Forbidden Touch: A Best Friends To Lovers Romance

by Iona Rose

  “You look very sexy tonight, Brooke,” he said, standing too close to me.

  I resisted the urge to take a step back. I smiled as if he had given me the best compliment any man ever had. “Thank you.”

  He held out his hand. “Would you like to dance?”

  I drowned my champagne in one gulp while my mind was busy at work, trying to come up with an excuse to get out of dancing with him. I didn’t want Mason’s body next to mine, or his hands around me. “Sure,” I finally said when I realized a few people were watching us. I placed my hand in his and allowed him to lead me to the dance floor. I caught Blaze’s stare and I smiled at him.

  He didn’t smile back.

  Unfortunately, the band was playing a love song, the kind where you needed to hold someone close. As I had known he would, Mason held me too tight, crushing my body against his.

  I could feel his erection pressing against my belly. Gross. His hands rested on my waist but every so often, they sneakily dropped to my hips, grazing across my ass. I gritted my teeth and tried to ignore him.

  I couldn’t wait for the song to be over and when it was, I quickly pulled away. “Thanks for the dance,” I said and fled to the bar. I rested my hands on the counter and ordered a glass of chilled white wine and slid onto the bar stool.

  “I didn’t like that,” Blaze whispered into my ear before sliding onto the stool next to mine.

  “Hi,” I said and picked up my glass of wine.

  He ordered a beer and sipped it quietly.

  My body came alive as I sat next to him. Blaze oozed such masculinity; it made a woman ache for things she had no business thinking about in public.

  “Does he cross boundaries?” Blaze asked, his voice hard.

  I felt glad we had been surrounded by people and Blaze hadn’t seen Mason’s hands on my ass. There was no telling how he would have reacted but one thing was sure, he would not have stood by, doing nothing. That wasn’t Blaze’s style. A protector of women, whether he knew them or not.

  I remembered an incident when we were younger. We had gone out clubbing with a group and a man had come on too strong to one of our friends. Blaze had come from nowhere and landed a punch into the man’s stomach. Suffice to say, he had disappeared soon after that. That was Blaze. He never wanted to see a man taking advantage of a woman.

  “Nothing I can’t handle,” I said, with a confidence I did not feel.

  The thing with Mason had been getting out of control and I was afraid it would end with me losing my job. Hardly the right time to lose a paycheck when Blaze and I were in the midst of a renovation. But I didn’t want to think about that. I wanted to have fun. “Do you want to dance?” I asked Blaze.

  “Sure,” he said and placed his beer on the counter. He took my glass from my hand and did the same. Then he took my hand, helped me up and led me to the dance floor.

  The lights had been dimmed and I felt comfortable getting as close to him as I could, knowing no one could see us in the midst of the crowd. Giddy joy flooded me as Blaze held me in his arms. I eliminated all thoughts and worries except how good it felt to hold him.

  Pure need came over me as our bodies meshed together. His cock pressed against me making me tremble with an unquenchable desire.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Blaze

  I didn’t dance with any other women. The only person I wanted in my arms was Brooke. I kept up a social appearance, chatting with everyone and moving from group to group. I itched to get out of there and go somewhere where I would have Brooke to myself.

  I’d managed to get my cock under control but just barely. A glance at her in her gorgeous silver dress was enough to get my blood boiling again. My gaze followed Brooke as she moved from where she was and made for the bathroom.

  Moments later, I noticed that jerk Mason go in the same direction. Oh, no you don’t. I waited a beat before I followed.

  I heard muffled voices coming from somewhere down the hallway. I couldn’t make out the words, but they did not sound friendly. I sprinted past the washrooms and when I saw Brooke struggling in Mason’s arms, I saw red.

  Her hands were shoving against his chest while he was kissing her forcibly.

  “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I shouted.

  My voice shocked him into letting go of Brooke.

  That was all I needed. I went for him with all the force of an NFL player and in the next moment, we were on the floor. I landed massive blow after blow to his face and his hands as he tried to shield his face.

