Picking Up the Pieces (Pieces, #2)(37)

We continued to talk for a long time. The remainder of the reunion actually. I found out that she was also single. She had been engaged, but broke it off four months ago because her fiancé didn't seem passionate about her anymore. I paid rapt attention to her, especially her mouth. I was just getting involved in a daydream about those lips on various parts of my anatomy when I heard a throat clear behind me.

“Sorry to interrupt.”

Fucking Frank.

“Adam? Most of us are heading out. You staying or going?”

The old Adam probably would have left, uncomfortable with having a meaningless fling with a woman I hardly knew, especially when I did want my relationship with Lily to progress. But as of that moment, we hadn't put a title on what we even were. Though we both felt something for each other, that something had yet to be defined.

Besides, I wanted this. And as I looked over at Carly, who merely raised an eyebrow and took a sip of her drink, I realized that she wanted this too. It seemed ironic that I had just been thinking in the car on my way there how I didn't want to be that guy to Lily. The guy who had sex with her only for the relationship to go nowhere. But the way Carly was looking at me made it seem like she wanted me to be the type of guy who did exactly that. And it was sexy as hell. I can do this. Tonight's the night to take charge—see how the other half lives. Evidently there's something inherently attractive about *s. Lily thought so. If I had been one then, maybe I wouldn't have taken the breakup so hard. I turned back to Frank. “I think I’m going to stay for a bit longer.”

“Okay. I’m going to grab a cab back to my car. I’ll catch up with ya later.” Frank was clearly trying to refrain from applauding me openly in front of Carly. He clasped his hand on my shoulder before he headed toward the exit and disappeared out the door.

Carly and I sat quietly for a few minutes, sipping our drinks and trying to figure out how to get back to the easy conversation we’d been having before Frank interrupted our flow. Finally, Carly brought her attention back to me. “You wanna get out of here?”

It took me a minute to register what she had said, but when it finally sunk in, I slammed my drink down on the bar and stood up. “Absolutely.”

I led her to the coat check, helped her put her jacket on, and followed her outside into the freezing night.

“My apartment building has a garage beneath it, and since I don't need a car in the city, my spot is open. It’ll probably be easier for you to drive there than have to worry about getting a cab back here later.”

“Sounds like a plan,” I said as I grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the parking garage.

***

We were quiet for most of the ten minute drive to Carly’s apartment. Other than to give me directions, she was silent, which unfortunately gave me time to think about what I was doing. As I pulled into the parking lot Carly directed me to, I had reached a conclusion: I wasn’t doing anything wrong. Lily and I had made it clear that we were just friends. Maybe we would take it beyond that, maybe we wouldn’t. And even though we had done a lot of flirting and even some kissing, that didn’t mean that we weren’t able to see other people. We’d had no such conversation and for all I knew, she was out with some other guy right now. And even though this thought made me want to put my fist through a wall, I had nothing to feel guilty about.

Except, as I followed Carly up to her apartment, I did feel a little guilty. But as she opened the door and we walked into her apartment shrouded in darkness, my guilt ebbed. And as she pushed me back against the door, roughly bringing her lips to mine and applying the perfect amount of pressure to my hardened cock, any guilt that remained disappeared altogether.

We were frantic. All hands and mouths as we tore clothes from one another’s body while breaking our kiss only when absolutely necessary. I quickly pulled the zipper down the back of her tight, green dress and let it drop to her feet. My breath caught as I took in how gorgeous she was, especially wearing nothing but underwear and heels. Withdrawing slightly, I ripped my polo shirt over my head as her hands fumbled with my belt. I kicked off my shoes and worked my socks off with my feet as she pushed my pants down my legs so I could step out of them.

I dipped my head to kiss down her neck and work my hands down to her ass. Then I gripped her ass tightly, lifting her off the ground so that she would wrap her legs around my waist.

Her hands tangled in my hair as I gruffly uttered, “Bedroom?”

“Straight back,” she replied breathily.

My mouth reclaimed hers as I started walking us down the hall. She pointed toward the door that led to her bedroom and I nudged it open with her body. She moaned as I nipped and sucked along her jaw. She gyrated against my cock and I could feel how wet she was even through the fabric. I lowered her onto the bed and pulled her bra straps down her arms, yanking the black lace down to expose her perfectly round tits. Pulling her nipple into my mouth and stroking it with my teeth, I massaged her other breast with my hand, rubbing my thumb over the sensitive flesh.

Carly arched her back off the bed, causing her to rub deliciously against me. I was suddenly extremely thankful I was going to get more than seven minutes with her this time. I pulled her matching lace thong down her legs as she unclasped her bra and threw it to the ground beside the bed.

“Beautiful,” I whispered as I slid a finger inside of her, feeling her juices coat my hand, making me even harder than I already was. I lowered my head to kiss along her taut stomach as I pushed a second finger inside of her and began circling her clit with my thumb. She nearly bucked off the bed at the stimulation, and I knew I was going to take her hard once I was inside of her. There was no way I’d be able to control myself and take it slow. She was too responsive, too vocal, and too f*cking sexy to hold back.