Falling for the Good Guy (Can't Resist #2)(20)

“Don’t worry so much.”

Abby yanked her gaze up to meet Brian’s. As always, with just a look, he could see what she was thinking, with a touch, he managed to ground her back to earth. No one else had ever had that power over her.

Was she really ready to wager all that?




BRIAN OPENED THE CAR DOOR for Abby and walked her to her front porch. “You’re obviously still unsure about this, sweetie.” Though every male cell in his body was calling him seven kinds of crazy, he added, “So why don’t we just go in the living room and watch a movie or something?”

She studied him for a few long seconds before shaking her head softly, “I’m not unsure. Not really. I do want to spend the night with you, Brian. I just…want to go slow.”

He rested his forehead against hers and took in a jagged breath. Even the prospect of going slow with Abby had him revved up and ready to go. “Slow. We can do slow.” Pressing his lips to hers, he guided her through the front door and over to the couch, kissing her gently, almost chastely along the way.

More for his own sanity than hers.

Not wanting to mount her like an animal on the couch, he sat down over on the loveseat and settled her onto his lap, wordlessly telling her she could simply get up and put a halt to things whenever she wanted. As the skirt of her dress slipped up her thighs, Brian found it took far more willpower than he thought it would to keep himself from following that soft skin up under the satiny cloth.

Slow.

“I told you we’d keep things at casual high school dating for a while.” His voice strained in tandem with the zipper of his slacks. “So, no matter what, our clothes are staying on tonight, alright sweetie? I swear.”

Even in the darkness, he could see her eyes widen, her teeth worrying over her lower lip. “This is killing you isn’t it, Brian? I’m so sorry. I wish I could just jump into this but I can’t help but be a little afraid. You’re my best friend. I look at you and I see years of friendship that we could ruin completely the moment we cross this line.”

“Then close your eyes.”

Her eyes widened even more. “What?”

“If all you see when you look at me is your best friend, then close your eyes and see me the way your body does. As a man. As a man your body responds to me whenever I’m nearby.”

He smiled at the strained catch in her breathing. “See, you’re responding right now. So close your eyes, honey.” Kissing her eyelids shut, he teased lightly, “Or do you want me to blindfold you instead?”

The barely audible gasp she released nearly broke him then and there. “Is that a fantasy of yours, Abby? To have me blindfold you while I take you?” he asked softly in her ear, torturing himself as much as he was teasing her with his words.

Her entire body stiffened.

And so did his. “I’ve fantasized about you too, sweetheart,” he whispered roughly against her skin. Slowly, he slid her hair off her shoulders and placed soft kisses along her jawline. “But nothing I’ve ever dreamed has come close to the reality of what feeling you is like.” His teeth nipped gently at her earlobe.

“Brian—”

A whiplash of pleasure jolted through his body at the sound of his name on her lips. Raw need clawed at the base of his spine as he smoothed his hands up her torso, his thumbs just barely brushing the swell of her breasts.

She took in a quick breath and licked her lips. “Brian, please.”

“Please, what?” He slid her further up his lap, pulled her hips flush against his.

The moment he felt the heat of her core on his thigh, even through all the layers of fabric between them, he forgot the question he’d asked her. Hell, his own name was a distant memory.

Spearing his hands through her hair, he locked his lips onto hers, unable to go another minute without tasting her again. Heart hammering in his chest, he smoothed his hands down her back, groaning when she responded in kind and slid her hands under his suit jacket. When she spread her thighs even wider and pressed her mound flush against his arousal, he tore his mouth away from hers.

“Abby, I’m not going to be able to keep my promise if you keep doing that.”

“You wanted my body to respond; you wanted me to see you as more than just my friend…well you succeeded. It is and I do,” she replied breathlessly, sinking her fingers into the small of his back, pulling him forward, back between her legs, which were now fully exposed to his scorching hot gaze.

“We’re keeping our clothes on, Abby,” he said through clenched teeth.

She slid her calves up to lock around his waist, changing the angle of her burning-hot assault on his arousal. “So as long as I keep my panties on—”

He groaned. “Abby,” he exhaled, shuddering at how close he was riding on the edge of control. “Have I mentioned that I’ve been celibate for almost six years?”

That made her freeze. And then proceed to look at him as if her were an alien life form. “Six years?”

He tried for a nonchalant shrug. “I’ve only ever been with Beth. So…yeah, six years.”

She slid back, placing a gap between their bodies. A gap just wide enough for his to slip his fingers down and—

“Alright, now I’m back to being afraid.”

This was officially the meanest game of chutes and ladders ever.