  Soft hands grabbed at my shoulders. “Please Blaze, leave him!” Brooke said over and over again until she finally got through to me.

  “If you ever touch her again, you sick fuck!” I said. “I’ll do worse than give you a beating.”

  Brooke clung to my arm. “Please Blaze, let’s go.” She sounded frightened.

  It pained me to see Brooke scared. It was enough to make me want to take her home. My heartbeat still pounding, I led her out of the hotel and into a cab. By the time we got home, my anger had been replaced by molten rivers of need flowing in my body.

  I wanted Brooke. I had planned to ignore her ridiculous proposal but I couldn’t resist her tonight. I would have her just once, I told myself. We didn’t speak when we got to the house and I followed her up the steps to the front door.

  Brooke had the same idea because as soon as I shut the door behind us, she slipped into my arms and threw her hands around my neck. “I want you Blaze,” she whispered into my ear. “I want you to fuck me.”

  I groaned before I captured her mouth with mine. I lost myself in the sweetness of her mouth as I reacquainted myself with her body. I cupped her gorgeous breasts over her dress and squeezed them together, hoping I wasn’t hurting her but unable to help myself.

  Her hand slid between us and cupped my erect cock.

  I groaned into her mouth. “Let’s go to the bedroom.”

  “Yes,” Brooke said. She took my hand and led the way. We didn’t bother with closing the door. As soon as she stopped in the middle of the room, Brooke gripped the hem of her dress and pulled it over her body, removing it in one fluid movement.

  I felt sure I was panting as I took in the sight of her in a red lacy bra and matching lacy panties.

  “Remove your clothes,” she ordered.

  There wouldn’t be any argument from me. I popped open the buttons of my shirt without removing my gaze from her sexy curves. I couldn’t wait to feel the softness of her body against the hardness of mine. When we were both completely undressed, we faced each other.

  And as if drawn together by an invisible force—we closed the distance between us at the same time.

  I slipped my hand under her jawline and gave her a sultry kiss that made her moan. I was determined to make her forget the assault she had gone through tonight. In the future, when she remembered the day of the company party, she would remember how I had made love to her all night.

  God, I had missed her.

  She wrapped her hands around my neck, crashing her breasts against my chest. I brought my hands to the front and descended on her breasts, teasing her nipples with my thumbs. I brought my mouth to her nipples and sucked each until she begged me to take her.

  I carried her to the bed and arranged myself between her legs. I aligned my body with hers and looked at her.

  Her eyes were glazed over with need. “I ache for you,” she said.

  Her words went straight to my cock and I felt sure my own desire was evident in my eyes. I gripped it and brushed it against the slick lips of her pussy. She arched her body but I wasn’t ready yet. I’d missed us so much and I wasn’t going to rush it. I slid my cock up and down her slit. “How does that feel, Hot Sauce?”

  “Not enough,” Brooke replied.

  I chuckled. Then I bit my lip as I continued to tease her though in essence, I was torturing myself. I brought myself so close to orgasm, I had to close my eyes and think about other things. Work. It didn’t work.
“Fuck,” I said.

  “What?” Brooke said.

  “I planned to torture you a bit longer,” I grumbled. “Not working. My cock feels like it’s going to burst if I don’t have you right now.”

  Brooke chuckled. “What are you waiting for?” She raised her hips.

  I plunged my cock into her, burying it to the hilt, then in the next moment, pulling it out completely to allow her pussy to close up.

  Brooke whimpered. “Please.”

  I loved hearing her beg for my cock. It made me feel ten feet tall. Like I was the only man in the world who could take her to such heights of pleasure. “Yes babe.” I plunged back in.

  She screamed and this time, her legs went around my waist and she held me in a vice like grip. “No more games,” she said, her voice husky.

  “No more games,” I said.

  So for the next couple of minutes the only sounds to be heard were the slapping of our thighs and our cries of pleasure.

