Dating A Cougar

As they pulled into her neighborhood, Casey saw that Alexa lived in a gated community with a live guard. She had another security gate on the area around her house, and she told him she had an electronic door lock that only worked with the key inserted. All of which meant Alexa had not been kidding when she had described her home as a fortress.

“So exactly who are you keeping out with all this security?” Casey asked her.

Alexa looked at him as she raised the garage door. “Is that criticism I hear in your tone? I thought as a military guy you would appreciate it,” she said.

“I do,” Casey replied, “but—well, it seems like a lot, even for a well-known model turned lingerie designer.”

Alexa pulled the car into the attached garage and turned off the ignition while she pondered how to answer.

“I guess I don’t need it as much since I quit actively dating. For many years, I wanted to keep out the media people who just wanted to get a picture of the man I brought home for the night. Truth was I went home with my date when I was inclined, not the other way around. The only men who came to my home were Jenna’s father and Sydney. I have always felt a need to protect my family from my public life,” she explained.

Alexa looked out into the dark garage, lost in thought, realizing how tame her life was now compared to even five years ago. “I wasn’t always successful in keeping my private life private, but I tried. The security helped me feel like I was doing that.”

Casey reached over and took one of her hands in his. “It wasn’t a criticism, just a curiosity type of question.”

She smiled and shook her head. “Sorry I’m so glum.”

Casey squeezed her hand in support.

“I haven’t been asked anything about myself in while. And I don’t mean to be defensive over everything you ask. My don’t-give-a-damn is honed from years of practice,” Alexa said with a laugh.

“I know you’ve had a very different life than mine. I’m far too curious about you to not ask questions,” Casey warned, playing with her fingers. “I like you and want to get to know you.”

Alexa did laugh then. “Your mind is clouded by lust, Casey. We’ll see how you feel in the morning.

Casey grinned at Alexa, hearing the unspoken fear in her voice. He had his own worries, but no doubts about being with her.

“Morning, huh? Are you asking me to spend the night?” he joked.

Alexa smiled back. “Why? You fishing for an invitation already?”

“Hell yes,” Casey replied quickly. “But I need more than one night. I want to spend the weekend. I’m even wondering if I can talk you into taking the day off tomorrow.”

Alexa laughed. “No man is that good in bed,” Alexa warned, amused at his smug grin. “I have a business to run. I work when I want to and need to. Men are fun, but they don’t distract me from my greater purpose.”

“Sounds like a challenge to see if I can change your mind,” Casey said, lifting her hand to his lips for a kiss.

Alexa just laughed at his macho bragging. “Been there, seen that movie. Orgasms don’t last that long.”

Casey laughed hard at her statement, his whole body vibrating with it. “Wow, you definitely are jaded and cynical, Alexa. Or maybe you’ve just never had really, really, really great sex. I plan to rock your world lady—not bragging, just fact—but I admit it will probably take a few times. I need the weekend. I’m a bit out of practice.”

“Well, you’re in luck,” Alexa said, laughing. “Pleasing me in bed will be easier than you think. I have a short fuse.”

She paused to consider what she’d just told him. “Does this count as our sex talk?” she asked.

Casey barely kept the rolling laugh building inside him from escaping. The woman was so damn forthright. It was hard to make himself frown when he was so tempted to pull her across the console into his lap.

“No. I want to know how many men you’ve been with, but at the same time, I really don’t. I’m having a morale dilemma.”

“You mean moral dilemma, don’t you?” Alexa asked with a giggle.

“No. I mean morale,” Casey said easily. “There have only been six women in my sex life. When I found Susan, she was it for me. And honestly, she gave me everything I wanted. I never looked beyond her—until I met you.”

Alexa could only look at Casey and sigh. He had so much to give a woman whose heart was as open and trusting as his seemed to be. She wondered again why he wasn’t pursuing someone a lot younger than she. He could have a wife and children, not just settling for sex with her.

It isn’t too late, she reminded herself. You can still send him away.

Alexa looked at him, really looked at the man holding her hand as they sat in the car. All she could think was how great it would have been to have met Casey twenty years ago. Instead of her fifty-year-old self, Casey would have been sleeping with a very different woman tonight. He was certainly not getting the nice version of her for sure.

“I’m not naïve,” Casey told Alexa. “Given the differences in our ages, and the fact you never married, it’s only reasonable to assume you’ve been with more partners than me.”

Alexa snorted at his statement. Here comes the judgment, she thought.

“How magnanimous of you, Mr. Carter. So do you want a drink first to brace yourself for my answer?” Alexa asked with a smirk.

Casey looked in Alexa’s eyes to see if she was worried or not about what he thought. He couldn’t tell. Either he was too nervous to figure it out, or Alexa truly didn’t care. In the end, he decided neither would change the reality. It was a waste of time to worry about what came before him.

“Am I going to need a drink to hear the answer?” he asked finally.

“Depends. Are you a person who peels off a band-aid slowly or just rips it off all at once?” she asked, not yet answering.

Casey contemplated the warning, recognizing it for what it was. He watched Alexa tracing the steering wheel with her hands as she waited for his response. He badly wanted those capable, confident, experienced hands on him, stroking him as boldly as they had every other time she’d touched him.

That was the real answer—and the only one that mattered.