Gabe stands there, dark eyes burning into mine, wearing a hoodie and track pants, and smelling of sweat and menthol. He shifts from one foot to the other, dropping his gaze from my face to the floor, looking less certain of himself than I’ve ever seen him. My heart—the stupid thing—aches to comfort him, but instead I take a step back.
“What do you want?” I ask.
“Is Ken still here?”
“No.” He remembers Ken’s name?
“Can I come in?”
If he showed any sign of the bluster from earlier, I’d refuse, but he doesn’t. In fact, he seems to expect me to turn him away. Sighing, I step aside. Whatever this is about, it’s clear there’s something on his mind and there’s no point in putting it off.
He enters, giving me a wide berth. “Thanks.”
Since he’s the one who came to me, I wait for him to speak first, not offering him an easy out the way I used to do. He hovers a few feet away, apparently struggling to find words. His internal conflict plays across his features, making him uncharacteristically easy to read. He’s confused. Upset. But then his jaw firms in determination and with two strides he closes the gap between us and grabs me. His lips fuse to mine and his muscular arms haul my hips into alignment with his.
Uh,what?
My brain short-circuits.
After carefully keeping my distance from him for years becausehello, he’s my best friend, he obliterates it in one crushing kiss. Our lips rub over each other, and a shudder runs through me. The friction is exquisite, and he’s literally stolen my breath.
Dear God, I might just die from sensation overload. It’s so good.Toogood.
I can’t think.
This is a bad idea, but I can’t remember why.
His lips ply mine open, and his tongue slips between, dragging a moan from deep within me. Desire flares, impossibly hot, as our tongues tangle. He tastes of spice and man—better than I ever imagined was possible—and I want to tumble to the floor and keep him there until I’ve satisfied my curiosity about whether every single part of him is just as delicious.
This is Gabe. Kissing me.Why?
I don’t understand. I’m just a friend to him, aren’t I? A pal, the same as Jase or Devon? But the way he’s panting and gasping, his hands trembling as one curves around my breast and the other slides down over my ass, I get the impression that I’ve been wrong about everything. I’m not the only one who’s fantasized about this moment. His big body vibrates with suppressed energy, and I want to know what it feels like when he unleashes it.
This is Gabe. Your best friend. Not some random guy. You need to stop. You need to be sensible.
But I don’t want to be sensible. I want to know what it feels like to have the man I’ve adored forever make love to me. I press closer, desperate for more, and a low growl sounds in the back of his throat.
“Oh, my God,” I breathe, astounded by how much the sound turns me on. But then, like a splash of cold water, I remember the man who just left. The one I was on a date with. Even if I crave Gabe with every fiber of my being, he can’t give me what I need. What Ideserve.
Gathering all my strength, I plant my palms on his chest and push.
“What the hell are you doing?” I demand, sucking in gulps of air.
He crowds me, clasping my upper arms in his giant hands and robbing me of my ability to think straight. Every brutal line of his face could be etched in marble. His expression is torment fueled by desire.
“I fucking hate seeing you with someone else,” he snarls, his face only inches from mine, black eyes so intense that my heart flips and dances. He’s towering over me, making me feel small and fragile, and I’m not sure whether I love it or hate it. “I know it’s late in the game, but I want a chance with you.”
“You—wait, what?” My mind cannot handle this. “What’s going on here?”
The lines of his face ease as he brushes his lips over my forehead, so softly my knees quake in response. “I know we’ve always been friends, and lately I’ve been a shitty friend. For that, I’m sorry. But I want a chance to be more. Fuck, I want so much more with you. I have for years.”
My lower lip wobbles. If this is a joke, it’s a really mean one, because my stupid heart doesn’t remember all the times he wasn’t there, it only hears his declaration and thumps joyfully.
“Where is this coming from?” I ask, searching his unfathomable eyes for the answer. “If you’re feeling threatened, you don’t need to. I’ll always be your friend. I’m sorry if I haven’t shown that lately. I’ve been angry.”
“Rightly so. I’ve acted like a jerk to you.” He walks me backward until I feel the wall behind me. “But that’s not what this is.” Dipping his head close to mine, he nuzzles my neck, then inhales deeply. I melt, glad the wall is there for support because otherwise I’d be a puddle on the floor. Gabe is a passionate guy—not that most people would believe it—and when I’m the subject of his single-minded focus, it’s potent and addictive. “I’ve wanted you ever since I walked in on you with that French guy in college.” With this confession, he presses even closer, letting me feel the hard outline of his cock behind his sweatpants.
My eyes flutter shut.Oh, sweet Jesus.“Th-that was a long time ago.”
