The Wells Brothers: Blue
Page 18
He shifted, the silken brush of his lips against her ear making her heart beat fast. Faster. It was already leaping at his nearness, now it was starting to pound. Probably have a heart attack any second and drop dead. With his palm on her nape and his mouth at her ear. Could be worse ways to go.
“I want you to really be my girlfriend.”
There could be no way on this earth that she was hearing correctly.
They stood there, perfectly still, his breath hot against her ear, her heart pounding, a fissure of heat spiralling down her spine, so very aware of him bending down over her.
So very aware that his hand had released hers and was now resting on the back of her waist.
Right above her generous bum.
That had her blinking, sucking in a breath, the result of which pressed her nipples against his hard upper abdomen.
There was no doubting he could feel it, not when he shifted again, deliberately rubbing all that deliciously hard muscle against her nipples that were little aching nubs just begging to be -
No. No no no. This had to be a joke. She sucked in another breath, lifted her lashes to see Blue’s thick, dark hair out of the corner of her eye.
Needing room to think, she braced both hands against his chest and pushed.
For a split second he resisted before straightening to step back. His expression was unfathomable, serious, that blue-eyed gaze searching her face.
“Okay.” Ignoring the breathlessness of her voice, Charley took another step back, widening the distance between them a little more. “Okay.”
His head angled slightly to one side questioningly. “Okay as in okay, you’ll be my girlfriend?”
“Okay as in I really need to sort this out.” Rubbing trembling hands on her skirt, she flapped them helplessly before clasping them together to try and look a little more controlled than she felt.
“Charley,” Blue said gently, “are you all right?”
“Yeah. No.” Uncertainly, her gaze darted to the side before returning to focus on the t-shirt covering his torso. “Nice shirt.”
Oh geez, way to sound like an idiot.
“Thanks,” he replied a little dryly.
Clearing her throat, she searched for a way to continue.
He saved her by saying quietly, “This has clearly caught you by surprise.”
“You think?”
“Trust me, I don’t need to think when it’s so obvious.” Reaching out, he stroked along her jaw line with one calloused fingertip. “Is the thought of it that horrifying?”
“Of course not.” She bit her lip. “Yes.” Oh God, that didn’t sound good. “No.”
His hand dropped, silence descending, and just when she was about to try and put into words her feelings and doubts, he took another step back.
“I understand, Charley. It’s okay.” At the regret underlying the deep tones, she looked up to find him already turning away, a muscle jumping in that square jaw.
That regret resonated inside her, flaring to life hope that maybe he really did find her attractive. “Blue, wait.” No sooner did he turn back around than she took one look at his face and all those doubts threatened the hope. “Crap.” Dropping her head forward, she pinched the bridge of her nose.
He waited silently.
“I don’t…” She squinted at the lawn. “I’m…” When it became clear he wasn’t going to help, she squared her shoulders and slowly looked up at him, mentally steeling her spine as her gaze travelled up the t-shirt stretched over hard muscle, broad shoulders, strong neck, square jaw, firm lips, straight nose, right up to those intense eyes.
His complete attention was focused on her.
“This is…it’s all a little sudden,” she mumbled.
“Yes.”
So intensely aware of his regard, feeling so inadequate, she swallowed. “Do you really want me to be…?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t go all monosyllabic on me now!” she cried despairingly.
“Mono what?” He blinked.
“One word answers.”
“Why don’t you just say that?”
“I just di- never mind.” She folded her arms, dropped them by her side.
“Charley,” Blue said gently, “just tell me straight out what you want, what you’re feeling. It’s not that hard.”
“It’s not you, Blue, it’s me.”
Something in his eyes flickered. “I’m getting a sense of déjà vu, not in a good way.”
“Not like that,” she said quickly. “I don’t mean like that.”
“Then what do you mean? I’m not a mind reader, Charley. You’re going to have to talk to me. Plainly.”
“Why don’t you?”
“I’ve already asked you.”
Looking up at him, she decided to go with exactly what he’d suggested. It wasn’t like she was doing any good her way. “Why?”
“Because I like you.”
“Like.” That wasn’t promising at all. “You like a lot of people.”
“Yeah, but I don’t want to go out with a lot of people. I want to go out with you.”
“Just like that?”
His grin went a little crooked. “I actually like you more than I like other people.”
“Enough to go out with me?”
“You sound dubious.”
“Can you blame me?” She held out her palms. “I’m not really your type.”
His eyebrows rose at that. “My type?”
“Yeah, you know - tall, gorgeous, slim.”
His eyes widened in genuine astonishment. “You think I have a type?”
“Well…yeah.”
“Wow.” He ran one hand through his hair.
Oh man, was he going to get mad? Charley bit her lip. But still, he’d wanted plain speaking, so…and she had to be sure…and she had her own doubts because of what she…argh.
Rather than turn and walk away as she half expected, Blue instead rubbed his jaw while looking up at the leaves in the tree above them before placing both hands on lean hips and dropping his head forward to look down at her consideringly. “A type.”
