Page 41 of Bad Love

Andfascinating.

And all I could think about was kissingher.

I can’t remember the last time my chest was tight, my abs flexed, because I wanted to kiss someone sobadly.

I shouldn’t. The reasons are still there, drumming in the back of my head.I’m working with her. She’s not my type. I can’t give her anything shewants.

I do it anyway because I can’t stop myself. She’s so close, and she smells like heaven, and it’s the payoff from the foreplay we’ve been accumulating for an entireweek.

When I kiss her, I'm not expecting the surprised gasp when I press my tongue against her lips. The way she opens underme.

In a lifetime of salt-kissed breezes and bespoke beer and Michelin-starrestaurants…

Kendall's the sweetest thing I'vetasted.

I’m definitely not expecting her to kiss me back as though I’m a dream she never wants to wake upfrom.

Her reaction takes me from edgy to mindless in two secondsflat.

I stroke down her sides, my hands learning her curves as my tongue learns her mouth. Her breasts are small and round, perfect in my hands. Her waist dips in, flaring into curvy hips. When she grinds against me like a porn star, I think my eyes roll back in myhead.

She.

Tastes.

Like.

Heaven.

I need to know if she tastes this goodeverywhere.

If she makes that low sound of surprise when my cock presses inside her like my tongue did a momentago.

"Say the word," I rasp into her ear. "Say it and we'll make memories,Peach."

That’s when she jumps off my lap as if I’ve shockedher.

Okay, wasn’t expecting to get shot down that quick. But she’s not like any womanI’ve…

I follow her startled gaze, turning in mychair.

There're three people at the open apartmentdoor.

Or one and two half people because two aren't grown. They're the size of the CPR dummies we train on fordiving.

I struggle to make sense of the situation.Fail.

"Kendall!" says the woman, a cool blonde who's gripping the doorframe as if it's going to hold her up. "Goodness. We brought Rory home because I wanted to talk to you about your ticket sales strategy for the talent show." Her gaze flicks between us, full of shock. "I didn't realize we'd be… interruptingsomething."

"You’re not interrupting.” The steadiness in Kendall's voice is the only thing that could have ripped my gaze from the sight at the door. “Ah, I’ve started thinking about tickets. But let’s talk at drop-offtomorrow."

The woman who was in my arms a second ago is smoothing back her hair, which has come loose from its pigtails thanks to yourstruly.

She's across the room with her chin held high and her T-shirt straightened by the time I’m out of mychair.

"You really shouldn't have brought Rory home,” shesays.

"It's no trouble. I need to get Mitchell to violin. We’ll talk tomorrow." With a tight smile, the woman and one of the boys turn anddisappear.

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