Forever You're Mine (MINE #4)(18)

I didn’t have a damn clue.

As I was carrying the last of the bags inside, she emerged from the hallway, wrapped in a white towel with wet hair framing her reddened cheeks, sticking to her damp skin. I’d heard the water running when I carried the first load in, and my dick really liked the fact that she was naked in my house. But seeing her like this, my dick f*cking loved the fact that she didn’t have anything on but the fluffy white towel and a shy smile.

“Oh hey, you’re back.”

I tried to suppress the desire growing in my jeans, but I only grew harder. “Can I borrow a t-shirt and maybe some jogging pants? Lyssa’s bringin’ my stuff by later.”

I tried to force my feet to let go of the floor, but they refused. And my eyes, they didn’t seem to want to go anywhere either. “Look through my drawers, I’m sure you can find something.”

“Thanks,” she smiled, spinning on her heel.

I stood there like a dumbass until my bedroom door snapped shut. Fuck this was going to be tough. She hadn’t been here 24 hours and I was already dying to f*ck her on the floor.

What is your problem *? It’s not like she hasn’t spent the night before.

But now things were different, especially after that kiss, especially after my realization earlier.

I exhaled, my shoulders sagging with mild relief as I began putting away the groceries. I continued to fight the urge to bust down my bedroom door and take the one thing I wanted most.

A few minutes later, minutes that did not last long enough for me to regain control of my raging hard-on or racing heart, she was standing in my kitchen.

Wearing my AC/DC tee and…and…

“Please tell me you have something on underneath that.”

There wasn’t any room in my jeans for the word no.

“Of course.”

I thought I would nut on the spot when she lifted the hem of my shirt, which hit about mid-thigh, revealing a pair of white boxer briefs, showing off her tan legs. She filled my shorts in a way I never could and I found myself thinking how bad I wanted to get inside those underwear.

“Bacon!” Cora snatched the package out of my hand as if it were the most treasured prize in the whole wide world and crouched to search for a pan in the cabinet.

“I grabbed a tomato and lettuce too,” I told her.

“I could seriously kiss you right now.”

“What’s stopping you?” We hadn’t really discussed the kiss much. We continued to act like it never happened, and well, I was tired of doing that. I wanted to taste her lips again.

Desperately.

“So what happened with the snake?” she asked, wide eyes staring back into mine.

“She won’t bother you again.”

“And are you two…”

“Finished.”

She blinked once before leaning in and kissing my cheek softly. “Thank you,” she whispered against the patch of flaming skin. An eternal fire in the delicate shape of two perfect lips marred my face.

Jesus Christ.

“For what?” I asked.

“For lettin’ me stay here. For bacon…and…”

“And?”

“And for bein’ such a good friend.”

Her last word was like a punch to the gut. It should’ve been a comfort. It should’ve been a relief. But it wasn’t. It was a huge goddamn elephant prancing around the room, stomping all over my chest, making it impossible to breathe.

I stepped away from her, distancing myself until I could get a handle on the turmoil swirling around in my head. Why was I so upset? That’s what we were…right?

Friends.

Then how come I had this uncontrollable urge to make her mine?

A few hours later, we were chilling on the couch. Cora curled up on one end, while I was sprawled out on the other. Feet propped up on coffee table, beer in hand. We’d both had several, relieving some of the thickening tension between us.

But it was still alive and kicking.

We settled in to watch the weekly episode of Sons of Anarchy, but I really wasn’t paying attention. I was too wound up. Before, I’d always been comfortable with Cora in my space. Now, it was different having her here.

That kiss changed everything.

The way I looked at her, the way I wanted her. Everything. Part of me wanted to keep the lines drawn. It was safer that way. But the other part wanted to find something to paint over them.

“Let’s get out of here,” I said, getting to my feet.

“But…we’ve been drinkin’ and Sons ain’t even over yet.”

“I have the DVR set, we can watch it later.”

“But you don’t even watch it really. Why would you have the DVR set?”

“Well, ever since you missed it a couple weeks ago and were bitchin’ about it on the way to work…I uh…set it up,” I said, tugging the back of my neck.

She was shocked by my confession. Hell, I was too, but it wasn’t completely uncommon. I did things all the time for her without really thinking about it. Like cook her bacon after our shift in the mornings, buy her candy. Even trivial shit like making sure she got to watch her favorite damn TV show made me sublimely happy.

Fuck if I know why.

“You amaze me,” she muttered, shaking her head.

“How so?”