“A you—” He cuts himself off and smirks. “You want more of what happened the other night, don’t you?” He laughs but it’s a little bit strained. “I rocked your world.”
He thinks he’s joking but he’s not far off base. Only I shouldn’t. We crossed a line the other night, and we definitely shouldn’t take it any further.So why can’t I stop myself?
“Well…” I trail off, cringing as Reed’s eyes widen.
“I was kidding, Hayls. I didn’t— Wait. Really?”
“Don’t you? I can’t be the only one that hasn’t stopped thinking about it, imagining the benefits we could add to our little arrangement.”
Reed’s nose scrunches and I gasp. “Oh, Jesus. Am I the only one?” I cringe and he groans.
“You’re notnow.” He rakes his hands down his face as he shakes. “Nope. Nope. Definitely not.”
“No, what?”
“I’m trying to convince myself that we can’t do the things I’m imagining.”
Oh, God.I clench my legs so I don’t squirm, then torment myself by asking a question I shouldn’t. “What are you picturing?”
“Hayley,” Reed warns but it’s too late. My mind is running wild with ideas, and if he doesn’t tell me, God only knows what “things” I’ll conjure.
“Reed,” I say sternly. “I need you to tell me, or I’m going to be picturing more than you could possibly imagine.”
“I highly doubt that. It’s better if you don’t know.”
An image of Reed bending me over a counter and dropping to his knees has me shaking my head as I silently curse myself. This is not helping.
“Hayley,” he warns again through his clenched teeth. “We’re moving into dangerous territory.”
“Moving? I thought we already passed that.”
“Fuck.” He spins around, running a hand through his hair, giving me a chance to marvel at his magnificence without scrutiny.
Is this the longest I’ve been without sex since I started having it? Yes. But I’ve also been honest about my feelings for Reed since the very beginning. I’m attracted to him. There’s no denying it. But did I ever think I’d go there? No. Because our friendship means more than that.
But what if we could have both?
Dammit.
Reed turns in time to catch my indecisive expression and he groans again, the sound vibrating through me, sending a pulse to my core. “What are you thinking, Hayls? Aren’t you worried about our friendship?”
“Of course I am. And I will always put that first. I was just being honest. Like we promised we would be.”
“We also promised we’d never cross a line unless it was for show, and the other night was not for public viewing. At least I hope it wasn’t.”
He cringes and I can’t help the hysterical giggle that escapes me. “It was just us. And you’re right. Let's chalk it up to another crazy idea of mine and leave it at that.”
“It’s not—”
“I blameyou, you know. You’re too sexy for your own good. I’m only human.” I shrug and he chuckles, shaking his head as he motions toward my body.
“And what about you, Miss Jackman?”
“I thought I was ‘Baby’?”
“Okay, Baby. What about you?” His voice lowers and a hint of his country drawl comes out, making my body heat as I mentally melt. If anyone else called me “baby,” I’d probably dick punch them, but with Reed… “Hayls, you opened your door this morning wearing a fucking midriff top and tight booty shorts, and you’re saying it’smyfault?”
“I—”
