“Thank you,” I said, my voice full of gravel. I leveled my gaze on hers, making sure she saw the sincerity in my eyes. “For taking care of them while I’ve been gone.”
Her face softened, and she placed her hand on my forearm. “They’re pretty good at takin’ care of themselves, Hud.”
“I know.” I nodded. “They are.” Turning to face her, I propped my hip against the counter. “But you’re pretty good at takin’ care of people and then not takin’ credit for any of it.”
Her brows shot up. “Seems everyone loves tellin’ me that. You been talkin’ to Will since you’ve been home?”
“Nah. I just know you. And some things might’ve changed, but not that. You proved as much last night at the bar with Darcy and Atticus.”
Kenna hated having the spotlight shined on her—always had. Still did, if her uncomfortable squirming was anything to go by. If I were a betting man—and I was—I’d lay down money on her deflecting next.
“You remember our last bet before you left?” she asked.
Annnnd, there it was. The deflection. As was my damned erection, back with a vengeance. Did I remember? Of fucking course I remembered. It’d only been one of the best and worst days of my entire life. Finally being with her how I’d fantasized about for so long, but also revealing the secret I’d been keeping from her for months and nearly tearing us apart in the process.
As it turned out, I tore us apart anyway.
At some point, I’d stepped closer to her because suddenly there wasn’t any space between us. She stared up at me, her eyes glazed and lips parted. My cock was rock hard and aching, remembering exactly what that bet had led to. A kiss in a fishing boat, an impromptu dry-hump where she’d come in my lap so hard,I’dnearly seen stars… Then the fight, the tears, the anger. Before, finally, our resolution. A promise of not right now but someday and spending the rest of the weekend getting lost in each other’s bodies.
I’d taken so much of it for granted. I’d been hungry for it and had gone after it like a ravenous wolf, but I hadn’t savored it. If I could go back now, I’d do so many things over. Starting with taking my time. Cataloging every inch of her. Spending an entire evening with my mouth between her legs just so the cadence of her moans would be trapped in my subconscious for the rest of my life.
“Hud,” she whispered, her tone a little worried and a lot breathy.
This was probably a bad idea. Actually, there was no probably about it. This was a terrible fucking idea. Our friendship had barely survived the last time we’d done this, and our ending was still the same—I was leaving in less than three weeks, and Kenna had made it perfectly clear she didn’t want a long-distance relationship with me.
Didn’t matter. I had no hope of stopping myself.
Even less when Kenna reached out, tucked her fingers into the front waistband of my jeans a mere centimeter from my throbbing cock, and tugged me the slightest bit toward her.
That was it. All bets were off.
Cupping her face in my hands, I leaned down, maintaining eye contact—waiting for her to say no while silently chanting a prayer she wouldn’t—until her lids fluttered closed a moment before I pressed my lips to hers.
She breathed out a sigh, and I was gone. I’d dreamed of that sigh. Had gotten off to it more times than I could count. And for years, I’d longed to hear it again.
I tightened the hand around her neck, holding her captive for my mouth, while I slid the other around and cupped her ass, tugging her up against me. I groaned when her body came in contact with my shaft, needing the pressure. Desperate to relieve the ache by sliding into the sweet heaven between her legs.
I swept my tongue into her mouth, inhaling her moan. Sucking it right into myself so I’d have it forever. She tasted like peaches and home, and I never ever wanted to leave this nirvana.
If I didn’t live another day, I’d die a happy man right then and there with Kenna wrapped up in my arms, her lips under mine and her moans a symphony in my ears.
CHAPTER SEVEN
MAC
A zombie had moreenergy than I did, even after two cups of coffee. I’d slept like shit last night, lying awake until three in the morning, my mind whirring over what had happened at Hudson’s. And then when I’d finally fallen asleep, my dreams had been plagued by the same thing.
His lips on mine, his tongue sweeping into my mouth, and his cock, so hot and hard, pressing against my belly. His hand on my ass, tugging me closer. Rocking into me, insistent and needy… I’d wanted nothing more than to strip right there in his kitchen, hop up on the counter, and hold him prisoner with my legs.
My phone rang from its perch next to me on the couch, Will’s picture flashing on the screen. Well, this would be interesting. I hadn’t kept a secret from my sister in…well, ever. But I sure as hell wasn’t going to tell her what had happened yesterday, lest she get any grand ideas of a romantic reunion.
“Hello?”
“Hey, so I know we already decided on the bouquets for the wedding, but what’re your thoughts on peonies instead of hydrangeas? I think it might?—”
“I kissed Hud.” I sank back into the couch cushions and slapped a hand to my forehead. Andthatwas exactly why I didn’t keep secrets from my sister. Icouldn’t. They just spilled forth like water from a breaking dam.
Silence swept over the line for long moments. Then Will said, “Pardon me?”
