NICE GIRL TO LOVE (THE COMPLETE THREE-BOOK COLLECTION)(68)

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 shut your eyes for me, 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 him 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.

“Abby—”

“Don’t you Abby me.” She caught his wandering hands. “I can’t be your first after…” She shook her head vigorously. “No, that’s way too much pressure, Brian.”

“So you’re saying you want me to sleep with someone else before you?” he asked in disbelief.

She pursed her lips shut and glowered at him.

Evil though it may be to admit, he kind of loved the waves of jealousy rolling off of her right now. “I hate to break it to you sweetheart, but I’m not looking for some quick fix to end my celibacy.” He kissed away the worry lines from between her brows. “I want a permanent one—I want you. And I’m not settling for anything less.”

“That should not have sounded as sweet as it did,” complained Abby, even as she slid back toward him a fraction of an inch.

The sharp blare of Abby’s landline ringing right beside them cut into his chuckles, dampening his epic victory of that round just a tiny bit. She gave him an exasperated huff and reached for the phone, mouthing, behave, before picking up the receiver and saying hello.