Damn. She’s beautiful.
And I’m going to hell because all I can think of is the way she looked the night before, with her face twisted up in sweet ecstasy while I fucked her.
I force myself to step back. “This can’t happen again, Tessa,” I say slowly before I can stop myself.
Her smile doesn’t waver. “Yes, it can.”
My jaw tightens. I shake my head. “No. It’s not right.”
She laughs, the sound sending a shot straight to my balls.
“It felt pretty right to me, Holt.”
She leans back against the workbench and looks at me over the rim of her mug. Her eyes are bright, curious, and have an all-too-pleased-with-herself look on her face.
“I’m serious, Tessa.”
“I know.”
She takes a sip of her coffee, her eyes never leaving mine.
“You’re my best friend’s daughter.”
“I know that, too.”
“You’re young enough to be my?—”
“I don’t see how any of this matters.” She tilts her head, studying me. “Because none of it seemed to matter last night.”
I blow out a breath. “That was different.”
Her eyebrows lift. “How’s that?”
Because I wasn’t thinking of the consequences.
I wasn’t thinking of how I could ruin her.
How she could ruin me.
Hell, I wasn’t thinking of anything except how good she felt in my arms. How soft her lips were against mine. How sweet the sound of her comingundone was.
But I don’t say any of that.
“You shouldn’t want this,” I say instead, with a shake of my head.
“Don’t tell me what I want.” She leaves her coffee on the workbench and steps toward me.
“I’m trying to protect you, Tessa.” I square my shoulders, determined to be strong.
“From what?” she asks. “You?”
“Yes,” I say without hesitation.
She smiles then and wiggles her brows. “That’s funny,” she says with the trace of a laugh. “Because I don’t think I’ve ever felt safer.”
“You don’t know me.” I grit my teeth. “I’m not good for you. I’m broken, Tessa.” Even as I say the words, I realize that for the first time in longer than I can remember, I don’tfeelbroken. Maybe it was the solid night’s sleep with her at my side. Maybe it’s her calming presence. Maybe it’s justher.
She reaches out and runs a hand achingly slowly down my chest. “You feel pretty solid to me.”
