Page 46 of Brick

She struggled to catch her breath. Her heart jackhammered in her chest. Every nerve ending came alive with his touch.

If kissing him did this to her body, how would she survive when they made love? She desperately wanted to find out.

With her legs wrapped around his waist, she pressed closer, seeking friction against her aching core. There was little to be found. His hands, kneading her ass, and his mouth, now laving her neck with open-mouth kisses, had her panties thoroughly soaked.

Distantly, she heard a phone ringing, but whoever it was would have to wait. She only cared about the man setting her on fire from the inside out.

“Please,” she moaned. “I need you.”

He nipped gently at her ear, then slowly lowered her to the floor, her body sliding over his bulging arousal. She had never wanted any man as much as she wanted this one, this very second.

Brick reached forward and tenderly tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “You have no idea how much you tempt me, Livie-mine. I’m barely holding on to my self-control.”

Gripping his hand, she pulled it to the top of her breast, close to her heart. “Stop fighting it. If you want me, take me. I’m right here.”

The phone, which had quieted momentarily, started ringing again. He tugged away from her hold and raked his hand down his face. “I’ll ruin you.” His voice was gravelly. “I lie to myself sometimes. I let myself believe I can have you and I can keep you apart from all the putrid shit in my life, but I’m being selfish.”

“No—”

“Yes. You make me feel like maybe I could be clean again, but it’s a fantasy.”

Her heart sank as he pulled further and further away. “Stay with me.”

“There is nothing I want more, but it doesn’t matter what I want. The phone you hear ringing? My boss is calling. There’s no making him wait. You don’t understand what kind of man he is. I hope you never do.” His smile held no joy. “I’m an idiot and an asshole for coming here. I’d say I’m sorry, but I won’t lie to you.”

He swiped his stuff off the washing machine and shoved it all in the pockets of Will’s sweatpants, then turned toward the door.

“Will you be back?” As many times as he’d pushed her away, was this the final straw?

He paused, turned, then closed the distance between them. His touch was soft as he ran the back of his hand down her cheek. “Not tonight. Afterward…it depends on how well I can keep the promises I make to myself to stay away. God knows I’ve tried, but seeing you—touching you—it’s like a drug. I go out there at night and do terrible things. Most of the time, I can barely look at my face in the mirror. But with you, it all goes away. It’s the only time I don’t feel like a monster.”

No monster would have protected Robby’s feelings at the bar or given advice to a strange little boy who only dreamed of one day being big.

She grabbed his arm. “Take this,” she whispered, pulling the simple braided gold band off her thumb. It fit perfectly on his pinkie. “Next time you feel like a monster, remember there’s somebody out there who knows you’re a man.” Forcing her shoulders back, she lifted her chin and let his hand go.

He blinked once slowly and turned away, grabbing his boots on the way out of her home and into the night.

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