Page 8 of Not In Love

His eyes sharpened. “What’s wrong?”

She choked on the cracker she shoved into her mouth. Her cough was painful with the damned cracker lodged right in her throat.

Diego moved like lightning. One arm beneath her breasts, he thumped her upper back. The cracker dislodged, tears filling her eyes. Her breath barely returned before other sensations zoomed in.

His fingers grazing too close to the curve of her breasts, his corded arm against her ribs, the press of his chest against her upper back, his warm breath on the nape of her neck. He was all muscled warmth and Kash felt as if she was parched earth sighing at the rain.

Her breathing slowed as the air around them turned thick and charged. She tilted her head to the side, collided with his gaze, and knew without question that he felt it too. That it was too late to turn this awareness off.

His nostrils flared as he said, “You okay?”

The whisper of his exhale against her ear made her shiver but she nodded.

He straightened slowly, retreating just enough to give her space. As if he was waiting to hold her again.

The silence stretched, the drizzle outside a charged backdrop. Every inch of her body tingled with fleeting pleasure and she wanted was more. More of what made her body and senses feel gloriously alive.

Finally, he went back to his chair, his movements a little too precise.

“So,” he said, “about this Cancun trip.”

Kash wanted to kiss him for pushing them through the awkward silence. “What about it?”

“I’d like to tag along.”

She blinked. Feigning nonchalance when reckless butterflies took flight in her belly was a whole another skill chain. “Oh? Planning a vacation?”

“I’ll be traveling in January for a few weeks. This way, I can give Tia some quality time and you get extra time with your friends.”

Her pulse was still pounding from being surrounded by his hard warmth seconds ago. Her breasts ached to be crushed against that broad chest.

A week in Cancun in proximity with him... was a very bad idea. But he was right that it would give her time to focus on DP.

She traced the rim of her cup, strangely hesitant about sharing her plan for the holiday. Only, it brought the blurred lines between them into sharper contrast. In the large scheme of things, they would have to be around each other’s romantic/sexual partners. So why did it feel like it was wrong to mention another man’s name?

God, she was fucked in the head. “That’s a great idea,” she finally mumbled.

His dark eyes flared. “It is?”

“I can send you the details about the child-friendly resort we’ll be at. It’s connected to the resort where all the couples are staying.”

A muscle twitched in his jaw. “Couples?”

“Yes, it’s Mona and Dom’s twenty-fifth anniversary celebrations. There will be six to seven couples and all sorts of couples-only activities. My initial plan was to spend the afternoons with Tia. If you’re there, Mom can have evenings off.”

“Right,” he said, twisting the delicate teacup in his tall, elegant fingers. “Are you bringing anyone?”

This time, Kash caught the tension beneath the casual query.

Heat rushed up under her skin as her mind supplied images of them together in some monstrous bed at the luxury resort. Of giving herself over into his capable hands and clever fingers. Of her writhing beneath him as he got her off, over and over.

When everything else in her life felt like a long, empty hallway she was trudging through, why did she feel this keen awareness of him? Why this wicked thrill in her chest at letting him think she was considering this...madness between them?

It was petty. Definitely unhealthy. And yet, she couldn’t care.

Thick forearms slid further on the table as he leaned forward. The earthy scent of his sweat filled her nostrils. “I know it’s been a long dry spell, Kash.” His voice turned into a low rumble that danced down her spine. “If you ask nicely, I might agree to be your plus one. So that you don’t miss out.”

Chin jerking up, Kash stared at him. “You what?”

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