Page 65 of Pucking Wild

“You’re not fine.”

We cross the five or so steps to the bed and I turn, sinking down onto the end. Immediately, my hands go to her, cupping the thick curves of her hips as I pull her closer to me. I bring her naked flesh right up to my face, inhaling deep against her floral-scented skin, my nose brushing just above her navel. I don’t bother suppressing my groan as my dick twitches in my shorts.

“Ryan,” she sighs, her hands going from my hair to my shoulders.

I could delude myself into thinking she wants me to continue, but I can feel the tension in her hold. “Is the moment over?”

She shifts her weight to one hip as she combs her fingers back through my hair again. I chase the touch, moving my head with her hand. “Ryan, what are we doing?”

“I thought that was obvious,” I reply, giving her naked ass a gentle squeeze.

Her eyes flutter closed, but I feel the increased tension in her arms. Fuck, this woman is a master at pulling away. Shelby warned me, I just didn’t want to believe.

“Tess—”

“We need to stop,” she says, stepping away from the bed…fromme.

I let her go, my hands brushing the dimpled skin of her thighs as she backs away.

Fuck, what did I really think was about to happen here? We had one conversation about her controlling ex, and that switched my damn hindbrain into overdrive. I wanted to protect her. I wanted to make her feel good. I wanted her to feel safe, comforted, desired.

“I’m sorry,” I say, raising my hands in defeat.

“Ryan, no. You did nothing wrong. Please don’t think you did.”

I nod, suddenly feeling self-conscious about being in this room with her still naked. I drop my gaze to the floor. “Could you please put something on?”

For the first time since we met, she doesn’t fight me or laugh off our mutual embarrassment. Stepping around me, she moves silently into the bathroom. In moments, she steps out again, tying the knot of a little pink floral bathrobe at her waist. The damn thing is barely long enough to cover her pussy, and the deep “V” exposes the heavy swell of her full boobs.

But I mean, I guess it’s something, right?

“I’m sorry,” she says, her soft voice cutting through my mental self-flagellation.

My gaze darts up sharply to her face. “What?”

“I’m sorry,” she says again. “I swear I wasn’t trying to be a tease or lead you on or—”

“Tess,stop,” I all but growl. “You did nothing wrong either.”

“I pushed you,” she admits. “I wanted to…to not feel so alone.” I can hear the tears catching in her throat. “Ryan, I’ve been so alone—”

Her voice breaks, and I’m on my feet. I pull her to me, my arms wrapping around her shoulders as I just hold her. “It’s okay,” I say against her temple, a few of her soft curls brushing my lips. “I’ve got you. You’re okay.”

After a moment, she relaxes, her sobs muffled by my shirt as her hands skim around my waist. Then she’s clinging to me. We’re relaxed, but firmly together. It feels nice. Compared to her smooth curves, I’m all hard edges.

“I’m sorry,” she hiccups, pulling back. “I’m such a fucking mess.”

“New house rule,” I reply, brushing my thumbs under her eyes to wipe away her tears. “No more apologizing for this,” I say, gesturing between us. “We’re attracted to each other. I can admit it. I think you can too. Tess, you’re fucking magnetic. I don’t think I can stay away, even if I try…and I don’t want to,” I add with a smirk.

She gives another little watery laugh. “I’m not trying to push you away. I’m just—such a goddamn mess—”

“House rule number two,” I say, cutting her off. “No more self-deprecation. You’re not a disaster or a pain or an inconvenience or any of the four-hundred and fifty other terrible names you probably have rolling around up here,” I say, tapping her temple. “Be nice to my friend, Tess. Okay?”

Her mouth quirks with a smile she’s trying not to let loose. Slowly, she nods.

“Let’s press pause on this,” I say, gesturing between us. “Bad timing now isn’t bad timing forever, right?”

She nods, her eyes still glassy with unshed tears.

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