  She moved her hips in sync with me so that each time, it felt like I hit a new spot, burying my cock deeper. I angled myself so I hit her clit with every stroke. When we were both close to coming, I picked up my pace and slammed into her hard.

  “I’m going to come soon,” Brooke said.

  “Come babe,” I urged her and in the next beat, her pussy clenched against my cock, drawing out my cum. I groaned as I emptied myself into Brooke’s pussy as her screams filled the room. I kept pumping and then collapsed beside her on the bed. I pulled her to lie on top of me.

  “I’ve missed you,” she said softly, her breath tickling the hairs on my chest.

  “I missed you too,” I said.

  “We’re good for each other,” Brooke said. “But I meant what I said Blaze. This can only ever be sex. No expectations or romantic notions.”

  Every word cut into me like a knife, but I hid the hurt she was inflicting with her words. I had two options really. Go along with what she wanted or risk losing her completely. Brooke was stubborn and nothing save time could change her mind. I wasn’t ready to lose her, now or ever.

  I didn’t like being treated like a piece of cock to be used and then discarded but I loved her. I was willing to take any scraps she might throw my way. For the time being anyway. “Whatever you want,” I said mildly.

  “I’m glad you’re in agreement,” Brooke said happily. “Hey, have you been upstairs, the contractor is done with demolishing the kitchen, and the piping has been laid down. We’re back to work next week.”

  “I can’t wait,” I said “Did we agree on the IKEA kitchen? It’s simple but I think it’s pretty and good for a rental unit if I decide to go that way.”

  “It’s your house Blaze but for the record, I like it,” Brooke said and then she burst out laughing. “Now, this is what I call unromantic. Renovations. Hardly the ideal pillow talk conversation. It’s a turn off.”

  “Nothing could turn me off you… I’ll prove it.” I flipped us over so she was at the bottom and then slid down until my face was buried into her pussy.

  “Blaze,” Brooke murmured.

  I slid my tongue over her juicy center and made appreciative noises as I tasted her sweetness. With my initial lust taken care of, I wasn’t in any rush. So, I teased her mercilessly.

  She raised her hips, gripped my head hard and finally, begged me for release.

  When she came, she ground her face into my mouth and I ate her out like a starving man.

  Afterwards, I slid up and folded her in my arms. With Brooke finally where she belonged, sleep came easy and when I next woke up, sunlight was warming my face. I rolled around to hold Brooke and came up with an empty space. I opened my eyes to find her space on the bed empty.

  I got up and popped into the bathroom to freshen up. As I padded out of the bedroom, delicious scents of frying bacon filled the house.

  “Good morning,” Brooke said as I entered the open plan living room.

  “Why are you up so early?” I growled. “I was looking forward to waking up to your warm soft body next to me.”

  “I’m sorry,” Brooke said laughing. “I thought you’d appreciate breakfast more.”

  Just then, my stomach rumbled loudly

  She raised an eyebrow at me.

  We both burst out laughing.

  I slid onto a bar stool at the island and watched her as she turned away to grab a plate. She wore a pair of short shorts that got my cock swelling in a matter of seconds.

  She piled bacon and pancakes onto my plate and brought it over. As she placed the plate on the table in front of me, she leaned over to give me a sultry kiss on the mouth. “That’s to placate you while you eat your breakfast,” she said. “Is it working?”

  I adopted a thoughtful expression. “I’m not sure. Do it again.”

  She laughed and kissed me again.

  I snaked my tongue into her mouth which led to a make out session which resulted with her on my lap.

  “How did this happen?” Brooke asked while laughing.

  “We’re hot together, Hot Sauce,” I said. “I don’t know why you don’t see it.”

  She slid off my lap. “Let’s not go back to that. We already agreed.”

  We hadn’t agreed on anything. She had dictated the terms of our new relationship and I’d had no choice but to go along with them.

  She brought her breakfast to the island and we ate quietly. The playful, lusty mood was gone.

