by Dee J. Adams
“I’d better get to Roamer,” he said. But he didn’t budge. Except for the destructive stroke of his thumb against her cheek. “Go to sleep, okay?”
She wanted to say, no, that she’d rather kiss him instead, that after a night like tonight, she wanted to live. She’d always wanted to live. But the way her insides hummed, the adrenaline that had pumped through her system must have jump-started her dormant body.
He leaned forward. The blankets tightened around her lap. Ashley held her breath, waited for his kiss, but when it came, it wasn’t what she expected. His lips brushed her cheek, lingered for only a moment and his rough stubble rubbed her skin before he pulled back. The disappointment crushed her. But she’d told him in the beginning they could only be friends. And they had been the best of friends. She trusted him and he knew it. He was being a friend right now by taking care of her and he hadn’t crossed any lines.
There must be lines. From friend to lover was not really a big leap for her, but it always changed things and Ashley liked the way they were.
“I’ll be right back.” His hand dropped from her face and he left her in the big warm bed. She heard him in the bathroom talking to Roamer as the hair dryer hummed. He’d probably been right not to kiss her. Not that she even knew if he wanted to, but even if he had, they were better off this way. As friends. She wasn’t in high school anymore. Relationships changed when sex added into the mix and she liked what they had too much to screw it up.
After snuggling into the covers, she closed her eyes and let the warmth of the flannel sheets lull her to sleep.
* * *
Mel finished drying Roamer and set up some blankets for him by the fireplace. The dog circled and sniffed his new temporary bed then promptly collapsed and fell asleep. Letting his gaze fall to Ashley, Mel swallowed back a surge of lust. She looked so damn good in his bed. He’d dried her hair so that it spiked up and she looked like the sweetest, most innocent punk rocker the world would never see.
After cleaning up the bathroom and tossing all the wet clothes and towels into the washer, Mel got back to his room. Ashley hadn’t budged from the middle of the bed. He grinned and got under the covers next to her. Damn, she was warm. The exact opposite of how she’d felt two hours ago when he’d peeled off her clothes and stuck her in his tub.
He wanted her close, but didn’t expect it when she rolled over and snuggled up next to him. Quickly taking the opportunity, he put his arm around her so her head rested on his chest. Her arm draped across his waist and for the first time in his life, everything felt one hundred percent right.
Stroking his fingers through her soft, short hair, Mel let himself relax. Now that the adrenaline had worn off, he was bone tired. Ashley’s warm breath wafted over his chest. Mel released a deep breath of his own and closed his eyes. This was a night he’d never forget.
He’d never felt such bone-jarring panic in his life. Even in the riot seven months ago, he hadn’t freaked. He’d been too damn drunk. But tonight, nearly losing her… Mel clenched his jaw and exhaled again. He brought Ashley closer and forced his muscles to relax. She was safe and right where he wanted her.
* * *
Something woke Mel and he blinked his eyes open, struggling to see in the dark room. The fire had dwindled down but still burned and the clouds obscured any moonlight. Ashley shifted against him and he instantly figured out what had him awake. Her leg draped high across his thigh and the part of his body that hadn’t seen a woman in too many months suddenly wanted to play.
Mel’s mouth went dry as he looked down at her peaceful face. Removing himself from temptation, he eased away from her and out of bed. He got a couple of glasses of water—extra ice for Ash—and set the drinks on the end table.
She stirred and rolled onto her back, her movement slow. “Mel,” she whispered.
“I’m here, babe.” He reached for her hand and she curled closer to him. “I didn’t mean to wake you. I needed some water and thought you might like some too. It’s here on the end table.”
She sat up, looking mussed and beautiful, her hair in every direction and her eyes half closed. “Oh, God, thank you. I’m so dehydrated.” Gingerly, she inched closer to the table and licked her dry lips.
Mel reached for the glass. “You’re sore, huh?” he asked as he handed it to her.
