Page 72 of Honey Be Mine
“Fine.” She sighed, easing out of his hold and standing. She held her hand out to him.
He stood, took her hand, and ever so slowly led them back to the hotel. In the elevator up to their floor, her hand tightened around his. He glanced down at her and instantly regretted it. The way she was studying his face... He swallowed. How many times had he dreamed of Rosebud looking at him with hunger in her eyes? The way she was looking at him now.
The elevator doors opened and they stepped out, the walk to her hotel room door far too short.
“Thanks again for tonight.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek.
He hugged her, aware of how soft and warm she was against him. He dropped a kiss on her cheek. “Sleep tight, Rosebud.”
“You, too.” Her voice was husky, and her gaze fell to his mouth. “Everett...” She twined her arms around his neck and pressed the soft fullness of her mouth against his.
He should stop this and hold her away from him—
Her lips parted beneath his, and he was lost. Her fingers slid into the hair at the nape of his neck and tugged him closer. He couldn’t stifle the moan that slipped out when her tongue touched his. There was no hesitancy in the way her hands slid up and over his chest, only want. She wanted him.
He pressed her tightly against him, anchoring her against the wall at her back. He could feel the rapid beat of her heart against his and hear the rasp of her breathing as he deepened the kiss. Her want for him only fueled his need for her.
And he did need her. Because he loved her. He loved her smile and her laugh, the way she cared about her family—and him. He loved the way she lit up when she talked about her bees or her books or painting, and he loved the fire in her eyes when she’d looked at him in the elevator. There was nothing restrained about the way he was kissing her or the way she clung to him. And even though he wanted her, like this, now and forever, he knew things were moving too fast.
“Rosebud,” he murmured, lifting his mouth from hers.
She shook her head, her lips finding his once more.
He groaned, pressing a last kiss to her forehead. “You’re going to make this difficult.”
She opened her eyes and frowned up at him. “Make what difficult?”
Her voice was husky and all kinds of sexy. With her blazing eyes and flushed cheeks, Rosebud was sexy. And even though he wasn’t going to let anything else happen, he did want her. “This.” If he wasn’t careful, he’d be kissing her again in no time. “Taking things slowly.” He eased his hold on her and stepped back. “Being careful. I don’t want there to be regrets between us, Rosebud.”
“Oh...” She blinked, dazed. “Right.” She blinked a few times, her lips swollen from his kisses. “You’re right.”
Was he? The way she was gripping his shirt—her unsteady breathing made him second-guess himself. It took everything he had not to throw caution to the wind and pull her back into his arms. But this was Rosebud. “I just...”
She stared up at him, her eyes so bright and green he tripped over his words.
“You’re you. My best friend. Special.” He swallowed, knowing he wasn’t saying what he needed to say. “I care about you too much to rush things, Rosebud. You’re not sure what you want, and I respect that. And this... Well, I sure as hell don’t want to stand in the way of what you do want...or ruin anything.” Now he’d gone and said too much.
Her smile was soft and gentle. “You could never do that, Everett.”
His heart turned over at the faith on her face.
“Good night.” She pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I’ll see you in the morning.” She used the key card to let herself into her room, waved at him, and closed the door behind her.
The moment she was gone, pure panic sank into his bones.
What was he doing? What was he thinking? By opening up and kissing her and letting his heart get the best of him, he’d done the very thing he’d spent years trying not to do. He’d put their friendship at risk in a big way. He knew she had decisions and plans to make, and he’d inserted himself into the mix. Her choices were hers alone to make. She’d worked too hard to be weighing his wants or feelings when she made any decisions. As much as he’d like to think she wouldn’t, he knew better. Rosebud’s heart was too big. What he’d done wasn’t fair to her.Dammit all.
What was he supposed to do now? He had to do something because the thought of losing Rosebud altogether was too much. It kicked up the one thing he didn’t want to feel about her: regret.
Somehow, he had to fix this—even if he had to break his heart in the process.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
ITHADBEENa long night, one Rosemary pretended to sleep through. If she hadn’t, she’d have been bombarded with questions about what happened between her and Everett. She wasn’t ready to share. Not yet. It was all too...magical. She’d kissed him—okay, more like thrown herself at him. He hadn’t minded. Not one bit.
I care too much about you to rush things.
She smiled up at the ceiling. All night, she’d replayed their date. The looks. The touches. The way he’d held her tight. And the way he’d responded. The power of his kiss... There’d been no missing the rapid thunder of his heart against hers.