She shrugged a little apologetically. “Maybe you just never noticed.”
“I think I’d have noticed.” Now there was a touch of irony in his deep tone.
Oohh, this wasn’t going well. Clearing her throat, Charley dropped her gaze to his chin, because that was so much easier to look at than the shrewd expression in his eyes.
“And just where,” Blue asked with ominous calm, “did you come up with this type?”
“I saw some photos.”
“Photos.”
“At your house. I was there with Mikki and Izzy, and your Aunt Lora pulled out a photo album to show us and I saw the photos of your past girlfriends.”
“All my girlfriends?”
“Three.”
“Just three?”
“Just three? Cripes, Blue, how many girlfriends have you had?”
“I’ve had more than three over the years and I can tell you they weren’t all tall and slim. In fact, I’m attracted to women, not their figures. They need to have more than superficial details to catch my attention.”
“Okay.” Oh geez, talk about putting her foot in it. How embarrassing. “Sorry.”
Man, she could feel his gaze on her, could practically feel him mentally dissecting her. Maybe she came across as an insecure girl.
Oh wait, she was a tad insecure, but heck, it wasn’t all to do with his other girlfriends. Much. A bit. Okay, a lot, but it was also herself and-
“Are you frowning because you don’t know how to let me down nicely?” Blue queried. “Or are you just mad now?”
Seeing the mix of humour and perplexity on his face, she sighed, her shoulders drooping. “Sorry. I’m really screwing this up, aren’t I?”
“I had thought it’d be a little easier,” he admitted.
“I usually am.” Realising how that sounded, she backtracked quickly. “I mean, I’m not easy
, not like that.”
“I’d laugh except I’m not sure just exactly where we’re at right now.”
She sighed.
“Charley.”
“Yes?”
“Are you telling me no?”
The thought of being Blue’s girlfriend was causing butterflies to dance in the pit of her belly in a good - no, a great way.
“I won’t kick you out of the house if you tell me no,” he continued. “But you might hear me crying in the night, see me watching sad love movies…”
That made her smile which in turn cleared her befuddled thoughts. Regaining her senses, she looked him square in the eyes and took the bull by the horns. “You really want to date?”
Blue nodded.
“You like me that much.”
“More than like.”
“You don’t know me that well.”
“That’s generally why two people date, to get to know more about each other.”
“I’m living in your house.”
“I’m not asking for more than you’re prepared to give.”
As that particular decadent thought hadn’t even occurred to her, her eyes widened.
“Shit.” Blue shook his head. “Too soon for that. I didn’t mean it. Well, later, yeah, but I don’t expect - damn.” This time he sighed, but he didn’t look away. “Let’s try this again. Charley, I’m attracted to you. I want us to get to know each other more, to go out together, let the relationship take its course and see what happens. I’m not asking for more than you’re prepared to give, and I’m expecting the same of you. This is no declaration of undying love, hearts and stars. It’s a beginning, hopefully more, but right now let’s just date with no pressure.”
Warmth crept through her at the sincerity in his eyes. Plus the thought that he was attracted to her? That had little tingles running up and down her spine.
“More importantly, your answer does not decide your rent status in my house, okay?”
She nodded.
“Good.” Hands still braced on hips, he watched her.
Oh, she really wanted to say yes. She did. But the troubling thought was that-
“Talk to me,” Blue ordered firmly.
“Okay.” Since he’d spoken so plainly, she could only do the same. In fact, his honesty made it easier for her. Up to a point. “I won’t lie, I am attracted to you.” Want to strip you naked and lick you like a lollipop, in fact.
“Good to know.” He gave a ‘come on’ gesture with one hand.
“Right. Well, I’d like to get to know you more, too.”
Another ‘come on’ gesture.
“It’s just that…”
A dark eyebrow arched questioningly.
“Two weeks ago I was dating Gary,” she finished in a rush. “Now I’m panting after you. How shallow does that make me?”
For several seconds she thought he wasn’t even going to answer because he just stood there looking a little surprised.
“Shallow, right?” she asked miserably. “I shocked myself.”
He stared, his lips twitched, and then he started laughing.
Loud. Long. A real belly laugh, deep and rolling.
Any tender feelings disappeared as annoyance flushed through her. The bloody man might be hot as hell, might make her panties damp and her nipples stand up to attention, but his attitude was downright shitty.
When he kept laughing, annoyance crashed into anger. “Arsehole!” She stormed back towards the house.
She didn’t get two steps before an arm hooked around her waist to pull her back against a hard body that was still shaking with laughter.
“Let go!” She struggled, trying to pull away from the arm clamped firmly around her.
“Wait.” Laughter still dancing in his voice, Blue repeated, “Wait. Just wait a minute, Charley.”
“I ought to box your ears!” She pulled unsuccessfully at his arm. “I was being honest and you think my worry is bloody hilarious!”
“Just settle a minute, Sunflower.” The last was said right in her ear. “Let me explain.”
