Page 81 of Second First Kiss

“I can’t ask you to do that,” she said.

“You didn’t ask. I’m offering.”

“Why? Because I gave you a few orgasms?”

“This is more than that and you know it.”

“You were the one who said you don’t have any room for distractions. And this,” she pointed to Tiny Dancer who was trying to hatch a tampon he’d stolen from beneath the bathroom sink, “is the definition of distraction. Hell, it’s the definition of crazy.”

“I didn’t mean you earlier. I meant everything else going on in my life, and if you’d stuck around long enough, you would have discovered that.” He tilted her chin to meet her emerald eyes. “You, Kitten, are the only thing that makes sense in my life. And I know you said we’re just friends, but if we’re going for honesty here, I’m holding out for more.”

She started to speak, and he placed a finger over her lips. “You don’t have to answer now,” he repeated her words from the meeting. “In fact, think about it. But until then I’m sleeping in either your bed or on the couch. You choose.”

“While I’d love to get you in my bed, not with Tessa in the house.”

He moved closer. “You said she was at Gemma’s.”

“Are you doing this because you care or because it’s the right thing to do?”

“If it was the right thing to do, I’d call in someone to put a car on your house and go home. But around you I can’t seem to help myself.”

“Then let me show you where the spare blankets are,” she said, and he groaned. “I’m thinking about it.”

21

Think. Think. Think.

That was the problem. She’d been thinking for over an hour and kept coming back to the same conclusion.

Seemed her hormones were running the show and in charge of all cognitive thought processes. Otherwise, why would she even be considering inviting Nolan into her bed? Not for cuddles either. Nope, what she had in mind was raw and carnal and bordered on illegal in at least thirteen states.

“He is bad for you,” she whispered to Tiny Dancer, who she’d let sleep on the floor. Because let’s be honest, he’d just break out of his pen anyway. “So completely, totally, deliciously, and devilishly bad.” Bad for her sanity, for her rational thinking, for her mental health, and especially for her heart. He was definitely bad for that. So perfectly bad it was practically good.

“So good that once isn’t enough to get him out of your system. That’s what this is. Getting him out of your system,” she said to the ether. “If you decide to go through with it.”

It was like an out-of-body experience as she pushed the covers aside and swung her legs over the bed and stood. She was in nothing but the same teal silk pajama set, a camisole and short-shorts with black lace on the hem. The top said Sex me up!, and the bottoms said Doggy style, anyone?

Okay, so she was doing it.

She could have changed before leaving the room, but that would imply she was only looking for a little comfort. Just a warm body on what had turned out to be a confusing and scary night. But instead, she bypassed her fuzzy robe and flannel pajamas and tiptoed down the hallway.

She could already smell his unique scent of fresh pine and gun oil from the threshold. She heard the steady breathing of a man deeply asleep. She considered turning tail and running back to her room where no one would be the wiser.

She spun back around to leave when a sleep roughened voice said, “Never took you for a coward.”

“I wasn’t sure if you’d mistake me for a bad guy and shoot me.”

“I started tracking you the second you got out of bed and made your way down the hallway. You walk like a bull in a stampede and smell like a bouquet of wildflowers.” He lowered his voice. “Can’t sleep, Kitten?”

She shook her head.

He lifted his blanket in an offer to join him on the couch, and while her bed was three times the size, she climbed in, her back to his front. He scooched back as far as he could go and then pulled her as close to him as possible. He bent his legs behind hers, causing her body to conform to his, her bottom wiggling against his erection which was ready to give the old Boy Scout salute.

He groaned.

Maybe this was a bad idea.

“Ignore him,” he said, holding her tighter. “He just wants to come out and play. He’ll get the idea and calm down in a bit.”

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