“That just upped your cool factor by two hundred percent.” That must be where the stunning bone structure comes from, that smoothhoneyskin.
Her brows hike into her forehead. “Just twohundred?”
“Twofifty.”
We share a quiet laugh, and an awkward lull hits theconversation.
“So that kiss.” She takes a deep breath. “I mean, wow—are you always that much of a powerhouse, or were you pulling out all the stops for me? Inquiring minds want to know.” Her leg grazes over mine, and something quickens in me at the touch ofherskin.
“That was me on half-speed. You ain’t seen nothing yet.” I give a sly wink, but my face heats at the idea I just brazenly set it out therelikethat.
“I’ll admit, I’m a little rusty.” Her cheeks brighten like cherries. “It’s been a while since Justin and I did just about anything.” She swallows hard, and I can’t help but lean in and close the gapbetweenus.
“Rusty, huh?” My finger glides down her cheek, soft as summer rain. “Maybe we should practice a little, just to make sure you’ve got your A game when it’sshowtime.”
“Right.” She sets down her glass as her face continues to darken. “I’d hate to zig and for you to zag. Our noses could collide and we’d be a laughingstock.”
A moment bounces by with our eyes locked over one another, and the air grows electric between us. “I wouldn’t want for that tohappen.”
She glances to the kitchen. “I think we have a few minutes before the pizza is done. Maybe we should make the bestofit?”
I pull her over my lap, my breathing already erratic, and for a second our eyes widen in tandem. Harper looks like someone who stepped out of the pages of a magazine, an exotic creature, something unearthly. When I saw her for the first time a few weeks back, I remember thinking she can’t be real—and here she is, mounting me like we’re about todryfuck.
“Those lips,” I whisper as I press her head down to mine. Our mouths fuse together, wet and hot while she grinds her hips over mine, putting all her weight into it. This time the hard-on comes and I don’t stop it. Don’twantto.
Harper is a master in my mouth, dominating it in the very best way. Her cool hands float up my shirt, and the feel of her skin touching over mine drives a thick groan up my throat. We kiss for what feels like hours, ten blissful weeks. My hands tug at her hair, rake up and down her back as I press her body over mine. Harper has a body, awoman’sbody with curves in all the right places. My hands float down to her hips and I give a gentle squeeze, just begging to drive her down over me like a ragdoll. I want her. Hell, my body needs her. Our kisses grow more erratic, messier by the moment, and just as I’m about to flip her onto the couch and take her, the smoke alarmgoesoff.
We pull apart abruptly, her lips bloated and redwithfury.
“I’d better take care of that.” I head to the kitchen and shove a broom handle at the alarm, slapping the shit out of it until it shuts the hell up. Then soon after I head into the bathroom and do the same to my dick. I can’t help it. I’m a guy with basic needs and having a girl as beautiful as Harper jumping up and down on my lap, doling out those hot and heavy kisses can only lead to one thing. I take a quick shower and show up in the living room once again with a sheepish grin onmyface.
“Is it time for pie?” She bites down on her lower lip, looking cuteashell.
“It’s always timeforpie.”
* * *
The weekend meltsby and no sign of Harper on Saturday. By Sunday night, I figure I’ve crossed the line and she wants nothing more to do with me. We ate our way through the night and half the food was gone when she left, so no need to come back for seconds. What was I thinking kissing her like that? Letting her ride my lap as if we had already crested all the proper bases? She felt my hard-on. There’s not even a question about that. I freaked her out. She probably thinks I’ve rigged that Justin-Janelle hookup just to scam off her this entire time. Harper is beautiful enough that men should devise such schemes in order to get one of those kisses she doles out. I’m back to the maxim I had since day one—she’s too beautiful tobereal.
I’m at the Black Bear when Forest shows up, and I about have a heart attack seeing his face anywhere but theoffice.
“I was just having dinner with a client.” He slaps me over the shoulder. “Hey, didn’t I give you theCapwellfile?”
“Yes, you did.” I can’t help but frown at his overtly orange spray tan, his day-glow white teeth. He’s got his pressed suit on, his shiny loafers, and he looks as if he belongs anywhere but a college bar. A thousand bucks says he’s here picking up on thecoeds.
“Good. I’ll introduce you. They’re both here.” He gives a quick look around. “No date, huh? Going through a dryspell?”
“Sort of.” I’m not about to confess my boner problems to what amounts tomyboss.
“You need to get on that piece we’ve got working down at the office.” He blows out a breath as if taking in a fine wine. “She’s single. Iasked.”
The dude had better not be talking about Harper. A violent fury infiltrates my bones and the sudden urge to snap his spine hits me. “Harper and I are just friends. She’s just getting over a breakup.” Not sure why I wentthere.
“So she’s vulnerable.” His brows pitch as if he’s getting a few bright—readlousyideas. “That means she’s prime for thepicking.”
A couple walks past us and leans intowave.
“Hey”—he pulls them in—“Ryder, Laney, this is…” He squints into me for help, and for a moment I’m tempted to let himflounder.
