Page 55 of Ride By Your Side

“Miles,” I beg, my voice coming out way more whiny than I’d like, but I mean it. I need him—now.

Finally, he pushes himself inside me with a loud groan and I match his movement with a thrust of my hips and a loud cry. I can feel him stretching my walls as he fills every last inch of me.

We both seem to be filled with a similar desperation as I meet each of his thrusts, rolling my hips into his. It makes sense, after how long the two of us have tried to fight and deny the fact that this is something we’ve both needed for a while, and clearly for good reason.

As cheesy as it sounds, my body feels as though it was made for him, filled with unrelenting pleasure as he continues to thrust in and out of me, my nails digging into his shoulder blades.

“Miles,” I cry out over and over. Normally, it’s not necessarily my style to be so loud and vocal, but damn, this man knows how to work my body, especially as he pulls back just enough to sink one of his hands between us, his thumb brushing against my clit.

“Oh my God,” I moan loudly.

“No God here, just me.” He proudly smirks, which, coming from him, is incredible, especially given his usual serious demeanor. “That’s it, beautiful. Keep taking my cock so fucking well, like it was made just for you,” he pants, thrusting again and again.

I want to tell him that he’s right, but I don’t have it in me. I can only reply with another loud moan, somehow encouraging his movements even more. I want to drag this out longer, especially after already receiving one amazing orgasm from him, but my body certainly appreciates his as I feel myself getting close again. As my back lifts off the bed, my nails claw perfect little moon-shaped dents deep into his back, while my other hand digs into the sheets.

I cry out his name once more as a powerful orgasm consumes my body, intense wave after wave rippling through me, culminating until he gives one last thrust and releases himself with a satisfied groan.

It seems to take us both a few extra moments to recover as we come back down to earth. While I half-expect him to roll off, his gaze drops to mine, his blue eyes softening as he leans down, his lips brushing my forehead with a feather-light touch before he finally rolls over.

“Well, fuck,” he curses, the words heavy with exhaustion as he lets himself fall onto the mattress beside me.

“No regrets though, right?” I ask, my hand falling to my chest, where my heart plays a frantic rhythm against my ribs.

“How could I ever regret something that felt likethat?” he asks, turning his head to look at me, and God, he’s gorgeous.

I reach over with my free hand and brush a piece of his sweat-soaked hair away from his eyes. “Just making sure I didn’t freak you out or anything.”

“It’s gonna take a lot more than that to freak me out. Plus, maybe you were right. If something can feel this good, why fight it? It’s only temporary, right?”

The joy I’d been riding just moments ago slips away, deflating like a balloon with a slow leak. I do my best to keep the ache from showing on my face—it’s not like this isn’t what I’d just agreed to.

“Yep. It’s only temporary,” I agree, my voice heavy with heartbreak, as I lie back on the bed and stare at his popcorn ceiling.

As he rolls out of bed to deal with the condom, I sink back into the pillows, shaking my head as I scold myself.This is only temporary, I try to remind my foolish heart, repeating the words over and over like a much-needed mantra. But even as I do, the weight of them feels like a lie. If I’m not careful, I’ll break the promise I made to Blair—and to myself—and actually fall for Miles Bennett.

Unfortunately it’s becoming obvious that maybe it’s already happened, as that newfound realization hits me like a tidal wave,knocking the air from my lungs. Somewhere along the way, I let my guard down, and the impossible happened. I’ve fallen for my best friend’s brother, and it’s only a matter of time before that hard truth leaves me with yet another broken heart.

32

Miles

I’manasshole.Iknow I should be taking advantage of the situation I’m in and the fact that I have a gorgeous and willing woman to hook up with, especially when our chemistry is off the charts, but I can’t do it. I know I said I was fine with things being temporary, and a part of me knows I should be making the most of the connection I have with Veronica while it’s still an option, but honestly? It’s just not that simple.

As much as I’d like to say Veronica is nothing more to me than being Blair’s quirky and impulsive best friend, that’s just not the truth anymore. She’swaymorethan that. Not only has she become my friend as well, but she’s weaseled her way in and become one of the most important people in my life.

Every time I see her, my day feels a little brighter, and each smile she sends my way feels like the warm hug I never knew I needed. She’s changed my life completely, and as much as I hate to admit it, it’s been for the better.

Not that she would know that as I’ve actively been going out of my way to avoid her. I get it. I’m a piece of shit. She deserves way more than a man who chooses to sleep with her only to ignore her the next day, but I don’t physically have it in me to act like this is normal or like it’s something I can handle.

I like to think of myself as a tough guy, someone who isn’t afraid of getting hurt, but the last people I truly let in were my parents. When they both showed their true colors and left me broken, I swore I’d never let anyone else get close enough to have that power. Yet, here’s Veronica, inching dangerously close to breaking down all those carefully built walls. As much as I want to let her in, I can’t. Not when we both know this situation isn’t built to last. It’s temporary, and I can’t afford to forget that.

Eventually, our sham of a marriage will be annulled, and she’ll move back out. She’ll once again become nothing more than Blair’s best friend and I think it’s time we both stop acting like reality isn’t breathing down our necks.

Unfortunately, one thing I’ve learned is that the constant proximity in our tiny, cramped apartment makes avoiding her nearly impossible.

That’s precisely why I’ve spent the past few days at work, putting in overtime, or at least attempting to make it look like I am. There really is only so much you can do before you run out of real work.

Sure, the folks of Evergreen are probably thrilled their vehicles are being serviced in record time, but it’s not like we were ever drowning in work to begin with. Then again, maybe that’s a blessing in disguise because these twelve-hour workdays are starting to catch up with me. Case in point: after someone dropped off their truck for an oil change, I was forced to retreat to my office for a breather, my body all but shutting down on me.

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