Page 178 of Between Hate and Desire

Lennon wants this as badly as I do.Fucking finally.

She pulls me on top of her, eagerly fingering the buttons on my shirt, and when I lean to one side, our mouths part just long enough for me to take it off. I quickly rip off my undershirt too.

We collide as Lennon’s leg wraps around my hip, and I devour her mouth the way I’ve imagined for the past three years.

“Fuck, Lennon,” I hiss against her when I move my lips down her neck. Then she arches her hips, meeting the erection that can’t be missed. “Are you sure about this?” I kiss my way back up to her mouth and pause. “I don’t think I can go back to being your platonic best friend who loves watchingFriendsand pretends to understand pineapple on pizza anymore.” I blurt Hayden’s taunting words, of what he’s mocked me for the past year.

She laughs, and the sexiest blush hits her cheeks. “I can live with that on one condition.”

I pull back and look into her eyes. “Name it.”

She bites down on her bottom lip as if she’s too nervous to say. “You admit that Ross and Rachel were, in fact,notbroken up.” The way she keeps a straight face has me laughing—shoulders shaking, head falling back laughing.

“You, Lennon Corrigan, are impossible.” I release a dramatic sigh. “But for you, I’m willing to do just about anything. So here goes…” I clear my throat as if I’m about to make the most important announcement of my life. “They were not on a break, and the bastard cheated on the hottest actress in Hollywood.”

Lennon cracks the tiniest of smiles. “That’s not exactly what I said, especially the hottest part, but I’ll accept it.”

“Thank God.”

Lennon giggles, and I pull her lips back to mine. It’s hard to be without them knowing how amazing she tastes and how perfect our mouths mold together.

She pulls back with an odd expression, which gives me a mild panic attack before she grins. “Actually, can you excuse me for a second? I need to go to the bathroom first.”

“Of course.”

She slides out, and that’s when I notice she’s only wearing a T-shirt and the bottom of her ass cheeks peek out beneath it.

And the willpower it takes not to haul her back to bed should be considered admirable.

Lennon looks over her shoulder as if she knew I’d be staring.

“Don’t start without me now.” The seduction in her voice has me groaning in agony.

As soon as the bathroom door shuts, my mind wanders like crazy.

But after ten minutes, I worry she’s changed her mind.

Another five go by and that’s when I tap my knuckles on the wood. “Lennon?”

There’s some commotion and what sounds like her scrambling. “One sec.”

“Everything okay?” When she doesn’t answer, my heart races. “Lennon, can you open the door?”

I know her well enough to know she’s panicking. Shaking the doorknob, she finally opens it and peeks her head out.

“Hey. Sorry. I just need another minute.”

I try to read her, but a part of me wonders if it has to do with being cleared for sexual activity, but then I remember she had her six-week postpartum appointment a few days ago because I watched Allie while she went.

“Are you okay? You know nothing has to happen tonight. I hope you know by now that?—”

“It’s not that,” she cuts me off, then looks away as if she’s too embarrassed to elaborate.

I tilt up her chin until her gaze meets mine again. “What is it? Tell me, please.”

She releases a short breath, then opens the door wider. “I haven’t shaved in a month.”

I hold back a laugh, trying to be sensitive, but honestly, I wasn’t expecting that answer.

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