Page 128 of From Best Friend to Bride
“I didn’t mean to,” I whispered.
“That makes it worse. I’d rather it was deliberate.” His voice was low and gritty, tinged with that restraint I was becoming so used to. “I don’t want to lose what we have.”
That was all well and good, but… “Fred, best friends don’t hug like this.”
“I know.” He lowered his head until his lips were hovering just above my neck. “I…”
My heart thumped against my ribs. He could feel it. I knew he could. Every part of me was pulsing with anticipation.
“You’re upset,” he ground out, pulling back. “That’s the only reason you’re letting me do this.”
“No,” I whispered. “It’s not.”
“Deli—” He caught himself, tensing. “This… We…”
His body shuddered with his next exhale. I set the hairbrush on the drawers and turned around in his arms, my skin humming with apprehension. Despite his words, he didn’t move to let me go. He didn’t create any distance at all between us, even as my hands crept up his chest and I brushed my fingertips along the curve of his jaw.
He clenched it. Indecision warred in his eyes, and I could see in their darkening depths how badly he was trying to hold himself together.
Oh, how I wished he would break.
How I wished he would show me that side of him I didn’t know.
I was greedy. I was selfish. This was Fred.MyFred. I couldn’t stand the thought of not knowing him entirely.
He lowered his gaze, his eyes cloudy with desire. I was sure mine mirrored the same feeling. This was scary and uncertain, but the part of me that demanded I know all of him egged me on, desperately wanting every little bit of him to be revealed.
“Delilah.” He said my name scratchily, a thick undertone of rough need sending another shiver down my spine. “Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
He groaned. “You’re playing a dangerous game.”
“I’m not playing.” I met his gaze, laying my hand against his cheek. I pushed onto my toes, drawing my face closer to his. “I know you want to. I know you.”
“That’s not the point. You… You’re too important to me.” His fingers dug into my hips, and the strength of his grip pulled me closer to him, directly contradicting his words.
“Just a little,” I whispered. “Please.Please,Fred.”
His ragged inhale betrayed how close he was to breaking, and I could feel the heat of his breath against my lips.
Just a little more. Just another inch, and—
“Are you guys up?” Amelia’s voice came drifting through the door, followed by a few loud knocks.
Fred released me and stepped towards the bed, sinking his fingers into his hair. “Shit. Fucking hell.”
I dipped my chin, and my heart pounded in my chest.
Damn it.
He was going to break. I knew it. He was going to kiss me. He was going to give in and give me what I wanted, what we both wanted, if his sister hadn’t shown up.
Mel hammered at the door again. “Fred? Deli?”
“What?” he called to his sister.
“Are you both awake?”
