After his dad left, Zack put his cigar out and replaced the ashtray where it belonged, then shut off all the lights and locked up. Back at the computer he fired off a quick email to his older brother, Zander, suggesting he call home and sweet talk Momma. Maybe even consider coming home for her birthday in June.

He swallowed the last mouthful of his drink and mellowed by the scotch, went back to Hope’s email. Sex. He owed her a reply.

Sex is like candy. There something for everyone and every mood. You probably don’t want to know this , but you asked about sex. I haven’t been with a lot of women but it’s different with every one and sometimes even every time. I don’t know if all men think about sex like I do. Or rather, the way I do. I mean, your brother said I shouldn’t ask for a virgin because there weren’t any. But here you are. I remember the first time was really awkward and fast. Don’t ask me what type of candy that would be . Maybe licorice, it’s not that great and it sticks to your teeth or Tootsie Pops—you’re too impatient to get to the center. No finesse.

Sometimes I’ve been in a hurry or been with a woman who was. Like Nerds—they’re tiny and you pour them in your mouth and bite down and they’re really sour and gone really quick. I didn’t like that. I prefer slow. Like caramel—Sugar Daddy’s. They melt really slow and they’re sweet and rich. But sometimes you just need it really bad. You just want the heat and the release and a warm soft body to hold. Nothing too sticky or complicated. Maybe that would be a Hershey’s bar--no almonds.

My oldest brother’s a major player--I can’t say much for his taste in women though. I won't sleep with a woman just because she’s convenient. I definitely think sex is better when you care about the person you’re with. When you have feelings for someone, you pick up cues and you just know what kind of sex they want or need. Hard and fast right there at the front door or slow and easy in a bathtub full of bubbles. And it’s more intense to touch someone, to be with someone, to be inside a woman you have a bond with. Maybe that would be Godiva.

Godiva? Candy? Christ, he sounded like a damn therapist. But tell that to his hard-on. He blew out a long slow breath then clicked send.

If she wrote back after this, it’d be a miracle.

He leaned back in his chair and massaged his aching balls through his sweatpants. The thought of being inside Hope, inside a warm soapy cocoon of water was more than he could stand. He shut down the computer and headed for a hot shower.