Page 25 of Bad Boys After Dark - Brett
His gaze moved over her face for so long, she thought he might not answer. And when he touched his forehead to hers and said, “Both,” a laugh of shock and disbelief fell from her lips.
“Both?” she repeated. Elation danced inside her.
“I can’t promise more.” Pained honesty brimmed his eyes. “I’m not a more guy. You know that, right?”
She nodded. As much as it hurt to hear it, she knew it was a huge step that he was standing there with her, wanting seconds as much as she did. “I know. I don’t need more.” She wanted more, but she knew want and need were two very different things.
“You do, and you deserve it, but I’ve never lied to you, and I’m not going to start now. Be sure you want this, Sophie. If you don’t, I’ll walk out that door and never bother you again.” A glimmer of heat rose in his eyes and he said, “Or at least I’ll try not to. No promises.”
She laughed again, feeling overwhelmed, excited, and frightened by the renewed hope swelling inside her. She’d always followed her heart, even when it hurt. Leaving home for the city was the hardest thing she’d ever done, but it was the right thing. She had a feeling this was the right thing, too. “I’m sure I want this. I want you.”
THERE HAD TO be sins wrapped up in offering a woman like Sophie another commitmentless tryst, but even if it landed him in hell, it would be worth it. He’d spent half the night hating himself for leaving her and the other half berating himself for being such a pussy. The whirlwind of emotions she’d unearthed in him were new and overwhelming. He’d hit the industrial gym in his home at three in the morning, hoping to work off his confusion, and then he’d crashed for a couple hours before meeting Dylan and Carson for a run. But every mile they’d covered was just another handful of minutes when his mind wandered back to Sophie. He had no idea how he’d ended up at her apartment, as his morning had blurred together. It was as if they were tethered by an unseen cord and he had no chance at staying away. As he claimed her luscious mouth in another steamy kiss, he couldn’t care less about the hows or whys. He was there, and she wanted him.
Nothing else mattered.
Except the fact that he hadn’t thought this through well enough. He was sweaty from running and he probably stunk. Christ, she’d really gotten to him.
As their lips parted, he snickered at himself for being such an idiot and glanced down at his sweaty shirt, earning one of her gorgeous smiles. “I was out for a run when I decided to come over. I should probably shower before we…”
“Lucky me,” she said with a sultry expression.
She toed off her shoes and pulled off her socks, and he did the same. Then, without a word, she led him through her bedroom, bringing another wave of unfamiliar emotions as sinful memories consumed him. He’d thought of her sucking him off last night so many times, he’d taken things into his own hands to find relief. But there was no escaping his desire for Sophie, and jerking off had only made him crave her even more.
“I was at the gym,” she said, pulling him from his reverie as they entered her too-small bathroom. “I need a shower, too.”
He drew her into his arms, his body already on fire from their insatiable kisses. “Babe, you have no idea what the idea of you working out does to a gym rat like me.”
“Really? Why?” She tilted her head curiously.
“I don’t know. It’s such a big part of my life. I just like the idea that it’s something we have in common.” There he went again, saying shit that was so far out of the norm he had no idea where it came from. Those feelings he’d gotten the other night in his chest and in his head were happening again. The smile his response earned was worth every confusing second.
“I love running and working out with weights. It helps get rid of stress.” Her eyes darkened, and she said, “Maybe you’d like to see my running shorts?”
Jesus, she ran, too? He’d never had a list of what he might enjoy in a woman beyond sex, but if he had, she’d just nailed the two things that would come right after being close to her family and honesty. That made her four for four.
