Page 45 of Close to the Edge

She stared at me. “Is it too difficult? I can help you out if you want?” I caught a hint of teasing challenge.

I snorted and selected one.

She grimaced. “Uh, no. I love Bruce Lee but not tonight. The sound effects alone will give me a headache.”

I scrolled some more until she laid her hand over mine. “This one,” she breathed.

“Revenge?”It was the original movie with Anthony Quinn, Kevin Costner and Madeleine Stowe. I couldn’t remember the plot line but I’d probably seen it. Movies had been a huge escape for Mom the few times depression released her from its merciless talons. To be honest, they’d been an escape for me, too, because for a blessed stretch of two or three hours, I could stop worrying about her. She’d even summoned a laugh when we watched a comedy.

“Yes. It doesn’t have a high rating but I love it. Unless you want to find something else?”

I tore myself from the past. “This will do.” I hit Play and pointed to her empty glass. “Do you want another?”

She stared wistfully at the martini glass. “No, I better not. I’ll take a soda, though.”

I grabbed a soda for her and bottled water for myself. She broke the tab, curled her lip over the top and drank half the contents, while I forced myself not to stare at her throat.

The movie’s plot became clear within twenty minutes. Sex. Corruption. Forbidden lust. Betrayal.

I settled in and tried to give it my full attention. Lily set the cup of candy between us and stretched out her legs. She ate another marshmallow, then held out a jelly bean to me. I took it, chewed, and steeled myself not to stare at her exposed thighs. Or her flat belly beneath the mesh top. Or the slight mound of her pussy.

Jesus.

A few minutes later she shifted again, turning onto her side to face me as she slid one leg up against the other.

She rested her head on one arm, and started toying with the ends of her short hair.

Hell, something about the way she played with those white-blond tips turned me on beyond comprehension. A moment later her other hand dipped into the candy cup. She didn’t pick one, just rummaged through it, her gaze still fixed on me.

“Are you going to settle down or are you planning on fidgeting through the movie?”

Dark-tipped fingers traced the edge of the cup.

“I still feel...wired,” Lily stated, her voice hardly above a husky whisper.

Alcohol, sugar, unscripted revelations and lust didn’t sit well together. Add the flimsy top and bikini she wore, and it was an explosion waiting to happen.

I grabbed the candy cup and moved it to the other side of my seat. “Maybe you should stop stuffing yourself with sugar, then.”

Her lower lip protruded in a sexy pout, drawing my eyes to the luscious curve.

Lily made a small, muffled sound under her breath. “Caleb.”

God,nowshe chose to say my name voluntarily. In that damn dirty, cock-stroking voice.

Her free hand dropped onto the space between us, then drew tiny circles on the leather.

“Maybe it’s time to call it a night.” I didn’t mean it. At all.

She dragged her lower lip between her teeth. “No. I...can’t. I’m wound too tight,” she whispered.

“Tell me what you need.”Hell of a time to be the better man, Steele.

She blinked slowly, sultrily, and her hand bunched into a fist. A moment later her gaze swept over my chest, then dropped lower to caress my rigid cock. She took a deep breath. “I’ve decided to accept that pass.”

I stopped breathing. “What?”

Beautifully lusty, gorgeously defiant eyes met mine. “You heard me. You gave me a loophole in your rule. I’m taking it.”

---