Read For Authentication Purposes for Free Online Page B

meet Declan and Jemma.” I didn’t look up from her laptop as I spouted off intros.
    “You can just call me Dawn.” She huffed and gave a small wave in their direction, muttering about not having dibs on anyone under her breath.
    I guessed her password and laughed when I made it in and opened her documents. “Okay, everybody, circle up. I brought this one”—I pointed Dawn—“over today because we need to run a few things by you for opinions. Are you in?”
    They all shrugged in response.
    “Perfect. Okay, here’s a good one. See, Bunny’s writing a book and she seems to be using some very interesting alternatives for words. First off, do any of you know what the hell a bodice is?”
    Gary looked confused. “Bod-what?”
    Jemma cocked her head to the side and chewed on a piece of cookie with her mouth open. “Bodice. That’s old underwear, right?”
    “Old underwear? Like, dirty?” Gary scowled at her.
    “Old fashioned.” Jemma pursed her lips together for effect.
    “Oh.” And Gary lost interest.
    “It’s like a corset,” Dawn said lamely
    I smiled at Dawn. “Lose the bodice.”
    “Eat me,” she retorted
    “Not now, darling, we have guests. Maybe later?” I turned and gave her a smile.  
    She rolled her eyes.  
    “Ah! Declan. Do you know what pink pebbled love buttons are?”
    “Uh, negative.” He scratched the back of his head and laughed.
    “Is that code for clit?” Jemma asked, and Dawn covered her face with her hands, letting out a defeated groan.
    “Aching nubs?”
    “Did someone lose an arm?” Declan leaned forward to see the screen.
    “Aroused flower?” This was getting fun.
    “Oh my God. What the hell are you reading?” Jemma laughed and then started to choke on her cookie. Declan jumped behind her, slamming her on the back until she spat the cookie chunk out and it landed next to my elbow.
    I pointed to the mess. “Silky wet expulsion.”
    “You are such a shit!” Dawn yelled and punched me in the arm. “Look, I get it, okay? I get it. Just shut up, already.”
    Swiveling a bit in my chair, I rested my elbow on the bar. “Jemma? When you come  . . .”
    She raised her eyebrows. “Yeah?”
    “Do you catapult into the stratosphere and burst into stardust before you see fireworks behind your eyelids?”  
    Jemma went stone still and her mouth fell open a little. “That sounds like a stroke or something.”
    I clapped my hands together once and closed Dawn’s laptop. “Thanks. I think we’re done here.”
    Dawn was mortified beyond belief, and I loved it.
    “I’ve never had an orgasm like that.” Jemma eyebrows pulled together in concern. Her voice dropped to a conspirator’s whisper. “I mean, I’m a squirter, but I’ve never had that shit happen.” Her hands were waving in front of her like an umpire calling a strike.
    “You’re a what?” Dawn stared, eyes wide and intrigued.
    Jemma made a face. “Am I a what, what?”
    Declan leaned over Jemma’s shoulder, holding up two fingers and wiggling them. “A squirter.”
    “Oh my God,” Dawn whispered.  
    I handed her the laptop, and she hurried outside as I grabbed a few things from Gary and told everyone goodbye. Declan asked if my stepsister and her boyfriend would be coming over anytime soon and I had to tell him no. Again. Nolan being in the same place with Declan was too much for anyone to handle. He was always asking, like he had a man-crush on him or something.
    Getting into the car, I grinned at Dawn slumped down in the passenger seat. “They like you. Said you should come back this weekend.”
    “Yeah . . . I’m gonna pass on that. But thanks.”
    Feeling a little bad about tricking her, I sighed and gave an encouraging pat to her shoulder. “Look, I know you have certain perceptions about me. And after I left last night, I got to thinking that maybe you feel like I’m just trying to get in your pants. I needed to show you reactions from other people so that you’d trust me a