Page 35 of Friends With Benefits

“How’d you get here?”

“I got a ride with Sela and Doug.”

“I’ll drive you home, then.”

She nodded, still staring up at him with unfocused, dilated eyes. He smoothed her dress over her waist and hips, stepped back and picked up her shoes. He handed them to her, walked with her out of the room. At the door, they paused and she held his arm while she lifted one foot to put on her shoe, then the other. Then, smoothing her hair back, she sucked in a deep breath and they returned to the party.

Kerri’s mind buzzed, a churning jumble of confusion. She pasted a smile on as she talked to her guests, said good night to those who were leaving. When the last person had left, she and Sela gave each other a weary high-five.

“Awesome party, Sela,” she told her sister. “You did a great job.”

“Thanks. You made quite an impression tonight. All my customers were asking about you. I think you can expect some new clients.”

“Oh. Wow. That’s great.” Sela was complimenting her? Holy crap.

Then Kerri remembered Mitch was waiting for her, and she couldn’t get out of there fast enough. “I’ll talk to you more tomorrow.”

Mitch waited for her at the front door and put his arm on the small of her back as they walked to his vehicle. Warmth radiated from his fingers through her body.

“I walked in on your parents,” Mitch told her as they drove to her place. “They were getting busy in your office.”

“Huh?” Her mind twirled with thoughts of Mitch’s hands on her breasts and his mouth on hers, her body tingled, and she had no clue what he was talking about.

He grinned. “They were kissing. Pretty hot too, for an old couple. I walked in on them, but luckily they didn’t see me.”

“Oh lord.”

He laughed. “Hey, it’s a good thing. Your parents are amazing. I can’t believe they’re still doing that after forty years.”

“Yeah. I guess.” Mitch was right, it was better that than the alternative.

That only diverted her temporarily, however, from the kiss she and Mitch had shared. Excitement clutched at her stomach and her head spun as they drove to her place. What on earth was happening here? This was so crazy.

Chapter Fourteen

Once in her condo, they stood in her living room for several heartbeats, looking at each other. She ached for him, burned with a breathless, throbbing need.

“I don’t want to talk,” she breathed, moving toward him.

“Oh, thank Christ.” He scooped her up and carried her down the hall.

Once in her bedroom, he let her slide down his body until her feet touched the floor. She stepped out of her shoes, wound her arms around his neck and kissed him.

His mouth was firm at first, then opened for her and he kissed her back, open-mouthed, deeply, wetly. His hands came to her waist, and then they were all over each other, going at each other with long, desperate kisses.

She tugged on his tie until it came loose then went to work on the buttons of his shirt. Heat radiated off him, his shirt damp and warm beneath her hands. She bent and pressed her open mouth to his chest as she bared it.

She’d seen his chest before, of course. Many times. And in fact, she’d admired it. Smooth, broad muscles tapered down to his six pack abs. But now…she was seeing it in a whole new way, now she got to touch it, kiss it, inhale it, as she pressed her mouth there.

He drew in a sharp, audible breath as she kissed and licked her way lower, hands tugging his shirt out of his pants. She undid the buckle of his belt, loosened it and opened the fastener at top of the zipper. His hands covered hers and stopped her.

She glanced up at him, biting her lip. “What? Is this…weird?”

“Weird? No, I definitely wouldn’t say weird.”

“I just mean because we’ve known each other so long…”

He smiled, his eyes so hot they scorched her. “Not weird at all,” he said softly. “I just want to slow down a little.”

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