Over the Edge (Bridge #3)(17)

She shrugged with a smile. “Nothing like the summers of youth.”

“No kidding. Now it’s running into burning buildings and laying tile. Not nearly as fun.”

“Seems like you’ve all got side gigs. Like risking your lives every day isn’t enough.” She folded her arms and leaned in.

I shrugged. “Yeah, but I’ve had this one since high school. I learned the trade from my dad. He put me to work as soon as I could be trusted with power tools.”

She laughed. “Do you still work together?”

“Nah.” I shook my head and avoided her penetrating gaze.

I was mixed up enough. Last thing I wanted to talk about was my father…or that gaping hole in my chest that his death had left behind. I tensed my jaw. Nope. Wasn’t going there.

“I guess I should get cleaned up.” She stood, came beside me, and reached for my plate.

“I can get this. Don’t worry about it.” I rose, stopping her. But as I did, I sensed her heat. My breath caught being this close. Close enough that I could inhale her lavender scent and see the small reactions of her body. Her short breathing, her nipples getting hard under Will’s T-shirt. Her back was to the counter. Another few inches in her direction, and I’d have her pinned.

Her gaze flickered up to mine and then lowered down my bare chest. She reached out and softly traced the mosaic of ink that stretched across half my torso.

My heart raced. All my senses went on high alert, reacting to her proximity. I tensed, silently praying that this would be her last night here. I’d never known Will to let a girl stay overnight. I had no idea what his plan was. I didn’t want Will to hurt her, but I couldn’t do this. She was temptation personified, and I was so f*cked right now.

“What does it mean?” Her voice was as soft and sensual as her touch.

I shook my head, my jaw tight. “Doesn’t matter.”

A hundred women might have asked me the same question, but for the first time since the needle had hit my skin, I wanted to say it out loud. I wanted to tell her. But I couldn’t…wouldn’t.

When she pulled her hand away, I caught it and pressed it back against my ribs. My hand covered the delicate planes of hers. I took the last step that had us nearly touching, and she sucked in a breath. I caressed up her arm, slowly, reveling in her softness. I sifted my fingers through the silky strands of her hair and angled her face up to me. Her eyes were hazy. Those beautiful rose-colored lips parted like they were begging without words. And she didn’t move, even as my skin burned under her touch. I bent toward her, craving those luscious lips, inhaling her scent into my lungs. Even as my mind screamed…

Don’t do this.

Don’t f*cking do this.

OLIVIA



“Good morning.”

Will’s husky voice filled the room. My heart ricocheted off the walls of my chest a few dozen times before settling into a panicked rhythm. Oh, God.

I pulled my hand away from Ian, but I couldn’t move any farther. He had me all but pinned against the counter. Then his touch fell away, and he stepped back. That small relief took the edge off my panic, but nothing about his stolid expression implied that he was rattled by Will’s presence.

If Will cared, he didn’t show it either. He was dressed already, in jeans and a blue collared shirt that set off his eyes. He opened the cabinet and pulled out a mug.

Ian walked past him. “Help yourself to breakfast. I’m going to get some sleep.”

Will didn’t look up as he poured his coffee. “Long night?”

“You know it.”

The corner of Will’s mouth lifted. That small sign of levity lifted away a little more of my anxiety about what he’d walked in on.

But what the hell was I thinking? There was something really wrong with me. Apparently lust was a contagious disease that had taken over my mind and my body since I’d met Will. He’d kept me up late, and just as I’d slip off to sleep, he’d come at me again. I’d welcomed it. I’d opened for him, accepted him, let him bring me to the brink again and again and then push me over until I barely knew my own name. I seemed to only know his, crying it out like a prayer every time he’d let me come.

The man f*cked like a god, and now, after months of no action, I couldn’t get sex off my brain. One look at Ian’s shirtless tattooed body had me clenching in places that were already very well used. And even if I’d only spent a night with Will, somehow those places already seemed to belong to him. But did they?

I brought my hand to my mouth, trying to ignore the tingle in my lips that Ian’s closeness had inspired. Like the truly wanton creature I’d become, I had wanted him to kiss me. There was no doubt.

Ian disappeared down the hallway into his room, and Will was watching me now. My heart thundered in my ears. I wanted to say something, but his careful gaze seemed to say it all. He walked over to me casually, taking Ian’s place in my bubble and caging me with his arms on either side.

Shaking his head with a soft sigh, he said, “Oh, Olivia. Beautiful, sexy girl. What are we going to do with you? I leave you alone for a few minutes, and Ian has you in his clutches.”

I expected an edge in his tone. Bitterness or a hint of anger. But I sensed nothing like that. Still, I was riddled with unexpected guilt.

“It was nothing,” I said, trying to convince myself of my own words.