“Only friends don’t …” she murmured, her gaze dipping between my eyes and mouth.
“Friends don’t what?”
“If only I were drunk enough to kiss you.”
My pulse picked up. “That common sense streak of yours holding you back again.”
“It’s the worst.”
I leaned in, so my forehead touched hers. “Tell it to shut up for a minute.”
She weighed the words, but before she could hear that voice growing louder, I brushed my lips over hers.
And groaned.
The taste of her, just from that warm, fleeting press, was heaven and hell rolled into one. Sheer bliss, exquisite torture, and I needed more.
For once, I didn’t have to push the issue. She parted her lips and licked into my mouth and that snapped the last threads of my restraint. I scooped her into my lap, enjoying the bonus oof she expelled which gave me additional access to her sweet mouth. Grasping my shoulders, she dug her claws in as if worried I might let her go.
Never again.
Not when I could have this feeling, this rush, this perfect state of being.
My cock turned as hard as granite, harder, and I pulled her into my body, desperate to be as close as possible. One hand cupped her perfect tit and gave a gentle squeeze, which elicited a lusty moan—and seemed to jerk her out of the sex fog into which I’d dropped her.
She drew back, her hands still on my shoulders, her expression a mix of shock and lust. “What am I doing?”
“Well …”
“Don’t answer. I won’t like it.” She clambered off me. “I will not be having sex with my husband.”
“Who said anything about sex? It was just a kiss, Silver Eyes.” What a kiss, though.
“It’s never ‘just’ anything with you.” She stepped over me and my raging erection on her way up the steps to her front door. “Goodnight, Ass-arov!”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Lauren
* * *
“We made it, Yatesy!”
I chuckled. Mel had just about squeaked through and got to walk at commencement, after I spent the last month tutoring her in math. Some girls were so sure they were going to head straight to the pros that they slacked off on their studies. I was determined that none of my girls would be in that position, so I had spent three months organizing study groups in between practice and games to guarantee the best possible outcome.
All of them made it.
“We sure did.” I had one eye on the entrance to Brewski’s. Jason hadn’t shown up yet, so I imagined he was with his teammates or maybe even his family getting trashed before they had to pay top dollar here.
An arm snaked around my waist, and I turned to my sister, all shiny eyes and trembling lips.
“I’m so proud of you, sis.” She hugged me for the zillionth time while I blinked at Gunnar over her shoulder. My brother-in-law nodded, his lips curved in a knowing smile that managed to peek through his beard.
Sadie drew back. “And it’s just the icing on the cake of an amazing season. The Patty Kazmaier and top in points.”
“Don’t forget number one in the draft!” Mel shook her head, all amazement. “With the way things are going now, you could end up in Chicago or Miami. I’d be rooting for the heat, girl.”
While I couldn’t really control which city I ended up in, I was hoping for Florida. Alexei would be there. We had spent every night together over the last week, exploring each other’s bodies, but leaving our future unexamined, as if we were afraid to jinx it. He would be here tonight. I’d spotted him in the distance at commencement, but the class was so large we were separated by rows of students. Boo to having a last name beginning with Y.
