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I cleared my throat. "Yes," I said. "I could."

She gave me a long look. Those blue cat-like eyes were both cold and calculating, but there was a curiosity I could see behind them, perhaps even a warmth.

As a photographer, it was my goal to try to capture the essence of a person. If I did that right, I did my job. If not, it was just another photograph. The same applied to landscapes, objects, things that many saw as not having a soul. It was crazy, but I felt like everything had a soul. If it was created, whether it was rock crafted by the hand of God, or a newborn baby, everything had a soul and I spent the majority of my life trying to reveal it.

In my time doing that, I found I'd become pretty adept at reading people. Jennie was difficult to decipher and projected as much. I didn't know if she wanted me because I was someone she might enjoy spending time with or because she was looking to get off. I knew she was attracted to me and I'd be lying if I said I didn't want her, but I had no idea what to do in this moment. Women like her didn't just invite someone like me to bed unless it meant nothing. Even though I didn't know her, I wanted it to mean something.

Still, I was willing to sacrifice this in order to act on my attraction to her, and she was giving me an open invitation. I felt my lips curl up and I nodded my head. At the very least, this would help me understand whether or not our physical chemistry lived up to the spark between us when we looked at each other during that meeting. I would be able to touch her and not merely by playing footsie. Finally, I'd have a chance to feel her skin and kiss those lips. I could watch as those blue eyes turned dark with lust. I felt myself get turned on just thinking about all the things we could do together.

I cleared my throat again and angled myself away from her so she wouldn't be able to see the effect she had on me. She was gorgeous and intelligent and successful. I was positive I was just some young kid to her, a fling that wouldn't go anywhere. Whatever happened would happen, but I didn't have to act like some teenager fawning over her hot teacher. "Yeah, that would be nice." I hated that my voice cracked when I spoke. So much for not reminding her of a teenage girl.

Her smile widened and, without another word, she turned on her heels and waltzed to her car. I shouldn't have been surprised to see that she drove a G-wagon. It was white and sleek and sparkled under the sunlight. She took good care of her things. She liked to be noticed. She was sophisticated. All of these characteristics flooded through my mind and I shook my head, trying to rid it of all those thoughts. I wanted to learn about her from direct interaction, not from the assumptions I made from afar.

I slid into my own Toyota Camry. It was a few years old, but it fit all my equipment and it took me from point A to B. I didn't need anything flashy. I followed her back to her place, which was a nice house in the wealthier side of the port. It stood on a cliff that overlooked the water. From where I stood, I could tell it was probably two bedrooms at most; quaint, but big enough for an office or a child.

She saw me staring at her place and murmured, "If you're stunned now, you should see my view from the back patio."

I fixed my eyes on her. "You should see mine right now." The words came out of my mouth before I could stop them. That might have been the cheesiest line I'd ever spoken aloud. Jennie tilted her head to the side.

"Did you just say that?" she asked.

I couldn't take it back now, could I? "Yes," I admitted with a nod. "Yes, I did."

She smirked and sashayed to her front door. I couldn't help but allow my eyes to linger on her backside. She moved with a confidence the majority of women I knew didn't have and I felt my desire for her grow. "Well?" She stood in her doorway, giving me an expectant look. "Are you going to come in?"

I picked my jaw up off the floor and jogged - I fucking jogged - to her. "Sorry," I muttered. "I was distracted."

"Clearly," she murmured, closing the door behind us.

I didn't get a chance to even admire my surroundings before she turned me to face her and pressed her mouth to mine. Jesus, she could kiss. I felt myself get hard in a matter of seconds and judging by the way I felt her lips curl into a smirk as she kissed me, I knew she felt what she did to me.

Her fingernails lightly grazed my scalp as I tilted her head back and deepened the kiss. I had to have her. I had to taste her. I had to know her. I wanted it all. One taste and I was addicted. One taste and I couldn't let this be just a one night stand. I started walking over to her couch, keeping her in my arms. I wanted to be on top of her. She was used to being in control. I wanted to take that away from her. At that moment, my phone rang. I ignored it.

The back of her knees hit the couch and she sank down. Just as I was about to crawl over her, my phone rang one more. Again, I ignored it.

She laid back and I proceeded to crawl on top of her, not breaking the kiss. My phone rang even more insistently. I pulled it out of my pocket and glanced at the caller ID, all while keeping my lips locked with hers...until I saw my sister's name on it. "I'm sorry," I mumbled, pulling away from her. "It's my sister. I have to take this." And then, after only thirty seconds, I did the last thing I wanted to do in that moment: I offered an apology, then I stood up and left.