I yank my hand back. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to encroach on your space. The thunder startled me.”
Her eyes are locked on her hand, still resting against the patchwork quilt. Her fingers flex against the worn fabric, like she’s trying to resist grabbing something. When she finally looks up at me, there’s a swirl of heat in her amber eyes. It threatens to send a shiver down my spine, but I hold strong and pretend it doesn’t affect me.
I should win an award.
“You don’t need to keep apologizing to me. I don’t mind you touching me at all. In fact, I think I proved the other night hownotbothered by your touch I am.”
My mouth drops open. I thought we weren’t going to bring it up again. Wasn’t that the rule? Back to professionalism. Back to acting like nothing happened.
But her voice is low and sensual, and this time I can’t fight the shiver her words invoke.
“I’m sorry,” I manage to whisper.
Addison scoots closer to me so our thighs are pressed together, just like the night in the truck. My heart beats against my ribcage as she cradles my cheek. She searches my face for something, but my eyes are locked on her lips.
“Juniper,” she whispers.
I’m mesmerized by the way her mouth shapes to form the letters of my name. The way her lips purse around the ‘U’ and part for the ‘R.’
“Hm?” I don’t know how to form words when her touch and proximity make my skin buzz like a million little bees trying to break through the surface.
“The next time you apologize unnecessarily, I’m going to have to redden your ass.”
Chapter 12
I swearmy brain does a record scratch.
“Wh-what?”
“You heard me. The next time you want to say sorry for something trivial, think about whether you want my handprint on that gorgeous ass of yours.”
My treacherous pussy apparentlyreallylikes the idea because she pulses.
“We’re supposed to keep things professional. Act like nothing happened.”
Addison sighs, her thumb brushing against my skin as she whispers, “I know, I know. I tried. I really did. But the past—what, thirty-six hours—have been torture. All I wanted to do when I saw you in the kitchen on Sunday was pin you against the sink and kiss you senseless. I wanted to take you home and spend the night, feeling you come over and over again. I want to wake you up with my tongue in your pussy. One night wasn’t enough.”
I’m sure she can feel my skin heat at her admission. I wanted—want—that too. I’m not about to assume anything. Not when it would kill me to be rejected.
“What are you saying?”
“I don’t think we should have limited it to one night. While I’m here, I think we should fuck whenever we want. I know the ranch can get busy with guests, and I think having an outlet will be beneficial.”
“So… just sex?”
“Just sex. We keep it between us, and at the end of the season, I’ll go off on my next adventure, and we’ll both be left with some amazing memories.”
I can’t deny my slight disappointment. All she wants is sex, which makes sense. Anything more would complicate things. Sex is easy, emotionless. I cantotallystay detached. My crush on Addison will just… go away at the end of the summer, even if I’ve spent it naked in my bed with her.
Yep. This idea isn’t going to end with my heart getting broken.
“Are you planning on spending every night at my place, or just once a week?” I ask. “What’s the plan?”
Her hand trails down my cheek, to my neck, her touch sparking a flame of lust. I love the way she touches me.
“We don’t need a plan. We can take it one day at a time.” She leans in so her lips caress the shell of my ear. “Is your pussy so greedy that it needs attention every night?”
This time, I can’t stop my lips from parting and a shiver wracking my body at her words. Her lips tip up in a smirk, letting me know she can tell she’s affecting me.