  Since the damage was already done, I decided to ask her about the previous night at the party. We had not had time to talk. “What happened last night with Mason?”

  She looked up from her food and made a face. “He was being a jerk like always.”

  “You know what he was doing is against company policy,” I said. “Do you want me to take care of it for you?”

  “No,” she said, her voice rising. “I’m okay. I can handle him. He knows nothing can happen between us. He was just pushing his luck.”

  I decided not to push it but I’d keep an eye on him. A man who could not accept a no from a woman was a dangerous person. I would not put anything past the fucker but if he thought he was going to mess with my Brooke, he had another thing coming.

  We finished the rest of our breakfast in silence. Any ideas I might have had about taking Brooke back to bed and ravishing her for the rest of the morning had disappeared with the tense atmosphere between us.

  “I’ll clean up,” I said and carried the dishes to the sink.

  “Thanks,” Brooke said. “While you do that, I’ll vacuum. I haven’t touched that carpet in days.”

  We needed to do something out of the house, I mused as I washed up. An idea came to me and my spirits rose. I hated it when tension grew between us or when Brooke seemed frightened or worried about something. Majority of the time, I was the source of her worry.

  I didn’t need to be a psychologist to figure out that she was frightened of what she was feeling for me. Hence, the walls she’d put up, shutting me out and placing me firmly in the friends with benefits zone.

  I would chip at it until she finally believed she was the only woman for me.

  After breakfast, I kissed her goodbye and headed upstairs to begin the work for the day. I looked forward to working hard. I had too much energy to burn in the form of sexual energy. Would a time ever come when I wasn’t aroused while around Brooke?

  I doubted it. Brooke’s sexiness did not just come from her perfect curvy body. It had to do with the inside as well. The kind of person she was. I shook my head as I pushed the front door open. Now, I sounded like a complete sap. The inside as well. But it was true.

  Brooke joined me a few minutes later, her short shorts teasing me every time she bent over to pick up something.

  “Hey, I was thinking we should do something this afternoon,” I said trying to keep it casual.

  “Sure,” Brooke said. “What did you have in mind?”

  I grinned at her. “The zoo. It’s not too far from here.”

  Brooke stare
d at me quizzically.

  The zoo was not your typical date but I liked it. I even went alone. It relaxed me and helped me to get away from my own perspective.

  “Really? You want us to go to the zoo?” She always looked so cute when she was confused.

  “Yep. What do you say?”

  She shrugged. “Okay. I can’t remember the last time I went to the zoo.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Brooke

  I’d never been to the zoo and I was looking forward to it. Blaze had surprised me when he suggested we get out of the house and do something fun. It wasn’t a date though. A date suggested a romantic relationship and Blaze and I were definitely not about that.

  We were just two friends going out on a Saturday afternoon. Why then had I changed outfits twice? I pushed away the nagging voice in my head. The one that wanted to turn our Saturday day out, into something it wasn’t.

  He’d said to dress casual and wear shoes comfortable for walking. That made sense. We were going to the zoo. But walking shoes were not sexy. With a sigh, I slipped into a pair of my cutest sneakers. Paired with white pants and a top, I looked all right. When I was ready, I grabbed my purse and went to wait for Blaze in the living room.

  Blaze returned at one as we’d agreed. He looked me up and down appreciatively. “You look gorgeous as always.”

  “Thanks, you look hot too,” I said.

  He wore a pair of chino shorts and a fitting t-shirt. The perfect outfit for a warm afternoon. “I thought we’d grab a bite to eat before we go to the zoo,” Blaze said.

  We decided on a pizza and walked to our local pizzeria. This had been another thing about the house. It was within walking distance of restaurants, the theatre, and other fun places.

  We fed each other slices of pizza while the voice at the back of my head went crazy, pointing out that we were on a date. We were not.

  After we’d stuffed ourselves, Blaze and I took a cab to the zoo.

  “I like the Southern gate,” Blaze said fifteen minutes later as the cab came to a stop at the zoo.