Page 16 of Sticking Out

“That was delicious, Dani.” He licks his lips, and as his gaze drops to the vee in my dress, I’m suddenly not sure exactly what it is he’s savoring. Is he going to eat me with that same kind of vigor? Oh God, I hope so. I really do.

“Merci.”

He chuckles. “Do you know any other French?”

“Oui, bien sûr. Which means, of course I do. I just don’t have anyone to practice it on and it would be nice to have someone to converse with.”

“That accent is kind of sexy, you know, and you can practice on me. I can listen, I just can’t respond.”

I arch a playful brow and point my finger. “I could say anything I want and you’d never know.”

“Nope, I wouldn’t. Maybe I should take classes too.”

“Actually, I’ve been thinking about taking courses again.” I quit just about everything after Alec died. It’s only recently I started the book club with Josie and her friends. They’re all so smart and educated, I sometimes feel inferior, though.

“Why French?” he asks.

“I lived in Montreal and found the language interesting,” I explain, not telling him the real reason. “Or maybe it’s because it’s a sexy language.”

He sets his fork on his plate, his eyes dark and lustful. “Be careful waving that accent around. It’s very seductive.”

On that note, I jump up and walk across the room on shaky legs. I set my plate in the sink, which is full of bubbly water. “Coffee?” I ask, and the next thing I know, his body is pressed against mine.

Heat warms my neck as his mouth hovers near my ear. “No.”

That one word races through my body and settles between my legs. He touches my hair, moves it away from my neck and with the lightest of touches, presses his lips to my flesh. Oh God, this is happening. It’s really happening.

“Tea?”

“No.” This time that one word comes out like a growl.

“Me?” I squeak out. Catching me by surprise, he turns my body, and pins me between his hips and the counter.

He touches my chin, his gaze roaming my face as he answers with, “Yes.”

His lips find mine, and I nearly melt to the floor as he kisses me with heat and hunger. I have never been kissed like this in my life. I might not be his type, but he’s giving it his all, totally committing and everything about that makes me feel like I’m special, and for that I’m grateful. A weird sound catches in my throat.

“Nervous?” he asks, and inches back. He studies me as I give a tight nod. He lightly brushes his thumb over my cheek, a great deal of tenderness about him, but there’s something else there, something brewing just below the surface. “What are you thinking about?”

It’s an innocent question, but I get the sense it’s a loaded one. I put myself in his shoes and consider what we’re doing, what I’m asking of him, and what might actually be going through his mind. I was married to his brother, which complicates this a lot. Does he think I chose him as a stand-in for Alec because I’m trying to recreate what we had? He’d be wrong, and honestly when I talked about DNA, it’s this man’s DNA I wanted and he needs to know that he’s the man I want in my bed tonight. How do I do that?

Never in my life have I talked dirty—sure, I’ve read some hot books through book club, but right now, this could be our first and last night together, and dammit, I’m going to let him know exactly what and who I’m thinking about. I move my body against his, and his big cock presses against me, giving me the courage to call on the brazen heroine in the last book I read.

“I’m thinking about you, and how your cock is going to feel inside me.” He goes still. Like completely still. Is he even breathing? Oh God, did I ruin this? Did my attempt at dirty talk turn him off? Did I mess up our friendship? Is he going to run for the hills? I open my mouth to tell him I was kidding, but his lips come down on mine. Hard. Possessive. A man with a fierce hunger I’m pretty sure I don’t have what it takes to sate. But dammit, I’m going to try.

He runs his hands down my bare arms, leaving goosebumps as his fingers go lower and move to my hips. He bunches up my dress, tugging it a bit higher until the hem is hovering just below my sex.

“If you ask me, I’d say it’s going to feel pretty damn awesome,” he murmurs.

“You think?” God, I sound so breathless.

“Yeah, but thinking is overrated.”

“Conner,” I murmur as he moves his body, shifting until his cock is against my side, his hands close to the needy spot that is craving his touch—has been craving it for a long time now, if I’m being honest.

“Why don’t we go to your room, so I can put my cock inside you and you can see for yourself just how good this is going to be?”

“One thing,” I say quickly.

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