“Brutally.” Because of the bandages, she needed both hands to cup the glass. “I feel like I climbed Everest with no practice.” She took a few sips, crunched on some ice and he smiled.
After she’d had enough, she stretched to replace the glass on the end table, but came up short. The robe gaped open and one perfectly rounded breast swayed with the motion. Mel sucked in a rush of air as she inadvertently flashed him. Just as quickly, he looked away and took her glass to set down. Didn’t matter. The damage was done. The picture would forever be in his brain.
Ashley leaned closer and put her arms around him from behind. The sensation nearly destroyed his resolve. She was too warm, too soft. “Thank you,” she whispered. She shook her head. “Just those words aren’t enough. I don’t know what to say…what to do. Thank you.”
Mel lost the battle and faced her. Having her this close was his undoing. If he’d somehow kept his distance he might’ve had a shot at resisting, but staring into her gorgeous blue eyes full of gratitude killed any resolve he had left.
He stroked her cheek and she leaned her head into his palm. With her lips tilted so perfectly, he leaned in and kissed her. She didn’t pull away or pull him closer, but her lips moved against his tenderly as if she needed the contact as much as he did. Mel shifted and brought her closer with one strong arm. Her soft moan and parted lips sent a clear invitation. Slanting his lips over hers, he took things another step further when he eased his tongue in her mouth. The shock of cold sent a bolt of electricity to his groin. She passed a small chunk of ice into his mouth.
Mel pulled away, his heart hammering wildly. Before he killed the moment he put his lips to hers and kissed her again. This time she stroked her tongue into his mouth and took the ice back.
Oh, shit. He was toast.
He wanted her. Had to have her. All of her. Tonight. Now.
“Ash.” He whispered her name before he kissed her again, leaning her back on the bed and following her down.
She moaned a reply. There wasn’t much she could say with her mouth full of his tongue. God, she tasted good…like cold and winter. But her body was hot and so damn soft. He wanted to touch every inch of her. He fumbled with the belt on the robe and loosened it enough to ease his hand along her waist. She arched into his touch, her breath unsteady.
“God, Mel,” she gasped and brought him down to her lips again.
This kiss killed him. She didn’t hold anything back as he took her mouth. He felt welcome in her softness, invited into her heat.
“God,” she panted again when he came up for air. “What are we doing?”
He paused, his own breath coming hard. “Kissing? Touching?” He dove in for more and she didn’t argue. He moved his palm up her side and the robe opened further. She made a sound deep in her throat as his thumb brushed under her breast. Her leg lifted high along his hip and he moved against her, showing exactly how much he wanted her. He trailed kisses across her jaw and down her throat.
“I know what we’re doing,” she breathed the words. “I meant, what are we doing?” Her bandaged hands moved over his T-shirt and stroked his back. “This is crazy.”
That stopped him and he looked at her. “Why?”
“Because.” She shook her head, clearly struggling with the dilemma. “Because, you’re one of my best friends. I tell you almost everything.” Her hands skimmed his back and he rubbed against her. She moaned and arched. “Oh, God. I don’t want to mess things up with us.”
“You’re the one that had all that fun in high school and college. Why can’t you have fun now?” He kissed beneath her ear and her lips caught his lobe before he pulled away, sending a hot spark right
to his dick.
“We’re not in school. We’re adults.” She held his shoulders and kept him from kissing her. “I like that we’re such good friends. I don’t want to screw it up. I don’t want a weird sexual vibe between us. I want us to joke and laugh and talk…”
Mel wanted that too. “Fine. So we make a pact right now that we stay friends. We’ll treat this like any other activity we do together.” Her brows quirked and he continued. “We’ve shared meals, walks. We’ll just add this to the list.”
Her laughter bubbled from her stomach and he grinned down at her. “Sex?” she said. “Meals, walks and sex?”
“Yeah, instead of going for a walk, we’re going to have sex.” He was on a roll. “It’s something we both like and I don’t know about you, but it’s something I really need. Right now.”
