Page 35 of Never Kiss and Tell

“I’m happy to be of service.” We near the house and I stop to unlock the gate. “I can’t be all bad, remember? Andi told you I’m a good guy.”

Her eyes narrow on me when I hold the gate open for her to step through. She stalks past me before turning on me.

“Andi had a traumatic night. She wasn’t thinking clearly.”

I step in front of her, only inches away, and run my fingers down her bare arm. The skin pebbles and a small shiver rolls through her.

Just the reaction I wanted.

“So, you think I’m a bad guy?” Her eyes darken, growing hazy. I lean in, stepping in front of her until her back is pressed against the wall.

“I think you’re scared of someone seeing the real you. You like to pretend you’re a bad guy.”

She looks up at me through long lashes, her chest pumping with shallow breaths and my cock throbs in my jeans. I’m tempted to kiss her, taste her, but I know once I start, I won’t want to stop.

I place my hand on the wall above her, barely able to see her in the moonlight and the pale glow from the streetlights beyond the wall. “What about you, sweetheart? What are you afraid of?”

I lean in, my lips hovering over hers, mere centimeters from touching. I can taste the mint gum on her breath and I want to move further. Every ounce of self-control I have is being pumped straight to my head to keep me from doing something I know I can’t come back from. But, fuck do I want it.

Bailey’s eyes slide down my face to my lips and back up. She’s thinking about it, too.

“I’m afraid of . . .” she starts, but her voice trails off, like she’s thought better of what she wanted to say.

I open my mouth to ask her again, but she cuts me off, closing the distance between us and pressing her lips to mineso gently, I barely feel her. As quick as it started, it’s over. She pulls back as a look of horror crosses her face.

“I’m sorry,” she breathes, her eyes wide. She pushes away from me, attempting to duck out under my arm. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

Something surges through me and before I know it, I’m grabbing her, wrapping my arm around her waist to haul her back to me. Her back presses into the wall and I use my hand behind her head to keep her from bashing it into the bricks. Then I kiss her, drawing a sharp gasp from her lips.

Bailey releases a soft moan and I swallow it, drinking her in. She tastes just like I fucking thought she would. Sin, sweetness, and everything that will make a man go crazy.

Fuck, what am I doing?

My tongue slips into her mouth and tangles with hers. Bailey wraps her arms around my neck, her nails biting into the flesh above my spine. The small bites of pain draw a groan from me, sending little shocks of electricity straight to my cock.

I force myself to stop, releasing her with a soft growl before I try to fuck her against the side of my house. She looks up at me, her eyes half lidded and hazy. I’ve never kissed someone with so little control.

“Don’t be sorry,” I murmur.

And then I walk away. I leave her standing in the courtyard, a dumbfounded expression on her face.

Inside, I wait until I hear her door shut before I move. I slip my phone out of my pocket, my hands shaking slightly, and type a quick reply to Priscilla.

Charlie: Can’t. Sorry.

“Fucking idiot,” I curse at myself under my breath, willing my heart to stop beating against my chest. I will myself to go in my room and not next door.

Bailey looked sexy as hell when I left her — her hair tangled and her cheeks flushed. Fuck . . .

I just screwed myself over, big time.

Bailey

The devil must be in New Orleans because I’ve never acted on impulse like I did with Charlie on Friday. I was thankful that Andi had big plans for us Saturday and I didn’t have to see him. I think we both needed a break after I practically shoved my tongue down his throat.

Blessed Bridal Boutique boasts enough white lace and silk to cover the entire city. They welcome our party with open arms and, to Andi’s dismay, Sarah, Tom’s mother, has already arrived. She looks like she could work here, in a matching white pantsuit without a speck of lint on it. It’s elegant and classy, putting my butt cheek baring shorts and strappy top to shame. Her sleek brown hair is tied up into an elegant French twist, not a single hair out of place.

“Oh!” she gushes, taking both my hands and pecking both my cheeks with her lips. “Bailey. It’s been so long. You look . . .” She pulls me back to inspectme, her eyes lingering on the pink of my toenail polish. “Splendid. How is your mother?”

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