Can't Touch This (Can't Touch This #1)

She still refused to answer my question about a date.

But I wanted an us so fucking badly.

We remained quiet for a few minutes while she inspected Barb’s injuries and applied topical cream to her red snout. Vesper made me hold her while cutting her claws and then headed out back to grab some antibiotics.

While she was gone, I murmured to the Chinese Crested. “You think third time’s the charm? Think she’ll finally say yes?”

She licked my hand as if she knew exactly what I asked.

“That’s good enough for me.” I scratched behind her ear. “If this backfires, I’m holding you responsible.”

I rubbed her head as Vesper returned.

She tapped the syringe, making sure no air bubbles remained then pinched Barb’s scruff. “This will sting a little.”

I held Barb’s head while Vesper gave her the drugs.

Once it was done, I sucked in a breath. “Sooooo, about that date?”

Vesper deposited the syringe into the trash and shook her head. “Look, I’ve been thinking about it. And I do genuinely like you and I won’t admit the things you do to my body, but…I don’t think a date is a good idea.”

My mouth went dry. “First, you can’t say things like that to a guy and then follow it up with a refusal.” I swiped my hand through my hair. “Second, why is it a bad idea? We’re two consenting adults who like to have fun and lots of sex. We’ve already cleared all the bases. We’re practically coming up to our one-week anniversary.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re doing that thing with no filter again.”

“No, if I hadn’t filtered there’d be a lot more cursing and some very explicit reasons on why you should agree to be mine. Go on; tell me why it wouldn’t be a good idea.”

She looked at her croc-covered feet. “Well, for one you’re my patient’s owner.”

“Who cares? It’s not like I’m your teacher or anything.” I leaned closer. “FYI, that wouldn’t stop me from asking you out, either. In fact, I love that concept of you being my student and me a naughty professor entirely too much and feel like giving out grades as rewards for sexual favours.”

She cracked a smile. “You’re so bad.”

“Oh, you don’t know the half of it.”

You really don’t, Vesper.

Christ, the things I want to do to you.

“Besides that.” She rubbed her nose. “I don’t know you.”

Is she real or just playing hard to get?

My cock hardened at the thought. “You knew me enough to let me into your apartment the other night.”

“I was sick and my common sense was drowning beneath germs. Besides, you gave me no choice.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Let’s forget about the germs for a second and focus on us.”

“There’s that word again.” She shook her head. “There is no us.”

“But there could be.”

“See, I don’t know about that. All I know is we’d have amazing sex together. Hell, you make me almost orgasm just by texting me or showing up here with your god like compassion. But apart from the mind-blowing sex, I don’t think we’d work together.”

My knees wobbled as I groaned. “The sex, Vesper, would be better than mind-blowing. It would be goddamn supernova. We make a pact right here and right now to be honest about what we like. No judging, no demeaning—we have fun and stop all that serious shit from messing it up.”

“But that serious shit is life. We can’t just stay in bed together for the rest of our days.”