Her smile faded. “I haven’t had sex in a long time. Over two years. I don’t know if…” She trailed off and shook her head. “What if I’m no good? What if I suck?”
He wouldn’t let her doubt herself and gave her exactly what they’d based their friendship on. Fun. “I’d love it if you sucked.”
She laughed and smacked his arm. “You know what I mean,” she admonished. “I told you I have no libido. What if I can’t…what if you don’t…” A frustrated growl edged from her throat. “I’m not…normal. You should—”
Mel kissed her softly. How could she doubt the fire that sizzled between them? Stupid question. Her whole future balanced on a tight wire until she knew if her eyesight would ever return. She opened for him and their tongues met in an erotic dance. Despite her reservations her leg curled around his thigh and kept him pinned against her.
“You feel normal to me,” he breathed. No, not really. She felt extra special. One in a million. Beyond compare. But he doubted she’d believe him if he told her. “Hey, that libido problem you mentioned… I’ve been thinking about that and as one of your closest friends it’s my duty to search for it.” He kissed her again and stroked his hand over the fullness of her breast. Damn, she had spectacular breasts. She gasped and arched. “Just FYI,” he added, “anytime you tell a guy you don’t have a libido, he’s going to want to test the theory.” Mel trailed his lips down her throat and closed his mouth over one hard nipple, making her cry out.
“Oh God, oh God.” She lifted his head. “Are we really doing this?”
“I’m game if you are.” Who was he kidding? He was dying for her.
“But what will this make us? Is this a one-time thing or are we fuck buddies?”
He hated that term, especially where Ashley was concerned. “Let’s just say we’re friends with benefits? I like that better. Hell, why do we have to label it at all?”
“I just need to know where I stand, that’s all. I like our friendship. I don’t want to screw it up.”
“I agree. No screwing up. But I have to tell you, Ash, if I don’t…give you your benefit soon, my head is going to explode.”
“Which one?” The smile on her face leveled him.
“Funny. Let’s see if you’re still laughing after this.” He took her mouth in a sizzling hot kiss, probing deep with his tongue as he pressed her further into the mattress. He’d wanted this for days. Maybe weeks. To feel her under him, against him. To hear her moan as he kissed and explored her.
“I want to touch you,” she gasped, struggling beneath him. “I want these bandages off.”
“Shh, shh. Easy, okay.” He couldn’t deny her. Taking a deep breath, Mel willed himself to slow down. There were too many reasons he couldn’t plunge headlong into Ashley and ease the ache in his body. She needed patience and understanding. She needed this to be so good that she’d never forget it. He sat up next to her.
“Hurry,” she said as he worked the bandage off one hand.
Mel took her face in his hands and kissed her softly. “Slow down, tiger. We’ve got nothing but time.” His words seemed to penetrate and she softened against him, her mouth warm and luscious as she eased the kiss. He pulled back and went to work removing the bandages.
They sat close together as he worked, their heads nearly touching as he bent slightly forward. The undeniable intimacy sent a fresh surge of lust to his groin, anticipating what would happen once the bandages came off. Remembering how she’d touched his face weeks ago, he couldn’t wait to feel her hands on the rest of him. Just her simple touch turned him on and he could only imagine what she could do if she set her mind to it.
The last bandage came off and he surveyed the damage. The redness had disappeared in the last few hours and her hands didn’t look bad, but her fingers still curled in as if the muscles had frozen.
“Can you move your hands?” he asked.
She nodded and slowly stretched her fingers straight and wide, but he saw the effort on her face. He hated that she hurt. Hated that he couldn’t take her pain. She looked up, her gaze far off, her face still flushed from their kisses and Mel felt a change in the air.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I’m thinking I shouldn’t have stopped us. You probably realize that I’m not the one you want to break your record with and…” She trailed off and shrugged as if nothing else needed to be said. She was so wrong.
Mel took her hands in his. “What I realize is that I need…we need…to go slow and take it one step at a time.” As honest as he’d been with her, sharing his doubts and fears, he owed her honesty now. “I want you, Ash. I want to kiss you and touch you for hours. I want to be inside you.” He kissed her softly. “I really, really want to find your libido.”
