Read HandsOn for Free Online

“Yes.”
    With a shrug, he said, “You’re probably right. Places like
this are known to be meat markets. And some guys like to have a lot of women to
choose from.”
    “Is that why you brought me here?” Stupid question.
    “Nah. I said some guys, not all guys. Besides, I’ve got the
best-looking woman in the place.”
    Lara snorted and turned to the couples on the dance floor,
scanning for more interesting subjects. She’d have to keep her wits about her
tonight so she could remember everything she saw. When she returned home, she
could type up her observations.
    “Tell me more. What else do you see?” he asked.
    “The area over by the bar. That’s where the male will size
up available females before making his choice.”
    “Why?”
    “Typical male response. Males are hunters. Their primary
mission is continuation of their species. They always look for the most
attractive woman in the crowd. If he captures her, if they have chemistry, he
knows he can bond with her.”
    Now it was Mark’s turn to laugh. “I can guarantee you that
ninety-nine percent of the guys in here aren’t looking for a wife.”
    She shook her head. “No, not a wife. A mate. Someone to have
sex with. Good sex, at least to a man, equals a good mate and therefore
continuation of his line. Doesn’t mean he wants to spend all eternity with her.
In fact, it’s exactly the opposite. The male of the species deals in quantity,
not quality. The more women he can spread his seed among, the more likely his
lineage will continue.”
    “In other words, fuck ‘em and go on to the next one.”
    “Exactly.”
    She could have laughed at his affronted look.
    “Whoa. That’s kind of harsh.”
    Lara smirked, knowing all about a man’s ego and how easily
it could be bruised. “But it’s true. If you think about it logically, you’ll
know it to be true.”
    “So in other words, my taking you out tonight is because I
want to have sex with you.”
    She choked and grabbed for her drink. “Um, no. That’s not
what I meant at all.” She didn’t mean the two of them. She and Mark were…well,
whatever they were, it wasn’t like that at all.
    “Then you’ve just blown your theory right out of the water,
professor.”
    At a loss for words, she watched the dancers, hoping Mark
wouldn’t ask her any more questions.
    “You prefer that, don’t you?” he asked, pulling her
attention back to him. He leaned back and slung his arm over the top of the
chair. The movement stretched his shirt tight over his chest. She hoped she
wasn’t drooling.
    “Prefer what?”
    “Watching, rather than participating.”
    “I’m an analyst. I love to survey the sexual interactions
between people. It’s what I do.”
    “Don’t you miss joining in?”
    She never had before. Content with her life for many years,
Lara had convinced herself she didn’t need a man to make her complete. She
still felt that way, although if she were going to participate rather than
watch, the man sitting across the table from her would be her first choice.
    “Not really. I’m satisfied with my life.”
    “Satisfied, but not happy?”
    Mark must have taken psychoanalysis lessons from Nancy. “I
didn’t say that.”
    “No, you didn’t. Let’s dance.” He stood and held out his
hand.
    “I’d rather watch.”
    “Not this time, professor. This time you participate.
C’mon.”
    She took a quick gulp of her cocktail and stood, hoping she
wouldn’t pierce his foot with her stiletto heels. Or even worse, fall on her
ass.
    Mark maneuvered them in between the throng of bodies on the
dance floor. The music was slow, sensuous, a wailing strain of heartache
pouring from the saxophone. He stopped and turned, then gathered her into his
arms and pulled her close. His hand rested low on her back. Damn Nancy and her
choice of low-cut dresses.
    And he could dance. Lord, could he dance. His body fit tight
against hers, his fingers splayed on the skin of her back, softly moving up and
down