Nights Like This Read Online Free PDF Page B

a bagel and prepared a plate of food for me. I was sitting at the table with my hands folded when I had a flashback of my stranger squatting on the ground in Central Park. I remembered most her thumb ring and how it caught the light. I wondered how she would react if I were to slide my fingers inside her. I wondered how long it would take for her to entice me to undulate my tongue inside her. I thought of us in Central Park as we were but I would move closer to her as she squatted. I would somehow unbutton her jeans and slide my fingers inside her as she sat with her incense and her photos. I would make her moan as wisps of jasmine air encircled us and everyone watched me make love to this beautiful woman by the fountain.
    â€œJess?”
    I focused my attention on the bacon in front of me. I shifted my gaze to the steel finish of the toaster. The bar between the slots was dusted with bagel crumbs.
    â€œYou want to eat in the living room or in here?”
    â€œThe living room,” I said.
    â€œHere’s your food. I’ll be right there.”
    I had finished my eggs and half my bacon by the time Anjali came to eat with me. I watched her eat delicately and wondered how anyone could go through life never being raw. I was annoyed by her lack of savagery.
    â€œSo what do you want to do after breakfast?”
    I want to find the girl I met yesterday and bring her here so we can make love all day. And I want to make her scream my name again and again. And I want you to hear it ricochet against your perky eggshell white with a hint of champagne painted walls.
    â€œI have plans,” I said.
    â€œYou want to meet for dinner tonight?”
    I placed my fork on my plate. I made sure I looked directly into her eyes before I spoke to her.
    â€œAnjali, we fucked last night. I came. It was good. That’s what happened. If you want, we’ll fuck again. I like fucking you. Surprisingly, I do. But that’s what I like about you. I like the way you touch my body inside and out.”
    â€œI love you, Jess. You say you love me too. And then you act like an asshole.”
    Her voice seemed on the verge of cracking into pieces. I promised myself that if she cried, I would leave. Even if I had no place to go, I would leave.
    She cried.
    â€œI’m not saying that you have to feel a certain way because I do. But you say you do. And last night was amazing. Last night was…just magical.”
    I walked to her and stood behind her. I placed my arms around her. I kissed her head and the smell of her hair aroused me. I ran my hands over her breasts and kissed her neck. I kissed her ear.
    â€œYou are so beautiful,” I said.
    When I closed my eyes, I saw my squatting stranger.
    â€œI have some things to do today,” I said. “I have to study for an exam. I want to write at least a page of the manuscript. Why don’t I see you tonight when I get home?”
    She turned to face me. She started crying again.
    I kissed her mouth. I ran kisses along the length of her neck and back to her lips. I felt my eyes begin to tear because somewhere, I did have a conscience and I realized she was right; I was being an asshole. And for what? She had loved me, made love to me, cooked me breakfast, and fed me, all despite me turning down her Tiffany’s proposal.
    She cried. Watching the tears run over the slight pout of her mouth, absorbing her sadness into myself, I started to cry too.
    â€œHey,” I said, “We’re trying right? We will get there. Just let things be. Remember?”
    â€œBut then you say it was just a fuck.”
    I sighed. I looked around for a minute. I blinked away tears. Then I forced myself to look into her eyes.
    â€œIt wasn’t. And we both know that.”
    I held her and closed my eyes.
    â€œIf I say I love you, will it make things awkward again?”
    â€œTry me.”
    â€œI love you, Jess.”
    â€œI love you too.”
    I heard her laugh, a slight