles.

"My chocolate G.o.ddess." Dex beamed at her.

Riley tried to be stern, but Jack saw a grin break through. "You big goofball. Aside from p.i.s.sing off Maya, how are you?"

Dex swung Riley into a huge hug. "How is it you keep getting prettier? Your skin is flawless. Gorgeous. Look at the play of shadow over you. When can I shoot you?"

"Excuse me?" Ann arched a brow.

Jack slung an arm around her shoulders. "I'm a.s.suming he means with a camera."

"Huh? Of course." Dex shook his head. "Academics. Am I right?"

Riley snickered. "Teachers in lurveee."

Ann blushed.

Jack only smiled, and Riley's eyes grew wider.

Dex glanced from him to Riley. "What?"

"Nothing. Look, I gotta go. I have to find Maya before she gets a gun and shoots you. As in, not with a camera."

Dex sighed. "Still mad about the prom, huh? She swore she'd get even with me."

"You know Maya. She holds a grudge."

"Yeah, but she's so pretty while being mad. I forgive her."

Even Ann smiled at the charmer.

Jack didn't like that. "Okay, we're out of here." He leaned down and whispered to her, "I have five more hours."

"Geesh. Going to count down to the last second, eh?"

"You got it."

Jack said his goodbyes before dragging Ann away with him.

"I wanted to hang with Riley."

"Well, I want you all to myself. Unless you'd rather blow me right-"

She slapped a hand over his mouth.

"Jackson Samuel Bloom, watch your mouth."

He laughed and licked her palm. She wiped her hand on his jacket, muttering under her breath. Then she grabbed him and yanked him with her to the car.

As he drove them back to her house, he wondered about something. "You don't care if I drive, do you?"

"Why would I?" She seemed puzzled.

"Some women would see me driving as a statement of control."

"You do have five more hours. Then...payback." She smirked at him.

"So if there was no bet, just you and me hanging out, would you want to drive?"

"Would you care if I did?"

He thought about it. "No. You're a good driver."

She nodded. "There's your answer. You've never been s.e.xist or racist as long as I've known you. You've never treated Maya or Riley different, which is more than I can say for half the school. And you've never acted like having a smart girlfriend was a crime."

"I love smart women." One smart woman in particular.

"You always treated me with respect." She frowned. "Well, almost always."

He didn't want to talk about the past. "Now, today, do you feel good being with me?"

"Yeah, I guess." She looked out the window as she asked, "You like being with me, don't you?"

"Yes. And not just for the s.e.x. That's amazing, don't get me wrong, but I like you a lot, Ann." He decided to push. "I'd like us to keep seeing each other. After the bet."

"Seeing each other."

"You know. Dating. Boyfriend-girlfriend. Being exclusive."

"Oh."

They drove the next few minutes in silence. He was dying to know what she thought about his idea.

Once inside, she turned to him. "What do I get out of it?"

"Excuse me?" He hung up their coats, straightening out the sleeves so the jackets were even, then noticed her surprised expression. "What?"

"Nothing." But he saw the smile she tried to hide.

"What? Spit it out, Weaver."

She grinned. "I just think it's cute that you're a neat freak."

"Oh." He glanced at the closet, and she laughed. Having her in a good mood, he took advantage. "So you and me. Us." She stopped laughing and backed away as he advanced. Finally, she took him seriously. "What do you think?"

She stopped moving when she backed into the wall. He stood over her, feeling like a conquering hero and loving it. He freely admitted he got off on being in command, but only because he knew she was as strong as he was, and she let him take charge. He needed that trust from her. Maybe, once he felt sure of her feelings, they could revisit the past and clear the air. But right now he needed a hold on the woman.

He hated to keep resorting to s.e.x, but it seemed to work. She softened after he pleasured her.

Jack put a hand around her neck. Gently, but he kept her right where he wanted her. Judging from the increase in her breathing and dilation of her pupils, she liked his hand right where it was.

"You and me, Ann."

He used his other hand to unb.u.t.ton her blouse. He slipped his hand inside and past her bra to tease her nipples.

"You're cheating," she moaned.

He loved that she knew he intended to manipulate her with s.e.x yet couldn't help herself. "I'll do anything to get you." And keep you. "Come on, Ann. What could it hurt?" As soon as he said the words, he knew he'd made a mistake. Her eyes darkened with memory.

He didn't want her lingering on their past mistakes. He wanted her looking toward a better future. So he pinched her nipple and kissed her. His hand on her neck remained, but he didn't tighten it. Restraining her served to heighten her desire. And before he knew it, the minx had opened his jeans and had her hands on him.

"Ann. f.u.c.k."

"If I say yes, what does that mean?" She stroked him, rubbing her thumb over his c.o.c.khead.

He widened his stance, mentally begging her to cup his b.a.l.l.s, to drop to her knees and suck him off. That was an image he wanted to commit to memory.

"I-ah-it means... You... G.o.d, Ann." He moaned and started humping her hand. "You and me, angel. Just us. No one else."

"No cheating," she clarified. "I'd have to trust you."

"And I'd have to trust you," he added and nearly came when she squeezed him.

"I'll think about it. That's the best I can do right now."

"I'll prove it to you. We can make it work." His heart lightened with hope while his c.o.c.k hardened with l.u.s.t. "Now on your knees." He checked his watch, barely able to focus. "I have four hours and twenty-six minutes left to boss you around." Though right now he wasn't sure who was bossing whom.

She dropped to her knees, pulled his pants and underwear down, then drew his thick shaft to her lips. She stared up at him as her tongue darted out to lick his slit.

"s.h.i.t. Ann. Oh G.o.d."

She smiled and watched him watching her. Then she took the crown of his c.o.c.k between her lips and sucked. "Hmm." She bobbed over him, and their gazes locked.

He wondered what she saw as she sent him spiraling in pleasure. It didn't take him long before he reached his end. He shouted her name and clutched her head as he spent, and she swallowed him down.

"Best. Girlfriend. Ever," he said between breaths.

She grinned and licked him up, then rose to her feet. "That was sixty seconds well spent."

He might have been more upset about the jibe if he could get his brain to function.

She laughed. "I swear your eyes nearly rolled up in your head. You have a s.e.xy O-face."

"Shut up."

"Oh, he's blushing," she teased. "Seriously. I bet you could make real money in amateur home movies. You know what I'm talking about. Quit your day job and show some skin for sin." She wiggled her brows.

"Ann Weaver." He feigned shock as he tucked himself back into his pants. "I can't believe you even know what P-O-R-N is!"

Her own cheeks burned red, and he laughed. "You should see your own O-face. I'm game. Let's film it."

"No way. Uh-uh. I'm a teacher."

"With a s.e.xy-as-h.e.l.l body and the ability to make me come in less than a minute. I'm a teacher too, but I can admit to liking s.e.x."