London Falling (Falling #2)(41)
A memory of a different time seeped into my subconscious. The voices around the table slipped away until I could hear only one voice, the one with the power to break me.
“Come on, you know you want to!”
“I do not! Stop bugging me, James, I swear to God I’ll get my brother Rio to come kick your ass!”
“That snooty rich boy wouldn’t want to get his hands dirty. He’s never been in a fight in his life!” James jumped over the bush I’d just launched myself around on my way to my car. His hand grabbed mine. I was struck with the feeling of warmth, tenderness and something I didn’t want to name. “Hey, London. Please, just…please.” His voice came out in a rush.
I twirled, rocking his hand loose. “What!”
James put a hand to his neck and his body swayed as he looked left and right. “I like you, okay. I thought maybe you might like me, too.” His tone was sweet yet held a deep timber. His seventeen year old body was slowly catching up to the voice that matched a grown man.
Taking a nervous breath, I pulled my books to my chest and twirled a lock of hair around my finger. “I do…like you,” I whispered.
He leaned close and swept the black bangs from my eyes. “You do?” He smiled.
I nodded.
He whooped and hollered and gave the air a fist pump. “All right! I mean, that’s cool.” We both laughed. “So then, you’ll go out with me? On a real date?” His eyes were pleading, his thumbs loosely clutching the belt loops of his Calvin Klein’s as he waited for my answer.
I couldn’t believe James Kelley was asking me out on an official date. This whole time I crushed on him but thought we were just friends. Then he surprises me with this. I can’t wait to go home and call Aspen. “Yes, I will James.” His eyes sparked with excitement. “I’ll go with you anywhere.”
“Bridge honey, earth to Bridge? Damn, she’s doing it again.” I heard Tripp snap in front of my face. I shook off the memory and stared into the nervous eyes of my best friend.
“Sorry. What did you say?”
Tripp took a breath and shook his head, smiling. Collier stood arms crossed, one over the other along his broad chest. He had his head tilted to the side, assessing me. A shock of dirty blond hair fell over his forehead. I wanted to stand and push that lock back in place, then nibble on his perfect lips again.
“Bridge, we lost you there. Where’d you go?” His eyes met mine and I threw some daggers I didn’t think he expected. His neck shot back in surprise. “Um, sorry, never mind. You ready to go home?”
“I’d be happy to give you a lift,” Collier offered.
“No, no, that’s okay. Tripp and I live together. Makes sense to go together. I’ll just get my coat.” Tripp and I both stood. He put his hands in his pockets and had a weird stare off with Collier. It was the strangest thing. I’d seen him do it once before with Andrew, the crazy stalker, but never with one of my clients or any of the other men I’d been with intimately. Just didn’t add up.
Collier followed me to the coat closet and helped me pull on the heavy wool. He pulled my thick mane of hair out of my coat and started buttoning me in. The sweet gesture melted my heart and had me smiling.
“Next weekend, you and me. Plan for a casual evening. Nothing pretentious, I promise.” The lovely undertones of his British accent when he spoke made me giddy. His eyes twinkled as I took in his ruffled hair, dark eyes and his full lips as he licked them.
He was doing his own assessment. He leaned close as if to hug me then planted his hands on each bicep pulling me against his chest. The thrill of his touch skated along my nerves. “I can still smell you all over me…it’s making me ache for you.”
Without warning, I cupped the back of his neck, tangled my fingers into the hair at his nape and pulled his lips to mine. He tasted of rich wine and hot-blooded male. I slid my tongue against his and he moaned into my mouth, giving back as much, if not more than I gave initially. Quickly, he pinned me against the hallway wall, a knee between my thighs and a hand on my ass. He was everything I wanted in that moment and more.
***
Her lips were soft and sweet as I tugged on the bit of flesh, then soothed it with my tongue. She groaned the moment my thigh pressed against her center. Christ on a cross, she was beautiful. Her breath was heavy against my lips. I pulled back to look into her eyes. Every second with her seemed weighted, filled with desires unspoken. We didn’t have to speak. Her body told me everything I needed to know.
When I squeezed her arse, she mewled like a baby kitten. Hearing that sound for the rest of my life wouldn’t be long enough. I was lost in a haze of lust. I pressed my erection directly against her center as I hiked one thigh over my hip, palming her arse, mimicking the position we were in earlier.
In her. Needed…press…to get in…press…her.
London moaned and moved to hike her other leg up before a booming voice broke the spell.
“Damn, Bridge! Can’t leave you two alone for a f*cking second!” Tripp’s voice grated and echoed off the walls of the long hallway. I groaned and pulled away from my beauty.
She leaned her forehead against mine and smiled, then started to giggle. “What’s so funny?” I asked annoyed by the interruption yet loving the smile across her gorgeous face.