Ashley smiled under his kiss and pulled him down on top of her.
Chapter Eighteen
Ashley reveled in Mel’s weight pressing her into the bed, the touch of his hand behind her head as she hit the pillow. She savored the warmth of his mouth as their tongues danced a slick tango. Her muscle pain took a back seat when he caressed her skin, moving up her waist to cup a breast and fondle her nipple. She wanted his mouth there. Wanted to feel the sensation of him sucking her, but didn’t want to end this kiss either. She loved his mouth, loved the way his tongue moved against hers.
Reaching under his T-shirt, she smoothed her fingers over his back. His muscles flexed and he pushed against her. His rock-hard erection rubbed against her clit and made her gasp.
“I think I’m getting warmer,” he murmured. He meant in the context of finding her libido, but she played dumb.
“I think you’re already hot,” she replied.
“Baby, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.” His lips trailed down exactly where she wanted him and he took her nipple into his mouth.
A shock of electricity arced through her and she dug her head into the pillow. She’d forgotten what it felt like to be taken, to give herself over to pleasure and experience the high. Mel pushed her robe open wide and slid his hand up over her stomach to cup her other breast. A purr rumbled in her chest as she ran her fingers over the soft stubble on his head. This felt too good. Her body hummed as he kissed her, touched her. Because she couldn’t see him, his every move surprised her. Every destructive stroke of his tongue and his hand made her shiver with anticipation.
Ashley fisted the edge of his shirt and lifted, forcing Mel to raise his head so she could strip him. His muscles danced as she skated her palms over his back. He wasn’t too buff, just completely cut. Lean and strong and all hers. At least for tonight. More than anything else, she didn’t want to blow it. She wanted to be good for him. Wanted to say thank you the only way she could as they entered this new territory.
“I want to touch you, taste you,” she whispered. She heard his groan as he shifted over her and their mouths connected in a scorching kiss. “Seriously,” she panted when his lips trailed to her ear. “I need to touch you, Mel. That’s the only way I can see you and I need to see you.”
Mel hesitated, his breath hot in her ear. She had his attention. But her muscles still hurt and there was only so much she could do. “Move up,” she whispered.
Skating her lips over his cheek and down his neck, she urged him up with palms on his hips.
“You’re not thinking what I think you’re thinking, are you?” But he moved as he said it and gave her glorious reign of his smooth hard chest. She palmed his abs and tongued his nipples, taking pure delight at his husky moan.
“That’s it, straddle me,” she said as his legs opened around her. She scooted further back so she leaned against the headboard. Her muscles protested, but she didn’t care. Taking her time, she touched him with her fingertips, roamed over every ripple of his abs and down his narrow waist and hips until she reached the waistband of his sweats. “These have got to go.”
He moved off her, his chuckle low and quiet. The rustle of cotton whispered before the bed dipped from his weight. She moved further up against the headboard. “C’mon. Back where you were. Knees here.” She patted either side of her.
“Ash, baby…” He sounded unsure.
“Shh. C’mere.” She reached out, found his hand, brought him forward and eased him over her so she had access to his chest, hips and thighs. She imagined his erection jutting out, proud, waiting for her touch. “Feels like Christmas,” she said softly.
“Except the present’s already unwrapped,” Mel said. He weaved his fingers in her hair. His touch was heaven on earth. His breathing grew unsteady as her hands moved around his hard muscled thighs and up over his ass.
“God, you have a tight butt. I love a tight butt. I’ll bet it looks great in a pair of jeans.”
“I wouldn’t know.” He sounded strained and she smiled. She’d never been into torture before but clearly this was torture of the best kind.
Easing her palms up his thighs, she spread her fingers so her thumbs grazed the hair at his groin. “You’re going to kill me,” he growled.
“There are worse ways to go.”
He hissed a response when she found him with her hand.