She went still, blood growing sluggish even though she remained angry. But his position leaning over her, his arm holding her so close, that muscle-ribbed torso pressed against her back, not to mention the warm breath in her ear, had her breath catching.
“Okay.” Straightening, Blue turned her to face him, his hands now on her shoulders as he looked down into her angry face. “I wasn’t laughing at you. I promise.”
“Sure,” she said a little bitterly.
“No, I’m serious.” Sobering, but amusement still evident in his eyes, Blue explained, “I was laughing because I had thought the exact same thing about me and Shona.”
That caught her by surprise. “You did?”
“Yeah. Here I was attracted to you but feeling guilty because two weeks ago I was planning on wining and dining Shona. So yeah, I know exactly how you feel.”
The anger faded. “You’re not worried about that?”
“About me being shallow?” Blue shook his head.
“Really? You’re not?”
“I was, but not once I’d thought about it and realised a few things.”
Now she was intrigued. “What did you realise?”
“That when Shona dumped me, I wasn’t sad, just resigned. Remember I met you in the pizza joint and we shared pizza, drinks and our stories?”
“Yeah.” Charley smiled slightly at the memory. “I enjoyed that night.”
“Me, too. Only I didn’t realise just how much.” Blue was completely sober now. “I enjoy your company, feel so relaxed with you. I love your compassion, your kindness, your sense of humour. I didn’t realise how much I enjoyed your company until recently.”
“Wow.” His frankness not only filled with her happiness, but it also amazed her. Never had a man been so honest about his feelings.
“In fact, even though I wanted to ask you out, I wasn’t admitting to myself how attracted I was to you.”
“Because…?”
“The same reason you feel guilt right now.”
“Gary.”
“Shallowness. Was I too shallow? To be attracted to you so soon after Shona? But then it was brought to my attention that I wasn’t that invested in my relationship with Shona, that I didn’t really feel more for her, certainly not enough to even mourn being dumped. I wasn’t shallow. I’m not shallow.” His voice lowered, big hands sliding down from her shoulders to her elbows, fingers and thumbs trailing down, eliciting little sparks in their wake until his fingers loosely wrapped around her wrists so he could tug her closer.
She was mesmerized by his tender expression.
“I’m not going to let my doubts, which I now know to be wrong, get in the way of a relationship with you. There’s something I have with you that I didn’t have with any of my previous girlfriends.”
“Oh?” She whispered.
“Them dumping me was not pleasant, but it didn’t tear me up. You, however…” His head lowered, those long, thick lashes falling before sweeping up to capture her in the enthralling blueness of his eyes. “You are different, Sunflower. I know it, feel it. In a very short time you’ve come to mean a lot to me. I want to see where this leads.” His head lowered further.
The whisper of his lips so near her own, the warmth of his breath, but still she had to whisper, “You think that’s the same for me?”
“About Gary?” His gaze locked with hers, hiding nothing of his emotions. “Did you cry? Did you lie awake at night thinking of him? Did you ring him?”
“No.”
“Did he mean anything to you?”
“I thought he might, but no.”
“Are you sorry you broke up?”
“Hells bells, no.”
His amusement was a puff of warmth against her lips, his arms tightening around her to draw her fully up against him.
“So you don’t think that makes me shallow?” Leaning into him, her arms settled around his waist.
Before she could retort, his mouth came down on hers.
The sensation of it, the heat of his body, the silkiness of his lips, the firmness of the kiss, all combined to make her surrender to desire.
To finally kiss him, to finally know what it was like to be in his arms.
Bloody awesome, actually.
Heat surged through her, the feeling of being protected in his embrace, not to mention the happiness that danced inside her at the knowledge that he was as attracted to her as she to him.
It was more than evident when he broke the kiss to rest his forehead against hers with his eyes closed.
Evident because his breath was unsteady, and when he opened his eyes, heat kindled within. “Okay,” he said huskily. “We might have to set some rules, Sunflower.”
“Rules?” she echoed dreamily.
“You’re not to take advantage of me.”
“Ever?”
“Okay, you can grope my very fine arse. That’s allowable.”
She laughed softly. Then suddenly something pinged on her radar and she straightened. “Hang on.”
“Mmm?”
“You said it was brought to your attention.” She tilted her head in query. “Just who have you been talking to?”
“Luke.”
“Luke?” Charley managed to put just the right amount of horror into her voice.
Blue eyed her warily. “Yeah?”
Giving him a little shove, she repeated, “Luke? You talked about this with Luke?”
“He’s my brother.” Blue was baffled.
“That’s a reason?”
“I was confused. He helped sort me out.” Now he looked a little worried. “Is this going to be a problem?”
She let him stew long enough to start worrying before grinning widely. “Nope.”
Blue stare at her for several seconds before growling, “You devious wench!” and lunged for her.
With a shriek, Charley ran.
She knew he’d be fast, but she certainly didn’t expect him to dive after her and bring her to the ground. He moved with dexterity, twisting to take the brunt of the fall before rolling and bringing her back with him under the shade of the tree, coming to a stop with her sprawled inelegantly beneath him, breathless and senses spinning.